Transformation · lines 1, 3, 4, and 6
Union becomes Gathering with Equals
What this change means
Fire meets heaven as the first, third, fourth and top lines move, and the alliance opens into a community of peers. In the new figure the second and fifth lines stay still, and that's where the counsel lies. The second warns that if you join people who try to exclude others, the projects won't advance. The fifth says that even when differences seem impossible to bridge, patience and a willing heart bring union back.
The resulting hexagram, 13 Gathering with Equals, describes meeting people of a high nature like yours and building relationships on trust and mutual support, with large, innovative projects favored. So the union widens, and it must stay open. Avoid cliques and closed circles. Be patient with real disagreements. Watch for loyalty that turns into exclusion. A generous, inclusive group tends to accomplish far more than a narrow one.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 2 of 13 Gathering with Equals, which stays still
If you join with people who try to exclude others, the projects won't move forward.
Community within the clan. Distress.
- Line 5 of 13 Gathering with Equals, which stays still
The big differences seem impossible to bridge; still, with patience and a willing heart, union returns.
Community: first wailing and cries, then laughter. The great armies manage to meet.
- 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 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 4 of 8 Union
Staying loyal to the people you ally with, and showing that alliance openly, helps you right now.
Joining outwardly. Constancy brings good fortune.
- 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 13 Gathering with Equals
It's a time of meetings with people of a high nature like yours, with whom you can carry out important tasks and projects. Relationships built on trust and mutual support take shape. Large, innovative projects are favored.
Community in the open country. Success. It is favorable to cross the great river. The constancy of the noble person is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
13 Gathering with Equals → 8 Unionlines 1, 3, 4, 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
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, 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.