What this change means
Heaven above the Earth, the two no longer meeting: here it's the two highest lines that move. Leading them is the top line, an eagerness that has wandered into darkness, with the reminder that you can still alter what you've set in motion, without blame, if you see it and ease up. The fifth line adds a lingering strain, enthusiasm mixed with anxiety and no time to recover. The resulting hexagram, 12 Decline, says you're surrounded by adverse people and situations; it's not a time to act or decide, but to withdraw to a safe place and keep a low profile. Taken together, the advice is to stop. Step out of the overheated pursuit, rest, and don't get drawn in by whatever is offered. Draw back into your values and wait for conditions to change.
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 16 Passion
It's important not to let passion blind you, or let it burn up the interest itself. If that happens, recognize the moment and relax: that way you'll succeed.
Delight in the dark. What is done changes. No fault.
- 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.
- 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 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 → 16 Passionlines 5 and 6
Other transformations of Passion
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1 and 2
- 55Abundancelines 1 and 3
- 32What Lastslines 2 and 3
- 24Coming Backlines 1 and 4
- 7The Armylines 2 and 4
- 15Simplicitylines 3 and 4
- 17Adaptinglines 1 and 5
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2 and 5
- 31Attractionlines 3 and 5
- 8Unionlines 4 and 5
- 21Bitinglines 1 and 6
- 64Transitionlines 2 and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 3 and 6
- 23The Falllines 4 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.