What to Do When Timing Isn’t Right: Hexagram Waiting (Xu) – Waiting Is 10x Harder Than You Think

The Hexagram *Waiting* comes right after *Difficulty at the Beginning* and *Youthful Folly*. *Difficulty at the Beginning* marks the very start of an endeavor; *Youthful Folly* is the stage where you still lack understanding; *Waiting* is when you’ve got the know-how, but the timing isn’t right yet.

Put together, these three hexagrams form the early trilogy of getting anything done: first you start, then you learn, then you wait.

A lot of people crash and burn at that third step. They don’t fear starting, they don’t fear learning — they just can’t stand waiting.

The Image of the Waiting Hexagram

With *Kan / The Abysmal* above and *Qian / The Creative* below, the image is clouds rising up to the heavens. The clouds are already up in the sky, but they haven’t turned into rain and fallen yet. You can see the hope, but it hasn’t materialized on the ground. That’s what “Xu (Waiting)” is all about — holding on for the right moment.

The *Xiang Commentary* says, “The Junzi (Superior Person) takes ease in food, drink, and merrymaking.” What do you do while you wait? Eat well, drink well, enjoy yourself. This isn’t lying flat and giving up — it’s recharging your strength.

Wen Laoshi says most people spend their waiting time drowning in anxiety. Anxiety isn’t waiting — it’s self-sabotage from inner friction. True waiting means you know full well the timing isn’t right, but you don’t panic. You use this stretch of time to get yourself into the best possible shape.

What the Hexagram Judgment Tells Us

The Hexagram Judgment for *Waiting* goes: “有孚，光亨，贞吉。利涉大川。 (Sincerity and Trust, brilliant success, perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.)”

“有孚 (Sincerity and Trust)” means you have a solid sense of certainty inside. You know exactly what you’re waiting for, and you know there’s a good chance it will come to pass.

“光亨 (brilliant success)” means the path ahead is bright.

“贞吉 (perseverance brings good fortune)” means if you stay true to the right path, the outcome will be positive.

“利涉大川 (It furthers one to cross the great water)” means once the timing is ripe, you’ll be able to take on huge, meaningful endeavors.

But here’s the catch — you have to actually wait long enough for that moment to come.

What the Waiting Hexagram Teaches You

Put plainly, it boils down to three lessons.

First, waiting is not passivity. The waiting in this hexagram is active waiting. You prepare while you hold on, so when the moment arrives, you can jump right in. Passive inaction is just lying flat — that’s not what *Waiting* is about.

Second, you can only wait if you have a solid foundation. The hexagram speaks of “有孚 (Sincerity and Trust)” — you need to have clarity in your heart. You can only wait at peace if you know you’re heading in the right direction and that your preparations are mostly complete. Waiting without that sense of certainty is just torment.

Third, don’t burn yourself out while you wait. The *Xiang Commentary* mentions “food, drink, and merrymaking” to drive this home: eat when you need to, rest when you need to, keep your energy up. If you spiral in anxiety over and over, you’ll be worn out before the right moment even shows up.

One Final Thought

*Waiting* is the most underrated hexagram of all. Everyone wants to be the flying dragon soaring high — no one wants to be the one stuck waiting. But without the groundwork laid during waiting periods, even if you do take off, you won’t be able to fly far.

Wen Laoshi says those who know how to wait are the ones who win. It sounds simple enough, but pulling it off is no easy feat.