Transformation · lines 2, 3, 5, and 6
Coming Back becomes Small Things
What this change means
Wind drifts across the heavens as four lines change, and Coming Back becomes 9 Small Things. The still first and fourth lines of the resulting hexagram carry the reading. The first says it's wise now to fall back to situations where you have more control, and that this isn't a loss but a smart move. The fourth says that acting fairly may meet difficulties at first, yet the obstacles fade gradually until you reach your goal. So the return goes through a strategic retreat. Don't overextend. Pull back to ground you can manage, and work from there with honesty. Small actions now, done fairly, build toward the larger move later. Success is in view, but it isn't time for the big step yet.
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 9 Small Things, which stays still
What's called for now is to fall back to situations where you have more control. This isn't a loss: it's a smart move.
Returning by its own way. What fault could there be? Good fortune.
- Line 4 of 9 Small Things, which stays still
If you act fairly, you may meet difficulties at first, but little by little the obstacles will fade until you reach your goal.
There is sincere trust. The blood goes, the fear leaves. No fault.
- 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.
- Line 2 of 24 Coming Back
Surrounding yourself with the right people right now will bring success.
A restful return. Good fortune.
- 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 5 of 24 Coming Back
Acting without delay, recognizing past mistakes and correcting them, will lead you to sure success.
A generous return. No regret.
- Line 6 of 24 Coming Back
If you let opportunities slip by and don't act at the right moment, it will no longer be possible to put things back in order, and you'll have to wait for new options to appear, which may take some time.
A lost return. Misfortune; there is calamity and ruin. If armies are set marching, in the end there will be a great defeat that reaches the ruler of the country. Misfortune. Not for ten years can a campaign be undertaken.
- The judgment of 9 Small Things
You're facing a situation that promises success, but it isn't time yet. There are still obstacles on the way that you need to resolve. For now you can take small actions and wait for the right moment to act on a large scale.
Success. Dense clouds and no rain, from my western outskirts.
The trigrams
The way back
9 Small Things → 24 Coming Backlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Coming Back
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 31Attractionlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 12Declinelines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 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.