Transformation · lines 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
The Army becomes Leaving Behind
What this change means
Every line but the first moves, and a mountain stands under heaven: the army turns toward an orderly withdrawal. The bottom line, the only one at rest, gives the warning. When things are hard and a retreat is unavoidable, a slow or half-hearted withdrawal, made while still hoping that road will pay off, tends to cost you.
The resulting hexagram, 33 Leaving Behind, says stepping back now isn't bad; it helps you recover strength, think carefully, and set things right. What looks like loss can become gain if you let go of what doesn't serve you and later resume in the right direction. Coming from 7 The Army, retreat is a disciplined maneuver, not a rout. Decide, move fast, and don't look back. Watch for lingering in a losing position out of hope.
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 33 Leaving Behind, which stays still
In hard times, when retreat can't be avoided, you'll suffer losses if you don't pull back quickly and actively and still hope to get something out of that road.
Retreating at the tail. Danger. Having somewhere to go is of no use yet.
- 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 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 3 of 7 The Army
If you don't keep up the conditions needed for success and you slacken in your task, there will be misfortune.
Perhaps the army hauls corpses on its carts. Misfortune.
- 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 33 Leaving Behind
Leaving a path behind or stepping back right now isn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it will help you recover your strength and think carefully about the situation and how to set it right. Sometimes what looks like a loss turns into a gain, if you can let go of what isn't good for you and then pick up again in the right direction.
Success. In small things, constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
33 Leaving Behind → 7 The Armylines 2, 3, 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.