Hexagram 19 Lin - Complete Guide Part 3: Divination Guide — How to Read Approach in Practice
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BY NICOLE LAU
Hexagram 19 Lin - Complete Guide Part 3: Divination Guide — How to Read Approach in Practice
Lin is one of the most auspicious hexagrams to receive in a reading — but its warning about the eighth month makes it one of the most important to read carefully. This guide gives you the practical framework for reading Lin accurately in any divination context.
What Lin Is Actually Telling You
Before reading the lines, establish the fundamental orientation of Lin. The hexagram is saying: the time of genuine approach has arrived — the genuine inner energy of genuine drawing near is growing, expanding, and drawing near to the people with the genuine inexhaustibility of the earth and the genuine joy of the lake. The quality of the approach — the genuine inner virtue that grounds the drawing near — is the central question of every Lin reading.
The core message of Lin in any reading: genuine approach — the genuine drawing near that is grounded in genuine inner virtue and expressed in the genuine inexhaustibility of the earth and the genuine joy of the lake — has supreme success. But be aware of the eighth month.
Questions Lin Answers Best
- Leadership and governance: “How do I approach the people / team / organization?” — Lin’s image of the superior person who is inexhaustible in will to teach and without limits in tolerance and protection is the answer.
- Teaching and mentorship: “How do I draw near to the student / mentee?” — Lin’s Line 5 (knowing approach of the great prince) is the answer: approach with genuine wisdom, knowing the genuine needs of the person.
- Relationships and intimacy: “How do I draw near to this person?” — Lin’s six lines give the complete framework: joint approach (Lines 1–2), complete approach (Line 4), magnanimous approach (Line 6).
- Timing and natural cycles: “Is this the right time to approach?” — Lin’s warning about the eighth month is the answer: the time of genuine approach is followed by the time of withdrawal, and the person who does not recognize the natural cycle finds misfortune.
- Self-examination: “Am I approaching from genuine inner virtue or comfortable habit?” — Lin’s Line 3 (comfortable approach) is the answer: examine whether you have become comfortable in your approach and lost the genuine inner energy of genuine drawing near.
- Magnanimity and generosity: “How do I approach this situation with genuine generosity?” — Lin’s Line 6 (magnanimous approach) is the answer: approach with the genuine magnanimity of genuine inner virtue, transcending personal advantage.
What Lin Is Not Saying
- Lin does not mean approach is always appropriate. The warning about the eighth month is the most important teaching of Lin: the time of genuine approach is followed by the time of withdrawal, and the person who does not recognize the natural cycle finds misfortune.
- Lin does not mean comfortable approach is genuine approach. Line 3’s warning — comfortable approach finds nothing that furthers — is the most important warning of Lin: genuine approach is not the approach of comfortable habit but the approach of genuine inner virtue.
- Lin does not mean approach without wisdom. Line 5’s knowing approach is the standard of genuine approach: the approach that knows the genuine needs of the people and draws near with the genuine care and genuine attention of genuine wisdom.
Reading Lin Without Moving Lines
When Lin appears with no moving lines, the hexagram speaks in its full, undivided voice:
- The time of genuine approach has arrived — the genuine inner energy of genuine drawing near is growing and expanding
- Supreme success through genuine approach — draw near with the genuine inexhaustibility of the earth and the genuine joy of the lake
- Perseverance furthers — maintain genuine inner virtue through the entire journey of approach
- Be aware of the eighth month — the time of genuine approach is followed by the time of withdrawal
- Be inexhaustible in will to teach and without limits in tolerance and protection
No moving lines means: the time of genuine approach is fully present — draw near with genuine inner virtue, maintain genuine inexhaustibility, and be aware of the natural cycle of approach and withdrawal.
The Six Moving Lines: What Each Means in Practice
Line 1 Moving — Joint Approach
Changing hexagram: Hexagram 24 Fu (Return)
The beginning of genuine approach — and the changing hexagram Fu (Return) reveals the nature of the joint approach: the genuine return of genuine inner energy that is the foundation of genuine approach. The joint approach of Line 1 is the return of genuine inner virtue — the genuine return of the two yang lines that together create the genuine inner energy of genuine drawing near.
Practical guidance: Approach jointly. The genuine return of Fu — the return of genuine inner virtue — is the foundation. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Line 2 Moving — Joint Approach at Its Height
Changing hexagram: Hexagram 41 Sun (Decrease)
The fullness of joint approach — and the changing hexagram Sun (Decrease) reveals the natural consequence: the fullness of genuine approach naturally leads to the genuine decrease of Sun — the natural cycle of approach and withdrawal. Good fortune, everything furthers — but be aware that the fullness of approach naturally leads to the decrease of withdrawal.
Practical guidance: The joint approach is at its height. Good fortune, everything furthers. But be aware of the natural cycle: the fullness of approach leads to the decrease of withdrawal.
Line 3 Moving — Comfortable Approach
Changing hexagram: Hexagram 19 Lin itself → Hexagram 54 Gui Mei (The Marrying Maiden)
The comfortable approach that has lost genuine inner energy — and the changing hexagram Gui Mei (The Marrying Maiden) reveals the nature of the comfortable approach: the dependent relationship of the person who approaches from comfortable habit rather than genuine inner virtue. Grieve over the comfortable approach and return to genuine approach.
Practical guidance: Recognize the comfortable approach. Grieve over the loss of genuine inner energy. Return to genuine approach. Free of blame.
Line 4 Moving — Complete Approach
Changing hexagram: Hexagram 7 Shi (The Army)
The complete approach of genuine drawing near — and the changing hexagram Shi (The Army) reveals the nature of the complete approach: the genuine collective force of the army that is available to the person of complete approach. The complete approach of Line 4 mobilizes the genuine collective force of Shi — the genuine drawing near that has nothing to defend and nothing to protect naturally mobilizes the genuine collective force of genuine fellowship.
Practical guidance: Approach with genuine completeness. The genuine collective force of Shi is available. No blame.
Line 5 Moving — Knowing Approach
Changing hexagram: Hexagram 2 Kun (The Receptive)
The knowing approach of the great prince — and the changing hexagram Kun (The Receptive) reveals the foundation of the knowing approach: the pure receptivity of Kun is the foundation of the genuine wisdom that the knowing approach requires. The great prince who approaches with genuine wisdom does so from the pure receptivity of Kun — the genuine openness that receives all things without discrimination and knows the genuine needs of the people.
Practical guidance: Approach with genuine wisdom grounded in the pure receptivity of Kun. Know the genuine needs of the people. Good fortune.
Line 6 Moving — Magnanimous Approach
Changing hexagram: Hexagram 11 Tai (Peace)
The magnanimous approach of genuine inner virtue — and the changing hexagram Tai (Peace) reveals the natural consequence: the magnanimous approach of Line 6 finds the genuine peace of Tai as the natural consequence. The person who approaches with genuine magnanimity — who transcends personal advantage and approaches with the genuine receptivity of the earth — finds the genuine peace of Tai: the natural harmony of heaven and earth that genuine magnanimity creates.
Practical guidance: Approach with genuine magnanimity. The genuine peace of Tai is the natural consequence. Good fortune, no blame.
Five-Step Practical Reading Framework
- Assess the quality of approach: Is the approach genuine — grounded in genuine inner virtue and expressed in the genuine inexhaustibility of the earth and the genuine joy of the lake? Or is it comfortable approach — the approach of comfortable habit rather than genuine inner virtue?
- Identify the stage of approach: Which stage of Lin is the situation in — joint approach (Lines 1–2), comfortable approach (Line 3), complete approach (Line 4), knowing approach (Line 5), or magnanimous approach (Line 6)?
- Be aware of the eighth month: Is the time of genuine approach approaching its natural limit? The warning about the eighth month is the most important temporal teaching of Lin: the time of genuine approach is followed by the time of withdrawal.
- Check the changing hexagram: What does the changing hexagram reveal about the specific quality of the approach and the specific path of genuine drawing near?
- Apply the standard of genuine inner virtue: Does the approach meet the standard of genuine inner virtue — inexhaustible will to teach, without limits in tolerance and protection, knowing the genuine needs of the people?
Three Example Readings
Example 1: Leadership — “How do I approach my team?”
Result: Lin with Line 5 moving → Hexagram 2 Kun
Reading: Approach with genuine wisdom grounded in the pure receptivity of Kun. Know the genuine needs of the team. The knowing approach of the great prince — grounded in the pure receptivity of Kun — is the answer. Good fortune.
Example 2: Relationships — “How do I draw near to this person?”
Result: Lin with Line 6 moving → Hexagram 11 Tai
Reading: Approach with genuine magnanimity. Transcend personal advantage. The genuine peace of Tai — the natural harmony of genuine magnanimity — is the natural consequence. Good fortune, no blame.
Example 3: Self-examination — “Am I approaching from genuine inner virtue?”
Result: Lin with Line 3 moving → Hexagram 54 Gui Mei
Reading: You have become comfortable in your approach. Grieve over the loss of genuine inner energy. Return to genuine approach. The dependent relationship of Gui Mei is the warning: do not approach from comfortable habit. Free of blame — recognition is the beginning of return.
What Is Next in This Series
- Part 1: The Symbol and Structure
- Part 2: The Six Lines — Complete Line-by-Line Commentary
- Part 3 (This Article): Divination Guide — How to Read Lin in Practice
- Part 4: Philosophy — Lin in Confucian, Taoist, and Political Thought
- Part 5: Practical Applications — Leadership, Teaching, Mentorship, Genuine Presence
- Part 6: Modern Interpretations — Servant Leadership, Proximity Management, Presence Science
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