Nourishment
頤 · Yí
The Judgment
Nourishment. Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay attention to nourishment and to what you feed your body and spirit.
The Image
At the foot of the mountain is thunder: the image of Nourishment. Thus the superior person is careful with words and moderate in eating and drinking.
Interpretation
Yí has the shape of an open mouth: the yang lines above and below represent the lips, and the four intermediate yin lines are the oral cavity. This hexagram asks you directly: what do you feed on? Not only physically but also emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. What do you consume with your eyes, ears, mind? Do you nourish your soul with wisdom or garbage? The quality of your nourishment at all levels determines your life's quality. Be careful with what enters your mouth and what comes out of it.
In love
Yí in love invites you to examine what nourishes your relationship and what depletes it. Do you feed each other with love and respect or wear each other down with criticism and neglect? Mind the words you use with your partner: they can nourish or poison. For singles, ask if you're emotionally nourished before seeking a partner.
In career
Yí in work relates to continuous training, learning, and intellectual nourishment. Are you feeding your mind with relevant knowledge? Does your work nourish or consume you? It's time to invest in your professional development and ensure your work environment is healthy.
Advice
Nourishment reminds you that you are what you consume. Consciously choose your physical, emotional, and intellectual nourishment. Moderate your words and appetites. True health begins with what you let in and what you choose to expel.
Changing lines
The changing lines of Yí explore different aspects of nourishment: from self-sufficiency to dependence on others for sustenance. Observe whether you nourish others at the cost of your own wellbeing.