What this change means
Thunder rolls beneath heaven when every line except the third moves, and the army's hidden water becomes open, natural movement. Listen to that one unmoving line. It asks you to observe first and choose your timing, since even a kind act can go wrong when it comes at a bad moment.
The resulting hexagram, 25 Innocence, says that acting with a pure heart, without hidden motives or straying from what's right, lets blessings reach you; otherwise obstacles pile up. Coming from 7 The Army, this means your discipline should serve honest aims and good timing. Good intentions aren't enough on their own. Check your motives, then check the moment. Watch for doing the right thing too early or too late. Sincerity combined with patience is what lets this movement turn out well.
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 25 Innocence, which stays still
Watch and act at the right time, because a good deed done at the wrong moment turns out badly.
An undeserved calamity: someone tied up an ox; the traveler takes it, and the calamity falls on the villagers.
- The judgment of 7 The Army
Whatever your question, the favorable answer comes from acting with discipline and organization: face the situation head-on and speak clearly, say what you want, without trying to impose it.
The constancy of a seasoned leader brings good fortune. No fault.
- Line 1 of 7 The Army
There has to be a just cause for you to move in the direction you want.
The army sets out under discipline. Without good order: misfortune.
- Line 2 of 7 The Army
Keep up your activity and discipline to reach what you want, and you'll get it.
In the midst of the army: good fortune. No fault. Three times the king bestows his charge.
- Line 4 of 7 The Army
If you feel you don't have enough in place to succeed, it's better to pull back and wait for a better moment to act again.
The army withdraws and makes camp. No fault.
- Line 5 of 7 The Army
Choosing the situations you're able to face will keep you out of useless fights.
There is game in the field. It is favorable to seize it. No fault. The eldest son leads the army; the younger son hauls corpses. Even with constancy, misfortune.
- Line 6 of 7 The Army
You'll get real achievements and results, but choose carefully who you surround yourself with right now.
The great prince gives his command: founding states, conferring houses. Do not employ the petty person.
- 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 → 7 The Armylines 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6
Other transformations of The Army
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.