What this change means
A lake at the foot of a mountain: three lines move, and the full strength of Heaven gives some of itself away. Both judgments are weighed together. 1 Activity carries the creative drive and the qualities that bring a project to success. The resulting hexagram, 41 Decrease, calls for moderation and saving: conserve your resources and energy, avoid excess of every kind, and prepare for big projects that come later. A period of growth will follow. The two readings meet in timing. Your strength is still there, but this is a season to spend it carefully. Trim what's unnecessary. Rest when you can. Keep anger and appetite in check, since both drain the reserves you'll need. What you hold back now isn't wasted; it becomes the base for the growth that follows. Restraint here is part of the creative work.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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 41 Decrease
It's a time for moderation and saving: conserving your resources and energy matters a great deal now. A period of growth will follow, but for now you need to stay aware and avoid excess of every kind while you get ready to take on big projects.
There is sincere trust. Great good fortune. No fault. Constancy is possible. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. What to offer? Two bowls will do for the offering.
- 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 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.
The trigrams
The way back
41 Decrease → 1 Activitylines 3, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Activity
- 12Declinelines 1, 2, and 3
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 2, and 4
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 3, and 4
- 42Increaselines 2, 3, and 4
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 2, and 5
- 64Transitionlines 1, 3, and 5
- 21Bitinglines 2, 3, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 4, and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 2, 4, and 5
- 31Attractionlines 1, 2, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1, 3, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 2, 3, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 4, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 2, 4, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 3, 4, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 1, 5, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 2, 5, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 3, 5, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.