Transformation · lines 2, 3, 4, and 6
Activity becomes Initial Obstacles
What this change means
Clouds and thunder: four lines move, and the clear sky of Heaven fills with the tension of something being born. Four lines change, so attention goes to the still first and fifth lines of the resulting hexagram, 3 Initial Obstacles. The first says it's time to let others act for you. The fifth asks you to act with caution, step by step, without rushing. That's a surprising turn for so much strength, and a wise one. The beginning is tangled, and charging in would only knot it further. Find allies who can represent you, delegate what others can handle, and move carefully yourself. Stay alert, too, so you notice when it's time to take back the initiative. Like weaving threads into order, this stage asks for patience and many small corrections rather than one decisive pull.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 1 of 3 Initial Obstacles, which stays still
It's time to let others act for you.
Hesitating, circling by the rock. Abiding in constancy is favorable. It is favorable to install lords.
- Line 5 of 3 Initial Obstacles, which stays still
Act with caution, step by step, without rushing.
Holding back its richness. In small things, constancy brings good fortune; in great things, even with constancy, misfortune.
- 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.
- Line 2 of 1 Activity
It's time to talk with the people who can help you.
The dragon shows itself in the field. It is favorable to see the great person.
- 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.
- 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.
- Line 6 of 1 Activity
Pride may be your worst enemy right now.
A dragon that climbs too high. There is regret.
- The judgment of 3 Initial Obstacles
This isn't the time to act directly: look for people who can act for you, allies who represent you. Still, stay alert so you know when the time comes to take back the initiative and control.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. Having somewhere to go is of no use yet. It is favorable to install lords.
The trigrams
The way back
3 Initial Obstacles → 1 Activitylines 2, 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Activity
- 20Observinglines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 35Advancelines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 52Abidinglines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 27Nourishmentlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 45Meetinglines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 39Held Backlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 51Shocklines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.