What this change means
Wind and thunder replace earth and mountain as four lines move: The Fall becomes 32 What Lasts. The resulting hexagram's still first and fifth lines give the guidance. The first says not to expect extraordinary achievements when you're only just beginning to move in the right direction. The fifth says that right now your results depend on your boldness and your openness to new paths. Those two balance each other. After a long period of being stripped down, you're starting again, and the beginning will be modest. Accept that without discouragement. At the same time, don't retreat into old, safe patterns. Set clear goals, try paths you haven't tried, and act consistently in line with them. Growth that lasts tends to begin small and keep building.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 1 of 32 What Lasts, which stays still
Don't expect extraordinary achievements when you're only just starting to move in the right direction.
Digging deep into duration. Even with constancy, misfortune. Nothing is favorable.
- Line 5 of 32 What Lasts, which stays still
Right now your achievements will depend on your ability to be bold and open yourself to new paths.
Making one's virtue last, with constancy. For the wife, good fortune; for the husband, misfortune.
- The judgment of 23 The Fall
It's a time of obstacles and difficulties when, even if you're right, your words aren't believed. Lesser people who misuse power are on the rise, and you could become their victim. Recognizing this time without trying to push ahead, and being generous and giving toward those beneath you, will help you hold on while circumstances change.
It is not favorable to have somewhere to go.
- Line 2 of 23 The Fall
Resources and help aren't enough right now. All you can do is wait for better conditions.
The bed is stripped at the frame. Constancy is destroyed: misfortune.
- Line 3 of 23 The Fall
Turning to spiritual resources and inner help will keep adversity away.
Stripping. No fault.
- Line 4 of 23 The Fall
Adversity is advancing; even your body may be affected.
The bed is stripped down to the skin. Misfortune.
- Line 6 of 23 The Fall
Little by little the adverse situations will give way, and gradually adversity will turn into opportunity.
A great fruit left uneaten. The noble person gains a carriage; the petty person's hut is stripped.
- The judgment of 32 What Lasts
This moment asks you for action, not stillness. It asks you to have clear goals to head toward and to act in line with them. That way you'll achieve things, and your achievements will keep growing and will last.
Success. No fault. Constancy is favorable. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
32 What Lasts → 23 The Falllines 2, 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of The Fall
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 31Attractionlines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.