Transformation · lines 3, 4, and 6
Initial Obstacles becomes Gathering with Equals
What this change means
Fire rising toward heaven, a light that draws kindred people together: the third, fourth and top lines move, and the isolated start of 3 Initial Obstacles opens into community. Three moving lines weigh both judgments equally. The starting judgment asks for indirect action: put trusted people in front for now, people who can speak and move for you, and keep watching for the hour to lead.
The resulting hexagram, 13 Gathering with Equals, shows those people arriving. It's a time of meeting others with a nature like yours, building relationships of trust and mutual support, and taking on large, innovative work together. Read as a pair, the judgments suggest that the allies you need aren't just helpers; they can become true partners. Choose them for shared values. Watch for settling for convenient company. The right group makes the hard start worthwhile.
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 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 13 Gathering with Equals
It's a time of meetings with people of a high nature like yours, with whom you can carry out important tasks and projects. Relationships built on trust and mutual support take shape. Large, innovative projects are favored.
Community in the open country. Success. It is favorable to cross the great river. The constancy of the noble person is favorable.
- Line 3 of 3 Initial Obstacles
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 4 of 3 Initial Obstacles
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 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.
The trigrams
The way back
13 Gathering with Equals → 3 Initial Obstacleslines 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Initial Obstacles
- 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
- 23The Falllines 1, 5, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 2, 5, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 3, 5, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.