What this change means
Water now lies hidden within the earth, after the third and top lines move. The top line leads with a high purpose: aims beyond self-interest, work held in honor for its own sake, tend to carry you through. The third line warns against trying to fix past rigidity with more rigidity; there's a little regret, though no great fault. The movement leads to 7 The Army, which favors discipline and organization: face the situation directly, say clearly what you want, but don't try to impose it. These fit together well. A large aim needs order to become real, yet order isn't the same as stiffness. Organize your effort, speak plainly, and keep enough flexibility to adjust as you go. Discipline in service of a purpose works. Discipline for its own sake repeats the mistake.
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 18 Loss, Then Gain
If you have high goals, beyond purely personal interests, and let them drive you, you'll succeed.
Serving neither kings nor lords; holding one's own work high.
- Line 3 of 18 Loss, Then Gain
Acting too rigidly in the past has led you to loss, but holding on to that rigidity to fix it won't help either.
Setting right what the father spoiled. A little regret; no great fault.
- The judgment of 18 Loss, Then Gain
You've made mistakes that have brought you into decline; still, admitting it and making the corrections needed will lead you back to success. Take time to reflect on what caused the loss and, once you've acted, give success time to arrive.
Great success. It is favorable to cross the great river. Three days before the first day, three days after the first day.
- The judgment of 7 The Army
Whatever your question, the favorable answer comes from acting with discipline and organization: face the situation head-on and speak clearly, say what you want, without trying to impose it.
The constancy of a seasoned leader brings good fortune. No fault.
The trigrams
The way back
7 The Army → 18 Loss, Then Gainlines 3 and 6
Other transformations of Loss, Then Gain
- 22Good Mannerslines 1 and 2
- 41Decreaselines 1 and 3
- 23The Falllines 2 and 3
- 14Wealthlines 1 and 4
- 56The Travelerlines 2 and 4
- 64Transitionlines 3 and 4
- 9Small Thingslines 1 and 5
- 53Gradual Progresslines 2 and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 3 and 5
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 4 and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 1 and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 2 and 6
- 32What Lastslines 4 and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.