Hexagram 29: The Abyss
Outer trigram (upper)
Khảm
Water · Water
Inner trigram (lower)
Khảm
Water · Water
Judgment
習坎：有孚，維心亨，行有尚.
Translation
Repeated Pitfall (danger upon danger): with sincere trust, holding firm brings success, and acting brings praise.
Commentary
Kan above and Kan below: danger stacked upon danger. But lines 2 and 5 are both yang holding the center, so a steady, sincere trust can carry one through even repeated danger. Repeated Pitfall means facing danger again and again, and being tempered by it.
Line Readings
Line 1 (yin)
初六：習坎，入于坎窞，凶.
Translation
Grown used to danger, one falls into a deep pit within it — misfortune.
Commentary
Line 1, yin, sits at the very bottom of danger, lacking the strength of character to get through it. The more familiar one becomes with danger, the deeper one sinks.
Line 2 (yang)
九二：坎有險，求小得.
Translation
Within danger there is peril, but a little can still be gained.
Commentary
Line 2, yang, holds the center. Even surrounded by danger, some small gain is possible. By holding to the center, one gradually finds a way out.
Line 3 (yin)
六三：來之坎坎，險且枕，入于坎窞，勿用.
Translation
Danger wherever one turns, danger piled upon danger, falling into a deep pit — nothing should be attempted.
Commentary
Line 3, yin, holds neither the center nor a correct position, and is hemmed in by danger both above and below. There is nothing to be done.
Line 4 (yin)
六四：樽酒簋，貳用缶，納約自牖，終无咎.
Translation
A jar of wine, a dish of food, served in plain earthenware, offerings passed in through the window — in the end, no blame.
Commentary
Line 4, yin, holds a correct position. Dealing with others simply and sincerely, without show, and finding the right approach (as through a window) — in the end there is no blame.
Line 5 (yang)
九五：坎不盈，祇既平，无咎.
Translation
The danger has not yet reached its fullest — if one stays calm and level, there is no blame.
Commentary
Line 5, yang, holds the center in the position of honor. Remaining calm within danger and holding to the center, one finds the danger has not yet reached its peak, and it will gradually pass.
Line 6 (yin)
上六：係用徽纆，寘于叢棘，三歲不得，凶.
Translation
Bound with cords and thrown into a thicket of thorns, unable to escape for three years — misfortune.
Commentary
Line 6, yin, sits at the top of repeated danger, holding neither the center nor a correct position, with no way to escape. Imprisoned for three years — misfortune at its worst.