Hexagram 10The Treading (Conduct)
Upper : Heaven (Qian) - ☰Lower : Lake (Dui) - ☱
"Treading upon the tail of the tiger. It does not bite the man. Success."
The situation is exceedingly perilous: you tread behind a tiger. Yet, if your conduct is pure, innocent, and perfectly respectful of the natural order (the joy of the Lake beneath the might of Heaven), the fierce beast will not turn against you. The danger is neutralized by an impeccable demeanor.
"Heaven above, the lake below: the image of treading. Thus the noble man distinguishes between superiors and inferiors and consolidates the designs of the people."
The natural hierarchy must be respected to avert chaos. The Lake knows it is beneath Heaven and rejoices in this. It is harmony through the recognition of its rightful place.
The tiger symbolizes a highly potent archaic psychic energy (the fierce Shadow, a destructive authority figure, or an addiction). You are in direct contact with this force. Jung teaches that if you approach it with terror or arrogance, it will devour you. But if you approach it with respectful clarity and an awakened consciousness, you can tread alongside it unharmed. Your safety depends on your inner alignment.
In physics, interacting with a system of very high energy without triggering an explosive chain reaction requires absolute respect for the laws of conservation. It is the physicist's "treading" when manipulating plasma. If your frequency (your intention) is in perfect harmony with the unstable environment, you can traverse it without causing a destructive collapse.