What this change means
Light sinks into the Earth as the first, third and fourth lines move: the thunder above goes still and a fire burns hidden below. Both judgments count here. Passion speaks of contagious drive, big projects and the need to keep others' interests in mind. The resulting hexagram, 36 Darkness, describes a dark time in which you may have to live alongside the wrong people, and where protecting yourself means keeping your light and talents out of sight. The contrast is sharp. Enthusiasm wants to show itself; this moment rewards discretion. Keep your passion alive, but inside. Don't broadcast plans to people who might use them against you, hold on to your integrity, and go unnoticed while the dark lasts. Hard times tend to pass, and a fire kept quietly can light the way when they do.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- The judgment of 16 Passion
A time of passionate drive toward action. You can pass this passion on to others to gain their help, which lets you take on big projects with resolve and optimism. For these ventures to succeed and last, you can't look after only your own interests; you also need to keep in mind the needs of the people working with you.
It is favorable to install lords and set the army in motion.
- The judgment of 36 Darkness
It's a dark time: circumstances force you to live alongside the wrong people. If you know how to protect yourself, hold on to your integrity, and go unnoticed, without openly showing your light and your talents, you'll stay safe until better times come. However hard they seem, hard times pass too.
Constancy in hardship is favorable.
- Line 1 of 16 Passion
Your ventures need to consider the well-being of others; otherwise they won't succeed.
Delight that makes itself heard. Misfortune.
- Line 3 of 16 Passion
Success lies in knowing how to act at the right moment.
Delight that looks upward: regret. Delay brings regret.
- Line 4 of 16 Passion
When you're passionate and motivated enough about what you do, you don't need to ask anyone for help: help will come naturally.
The source of delight: great gain. Do not doubt. Friends gather like hair in a clasp.
The trigrams
The way back
36 Darkness → 16 Passionlines 1, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Passion
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 2, and 3
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1, 2, and 4
- 46Going Uplines 2, 3, and 4
- 58Inner Peacelines 1, 2, and 5
- 49Renewallines 1, 3, and 5
- 28Excesseslines 2, 3, and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 4, and 5
- 29Waterlines 2, 4, and 5
- 39Held Backlines 3, 4, and 5
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 2, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 1, 3, and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 2, 3, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 4, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 2, 4, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 3, 4, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 1, 5, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 2, 5, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 3, 5, and 6
- 20Observinglines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.