What this change means
The upper Lake becomes Wind as the fourth and top lines move: wind and thunder together. The top line leads. You can win followers and support, even from the powerful, and the bonds formed now hold tight. The fourth line warns against the other kind of tie, the kind kept out of comfort or habit. A gain can come from following, but clinging to it stubbornly brings trouble; sincere trust and clear sight keep you free of fault. The movement opens onto 42 Increase, a time of gain and growth in which your projects can prosper. The resulting hexagram asks you to stay whole inside, to learn from those who already embody what you're reaching for, and to drop the traits that have caused you trouble before. So grow, but grow cleanly. Keep the ties that lift you and let go of the habits that weigh on you.
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 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 42 Increase
You're in a time of gain and growth: your projects will grow and prosper. At times like this it's important to keep your inner integrity, follow the example of people who have the qualities you want to gain, and get rid of the traits that have caused you trouble before. Overall, it's a time of achievement and generosity.
It is favorable to have somewhere to go. It is favorable to cross the great river.
The trigrams
The way back
42 Increase → 17 Adaptinglines 4 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
- 12Declinelines 1 and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2 and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3 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.