What this change means
The upper Lake becomes Earth as the fourth and fifth lines move, and thunder now rests within the earth. Leading the pair is the fifth line, which ties good fortune to trust in what is good: an aim bigger than yourself, one that moves you, gives direction. The fourth asks you to stop tying yourself to people and situations out of comfort or habit. Following can bring a gain, but clinging to it stubbornly turns sour; sincere trust and clear sight are what keep you free of fault. These two lines lead to 24 Coming Back, a return after a period of darkness. People tend to come to your aid, and your projects can be favored again. The resulting hexagram adds a caution: remember the mistakes that led you into the dark, because repeating them could bring you down again. Habit is one of those mistakes. Return with clear eyes.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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.
- 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 24 Coming Back
After a period of adversity and darkness, the return comes. Still, be aware of the mistakes that led you into the dark, because if you repeat them you could fall again. People will come to help you, and your undertakings and projects will be favored.
Success. Going out and coming in without harm; friends arrive, no fault. Back and forth along its way: in seven days comes the return. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
24 Coming Back → 17 Adaptinglines 4 and 5
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
- 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.