Waiting

需于郊，利用恆，无咎。

Waiting in the outskirts. Lasting steadiness is beneficial. No fault.

The outskirts belong to the bottom line, still far from the water trigram above. Changing this firm line to yielding makes Hexagram 48.

需于沙，小有言，終吉。

Waiting on the sand. There is some criticism. In the end, favorable.

Sand marks the centered second place, nearer the hazard but not yet in it; a yielding line here produces Hexagram 63 and its alternating line pattern.

需于泥，致寇至。

Waiting in the mud draws raiders near.

Line 3 reaches the mud at the boundary between inner heaven and outer water. If it yields, the lower trigram becomes lake and the result is Hexagram 60.

需于血，出自穴。

Waiting in blood. Coming out from the pit.

Blood and emergence from the pit occur at Line 4, the first place within the upper water trigram, which becomes lake and gives Hexagram 43 when the line is firmed.

需于酒食，貞吉。

Waiting with wine and food. Constancy is favorable.

Wine and food are set at the firm center of the upper water trigram. When Line 5 yields, that trigram becomes earth and the figure is Hexagram 11.

入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。

One enters the pit. Three uninvited guests arrive. Receive them with respect: favorable in the end.

The pit and three unexpected guests appear at the yielding top line. Made firm, it changes upper water to wind and completes Hexagram 9.