Transformation · lines 4 and 5

Passion becomes Union

Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

Water spreads over the Earth as the fourth and fifth lines move, and the thunder settles into something that flows and gathers. The fifth line leads: passion tied to anxiety, with no time to rest, keeps results uneven even as it keeps you going. The fourth line is the source of delight, enthusiasm strong enough to draw help naturally, with friends gathering close and no reason to doubt. The resulting hexagram, 8 Union, says success now lies in joining with people aligned with your project, and in making sure you have the qualities to carry it through. It even suggests consulting the coins again to check. The message is that you don't have to carry everything alone. Let the people drawn to you share the load, rest when you need to, and build your alliance on trust.

What to read, in order

Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.

  1. Line 5 of 16 Passion

    If your passion for doing something comes with anxiety and you don't give yourself time to rest and recharge, your achievements will have ups and downs.

    Constancy in sickness: it lingers and does not die.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 trigrams

Below Earth stays
Above Thunder Water

The way back

8 Union → 16 Passion
lines 4 and 5

Other transformations of Passion

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Toss the coins