I Ching · Hexagram 27 of 64
27. Yí 頤 · Nourishment
By Destiny Kua · Updated
Pay attention to what you take in and what you give out.
- Upper trigram
- Mountain 艮
- Lower trigram
- Thunder 震
What hexagram 27 means
Yí is the image of an open mouth: nourishment. What you take in and what you give out shape who you are. The traditional advice is to look at what someone chooses to feed themselves and others. Be careful with food, words and influences.
Hexagram 27 in daily life
At work
Look at what feeds the team: information, culture, rewards. Nourish what you want to grow.
In relationships
Care for each other's needs. Words also nourish or poison.
For yourself
Pay attention to your diet, sleep, media and company.
The six changing lines
If your cast included changing lines (a 6 or a 9), read the matching lines below. Line 1 is the bottom line.
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Line 1 | Envying others' food while forgetting your own. Misfortune. |
| Line 2 | Seeking nourishment in the wrong place. Misfortune. |
| Line 3 | Turning away from what truly nourishes you. Misfortune for a long time. |
| Line 4 | Seeking help from above to nourish others. Good fortune. |
| Line 5 | Unable to do it alone. Stay steady; don't take on too much. |
| Line 6 | Nourishing others. Stay aware of the responsibility; good fortune. |
The two trigrams
The lower trigram, Thunder 震 (Zhèn), stands for your inner state and the root of the situation. The upper trigram, Mountain 艮 (Gèn), stands for the outer circumstances. In element terms this is Earth over Wood. Thunder is the trigram of Kua 3 and Mountain is the trigram of Kua 8.
Related hexagrams
- Opposite (every line changed): 28. Dà Guò 大過 · Great Exceeding
- Trigrams swapped: 62. Xiǎo Guò 小過 · Small Exceeding
Questions to reflect on
- What am I taking in that I should stop?
- What would truly nourish me right now?
- What am I feeding others?
Our line summaries are written in plain English in our own words, based on the traditional meanings. For reflection and entertainment, not prediction or professional advice.