The judgement
It is hexagram 48 of the I Ching, formed by the Wind trigram below and the Water one above: six lines, three for each trigram. The Well: villages change, the well does not. The source is inexhaustible if the rope reaches the water and the jug does not break.
Trigrams
- Lower
- 巽 Wind
- Upper
- 坎 Water
What it means today
There is a source — craft, tradition, psyche — that must not be abandoned for fashion. Repair the rope, clean the well, drink.
Classic image
Water above wood. The wise person consoles the people and exhorts mutual aid, so the well stays shared.
Love
In love, return to what still nourishes you. Do not exchange partners if the well was good and only dirty.
Work
At work, the core competence. Invest in maintenance, not only in new wells.
Relationships
In relationships, offer drink. A well locked with a key betrays its nature.
Decisions
Yes to repairing the source. No to abandoning it from boredom. If it is poisoned, then yes: another well.
Related hexagrams
Frequently asked questions
- What does hexagram 48 The Well represent?
- The Well combines Wind (lower) and Water (upper). It is a symbolic key for reflecting on the present moment.
- How do I get a personalized reading?
- Use the interactive oracle with the three-coin method: moving lines make each consultation unique.
- Does this page quote Wilhelm?
- No. The text is original prose by the Aurapure team — not a specific classical translation.
- What are moving lines?
- Lines valued 6 or 9 in the cast. They show where the situation is changing and produce a second hexagram.
- How is the figure read?
- Bottom to top. The lower trigram is lines 1–3, the upper is lines 4–6.