Transformation · lines 1 and 6
Initial Obstacles becomes Observing
What this change means
Wind moving over the earth: the top and first lines move, and the two ends of 3 Initial Obstacles change together. The top line leads, and it speaks from the depth of discouragement, horses pulling apart, tears that won't stop. Its counsel is to keep going and not lose heart. The first line, at the other end, tempers that persistence with patience: hold your ground like someone circling a rock, and let trusted people act in your place. Between them, the message is to endure without forcing.
The resulting hexagram, 20 Observing, shows how. Look before you act. You may be inspiring others right now even while you struggle, and you also need to watch closely those who inspire you. Things tend to unfold well when their moment comes, not before. Watch for giving up out of fatigue, and equally for jumping in out of frustration. Stay, observe, and let the right people move.
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 3 Initial Obstacles
Despite the obstacles, don't give up or lose heart.
The horses of the team pull apart. Weeping blood, in endless streams.
- Line 1 of 3 Initial Obstacles
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.
- 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 judgment of 20 Observing
Observe before you act. Right now you're a source of inspiration for others, and at the same time you need to observe those who inspire you. This will let things unfold at the right moment, and perfectly.
Hands washed, the offering not yet made. There is sincere trust, solemn and grave.
The trigrams
The way back
20 Observing → 3 Initial Obstacleslines 1 and 6
Other transformations of Initial Obstacles
- 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
- 61Inner Integritylines 2 and 6
- 37The Tribelines 3 and 6
- 25Innocencelines 4 and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.