The 64 hexagrams · No. 55
Hexagram 55: Abundance
Thunder and Lightning arriving together. Keep your bearings in a full moment.
An original modern reflection on the I Ching image. This is not a translation of the classical Judgment or line statements.
Keep your bearings in a full moment
Thunder and lightning fill the scene with activity and brightness. A crowded, productive period can make it difficult to see what deserves lasting attention. Gather the important results while they are visible. Think about the handoffs and rest that will be needed when the current burst of activity settles.
A question to sit with
Among everything happening now, which result is most worth preserving carefully?
One small step
Save one important result with a clear explanation of where it belongs. List any follow-up or handoff, and leave an actual opening for rest in your schedule.
Reading the figure
The upper trigram is Thunder; the lower trigram is Fire. The first line is at the bottom, and the sixth is at the top. You identify this hexagram from its six-line figure, not from a word match to your question.
Read the image alongside the actual circumstances you know. Notice what fits and what does not. The relating hexagram depends on your changing lines, so there is no single fixed “next hexagram” for this pattern.
What changes when one line moves?
This map changes exactly one line at a time. If your cast has several changing lines, all of them flip together; the resulting pattern may differ from every row below. These are structural changes, not translations of the classical line statements.
| Changing position | Relating hexagram |
|---|---|
| Line 1 · bottom | 62. Small Preponderance |
| Line 2 | 34. Great Power |
| Line 3 | 51. The Arousing Thunder |
| Line 4 | 36. Darkening of the Light |
| Line 5 | 49. Revolution |
| Line 6 · top | 30. The Clinging Fire |
Learn how changing lines work →
Keep a reading journal
If this hexagram appeared in a reading, note your question, your six coin totals, and one thing you want to observe. Come back later to record what happened. Your notes can help you see how your understanding changed, even when a reflection did not fit.
Try the free three-coin I Ching tool →
Classical reference: The Book of Changes. English names vary by edition; the number, pinyin and figure make the identification clear. About our method and sources.