What this change means
Earth upon earth: the fifth and top lines move, and the wind above settles into open ground. The top line leads: when you understand the rhythms that move the world, the arrivals and departures, wise action follows. The fifth line brings it closer: weigh, with a sense of responsibility, what happened in comparable cases, and use that to adjust what you do today.
The resulting hexagram, 2 Passivity, says this isn't the time to take the initiative. Let others guide you, and keep working on your projects with patience. Both lines are about understanding, and here understanding counsels receptivity. Seeing how things come and go, and how past situations played out, shows you that pushing now won't help. Follow good guidance and keep at your work. Watch for insisting on leading because you see clearly; sometimes clear sight shows that the wisest role is to receive and support.
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 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 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 2 Passivity
This is not the time to take the initiative to achieve things. It's better to let others guide you and to keep at your projects with patience.
Great success. The constancy of a mare is favorable. The noble person has somewhere to go: going ahead, they lose the way; following behind, they find someone to guide them. It is favorable to find friends in the southwest and to lose them in the northeast. Calm constancy brings good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
2 Passivity → 20 Observinglines 5 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
- 29Waterlines 2 and 6
- 39Held Backlines 3 and 6
- 45Meetinglines 4 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.