Read a record of the questions asked of I Ching, read the response, and read the comments of others

On May 11, 2010 at 8:13 PM Eliora asked:

Will I be able to utilize the knowledge gained from my focus on real estate and financial studies, providing something worthwhile for me to do which will be beneficial to others as well?

and received a response of:

8 Joining

The Statement of the first hexagram

Joining brings fortune.
Repeating the divination by yarrow stalks
brings a supreme and lasting omen
without fault.
Those who are not sure
will join the plan.
Those who are late
will meet misfortune.

The changing lines

The first line:
Have confidence. Joining is without fault.
Be as full of trust as an overflowing pot.
At last, another will come. Fortune.

The second line:
Joining from within our own people.
Pure fortune.

The fifth line:
Glorious joining. The king uses three beaters
to flush the birds before him,
but citizens need no such coercion. Fortune.

The sixth line:
Joining without a leader:
misfortune.

41 Decrease

The Statement of the second hexagram

Decrease. Have confidence.

Great fortune. No fault

if one can be upright.

Gain by having a place to go.

How should one act?

Two square bamboo baskets

can be used in offering.

The Image of the first hexagram

Water pooled
on the earth: joining.
The early kings founded
the myriad nations,
and kept close ties
with all the leaders.

The Image of the second hexagram

Lake below mountain:
decrease. The noble one
halts his anger
and curbs his desires.