Hexagram 46: Pushing Upward
Hexagram 46, Sheng (Pushing Upward): steady, patient growth like a sapling rising through soil, with effort and good guidance leading gradually higher.
- Name
- Sheng
- Upper trigram
- Earth
- Lower trigram
- Wind
The judgment
Growth moves upward steadily, like a young tree pushing through soil toward light. This is a favorable time to seek advice from people with experience, and to begin moving toward your goals. Progress may not be dramatic, but it is real. Keep going in a consistent direction and avoid anxious comparisons with how fast others seem to rise.
The image
Within the earth, a tree grows upward, one small increase at a time. A thoughtful person follows this example, building character through steady devotion and adding little things together until they become something great.
What it means for you
Sheng is about the slow, reliable kind of growth that does not need to rush. In a reading today, it might reflect a skill you are building, a career path you are climbing, or a personal change taking root. The hexagram is encouraging: effort here tends to accumulate, and obstacles tend to give way when approached patiently. It recommends seeking out mentors and people who can open doors, as well as staying humble while you rise. The image of a tree is useful. Trees do not grow by straining; they grow by staying rooted and turning toward light every day. Ask yourself what small, repeatable action could carry you upward if you kept doing it for months.
In love
In love, Sheng suggests a relationship that grows step by step. Trust and closeness may build gradually rather than all at once. Keep showing up, keep communicating, and allow things to develop naturally. If you are hoping for a deeper commitment, patience and consistency often help it along.
Work and money
Career-wise, this hexagram is favorable for steady advancement. Seek guidance from someone more experienced, take on manageable challenges, and keep improving. Your progress may feel slow, but consistent effort tends to compound into real achievement.
With changing lines
With changing lines, Sheng often describes stages of ascent: welcomed beginnings, sincere offerings, open paths, and the need to stay steady at higher levels. The lines may caution against climbing blindly. Look to the new hexagram to see where your upward movement leads.
- Free birth chart
- Moon phase on any date
- Is Mercury retrograde?
- Chinese zodiac
- Saturn return calculator
- Solar return
- Tarot birth card
- Name numerology
- Life path compatibility
- Love calculator
- Dream dictionary
- Crystal meanings
- Runes
- Tarot card of the day
- Astrology today
- Personal day number
- Planetary hours
- Printable moon calendar
- Horoscope in your calendar
Questions people ask
Is Hexagram 46 a positive sign?
Yes, it is generally considered favorable. Sheng suggests steady upward progress supported by effort and good guidance. Rather than sudden success, it describes gradual growth that builds over time. It encourages patience, humility, and seeking advice from people who have walked the path before you.
What does pushing upward mean in daily life?
It means making consistent progress through small, repeated actions. Studying a little each day, improving a skill, or slowly strengthening a relationship are all examples. Sheng reminds you that steady effort compounds. The growth may be hard to see day to day, but over months it can become significant.