What this change means
Water over water: with the first and third lines moving, the Heaven below dissolves into Water, and the danger that was only ahead of you now surrounds you. The third line leads. It's the mud, where haste brings raiders, so any rushed move now is likely to cost you. The first line tempers this: from the outskirts you still have some control, and a steady, unhurried pace keeps you clear of fault.
The resulting hexagram, 29 Water, describes obstacles arriving one after another. A stream gets past them by continuing to flow, not by stopping and not by charging. That's the balance here: don't freeze, and don't rush. Keep moving at a measured pace, one obstacle at a time. Watch for fear that paralyzes you, and watch equally for impatience that throws you into the mud. Steadiness is what carries you through.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 5 Inaction
If you act in haste, you'll run into trouble.
Waiting in the mud. It brings the raiders on.
- Line 1 of 5 Inaction
You still have control over the situation. It's time to act in a relaxed way, while keeping an eye on what's happening.
Waiting on the outskirts. It is favorable to hold steady. No fault.
- The judgment of 5 Inaction
It's time to wait, not to act. Waiting doesn't mean standing still, though: it's a good time to prepare for the active period that's coming. A calm, relaxed attitude will lead you to success: look at the conditions without lying to yourself, and stay alert so you know when it's time to act. Destiny follows its own course.
There is sincere trust. Shining success. Constancy brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
- The judgment of 29 Water
Just as a stream moves through obstacles and gets past them, following its course without stagnating, you're at a time when obstacles will come one after another, but you'll get past them if you can keep moving. Letting fear paralyze you will only leave you stuck.
There is sincere trust. Only the heart gets through. Going earns esteem.
The trigrams
The way back
29 Water → 5 Inactionlines 1 and 3
Other transformations of Inaction
- 39Held Backlines 1 and 2
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2 and 3
- 28Excesseslines 1 and 4
- 49Renewallines 2 and 4
- 58Inner Peacelines 3 and 4
- 46Going Uplines 1 and 5
- 36Darknesslines 2 and 5
- 19Fleeting Successlines 3 and 5
- 34Great Manifestationlines 4 and 5
- 57Gentlenesslines 1 and 6
- 37The Tribelines 2 and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 3 and 6
- 1Activitylines 4 and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.