What this change means
With the third and second lines moving, the lower Fire turns into Lake, and Good Manners becomes 41 Decrease. The third line leads with a caution about comfort: when well-being soaks into everything, don't let it wash away your steadiness. The second asks you to attend to what's essential and to pair it with courtesy. Together they suggest trimming the excess and keeping the core. The resulting hexagram confirms the direction: a time for moderation, for saving energy and resources, and for avoiding excess in every form. Growth is said to follow, but it isn't here yet. So keep your manners and drop the extras. Let the essentials carry you, rein in the indulgences, and get ready quietly for larger projects later. What you save now becomes the base for that growth.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 22 Good Manners
When well-being surrounds you, don't relax too much and lose yourself in it.
Adorned, as if soaked through. Lasting constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 2 of 22 Good Manners
Pay attention to what is essential; combining it with good manners will bring you achievement.
Adorning the beard.
- The judgment of 22 Good Manners
It's a time to be kind and courteous and to use good manners with others if you want good results in what you undertake. What might seem superficial at another time leads you to success now. It's a time to handle everyday matters, not great undertakings.
Success. In small things, it is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- The judgment of 41 Decrease
It's a time for moderation and saving: conserving your resources and energy matters a great deal now. A period of growth will follow, but for now you need to stay aware and avoid excess of every kind while you get ready to take on big projects.
There is sincere trust. Great good fortune. No fault. Constancy is possible. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. What to offer? Two bowls will do for the offering.
The trigrams
The way back
41 Decrease → 22 Good Mannerslines 2 and 3
Other transformations of Good Manners
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1 and 2
- 23The Falllines 1 and 3
- 56The Travelerlines 1 and 4
- 14Wealthlines 2 and 4
- 21Bitinglines 3 and 4
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1 and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 2 and 5
- 42Increaselines 3 and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 4 and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 1 and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 2 and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 3 and 6
- 55Abundancelines 4 and 6
- 63After the Endlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.