After Completion
Water over fire, the image of completion, the moment when the work is done and decay begins.
After completion. Success in small matters. Perseverance furthers. At the beginning good fortune. At the end disorder.
Water over fire, the image of after completion. The superior person takes thought of misfortune and arms against it in advance.
In plain terms: Hexagram 63, "After Completion", is one of the 64 symbols in the I Ching — an ancient Chinese book you consult for guidance, a bit like asking a wise advisor. Its core message: water over fire, the image of completion, the moment when the work is done and decay begins..
Modern Interpretation
A completion hexagram about the moment when a work is finished and the seeds of its decay begin. Water above fire; the cooking is done. The classical counsel is to recognize that completion is also the beginning of the next decline, and to prepare for the decline while the order is still intact. In modern terms this is the achieved goal, the launched product, the closed deal; the right action is to use the moment of completion to plan for what comes next, before complacency sets in.
Application by Life Domain
Honor the completion. Then turn to what comes next; do not coast on the achieved bond.
You shipped. Do not stop. The next product, the next chapter, the next phase begins now while the team still has momentum.
Yes, on the small matters. The big completion is also the beginning of the next decline; prepare.
Use completion to plan the next chapter. Decay begins at the moment of finish; only attention prevents it.
The Trigrams of This Hexagram
Upper: Kan (坎)
Water, the Abysmal, danger and depth. In Five Element terms: Yang Water.
Lower: Li (离)
Fire, the Clinging, light and dependence. In Five Element terms: Yin Fire.
Other Hexagrams
Browse other hexagrams in the I Ching sequence.