Hexagram 29 · Line 3
The Abysmal — 三六
Kan · San Liu
三六 · San Liu
The Line
Forward and backward, abyss on abyss. In such danger, pause at first; otherwise you will fall into a pit in the abyss. Do not act so.
Interpretation
Every step forward and backward brings one into danger. Escape is not to be thought of. Therefore one must not let oneself be seduced into action through which one would only come into still deeper danger. Rather one must, as unpleasant as lingering in such a situation is, first pause until a way out shows itself.