What this change means
Water on the mountain: four lines move, the second, third, fourth and top, and the still lines of 39 Held Back carry the reading. The first says a strategic retreat in the face of obstacles helps you reflect, find new strategies, and act when conditions are right. The fifth says your strong conviction and clear goals keep you going despite the obstacles, and your inner strength draws help.
So the conflict becomes hard going, and both lines point the same way: step back without giving up. Retreat to think, not to surrender. Your aims remain valid; the method needs adjusting. Watch for confusing retreat with defeat, or for charging the same wall again. Help tends to come to those who keep their purpose and change their approach.
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 39 Held Back, which stays still
A strategic retreat in the face of obstacles will help you reflect, come up with new strategies, and act when conditions are right.
Going: hardship. Coming: praise.
- Line 5 of 39 Held Back, which stays still
You have great conviction and clear goals, which let you keep going despite the obstacles. Your inner strength will draw help to you.
Great hardship: friends arrive.
- The judgment of 6 Conflict
A conflict is arising that can't be solved by action; cleverness works better than force. Recognizing that you can't resolve anything right now, letting events take their course, and seeking the advice of someone wise in this area will help you get out of the conflict.
There is sincere trust, but it is blocked. Caution: stopping halfway brings good fortune; going all the way to the end, misfortune. It is favorable to see the great person. It is not favorable to cross the great river.
- Line 2 of 6 Conflict
Withdrawing in time, even if it looks cowardly, is the best move right now.
Unable to win the lawsuit. Turning back, slipping away; the people of the town, three hundred households, come to no harm.
- Line 3 of 6 Conflict
What you've gained honestly can't be taken from you. Even if gossip comes up, don't be intimidated; hold firm.
Feeding on old virtue. Constancy is in danger; in the end, good fortune. If it serves in the king's affairs, no achievement of its own.
- Line 4 of 6 Conflict
Accepting the adverse conditions of this moment without fighting them, and staying flexible, will lead you to success in the middle of difficulties.
Unable to win the lawsuit. Turning back, accepting the decree, changing. Calm constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 6 of 6 Conflict
Insisting on being right at this moment will only make you lose.
Perhaps a belt of honor is bestowed; before the morning is out, it is stripped away three times.
- The judgment of 39 Held Back
Every time you advance, something blocks you, forcing you to stop, step back, and look for help from like-minded people who give you their support. That way you'll get past the obstacles one by one until the final victory.
The southwest is favorable; the northeast is not. It is favorable to see the great person. Constancy brings good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
39 Held Back → 6 Conflictlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Conflict
- 37The Tribelines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 30The Flamelines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 52Abidinglines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 49Renewallines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 51Shocklines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 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.