The Gentle

The Gentle. Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great person.

Winds following one upon another — the gentle penetrating everywhere. The superior person spreads their commands abroad and carries out undertakings. Gentleness is not weakness. It is the force that enters where force cannot go. The wind does not break the tree — it bends it. Persistent gentleness achieves what sudden force cannot.

Hexagram 57, The Gentle, depicts 小亨，利有攸往，利見大人。. The judgment states: The Gentle. Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great person. This hexagram belongs to the Completion group and addresses a specific configuration of forces. The I Ching describes the present moment with precision so the next natural movement becomes visible. Understanding this particular pattern of change is the first step toward responding with wisdom rather than reaction. The I Ching describes the present moment with such precision that the next natural movement becomes visible. Understanding the pattern you are in is the first step toward wise action.