Transformation · lines 1, 3, 4, and 6
Small Things becomes Overwhelmed
What this change means
Four lines move, and the lake above loses its water to the stream below. The still second and fifth lines of 47 Overwhelmed give the guidance. The second says the troubles now are inside; outside, everything looks fine. You need to see where the problem really lies, and it's wise to seek help. The fifth says things will improve little by little, thanks to your habit of helping others, and that spiritual resources are a great support. So the restraint of Small Things deepens into a hard-pressed time. People may not believe you, and obstacles hem you in. Don't fight the outside when the knot is within. Name the real problem honestly, ask for help, and lean on your inner resources. Keep helping others, too; it's part of what slowly turns this around, even when nothing seems to move.
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 47 Overwhelmed, which stays still
The troubles right now are on the inside; on the outside, everything is fine. You need to recognize where the problem lies to solve it, and it's wise to seek help.
Hard pressed with wine and food. The red sash arrives. It is favorable to make sacrifices. Setting out brings misfortune. No fault.
- Line 5 of 47 Overwhelmed, which stays still
Little by little things will improve, thanks to your habit of helping others. Spiritual resources will be a great help now.
Nose cut off, feet cut off. Hard pressed by the red sash. Little by little relief comes. It is favorable to make sacrifices.
- 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.
- Line 1 of 9 Small Things
What's called for now is to fall back to situations where you have more control. This isn't a loss: it's a smart move.
Returning by its own way. What fault could there be? Good fortune.
- Line 3 of 9 Small Things
Trying to advance at any cost only brings bigger obstacles from outside.
The spokes come loose from the cart. Husband and wife glare at each other.
- Line 4 of 9 Small Things
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 6 of 9 Small Things
You get what you want thanks to step-by-step work. Still, don't rest on your laurels: you have to stay constant and keep working little by little.
The rain has come, the rest has come. Virtue has piled up like a load. The wife's constancy is in danger. The moon is nearly full. For the noble person, setting out brings misfortune.
- The judgment of 47 Overwhelmed
Things are very much against you: the wrong people surround you, no one believes what you say, and obstacles hem you in. All you can do is accept it and wait for better conditions to come. Your only resource is the inner light that lives in you; turn to that strength to hold you up right now.
Success. For the great person, constancy brings good fortune. No fault. They speak and are not believed.
The trigrams
The way back
47 Overwhelmed → 9 Small Thingslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Small Things
- 12Declinelines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 23The Falllines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 64Transitionlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 21Bitinglines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 8Unionlines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 31Attractionlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 7The Armylines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 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.