What this change means
The water above becomes a lake when the fourth line moves, and the people scattered across the plain draw together. This line is the heart of the reading. Keeping faith with your allies, and letting others see that bond, works in your favor now. The old text calls it joining outwardly, and it promises good fortune to those who keep at it.
The resulting hexagram, 45 Meeting, describes a very favorable situation, with everything ready for your next step. You can ask for help, gather with the people who will support you, take on important things, and prepare for anything unexpected. So the line's open loyalty becomes the glue of the gathering. Stand by your allies where others can see it. Watch for keeping your commitments vague or private when people need to know where you stand. Visible loyalty tends to bring others in.
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 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.
- 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 judgment of 45 Meeting
A very favorable situation is coming, with everything ready for you to take the next step toward your goals. You can ask for help and meet with those who will support you. It's a time to take on important things, do some kind of spiritual practice, and prepare in case anything unexpected happens.
Success. The king comes to his temple. It is favorable to see the great person. Success. Constancy is favorable. Offering large animals brings good fortune. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
45 Meeting → 8 Unionline 4
Other transformations of Union
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.