Zhouyi, received text. Traditional characters are retained from the electronic reference; punctuation is editorial.
A contemporary perspective
Recognize when to stop. Pause the chase and consider where your attention belongs.
This is Fatefold’s original reflective interpretation, not a word-for-word translation or a classical prediction about a modern question.
Classical line statements · bottom to top
01
初六 艮其趾，无咎，利永貞。
02
六二 艮其腓，不拯其隨，其心不快。
03
九三 艮其限，列其夤，厲薰心。
04
六四 艮其身，无咎。
05
六五 艮其輔，言有序，悔亡。
06
上九 敦艮，吉。
Read the structure
The lower trigram is Gen · Mountain; the upper is Gen · Mountain. The six lines describe positions and stages within one situation, rather than six independent answers. Recognize when to stop. Pause the chase and consider where your attention belongs.
The Tuan discusses the judgment through polarity, position and timing. Its conditions belong with the judgment; an isolated favorable or unfavorable word does not settle a whole situation.
Great Image · from pattern to conduct
兼山，艮，君子以思不出其位。
The Great Image turns Keeping Still into a model for conduct. Alongside divinatory language, this layer asks how to act. Consider whether your approach to keeping still fits the actual conditions.
Line-by-line commentary
初六 · 1
艮其趾，无咎，利永貞。
《小象》：艮其趾，未失正也。
Pause before an impulse becomes action.
The first line concerns an initial stage and its readiness.
六二 · 2
艮其腓，不拯其隨，其心不快。
《小象》：不拯其隨，未退聽也。
Distinguish what can be controlled in a constrained response.
Line two is central within the lower trigram; consider nearby coordination. Centrality is not an automatic favorable verdict.
九三 · 3
艮其限，列其夤，厲薰心。
《小象》：艮其限，危薰心也。
A forced stop can harm the whole; restraint needs proportion.
Line three ends the lower trigram and invites attention to a threshold and its pressures.
六四 · 4
艮其身，无咎。
《小象》：艮其身，止諸躬也。
Begin restraint with one's own conduct.
Line four enters the upper trigram; consider a transition of setting or responsibility.
六五 · 5
艮其輔，言有序，悔亡。
《小象》：艮其輔，以中正也。
Order speech before responding.
Line five is central in the upper trigram; consider responsibility and the use of resources.
上九 · 6
敦艮，吉。
《小象》：敦艮之吉，以厚終也。
A steady pause is more than momentary suppression.
The top line ends this pattern; consider excess, closure and a next stage.
Relate it to your question
Separate known facts, unconfirmed information and available actions. Which part of this symbol fits, and which does not?
