Hexagram 40 (Xie): Deliverance, When the Storm Passes, and Forgiving People
Visual Guide: Hexagram 40 (Xie): Deliverance, When the Storm Passes, and Forgiving People
The Quick Answer
Hexagram 40 (Xie) means "Deliverance" or sweet relief! Picture a heavy thunderstorm on a boiling hot summer afternoon. The rain washes the dust away, the lightning clears the tension, and the air smells fresh again. Obstacles are melting away. Forgive, pack your bags, and move forward.
The Story of Hexagram 40: The Thunder Breaks the Heat
Hexagram 40 has Thunder above and Water (Rain) below. Thunder shakes things up, rain falls, and suddenly the long, suffocating heatwave is gone. It represents the sweet feeling of taking off heavy boots after hiking all day.
The Wilhelm book says: "If there is no longer anything to go to, return brings good fortune. If there is still something to go to, haste brings good fortune." If an argument is over, don’t keep bringing it up! Return to your normal peaceful life. If you still have something to fix, do it quickly and then let it go.
Hexagram 40 in Love and Healing
If you have been holding a grudge against your partner or an ex, Hexagram 40 gives you permission to let it go. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean what they did was okay—it means you refuse to let old anger poison your peace of mind anymore.
Clear the air with a clean slate. A fresh chapter is opening for you right now.
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References & Sources:
- Hexagram 40 Xie (Deliverance) (The Complete I Ching)
