Xu :: Waiting

Sacrifices and supreme offerings :: Favorable auspices for crossing a great river

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6 :: first

Waiting at the outskirts of the city to perform the heng¹ rite. No misfortune.

No matter what the situation is; waiting is auspicious. No advance means no misfortune.

9 :: second

Waiting in the sand. Slander may appear. Ultimately there is success.

You feel uncertain (sand) as you set out to do something. Though going forward is possible, you choose to wait. Though you may be slandered or criticized for what looks like indecision, waiting is correct. You are ultimately vindicated and successful.

6 :: third

Waiting in the mud. There is vulnerability to attack.

Bogged down, you are vulnerable to interference, loss, and attack. It is best to be circumspect and cautious while you wait. The situation has grown dangerous.

9 :: fourth

Waiting in blood. Escape the pit.

Waiting too long creates disaster. You must escape and cut your losses. Survival means making difficult decisions and compromises. Reform yourself; do not blame others.

9 :: fifth

Waiting amidst food and drink. Auspicious.

A long-awaited success arrives. You are not extravagant. Remember that you have only narrowly escaped disaster. Though surrounded by reward (food and drink), take only what is needed. To overindulge in success now will cause losses later on.

6 :: top

Returning home.² Three uninvited guests are waiting.
Be courteous and all goes well.

Following your long-awaited victory, the familiar (home) is unexpectedly changed. There are new allies. Integrate and use them and all will go well. Even if things seem complete there is still more to do.

Image

Xu is related to a sacrificial ritual that brings rain. One performs the rite and waits for the swelling clouds to open up. Xu is also about captives that are waiting to hear if they will be sacrificed. Xu is about a tender and vulnerable time of waiting that is a part of a situation's natural growth. Successful waiting is a matter of survival. Victory is too tentative to be celebrated.

Auspices

Sensitivity to the auspices of the time (when to wait, when to move) provides opportunity to do great things. It is favorable to deliberately delay or wait. Success, in the case of Xu, is also a narrow escape from calamity.

Good for postponing, escaping, delaying, and long-term planning.

Bad for travel and exertion of all kinds, marriage, and repairing things.

Comment

Xu suggests that waiting is a part of the natural unfolding (fate) of all situa-tions. Xu is about making the most of waiting-using the power of patience and procrastination to avoid struggle and develop wisdom in action. Accepting fate is not about abandoning intelligence. A wise and able person has the sensitivity to find the freedom within fate. The wisdom of Xu is the clarity to hold back and go forward at the right times.

Other Correspondences

Business: Postponing merger, offering, and receiving credit.

Disharmonies: Chronic illness, spleen deficiency, and shen disturbance.

Prognosis: Poor. The patient is reluctant to use radical intervention. There may be a relapse.