Hexagram 40: Deliverance
䷧ 解 Xiè – The Book of Changes
The Judgment
In Deliverance advantage will be found in the southwest. If no further operations are called for, there will be good fortune in coming back to the old conditions. If some operations are called for, there will be good fortune in the early conducting of them.
The Image
Thunder and rain in manifestation: the image of Deliverance. Thus the superior man forgives errors and deals gently with crimes.
Description
Deliverance (Xie) shows thunder and rain breaking the tension: the storm has passed, the air is clear, and what was knotted comes loose. Return to normal life quickly, tie up loose ends, and forgive rather than prolong old grievances. Where something remains to be done, do it early.
The six lines
A line's place shapes its role: 1 the beginning, 2 the center of the inner world, 3 the threshold to the outside, 4 close to power, 5 the ruler's place, 6 the end and the excess. Keep this grid in mind and the line texts become much easier to read. More in the guide →
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Line 1: Old Yin (bottom)
Deliverance begins. Favorable — tension releases; the knot unties.
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Line 2: Old Yang
Deliverance with clarity. Favorable — truth frees the heart; speak it.
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Line 3: Old Yin
Deliverance with haste. Danger — rushing the release breaks the rhythm; trust the timing.
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Line 4: Old Yang
Deliverance with forgiveness. Favorable — letting go heals the wound; open your hands.
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Line 5: Old Yin
Deliverance with joy. Favorable — freedom brings lightness; dance again.
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Line 6: Old Yin (top)
Deliverance complete. Favorable — the burden lifts; walk renewed.
Reading by area of life
❤️ What does hexagram 40 mean for relationships and private life?
The knot finally loosens. An argument is resolved, a burden lifts, a period of strain ends. Let it really end: forgive, don't keep score, don't reopen old wounds for the sake of being right. If something still needs to be settled, settle it soon. Then return to ordinary life together, and laugh about it if you can. Relief shared lightly becomes a new beginning.
💼 What does hexagram 40 mean for work and money?
Problems are dissolving. Delays clear, conflicts settle, cash flow eases. Move quickly to finish what remains: close the deal, fix the last bug, sign the contract. Don't let small leftovers fester; a clean finish now saves weeks later. Be lenient with mistakes others made during the difficult phase, since a fresh start works better without lingering blame. Then return to normal operations.
🌌 What does hexagram 40 mean for your personal path and spirituality?
Unclench. Guilt, grudges and the tension your body has been holding can finally go. Forgiveness, of others and of yourself, frees more energy than any technique. Notice what knots remain and address them promptly. After the storm the air is fresh; breathe it in fully and return to simple, everyday practice. Lightness after hardship is not superficial; it is earned.
Nuclear hexagram
Lines 2, 3 and 4 form the lower trigram, lines 3, 4 and 5 the upper one. Leaving out the beginning and the end reveals the core of the situation, what is at work out of sight. It is a secondary aspect, not a second verdict. If it seems to contradict the main hexagram, that happens and is not an error. More in the guide →
Lines 2, 3, 4 and 3, 4, 5 form nuclear hexagram 63, After Completion. It shows what is at work beneath the surface – an inner tendency, not a verdict on the situation itself.
Hexagram 63 – After Completion
After Completion intimates progress and success in small matters. There will be advantage in being firm and correct. There has been good fortune in the beginning; there may be disorder in the end.
The two trigrams
- Upper, outer: Zhen – Thunder
- The Arousing (Eldest Son). Within, it is the impulse to change, to wake up and break free; without, a sudden jolt that shatters rigidity and sets things moving.
- Lower, inner: Kan – Water
- The Abysmal (Middle Son). Within, it stands for trial, depth and commitment; without, for a passage through the dark that brings hidden resources to light.