Hexagram 24: Return (The Turning Point)

Structure of the sign

The turning point is indicated by the fact that, after the dark lines have pushed all the light lines upward and out, a light line now enters the hexagram again from below. The time of darkness is past. The winter solstice brings the victory of the light. The hexagram is assigned to the eleventh month, the month of the solstice (December–January).

The Judgment

Return. Success. Going out and coming in without error. Friends come without blame. To and fro goes the way. On the seventh day comes return. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. After a time of decay comes the turning point. The strong light that had previously been driven out enters again. There is movement. But this movement is not forced. The upper trigram, K'un, has devotion as its character. It is therefore a natural movement that arises of itself. For this reason, the transformation of the old is also quite easy. The old is abolished, the new is introduced; both accord with the time and therefore bring no harm. Associations of like-minded people form. But this union takes place in full public view; it accords with the time, and therefore all selfish, separate striving is excluded, and no fault arises from these associations. Return is grounded in the course of nature. The movement is circular. The path is closed within itself. Therefore one needs not artificially rush anything. Everything comes of itself when its time has come. That is the meaning of heaven and earth. All movements take place in six stages. The seventh stage then brings return. Thus in the seventh month after the summer solstice, from which the year declines, the winter solstice comes; likewise, in the seventh double hour after sunset, the sunrise arrives. Therefore seven is the number of the young light, which arises because six, the number of great darkness, increases by one. Thereby movement enters into standstill.

The Image

Thunder in the midst of the earth: the image of the turning point. Thus the ancient kings closed the passes at the time of the solstice. Merchants and strangers did not travel, and the ruler did not journey through the regions. The winter solstice has been celebrated in China from antiquity as the rest period of the year—a custom that has still been preserved in the New Year's rest. In winter the vital power—symbolized by the Arousing, thunder—is still beneath the earth. Movement is in its earliest beginnings. Therefore it must be strengthened through rest, so that it does not dissipate through premature expenditure. This principle of allowing the returning power to grow strong through rest applies to all corresponding circumstances. Returning health after an illness, returning understanding after estrangement: everything must be treated tenderly and gently at the very beginning, so that the return leads to fruition.

The lines