What this change means
Both trigrams shift as the first and fourth lines move: Thunder becomes Earth, the Lake becomes Water, and water now spreads over the land. The fourth line leads. It asks you to stop keeping people and situations around out of comfort or habit, and to step away from those you can tell aren't right, guided by sincere trust and clear sight. The first line softens this: be ready to yield, listen and accept opinions unlike your own, and go out to meet others. It's a double movement, sorting your ties while staying open. That combination arrives at 8 Union, where success lies in joining people who are aligned with your project and can support you. The resulting hexagram also reminds you that you need the qualities to carry it out yourself. So choose your allies honestly, listen to them, and ask whether you're ready for what you're joining.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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?
- 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 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
The way back
8 Union → 17 Adaptinglines 1 and 4
Other transformations of Adapting
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1 and 2
- 31Attractionlines 1 and 3
- 43Overflowinglines 2 and 3
- 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.