What this change means
Earth above, Earth below: with the first, fourth and fifth lines moving, every line becomes yielding. Three lines put the two judgments in balance. Where 17 Adapting leaves the choice of role open, depending on the moment, 2 Passivity says plainly that this is not the time to take the initiative. Letting someone else steer, while you keep working on your plans patiently, is the wiser course. Read together, they tilt clearly toward following. Your right place right now is a receptive one. That isn't weakness or giving up; it's the kind of adapting that lets things grow without your pushing. Listen, support, carry your share, and let someone else set the direction for a while. The risk is impatience, the urge to grab the lead because waiting feels like losing ground. Patience here does more work than force would.
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 2 Passivity
This is not the time to take the initiative to achieve things. It's better to let others guide you and to keep at your projects with patience.
Great success. The constancy of a mare is favorable. The noble person has somewhere to go: going ahead, they lose the way; following behind, they find someone to guide them. It is favorable to find friends in the southwest and to lose them in the northeast. Calm constancy brings good fortune.
- 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 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 5 of 17 Adapting
If a larger purpose drives you, a dream that inspires you, you'll get what you want.
Trust in what is good. Good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
2 Passivity → 17 Adaptinglines 1, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Adapting
- 28Excesseslines 1, 2, and 3
- 29Waterlines 1, 2, and 4
- 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
- 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.