Self & Other Lines

Self/Other provides an axis for the querent’s side and its counterpart. In a cooperation question, Other may locate the counterpart; in another question it may locate external circumstances. Relationships identify subject roles, while Self/Other locates perspective. A Parents line holding Self combines both labels.

For the pure palace hexagram, first through fifth generations, Wandering Soul and Returning Soul, Self is at lines 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4 and 3. Other is three positions away: pairs 1/4, 2/5 and 3/6. Establish the primary hexagram’s palace position first.

Qian has Self at the top and Other at line three; Gou has Self at the bottom and Other at line four. Self commonly locates the querent’s side and Other the counterpart. Select the question’s relationship focus separately: position, relationship and movement labels can coexist on one line.

Constructed comparison: Wood Self and Water Other give Other generating Self, directing attention to support toward the querent. Water Self and Wood Other give Self generating Other, directing attention to the querent’s contribution. Both generate, but their direction differs.

A cooperation question may also require Wealth or Parents for goods or documents. Examine how the two positions connect to that selected subject. A Self/Other combination or clash describes this positional layer, not every condition of the matter.