What this change means
Fire stands above water as the second, fourth and fifth lines change. With three moving lines, both judgments are held in balance. 20 Observing pauses before the offering: look first, remember that your example reaches people, and keep learning from those who move you.
The resulting hexagram, 64 Transition, says things are coming together for success, but some pieces haven't fallen into place yet. Stay alert so you don't make mistakes of immaturity and drift from your goals, even after you get what you want. Combined, this is a time for vigilant attention. Keep checking what's still missing before you declare anything done. Watch for relaxing your observation just as things start to work; the hesitation and errors that follow a first success are exactly what careful watching can prevent.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- The judgment of 20 Observing
Observe before you act. Right now you're a source of inspiration for others, and at the same time you need to observe those who inspire you. This will let things unfold at the right moment, and perfectly.
Hands washed, the offering not yet made. There is sincere trust, solemn and grave.
- The judgment of 64 Transition
Things are coming together so that success can arrive and you can take on great projects, but some things still haven't fallen into place. So stay alert, so you don't make mistakes born of immaturity, or you'll drift from your goals. This can happen even after you've gotten what you want: you stop, you hesitate, and mistakes happen.
Success. The little fox has nearly crossed and wets its tail. Nothing is favorable.
- Line 2 of 20 Observing
If your perception is subjective, you'll stay on the surface and never reach the heart of the situation.
Peeking through a crack. A woman's constancy is favorable.
- Line 4 of 20 Observing
You can look at things with wisdom and bring light where there is darkness. This will bring you recognition.
Contemplating the light of the kingdom. It is favorable to be the king's guest.
- Line 5 of 20 Observing
If you observe responsibly, you'll see how similar situations turned out in the past and can apply the corrections now.
Contemplating my own life. For the noble person, no fault.
The trigrams
The way back
64 Transition → 20 Observinglines 2, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Observing
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, and 3
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, and 4
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 3, and 4
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 3, and 4
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 3, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 3, and 5
- 21Bitinglines 1, 4, and 5
- 56The Travelerlines 3, 4, and 5
- 60Thriftlines 1, 2, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 3, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 3, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 4, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 4, and 6
- 31Attractionlines 3, 4, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 5, and 6
- 7The Armylines 2, 5, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 3, 5, and 6
- 16Passionlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.