Bi: Holding Together brings good fortune. Water on the earth: the image of Holding Together. Thus the kings of antiquity established the many states and maintained friendly relations with the lords.

Do you often feel like you need to “perform” just to fit into a certain circle, or to make someone validate you? “Bi” explores the most authentic form of belonging.

We often carry a fear of loneliness that makes us lose our sense of self, turning us into water that just flows wherever it’s pushed. But the I Ching reminds us to find connection from within. If you are in a group that exhausts you or requires constant performance, it is the wrong connection.

Keep your own “inner depth.” Real connection shouldn’t require you to please others desperately. When you can present your true self with confidence, the right people will be naturally drawn to you, just as water naturally finds the earth. Effortless connection is the only kind that lasts.

Zhuangzi spoke of “forgetting each other in the rivers and lakes”—meaning the best connections are those where you don’t even have to think about “fitting in.” If staying with someone is tiring, the frequency is simply off. Don’t worry about being the “latecomer” to a trend; follow your own nature. Water flows on the earth naturally. Drop the social anxiety—good relationships are never forced.