What this change means
Heaven and earth pull apart as the first and top lines move: Thunder becomes Earth below, the Lake becomes Heaven above. The top line leads, and it speaks of strong backing. You can win followers, and even powerful people may support and recognize you; the old image binds that loyalty fast, like a vow sealed with an offering on the western mountain. The first line adds flexibility: yield, listen, and accept opinions unlike yours. Yet the movement opens onto 12 Decline, a time surrounded by adverse people and situations, when acting or deciding isn't wise and keeping a low profile is safer. That's the tension to hold. Support you've earned is real, but not every offer now is. Avoid getting tangled up with people whose aims don't match yours, whatever they promise. Listen widely, commit narrowly, and wait in a safe place until conditions 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 17 Adapting
You can win followers and support; even the most powerful people back you and recognize you.
Seized and bound, then tied fast still more. The king makes his offering on the western mountain.
- 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 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 → 17 Adaptinglines 1 and 6
Other transformations of Adapting
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1 and 2
- 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
- 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.