What this change means
The fourth and fifth lines move, and thunder sounds in the middle of the lake: 17 Adapting. The fifth line leads, asking for a generous return: admit past mistakes and correct them without delay. The fourth adds a choice about company, walking with the others but returning alone when they aren't right for you, trusting that guidance and help will come. The resulting hexagram speaks of knowing when to lead and when to follow. When you recognize the role this moment is handing you and act genuinely within it, support for what you do tends to grow. So correct yourself first, then reconsider who you walk with. Follow where following is right, lead where you must, and rest when the day is done.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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 4 of 24 Coming Back
If you notice who the people around you really are and step away from those you see aren't right, even if you're left without company for a while, you'll find guidance and help.
Walking in the middle of the others, returning alone.
- 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 17 Adapting
It's a time both to lead and to follow. If you can see the place life is asking you to take right now, and act genuinely from wherever you belong, you'll gain more leadership and more support for what you do.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. No fault.
The trigrams
The way back
17 Adapting → 24 Coming Backlines 4 and 5
Other transformations of Coming Back
- 7The Armylines 1 and 2
- 15Simplicitylines 1 and 3
- 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
- 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.