What this change means
Thunder moves under heaven: four lines move, the second, third, fourth and top, and the reading rests on the still lines of 25 Innocence. The first asks you to follow the way of the heart, which knows what is right at each moment. The fifth says that when trouble comes that isn't caused by your own negligence, don't worry; little by little, things straighten out.
So the waiting of 5 Inaction becomes a test of sincerity. Act from a clean motive, without calculation, and trust what you feel to be right. If setbacks come that you didn't cause, don't scramble to fix them; give them time. Watch for hidden agendas, including the ones you hide from yourself. A simple, honest intention is the strongest position this change offers.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 1 of 25 Innocence, which stays still
Follow the way of the heart: it will always know what is right at each moment. This will lead you to success.
Without falseness. Going brings good fortune.
- Line 5 of 25 Innocence, which stays still
If adverse things happen to you that aren't caused by your own negligence, don't worry: little by little things will straighten out until they're back on course.
An undeserved illness. Take no medicine: there will be joy.
- 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.
- Line 2 of 5 Inaction
Stay calm even if gossip comes up.
Waiting on the sand. A few words against; in the end, good fortune.
- 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 4 of 5 Inaction
Any kind of action will only make things worse.
Waiting in blood. Coming out of the pit.
- Line 6 of 5 Inaction
At a moment when everything seems to be against you, help appears that will resolve the situation.
Into the pit. Three guests come without being called; receiving them with respect brings good fortune at last.
- The judgment of 25 Innocence
If you act with a pure heart, free of hidden motives and without straying from what is right, true to original human nature, you'll let the blessings of heaven reach you. Otherwise you'll meet obstacles and your affairs will become difficult.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. If it is not upright, there is calamity. It is not favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
25 Innocence → 5 Inactionlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Inaction
- 45Meetinglines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 2Passivitylines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 51Shocklines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 20Observinglines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.