What this change means
Earth and water trade places when the second and fifth lines move: the army that was hidden inside the earth now flows openly over it. The fifth line leads, asking you to choose situations you can face and avoid useless fights, and to let the right person lead. The second line keeps the work going: steady activity and discipline get you what you want, and earn trust that's renewed again and again.
The resulting hexagram, 8 Union, says success now lies in joining people who are aligned with your project and support you, while making sure you, too, have what it takes to carry it through. The campaign becomes a coalition. Watch for fighting battles alone that you could win together. Choose your allies as carefully as your fights, keep doing your part with discipline, and check honestly whether you're ready for the role you want.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- The judgment of 8 Union
Right now success lies in joining with people who are aligned with your project and who are a support for you. But it's important that you, too, have the qualities needed to carry it out; that's why you can toss the coins once more to find out whether you have those qualities.
Good fortune. Consult the oracle again: great and lasting constancy. No fault. The restless come from every side. The one who comes late: misfortune.
The trigrams
The way back
8 Union → 7 The Armylines 2 and 5
Other transformations of The Army
- 24Coming Backlines 1 and 2
- 11Well-Beinglines 1 and 3
- 15Simplicitylines 2 and 3
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1 and 4
- 16Passionlines 2 and 4
- 32What Lastslines 3 and 4
- 60Thriftlines 1 and 5
- 48Right Actionlines 3 and 5
- 47Overwhelmedlines 4 and 5
- 41Decreaselines 1 and 6
- 23The Falllines 2 and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 3 and 6
- 64Transitionlines 4 and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.