In practice
The judgment
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.
The poetry
Hard Beginnings
Great success. Constancy is favorable. Having somewhere to go is of no use yet. It is favorable to install lords.
The image
Clouds and thunder: hard beginnings. So the noble person weaves the threads and sets them in order.
The lines
- Line 6上六
Despite the obstacles, don't give up or lose heart.
The horses of the team pull apart. Weeping blood, in endless streams.
- Line 5九五
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.
- Line 4六四
It's wise to accept help now, even if it means leaving your pride behind.
The horses of the team pull apart. Seeking marriage. Going brings good fortune. Nothing that is not favorable.
- Line 3六三
Right now obstacles aren't solved by acting: they're solved by stepping back until conditions improve.
Chasing the deer with no gamekeeper, only going deeper into the forest. The noble person sees the sign and would rather let it go. Going on: distress.
- Line 2六二
Obstacles are on the way, but help will come. Act with caution until you feel secure and can receive that help.
Stuck, turning in place; the horses of the team pull apart. Not a raider: someone come to ask for marriage. The young woman is constant and gives no promise; after ten years she gives it.
- Line 1初九
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.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Initial Obstacles turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 29Waterlines 1 and 2
- 39Held Backlines 1 and 3
- 5Inactionlines 2 and 3
- 45Meetinglines 1 and 4
- 58Inner Peacelines 2 and 4
- 49Renewallines 3 and 4
- 2Passivitylines 1 and 5
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2 and 5
- 36Darknesslines 3 and 5
- 51Shocklines 4 and 5
- 20Observinglines 1 and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 2 and 6
- 37The Tribelines 3 and 6
- 25Innocencelines 4 and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 2, and 3
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1, 2, and 4
- 31Attractionlines 1, 3, and 4
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 3, and 4
- 7The Armylines 1, 2, and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 3, and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 2, 3, and 5
- 16Passionlines 1, 4, and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2, 4, and 5
- 55Abundancelines 3, 4, and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 2, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 3, and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 2, 3, and 6
- 12Declinelines 1, 4, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2, 4, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3, 4, and 6
- 23The Falllines 1, 5, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 2, 5, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 3, 5, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 28Excesseslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 46Going Uplines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 1Activitylines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 35Advancelines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
屯：元亨，利貞。勿用有攸往，利建侯。
象曰：雲雷，屯；君子以經綸。
初九：磐桓，利居貞，利建侯。
六二：屯如邅如，乘馬班如，匪寇婚媾，女子貞不字，十年乃字。
六三：即鹿无虞，惟入于林中，君子幾不如舍，往吝。
六四：乘馬班如，求婚媾，往，吉无不利。
九五：屯其膏；小貞吉，大貞凶。
上六：乘馬班如，泣血漣如。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.