Hexagram 5
需 Xū
Waiting
☵ Water above ☰ Heaven
Judgment 卦辭
有孚。光亨貞吉。利涉大川。
Commentary
This isn't passive hoping—it's knowing the goal is certain and letting events ripen. Inner certainty creates the light that guides you through. When you're this grounded, even crossing dangerous waters becomes possible.
Classical Text
需卦乾下坎上 需，有孚，光亨，貞吉，利涉大川。
Hexagram Xu (Waiting): Qian below, Kan above. Waiting. There is sincerity. Brilliantly successful. Correctness brings good fortune. It is beneficial to cross the great river.
Image 象
雲上於天，需。君子以飲食宴樂。
Clouds rise toward heaven—rain will come, but not yet. Nothing to do but wait. So eat, drink, be cheerful. Anxiety doesn't speed the rain. The person of character knows when action is useless and relaxes accordingly.
Lines 爻辭
需于郊利用恆無咎
You're waiting in the open field, far from danger. Stay with your regular routines. Nothing dramatic required yet—just consistency. No blame in this.
Classical commentary
初九，需于郊，利用恒，无咎。
Initial Nine. Waiting in the outskirts. It is beneficial to employ constancy. No blame.
需于沙小有言終吉
Waiting on the sand now—closer to the water, closer to danger. Some talk, some criticism. Ignore it. Stay patient and the outcome will be good.
Classical commentary
九二，需于沙，小有言，終吉。
Nine in the Second. Waiting on the sand. There are small criticisms. Good fortune in the end.
需于泥致寇至
You've waded into the mud. Now the enemy notices you. By acting prematurely, you've attracted exactly what you feared. Caution here is critical.
Classical commentary
九三，需于泥，致寇至。
Nine in the Third. Waiting in the mud. This brings enemies upon oneself.
需于血出自穴
You're in the pit. Blood. This is life-or-death now. The only move is to get out, not to fight. Sometimes survival means accepting the situation's gravity and withdrawing.
Classical commentary
六四，需于血，出自穴。
Six in the Fourth. Waiting amid blood. One emerges from the cave.
需于酒食貞吉
Waiting amid food and drink—a pause in the danger. Don't mistake temporary comfort for final safety, but do accept nourishment when it comes. Perseverance still required.
Classical commentary
九五，需于酒食，貞吉。
Nine in the Fifth. Waiting amid wine and food. Correctness brings good fortune.
入于穴有不速之客三人來敬之終吉
You fall into the pit anyway. Three uninvited guests arrive—the danger you waited to avoid. Treat them with respect. The situation can still resolve well if you maintain dignity.
Classical commentary
上六，入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之，終吉。
Top Six. One enters the cave. Three uninvited guests arrive. Treat them with respect, and there will be good fortune in the end.