The Wanderer

旅瑣瑣，斯其所取災。

The traveler busies themself with petty matters and thereby draws disaster.

Petty conduct draws trouble to the traveler in Line 1. Its change makes Fire below Fire, Hexagram 30. Repeated light can be read beside the narrow attention in this scene.

旅即次，懷其資，得童僕貞。

The traveler reaches lodging, carries their provisions, and gains a trustworthy young attendant.

Lodging, provisions, and a trustworthy attendant provide practical support at Line 2. Changing it makes Wind below Fire, Hexagram 50. The cauldron offers a second image of sustenance alongside the traveler’s temporary resources.

旅焚其次，喪其童僕，貞厲。

The traveler's lodging burns, and the young attendant is lost. Constancy is dangerous.

The lodging burns and the attendant is lost at Line 3; the verdict warns of danger in persistence. Its change makes Earth below Fire, Hexagram 35. The theme of progress stands in tension with the traveler’s loss of shelter and help.

旅于處，得其資斧，我心不快。

The traveler rests in a place and gains resources and an axe. My heart is not glad.

Line 4 has a stopping place, resources, and an axe, yet the heart remains unhappy. Changing it makes Mountain above Mountain, Hexagram 52. Physical stillness can be compared with the lack of inward ease in the traveler’s account.

射雉，一矢亡，終以譽命。

Shooting a pheasant, one arrow is lost. In the end, praise and an appointment are received.

At Line 5, one arrow is spent in shooting the pheasant; the passage ends with praise and an appointment. Its change makes Heaven above Mountain, Hexagram 33. The comparison places public recognition beside retreat.

鳥焚其巢，旅人先笑後號咷。喪牛于易，凶。

A bird's nest burns. The traveler laughs first and then wails. An ox is lost in the open country. Misfortune.

The burning nest and lost ox turn the traveler’s laughter into lament. Changing Line 6 makes Thunder above Mountain, Hexagram 62. Its attention to small matters can be compared with the traveler’s losses.