Hexagram 42: Increase
䷩ 益 Yì – The Book of Changes
The Judgment
Increase indicates that in the state which it denotes there will be advantage in every movement which shall be undertaken, and that it will be advantageous even to cross the great stream.
The Image
Wind and thunder: the image of Increase. Thus the superior man, when he sees what is good, moves toward it; and when he sees his errors, he turns from them.
Description
Increase (Yi) shows wind and thunder strengthening each other: a time of growth, generosity and favorable momentum. Those above give to those below, and everything flourishes. The figure asks you to use the season for real improvement, moving toward what is good and away from your own faults.
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 Yang (bottom)
Increase begins. Favorable — energy rises; the time to act is now.
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Line 2: Old Yin
Increase with purpose. Favorable — growth aligned with truth expands the soul.
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Line 3: Old Yin
Increase with greed. Danger — expansion without depth leads to collapse; stay rooted.
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Line 4: Old Yin
Increase with joy. Favorable — celebration fuels momentum; share your light.
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Line 5: Old Yang
Increase with humility. Favorable — greatness grows quietly; serve the whole.
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Line 6: Old Yang (top)
Increase fulfilled. Favorable — the harvest is ready; give thanks.
Reading by area of life
❤️ What does hexagram 42 mean for relationships and private life?
Generosity multiplies now. Give attention, time and help, and it comes back in kind. A relationship grows when both people invest. Big steps, like moving in together, marriage or a child, are favored. Notice your own faults as well as your partner's good qualities, and act on both. Growth in love is mostly a matter of turning toward what is good.
💼 What does hexagram 42 mean for work and money?
Expansion is favored: investments, new projects, bigger undertakings. Resources flow in, and help comes from above. Use the momentum boldly but wisely. Share gains with those who made them possible; increase that benefits the whole team lasts longer. Correct mistakes quickly rather than defending them. This is the season for ambitious moves, so don't let it pass unused.
🌌 What does hexagram 42 mean for your personal path and spirituality?
Growth comes from two simple movements: toward the good, away from your errors. Practice both promptly, the moment you notice them, like wind and thunder that reinforce each other. Inner gains are especially available now, so don't wait for perfect conditions. Share what you receive; giving creates room for more. A life of steady small improvements adds up to a remarkable transformation.
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 23, Splitting Apart. It shows what is at work beneath the surface – an inner tendency, not a verdict on the situation itself.
Hexagram 23 – Splitting Apart
Splitting Apart indicates that, in the state which it symbolizes, it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever.
The two trigrams
- Upper, outer: Xun – Wind
- The Gentle (Eldest Daughter). Within, it works as quiet penetration that loosens inner blockages; without, as a connecting force that brings people and events together in the current of fate.
- Lower, inner: 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.