What this change means
The first and last lines move, the base and the summit, and the hexagram becomes a lake rising over trees. The top line leads: the dragon climbs too high, and pride may be your worst enemy. The first line adds that it's not yet time to act. Overreach at the top, unreadiness at the bottom: the structure is strained at both ends. The resulting hexagram, 28 Excesses, describes exactly this load. What you've built needs extraordinary care to keep from collapsing. Check the foundations, strengthen what holds your projects up, and be willing to take unusual steps. That means letting go of pride enough to see the weak points, and not rushing into new action before the base is sound. Stand firm, even alone if you have to. Done well, the beam holds; neglected, it gives way.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 6 of 1 Activity
Pride may be your worst enemy right now.
A dragon that climbs too high. There is regret.
- Line 1 of 1 Activity
It's not yet time to act.
A dragon under the water. Do not act.
- 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.
- The judgment of 28 Excesses
You're in a situation that calls for extraordinary measures to keep what you've achieved from collapsing. Check and strengthen the foundations that hold up your projects, take innovative action and step out of your comfort zone. That way your success is assured; otherwise, loss can't be avoided.
The ridgepole sags. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. Success.
The trigrams
The way back
28 Excesses → 1 Activitylines 1 and 6
Other transformations of Activity
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1 and 2
- 6Conflictlines 1 and 3
- 25Innocencelines 2 and 3
- 57Gentlenesslines 1 and 4
- 37The Tribelines 2 and 4
- 61Inner Integritylines 3 and 4
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1 and 5
- 30The Flamelines 2 and 5
- 38Oppositeslines 3 and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 4 and 5
- 49Renewallines 2 and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 3 and 6
- 5Inactionlines 4 and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.