Traditional Reading of I Ching Hexagram 39, The Obstacle

I Ching Hexagram 39

The hexagram 39 of the I Ching, The Obstacle, is composed of Water and Mountain, two forces that make travel difficult. While the hexagram 3 Initial Difficulty indicated the difficulties involved in starting a new movement, the current hexagram indicates the obstacles that arise during its development. The sequence of Water and Mountain depicts a situation that makes movement difficult since it must be negotiated at each step and these obstacles can reduce its strength. One must therefore be alert to the possibility of finding shortcuts which may allow to escape actual difficulties by following new and more simple paths.

Quick guide for interpretation

We must keep the obstacles at distance to reach a broader vision.

I Ching Hexagram 38