What is Hexagram 45, Gathering Together?
Hexagram 45, Gathering Together (萃 Cuì), is built from Lake (兌 Duì) over Earth (坤 Kūn), and the Wilhelm-Baynes translation reads its themes as gathering, community, ceremony. The classical sources describe it as a pattern in the Book of Changes (易經 Yìjīng), a situation to recognise, not a verdict to obey.
Key Takeaways
- Hexagram 45 is built from Lake (兌 Duì) over Earth (坤 Kūn).
- Its central themes, gathering, community, ceremony, purpose, sit in the Wilhelm-Baynes lineage.
- The classical pairing matches the hexagram to Clear Quartz as the meditation stone.
- Read alongside BaZi, Kua, and Compass School sector mapping for a fuller picture.
- This is a pattern, not a verdict, the I-Ching frames reflection, not prediction.
The Judgment
Gathering Together. Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to see the great person. This brings success. Perseverance furthers. To bring great offerings creates good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something.
The Image
Over the earth, the lake: the image of Gathering Together. Thus the superior person renews their weapons in order to meet the unforeseen.
Master Wei Lin's Interpretation
Interpretation by Master Wei Lin, Chinese Metaphysics Scholar, pattern recognition, not fortune-telling
The lake above the earth, water gathering in the low places. People gathering for a common purpose. This hexagram reflects assembly, reunion, and the power of collective intention. Your question may involve community, ceremony, or the need to bring people together. The teaching: gathering requires a center, a shared purpose, a leader, a sacred space. What is the center that draws your gathering?
The Six Lines
When a changing line appears in your reading, its text carries special guidance for your situation.
Line 1 (bottom)
“If you are sincere, but not to the end, there will sometimes be confusion, sometimes gathering together. If you call out, then after one grasp of the hand you can laugh again. Regret not. Going is without blame.”
Line 2
“Letting oneself be drawn brings good fortune and remains blameless. If one is sincere, it furthers one to bring even a small offering.”
Line 3
“Gathering together amid sighs. Nothing that would further. Going is without blame. Slight humiliation.”
Line 4
“Great good fortune. No blame.”
Line 5
“If in gathering together one has position, this brings no blame. If there are some who are not yet sincerely in the work, sublime and enduring perseverance is needed. Then remorse disappears.”
Line 6 (top)
“Lamenting and sighing, floods of tears. No blame.”
🔮 Crystal for Hexagram 45
Clear Quartz
Hold Clear Quartz while meditating on Gathering Together. Its energy resonates with the themes of gathering, community, ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hexagram 45 (Gathering Together) mean?
In the Wilhelm-Baynes translation of the I-Ching (易經 Yìjīng), Hexagram 45, Gathering Together (萃 Cuì), is read through Lake (兌 Duì) over Earth (坤 Kūn). The classical sources describe its themes as gathering, community, ceremony. This is pattern recognition, not prediction.
What is the Judgment for Gathering Together?
The Judgment reads: "Gathering Together. Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to see the great person. This brings success. Perseverance furthers. To bring great offerings creates good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something.", the Judgment is the I-Ching's classical summary of the situation the hexagram describes, and what the present moment is asking of the reader.
What is the Image for Gathering Together?
The Image reads: "Over the earth, the lake: the image of Gathering Together. Thus the superior person renews their weapons in order to meet the unforeseen.", in the classical sources the Image is the elemental picture, the upper and lower trigrams in conversation, that the reader holds while sitting with the hexagram.
What crystal pairs with Hexagram 45?
Clear Quartz is the traditional pairing for Gathering Together. The classical Chinese gemology lineage associates this stone with the hexagram's central themes, hold it during meditation on the reading. This is reflective practice, not divination-as-prediction.
How is Hexagram 45 read in BaZi or Feng Shui?
An I-Ching cast is one consultation. The fuller reading, Four Pillars (四柱 Sì Zhù), Kua personal feng shui, and Compass School sector mapping, reads the hexagram alongside the chart. Master Wei Lin's Master Reading section synthesizes the Book of Changes alongside BaZi and the other Chinese metaphysics traditions.
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