What this change means
When the first and third lines move, thunder settles into a mountain hidden within the earth: the figure becomes 15 Simplicity. The third line leads with a caution about wavering, going forward and back and repeating old mistakes, which can lead you off the path. The first line holds the cure: a return made early, at the right moment, read from the signs and acted on. Between them is a choice between dithering and one clean correction. The resulting hexagram tells you how to make it. Don't boast or try to prove you've changed. Keep things simple, act fairly, and let your qualities be recognized on their own. A quiet, honest return, without show, is far less likely to slide back into the old pattern than a loud one.
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 24 Coming Back
If you act with insecurity, going forward and back and repeating past mistakes, you'll stray from the path and from right action.
Returning again and again. Danger; no fault.
- Line 1 of 24 Coming Back
Success lies in doing things at the perfect time: watch the signs and act on them.
Returning from not far, without coming to regret. Great good fortune.
- The judgment of 24 Coming Back
After a period of adversity and darkness, the return comes. Still, be aware of the mistakes that led you into the dark, because if you repeat them you could fall again. People will come to help you, and your undertakings and projects will be favored.
Success. Going out and coming in without harm; friends arrive, no fault. Back and forth along its way: in seven days comes the return. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- The judgment of 15 Simplicity
This isn't the time to boast or show off. It's time to keep things simple and to make sure you act fairly; your qualities and talents will show on their own and be recognized.
Success. The noble person reaches the end.
The trigrams
The way back
15 Simplicity → 24 Coming Backlines 1 and 3
Other transformations of Coming Back
- 7The Armylines 1 and 2
- 11Well-Beinglines 2 and 3
- 16Passionlines 1 and 4
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2 and 4
- 55Abundancelines 3 and 4
- 8Unionlines 1 and 5
- 60Thriftlines 2 and 5
- 63After the Endlines 3 and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 4 and 5
- 23The Falllines 1 and 6
- 41Decreaselines 2 and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 3 and 6
- 21Bitinglines 4 and 6
- 42Increaselines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.