Transformation · lines 1, 3, 4, and 5

Activity becomes Immaturity

Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

A spring breaks out beneath a mountain as four lines move, and Heaven's confidence becomes Water below and Mountain above. With four lines changing, look to what holds still in the resulting hexagram, 4 Immaturity: its second and top lines. The second says it's time to cultivate yourself inwardly, so your worth can show outwardly. The top says that owning the consequences of what you've done, and setting right what needs it, will help now. That's a humbling turn for so much strength, and a useful one. Where you thought you were ready, you may still have things to learn. Look for guidance, take advice seriously, and put it into practice. Own your mistakes without excuses and fix them. This isn't a setback so much as an apprenticeship. The work you do on yourself now tends to show later in everything else.

What to read, in order

Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.

  1. Line 2 of 4 Immaturity, which stays still

    It's time to cultivate yourself inwardly; then your worth will show on the outside.

    Embracing the ignorant: good fortune. Taking a wife: good fortune. The son can hold up the house.

  2. Line 6 of 4 Immaturity, which stays still

    Accepting the consequences of your actions and correcting what's needed will help you right now.

    Striking the ignorant. Being a raider is not favorable; stopping the raider is favorable.

  3. The judgment of 1 Activity

    The creative principle. Activity. New beginnings, flourishing, and the qualities you need to carry any undertaking or project through to success.

    Great success. Constancy is favorable.

  4. Line 1 of 1 Activity

    It's not yet time to act.

    A dragon under the water. Do not act.

  5. Line 3 of 1 Activity

    Things are working, yet you worry for no apparent reason.

    The noble person strives and strives all day long, and at nightfall is still watchful. Danger. No fault.

  6. Line 4 of 1 Activity

    It's time to decide whether you want to keep moving forward or stop.

    Perhaps it leaps in the abyss. No fault.

  7. Line 5 of 1 Activity

    What you undertake brings good results, and help is there if you ask for it.

    The dragon flies in the sky. It is favorable to see the great person.

  8. The judgment of 4 Immaturity

    Be aware that you don't yet have the maturity you need to reach what you're after in the area of your question. Act with humility: ask for guidance, seek advice and counsel, and put what you're told into practice.

    Success. I do not go looking for the ignorant youth; the ignorant youth comes looking for me. The first time the oracle is asked, I answer. A second and a third asking is an offense, and an offense gets no answer. Constancy is favorable.

The trigrams

Below Heaven Water
Above Heaven Mountain

The way back

4 Immaturity → 1 Activity
lines 1, 3, 4, and 5

Other transformations of Activity

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Toss the coins