What this change means
Lake joins lake as the third and fourth lines move, and the tension of 5 Inaction softens into still water on both levels. Yet the lines themselves are harsh. The fourth leads: you're waiting in blood, and any action now only makes it worse, though the way out of the pit is there. The third adds the warning of the mud, where haste invites raiders. Both say the same thing: don't move rashly.
The resulting hexagram, 58 Inner Peace, shows where that restraint leads. Calm and inner peace let you achieve great things, and time with people whose energy is like yours can recharge you. It also warns against drifting into inertia. So stay still, but not asleep. Seek good company, keep your goals in sight, and watch for the moment when rest turns into avoidance.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 4 of 5 Inaction
Any kind of action will only make things worse.
Waiting in blood. Coming out of the pit.
- Line 3 of 5 Inaction
If you act in haste, you'll run into trouble.
Waiting in the mud. It brings the raiders on.
- 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 58 Inner Peace
You're in a time of calm and inner peace that lets you achieve great things. Spending time with people whose energy is like yours will nourish and recharge you to reach your aims. Still, don't lose sight of your goals, or you'll slide into inertia.
Success. Constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
58 Inner Peace → 5 Inactionlines 3 and 4
Other transformations of Inaction
- 39Held Backlines 1 and 2
- 29Waterlines 1 and 3
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2 and 3
- 28Excesseslines 1 and 4
- 49Renewallines 2 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.