Hexagram 42: Increase

Meaning

Wind above Thunder—spring wind and thunder together, the powerful forces of growth. In the I Ching's deepest layer, this hexagram shows the ruler decreasing himself to increase the people (a line from the upper trigram moves to strengthen the lower). True increase comes from the great giving to the small, from the high serving the low.

The Two Trigrams

Above is Wind: the wind that enters every crack, and the tree whose roots go where it cannot see, carrying gentle, persistent penetration. Below is Thunder: the first roll of thunder waking the sleeping roots, carrying arousing movement. Together they form the image of this hexagram.

A Taoist Teaching Story

Laozi teaches that nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water, yet nothing can beat it at wearing down what is hard and strong. Old teachers used to show their students the stones at the bottom of a mountain stream. There were no hammer marks on them. They had simply been worn smooth by a thousand years of patient water, until the hardest granite took the shape of the current.

Gentle persistence is your strongest tool now. Do not crash against the obstacle. Keep flowing around it and over it, softly, without stopping, and it will give way to you.

Archetype

The Increased, The One Who Grows Through Giving, The Ruler Who Decreases to Increase Others—you participate in the great circulation of increase through generosity

Shadow

Increase at others' expense, growth that is merely inflation, taking what belongs to others, using increase to increase separation, growing in the wrong direction

Karmic Lesson

The increase you receive reflects increase you have given. The generosity of the universe reflects your own generosity—visible or hidden, in this life or others.

Timing

This hexagram resonates with Jupiter transits, spring, and times of genuine growth and generosity. The waxing moon and early morning carry its energy.

Integration

The I Ching says: 'It furthers one to undertake something. It furthers one to cross the great water.' In times of increase, great undertakings are favored. Ask: How am I being increased, and how am I passing that increase on? Increase that is hoarded becomes decrease. Increase that is circulated multiplies.