What this change means
A wooden collar on the neck, the ears hidden: the top line moves, and it's the clearest warning in Biting. It describes someone who keeps to the wrong path and won't hear advice or warnings. Down that road lies failure. If anything in your situation looks like that, this is the moment to listen. As the upper Fire turns into Thunder, the figure becomes 51 Shock, thunder doubled. Unexpected events may come that would frighten many people. The resulting hexagram asks you to keep your composure and act calmly when they arrive. The two readings fit together. A jolt may be what finally opens your ears. Rather than waiting to be shaken, let the warning in now. Reconsider what you've refused to hear, and you'll be steadier when surprises come.
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 21 Biting
Insisting on staying on the wrong path and refusing to hear advice or warnings will lead you to failure.
A wooden collar on the neck, the ears lost from sight. Misfortune.
- The judgment of 21 Biting
It's a time for firm, decisive action to overcome obstacles, even legal action if needed. Success is within reach if you act with energy and set limits. Don't be afraid: act.
Success. It is favorable to bring things to judgment.
- The judgment of 51 Shock
When unexpected situations come along that would frighten others, keep control and act calmly, without losing your composure. This attitude will get you results in what you want and let you succeed where others fail.
Success. Thunder comes, and there is dread; then laughter and easy talk. The thunder alarms a hundred leagues around, yet neither the ladle nor the sacrificial wine is let fall.
The trigrams
The way back
51 Shock → 21 Bitingline 6
Other transformations of Biting
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.