What this change means
Heaven above, Earth below, and the two pulling apart: the upper three lines move. Both judgments speak with equal weight. 2 Passivity tells you to leave the initiative to others and work on with patience. The resulting hexagram, 12 Decline, says adverse people and situations surround you; avoid getting involved with them, whatever they offer, and withdraw to a safe place until conditions change. Together they describe a time to lie low. This isn't the season for decisions or bold moves. Be careful about whose guidance you accept, since not everyone around you means well. Draw back into your values. Keep a low profile. Protect what matters, and wait. Stagnant times don't last, and the patience you keep now tends to leave you ready when heaven and earth meet again.
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 2 Passivity
This is not the time to take the initiative to achieve things. It's better to let others guide you and to keep at your projects with patience.
Great success. The constancy of a mare is favorable. The noble person has somewhere to go: going ahead, they lose the way; following behind, they find someone to guide them. It is favorable to find friends in the southwest and to lose them in the northeast. Calm constancy brings good fortune.
- The judgment of 12 Decline
You're surrounded by adverse people and situations. Avoid getting involved with those people, no matter what they offer you. Circumstances aren't good for acting or making decisions; it's time to withdraw to a safe place and wait for conditions to change. It's time to keep a low profile.
Stagnation: these are not worthy people. The constancy of the noble person is not favorable. The great goes, the small comes.
- Line 4 of 2 Passivity
Staying away from the noise, out of sight, is the best way to get what you want.
A bag tied at the neck. No fault, no praise.
- Line 5 of 2 Passivity
Right now success depends on acting with reserve. Your light shines from within.
A yellow skirt. Great good fortune.
- Line 6 of 2 Passivity
It's not the time to lead; it's the time to follow. Trying to take a leading position now will bring retaliation on you that affects everyone.
Dragons fight in the open country. Their blood is dark and yellow.
The trigrams
The way back
12 Decline → 2 Passivitylines 4, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Passivity
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, and 3
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, and 4
- 55Abundancelines 1, 3, and 4
- 32What Lastslines 2, 3, and 4
- 60Thriftlines 1, 2, and 5
- 63After the Endlines 1, 3, and 5
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 3, and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 4, and 5
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 4, and 5
- 31Attractionlines 3, 4, and 5
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 3, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 3, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 1, 4, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 2, 4, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 3, 4, and 6
- 42Increaselines 1, 5, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2, 5, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 3, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.