Wind above – Water below
The Chinese name of this hexagram is Huan. In Chinese Huan once meant ice breaking up, melting and evaporating. Later it came to mean to disperse, disseminate, scatter. Dispersion addresses the need for a change of state because something (such as resentment or impediments within a relationship, for example) needs to be cleared away. Dissolution leaves an emptiness that is ready to be filled with something else, leading to a new direction, regardless of the situation. Dispersion can also symbolize spiritual experiences (such as a changing from a lower to a higher state – dense to ethereal). Other names of this hexagram are: Flowing, Scattering, Dissolution, The Flood, Expansion.
Breaking down the symbolism of the 3-line trigrams helps with understanding the ancient teachings:
When trigram Water is below (the bottom 3 lines in image below right), it references the inner realm of the person or situation. The ancient diviners saw Water as “danger” because the depth of our emotional life and our souls is like the depth of an ocean where there is mystery and unpredictability. Water doesn’t have boundaries, which means it is not a place you can live within and feel secure.
Trigram Wind is on top of trigram Water as seen in the top 3 lines of the hexagram (below right). Wind acts as a method to disperse and disseminate to the outside world that which has built up within inner trigram Water. When Wind and Water come together, floods occur (in some form), resulting in expansion and dispersion. This is akin to a safety valve because holding pressure too rigidly (such as internal anger, guilt) is destructive.
The ancient ideograph is on the upper left portion of the image below. On the left is a vertical image of the 3-line trigram indicating Water. The bottom right shows two hands, the middle is a depiction of two blocks of ice and the top is a knife. The concept is shown as the knife breaks off pieces of ice and the hands separate the pieces, the ice melts, becomes water and evaporates.
In summary: Huan (Dispersion) describes a situation where Wind moves over Water in the act of breaking up the flow, ultimately causing dispersion and evaporation. This could describe a large, destructive flood, for example, where one needs to learn to cope with and even find some small opening for personal security within a dissolution. Or it could be the dispersion of a problem (such as opinions, prejudices, obligations, contracts) within a situation, relationship or one’s own mind where, after going through it, one is able to move onto a higher path. This is the type of situation where you do not “go back to normal”. The hexagram lines councils holding back on attempts to direct what is happening.
Following are a few ideas for interpretations of each line:
Line 1 – Address any obstacle right away by dissolving it before it has a chance to take root. This may take much energy so, ask for help if needed. Ensure your actions are within your capabilities and in line with your own inner truth.
Line 2 – Keeping your eyes and mind open means dispersing prejudices and pride, seeking opportunities and moving into the flow of what is happening at this time. Maintaining your center, your objectivity and faith may garner you support from others, even when it seems that things appear to be falling apart.
Line 3 – True strength can be found in allowing your ego needs to dissolve. Clinging to an ego-driven self-image robs you of the ability to flow freely and intuitively to follow your true nature.
Line 4 – Groups or personal relationships within your life may have come to a point where there is a need for release. Old patterns of relating to others, staying with certain cliques or familiar ways of defending yourself against being approached by others need to be broken up so there is room for something new to enter your life. Let others have the flow of their lives, trust the flow of your own and your life can open, freer from restrictions and conflicts.
Line 5 – This may be a difficult time due to tension, emotions or opposition. Ancient diviners refer to the release of perspiration which comes with the dispersing of this kind of tension. Holding your trust, letting go and maintaining sincerity is called for here as there is the need for a reorganization, a new direction.
Line 6 – When situations are dispersing it is easy to get caught up in the fear of loss or letting emotional reactions take control. Avoid anger and disruptive elements as they can become destructive. Sometimes dispersion means things go away or, if they remain it is in a more united form. The key is to allow and trust in the flow by avoiding confrontations.