What this change means
Heaven takes the place of water above when the fourth and top lines move, and heaven and earth stop meeting. The top line leads. Leave the search for allies too late, and the moment you need them may find you alone. The fourth line says that staying loyal to your allies, and letting it show, works in your favor.
The resulting hexagram, 12 Decline, describes being surrounded by adverse people and situations, a poor time to act or decide; it advises avoiding those people, whatever they offer, and withdrawing to safety while you wait for change. So the alliances you already have matter more than new ones now. Hold to your trusted few, and don't take up offers from the wrong quarter. Watch for joining anyone out of panic because help feels scarce. Loyalty to good people is your shelter here.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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.
- 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 12 Decline
You're surrounded by adverse people and situations. Avoid getting involved with those people, no matter what they offer you. Circumstances aren't good for acting or making decisions; it's time to withdraw to a safe place and wait for conditions to change. It's time to keep a low profile.
Stagnation: these are not worthy people. The constancy of the noble person is not favorable. The great goes, the small comes.
The trigrams
The way back
12 Decline → 8 Unionlines 4 and 6
Other transformations of Union
- 60Thriftlines 1 and 2
- 63After the Endlines 1 and 3
- 48Right Actionlines 2 and 3
- 17Adaptinglines 1 and 4
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2 and 4
- 31Attractionlines 3 and 4
- 24Coming Backlines 1 and 5
- 7The Armylines 2 and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 3 and 5
- 16Passionlines 4 and 5
- 42Increaselines 1 and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2 and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 3 and 6
- 23The Falllines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.