Hexagram 19: 臨

lín — taking charge, commitment, accession

Upper TrigramEarth

Lower TrigramLake

Judgment

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

元yuánfirst-rate, supreme, priority, the finest

亨hēngfulfillment, satisfaction, success, offering

利lìworth, the harvest of; merits, rewards

貞zhēnpersistence, determination, resolve, loyalty

至zhìto arrive, approach, come, near; arrival

于yúin, at, during, by

八bāthe eighth

月yuèmonth, moon

有yǒuis; will, would, could be

凶xiōngunfortunate, inauspicious, disappointing

Approach has supreme success. Perseverance furthers. When the eighth month comes, there will be misfortune. Spring is approaching—use the time well. But remember: seasons change. Plan for winter even while working in spring.

Image

澤zélake, pool, pond, marsh

上shàngabove, over, atop, across, on top of

有yǒuis, there is

地dìearth, ground, land, soil

臨líntaking charge

君jūnnoble, worthy, honored

子zǐyoung one, heir, disciple

以yǐaccordingly, therefore, thus

教jiāoinstructs, teaches, directs, guides

思sīthinks, ponders, reflects, plans, considers

無wúwithout, with no, regardless of

窮qióngexhaustion, frustration; being diminished

容róngaccept, receive, tolerate, bear with

保bǎoprotect, safeguard, secure

民mínthe people, public, multitude; humanity

無wúwithout, with no, regardless of

疆jiāngboundaries, borders, limits, lines

The earth above the lake: the image of Approach. Thus the superior man is inexhaustible in his will to teach and without limits in his tolerance and protection of the people. The open-source maintainer who answers every GitHub issue, the teacher who stays after class, the mentor who shares freely—this is the image.

Digital Artifact

The Whole Earth Catalog

Stewart Brand (1968)

Stewart Brand's Whole Earth Catalog (1968) approached readers with radical optimism: here are the tools, knowledge, community. Two strong lines growing from below—light-giving power expanding. The Catalog didn't mandate; it invited. It descended from high concept to practical application, met people where they were: you can build this yourself. Lake below (joyous communication), Earth above (boundless care). The back-to-the-land movement, homebrew computer clubs, DIY ethos—approached without condescension. Spring after winter. Light returning. But Brand knew: spring doesn't last. By the eighth month, energy reverses. The Catalog ran 1968-1972, then evolved, ceased. Nothing lasts. But while it lasted, it changed everything.

Historical Context

Period: Zhou Dynasty
Oracle Bone Etymology: Lake (☱) sits below, Earth (☷) sits above—the earth borders upon the lake from above, creating approach and condescension.
Traditional Use: The classical text describes this as 'becoming great,' when two strong lines grow into the hexagram from below and the light-giving power expands. Linked to the twelfth month, when after winter solstice, light begins to ascend.

Lines

Line 1: 咸臨貞吉

咸xiánunited, joined in; shared, collective; full

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

貞zhēnpersistence, determination, resolve, focus

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

Line 2: 咸臨吉無不利

咸xiánunited, joined in; shared, collective; full

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

無wúwithout; there is nothing

不bùdoubt; that is not; which cannot be

利lìworthwhile, turned to advantage

Line 3: 甘臨無攸利既憂之無咎

甘gānsweet, too easy; complacent, indulgent

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

無wúthis is no, not; this lacks, has no

攸yōudirection, purpose; an aim, orientation

利lìwith merit, of value, with rewards

既jìwhen finished, complete; following; after

憂yōuindulge in, worry about; being concerned

之zhīthis, that, it, such, thus; about this

無wúno; nothing; is no, not; avoids

咎jiùblame; is wrong; a mistake, an error

Line 4: 至臨無咎

至zhìcomplete, fulfilled, thorough, accomplished

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

無wúno; not; nothing; without, with no

咎jiùblame; is wrong; a mistake, an error

Line 5: 知臨大君之宜吉

知zhīinformed, knowing, aware, prudent

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

大dàgreat, mature, important, successful

君jūnnoble, chief, leader, ruler

之zhī...'s; resorts to, has this; in, for, to this

宜yínecessity; is adjusted, suited, fitted

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

Line 6: 敦臨吉無咎

敦dūnauthentic, honest, genuine, earnest, solid

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

無wúno; not; nothing; without, with no

咎jiùis wrong; a mistake, an error

Practical Guidance

The opportunity is here. Funding came through, team's assembled, market's ready, your skills align with the moment. Things are moving in the right direction—strong people in high places are taking notice. Good. This is the time to act. But here's what the text knows: every project has a window. The eighth month comes. That's not pessimism, that's how seasons work. You're in spring right now. Use it. Document while you remember. Train your replacement. Set up systems that don't depend on your personal energy staying maximal forever. You're not doing this alone—the 'joint approach' lines are about that. The good is finding response in influential circles. Excellent. But maintain your integrity. Don't get swept up in hype. The people who fail here aren't the ones who didn't seize the moment. They're the ones who seized it, got comfortable, forgot that everything earthly is transitory, and then got shocked when winter showed up on schedule. Approach with wisdom: attract the right people, give them freedom to work, protect what you're building. But keep one eye on the calendar. Spring ends. Always. Plan for that now, while you have the energy and resources to plan.

Get an interactive reading with this hexagram

Try the Oracle →