Transformation · lines 1 and 3
Decline becomes Gathering with Equals
What this change means
Fire rises beneath Heaven when the first and third lines of Decline move, turning the hexagram into 13 Gathering with Equals. The third line leads. It speaks of bearing an awkward position for a time, and promises that things improve little by little if you wait patiently for justice. The first line supports it from below: notice the decline, step away while there's time, and warn others, so that later success comes with your people beside you, like grass pulled up roots and all. The resulting hexagram shows where this can lead. Meetings with people of a nature like yours become possible, and trust and mutual support let you carry out important, innovative projects. The dark stretch tends to sort out who your true companions are. Be patient through the waiting, keep faith with those who withdrew with you, and when the time opens, build in the open alongside equals.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 12 Decline
Little by little things will improve; it's a matter of waiting patiently for justice to be done.
Embracing shame.
- Line 1 of 12 Decline
If you recognize the decline and withdraw in time, warning others about it, you'll succeed later on.
The grass is pulled up, and its tangled roots come too, each with its clump. Constancy brings good fortune. Success.
- 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 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 → 12 Declinelines 1 and 3
Other transformations of Decline
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1 and 2
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2 and 3
- 42Increaselines 1 and 4
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2 and 4
- 53Gradual Progresslines 3 and 4
- 21Bitinglines 1 and 5
- 64Transitionlines 2 and 5
- 56The Travelerlines 3 and 5
- 23The Falllines 4 and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 1 and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2 and 6
- 31Attractionlines 3 and 6
- 8Unionlines 4 and 6
- 16Passionlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.