What this change means
Water arrives again and again as the second and top lines move, and both trigrams become the same current. The top line leads: watch the laws that govern the world, the rise and fall of things, and you'll act wisely. The second line warns against the narrow view, a subjective look that keeps you on the surface and away from the heart of things.
The resulting hexagram, 29 Water, describes obstacles coming one after another; you'll get past them if you keep moving, like a stream that doesn't stagnate. Fear that paralyzes is what keeps you stuck. A wide, objective view helps here. Seen from far enough, each obstacle is one in a sequence, not the end of the road. Watch for reading every difficulty through your own fear, which makes it look bigger and more personal than it is; keep moving, and let the larger pattern carry you forward.
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 20 Observing
If you observe the laws that govern the world, the coming and going of things, you'll act wisely.
Contemplating their life. For the noble person, no fault.
- 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.
- 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 29 Water
Just as a stream moves through obstacles and gets past them, following its course without stagnating, you're at a time when obstacles will come one after another, but you'll get past them if you can keep moving. Letting fear paralyze you will only leave you stuck.
There is sincere trust. Only the heart gets through. Going earns esteem.
The trigrams
The way back
29 Water → 20 Observinglines 2 and 6
Other transformations of Observing
- 61Inner Integritylines 1 and 2
- 37The Tribelines 1 and 3
- 57Gentlenesslines 2 and 3
- 25Innocencelines 1 and 4
- 6Conflictlines 2 and 4
- 33Leaving Behindlines 3 and 4
- 27Nourishmentlines 1 and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 2 and 5
- 52Abidinglines 3 and 5
- 35Advancelines 4 and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1 and 6
- 39Held Backlines 3 and 6
- 45Meetinglines 4 and 6
- 2Passivitylines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.