Slightly Beyond
xiǎo guò · Thunder over MountainDo small things carefully; leave big moves for later.
亨。利貞。可小事，不可大事。飛鳥遺之音，不宜上宜下，大吉。
The way is open for small things now; large undertakings should wait. A flying bird leaves only its call behind. Do not climb higher; stay low, and great good can come. Keep to what is right.
The six lines
初六：飛鳥以凶。
A bird takes flight too soon and meets trouble. Trying to soar before you can is a real caution.
六二：過其祖，遇其妣；不及其君，遇其臣；无咎。
You pass your grandfather and meet your grandmother; you stop short of the ruler and meet the minister. Going just this far is blameless.
九三：弗過防之，從或戕之，凶。
Do not go past this point; guard against it. Following along carelessly may get you hurt. Take this seriously.
九四：无咎，弗過遇之。往厲必戒，勿用永貞。
No fault. You meet the situation without going past it. Moving ahead is risky, so stay alert, and do not cling to one fixed course.
六五：密雲不雨，自我西郊，公弋取彼在穴。
Dense clouds from the western fields, but no rain. The duke's corded arrow takes what hides in the cave. Reach for what is near.
上六：弗遇過之，飛鳥離之，凶，是謂災眚。
You do not meet the moment but overshoot it, like a bird snared in flight. This is trouble of your own making.
The I Ching is a tool for reflection. Do not use it as the basis for medical, legal or money decisions.