Transformation · lines 1, 4, and 5

Fleeting Success becomes Overwhelmed

Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

A lake with its water drained away: that's the image as the first, fourth and fifth lines change. The two judgments share equal weight here, and they pull in different directions. 19 Fleeting Success speaks of good fortune that will run out, and asks you to watch for the signs and prepare so the decline does less damage.

The resulting hexagram, 47 Overwhelmed, describes the hard side: the wrong people around you, words that no one believes, obstacles on every side. All you can do there is accept it and wait for better conditions, relying on the inner light you carry. Read together, they ask you to prepare while you still can. Build reserves, inner and outer, during the favorable time. Watch for assuming the good period will last; if pressure comes, don't spend energy arguing to be believed, and lean on your own inner strength 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.

  1. The judgment of 19 Fleeting Success

    A period of luck, fortune and well-being is coming. Make the most of it, because it will last only eight months; after that, conditions will change. If you can pay attention, read the signs and take care and precautions before the decline arrives, you won't avoid it, but you will lessen its effects while circumstances change.

    Great success. Constancy is favorable. When the eighth month comes, misfortune.

  2. The judgment of 47 Overwhelmed

    Things are very much against you: the wrong people surround you, no one believes what you say, and obstacles hem you in. All you can do is accept it and wait for better conditions to come. Your only resource is the inner light that lives in you; turn to that strength to hold you up right now.

    Success. For the great person, constancy brings good fortune. No fault. They speak and are not believed.

  3. Line 1 of 19 Fleeting Success

    If you join with the right people, you'll have support and backing when the decline comes.

    Drawing near together. Constancy brings good fortune.

  4. Line 4 of 19 Fleeting Success

    Joining with the people under you and supporting them will help you stay stable.

    Drawing near all the way. No fault.

  5. Line 5 of 19 Fleeting Success

    Surrounding yourself with capable collaborators and respecting what they do, encouraging their autonomy, will bring you a stable achievement.

    Drawing near with wisdom: what befits the great ruler. Good fortune.

The trigrams

Below Lake Water
Above Earth Lake

The way back

47 Overwhelmed → 19 Fleeting Success
lines 1, 4, and 5

Other transformations of Fleeting Success

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Toss the coins