What this change means
Three lines move, the first, second and fourth, and both trigrams become Water: the figure is now a pit inside a pit. Here the two judgments set the tone. 17 Adapting is about leading and following well, seeing the place life asks you to take and acting genuinely from where you belong. 29 Water describes obstacles arriving one after another, which you can get through only if you keep moving the way a stream does, without stagnating. The bridge between them is flow. Adapting, in this context, means not freezing when difficulty repeats, and not clinging to a fixed plan or a fixed set of people. Follow the course the situation opens, keep your conduct steady, and let fear do as little as possible. Each obstacle passed is a sign you're in the right channel, not proof that you've failed.
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 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 29 Water
Just as a stream moves through obstacles and gets past them, following its course without stagnating, you're at a time when obstacles will come one after another, but you'll get past them if you can keep moving. Letting fear paralyze you will only leave you stuck.
There is sincere trust. Only the heart gets through. Going earns esteem.
- 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.
- 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 4 of 17 Adapting
Don't tie yourself to situations and people out of comfort or habit. Knowing how to choose who you keep around you, and stepping away from those you can tell aren't right, brings success.
Following brings a catch. Even with constancy, misfortune. There is sincere trust on the way; with clarity, what fault could there be?
The trigrams
The way back
29 Water → 17 Adaptinglines 1, 2, and 4
Other transformations of Adapting
- 28Excesseslines 1, 2, and 3
- 39Held Backlines 1, 3, and 4
- 5Inactionlines 2, 3, and 4
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 2, and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 3, and 5
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2, 3, and 5
- 2Passivitylines 1, 4, and 5
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2, 4, and 5
- 36Darknesslines 3, 4, and 5
- 6Conflictlines 1, 2, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 3, and 6
- 1Activitylines 2, 3, and 6
- 20Observinglines 1, 4, and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 2, 4, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 3, 4, and 6
- 35Advancelines 1, 5, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 2, 5, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 3, 5, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.