What this change means
Heaven lies under the wind as four lines move, the first three and the top, and the alliance enters a time of small restraint. The fourth and fifth places stay still in the new figure, and they hold the advice. The fourth says that if you act fairly, early difficulties fade little by little until you reach your goal. The fifth says allying with others and being loyal in that alliance brings success.
The resulting hexagram, 9 Small Things, describes a promising situation whose moment hasn't arrived; obstacles remain, so take small actions and wait to act at scale. So keep the alliance alive while the big move waits. Be fair, be loyal, and do what can be done now. Watch for frustration splitting the group before its time comes. Patience shared with trusted partners tends to turn small steps into the larger result.
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 9 Small Things, which stays still
If you act fairly, you may meet difficulties at first, but little by little the obstacles will fade until you reach your goal.
There is sincere trust. The blood goes, the fear leaves. No fault.
- Line 5 of 9 Small Things, which stays still
Allying with others and being loyal in that alliance will bring success.
There is sincere trust, bound together as by a cord. Growing rich alongside the neighbor.
- 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.
- Line 1 of 8 Union
The right help will come.
There is sincere trust: join with them. No fault. Sincere trust fills the earthen jar; in the end something more arrives. Good fortune.
- Line 2 of 8 Union
When you speak sincerely about what you need from others, you'll receive the right help.
Joining from within. Constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 3 of 8 Union
You tend to choose badly the people you join with. Avoid shallow alliances that won't bear good fruit.
Joining with those who are not the right ones.
- Line 6 of 8 Union
If you're slow to seek alliances, by the time you realize you need help it will be too late.
Joining with no head. Misfortune.
- The judgment of 9 Small Things
You're facing a situation that promises success, but it isn't time yet. There are still obstacles on the way that you need to resolve. For now you can take small actions and wait for the right moment to act on a large scale.
Success. Dense clouds and no rain, from my western outskirts.
The trigrams
The way back
9 Small Things → 8 Unionlines 1, 2, 3, and 6
Other transformations of Union
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 55Abundancelines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 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.