What this change means
The fourth line is the one moving, and the Lake above turns to Water: thunder now sounds under rain clouds. This line looks at what you follow out of comfort or habit. Following can bring a catch, a gain, yet holding on to it stubbornly leads to trouble. Don't tie yourself to people or situations just because they're familiar. Learn to choose who stays near you, and step away from those you can see aren't right. The old text adds that sincere trust on the way, joined with clarity, leaves no fault. The change leads to 3 Initial Obstacles, a hard beginning in which acting directly isn't wise yet. Look for allies who can represent you, and stay alert for the moment to take the reins back. The risk is to confuse loyalty with inertia. Clarity about your bonds is what lets this new start move.
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?
- 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 3 Initial Obstacles
This isn't the time to act directly: look for people who can act for you, allies who represent you. Still, stay alert so you know when the time comes to take back the initiative and control.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. Having somewhere to go is of no use yet. It is favorable to install lords.
The trigrams
The way back
3 Initial Obstacles → 17 Adaptingline 4
Other transformations of Adapting
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.