What this change means
Two lines stir at the bottom of 17 Adapting, the first and the second, and Thunder below the Lake becomes Water: a lake draining away. The resulting hexagram, 47 Overwhelmed, describes a hard-pressed time, when the wrong people surround you and your words aren't believed. The second line leads here, and its warning is sharp: cling to what is small and you lose what is solid. Be very careful about who you keep close, because poor company is part of what drains the lake. The first line adds the way through: yield, listen, accept views different from yours, and go out to deal with others instead of digging in. Neither line promises a quick escape. What they offer is a way to stop making things worse. Accept the pressure for now, lean on your inner strength, and let better conditions arrive before you push.
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 17 Adapting
Choosing very carefully who you surround yourself with makes your projects succeed.
Cling to the boy, lose the grown man.
- Line 1 of 17 Adapting
Being able to yield, listen and accept opinions different from yours will lead you to success.
The post changes. Constancy brings good fortune. Going out the gate to deal with others bears fruit.
- The judgment of 17 Adapting
It's a time both to lead and to follow. If you can see the place life is asking you to take right now, and act genuinely from wherever you belong, you'll gain more leadership and more support for what you do.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. No fault.
- 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 → 17 Adaptinglines 1 and 2
Other transformations of Adapting
- 31Attractionlines 1 and 3
- 43Overflowinglines 2 and 3
- 8Unionlines 1 and 4
- 60Thriftlines 2 and 4
- 63After the Endlines 3 and 4
- 16Passionlines 1 and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2 and 5
- 55Abundancelines 3 and 5
- 24Coming Backlines 4 and 5
- 12Declinelines 1 and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2 and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3 and 6
- 42Increaselines 4 and 6
- 21Bitinglines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.