Transformation · lines 2, 3, 4, and 6

Innocence becomes Inaction

Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

Clouds rise up to heaven: lines two, three, four and six move, Thunder becomes Heaven and Heaven becomes Water, and Innocence turns into 5 Inaction. The resulting hexagram's still lines guide this. The first says you're still in control and can act in a relaxed way, keeping an eye on things. The fifth says to keep your goal but relax, rest and watch without acting. The resulting hexagram describes waiting that isn't idleness: preparing for the active period ahead, seeing conditions without fooling yourself, and staying alert for the moment to move. Read with Innocence, this is trust without pretense. You don't need to manufacture progress or invent urgency. Handle what's in front of you calmly, rest, enjoy simple things, and be honest about what you see. Destiny follows its own course, and you'll know when to act.

What to read, in order

Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.

  1. Line 1 of 5 Inaction, which stays still

    You still have control over the situation. It's time to act in a relaxed way, while keeping an eye on what's happening.

    Waiting on the outskirts. It is favorable to hold steady. No fault.

  2. Line 5 of 5 Inaction, which stays still

    It's important to keep your goal, but relax, rest and watch without acting.

    Waiting with wine and food. Constancy brings good fortune.

  3. The judgment of 25 Innocence

    If you act with a pure heart, free of hidden motives and without straying from what is right, true to original human nature, you'll let the blessings of heaven reach you. Otherwise you'll meet obstacles and your affairs will become difficult.

    Great success. Constancy is favorable. If it is not upright, there is calamity. It is not favorable to have somewhere to go.

  4. Line 2 of 25 Innocence

    Doing your work without thinking about what you'll get from it is the way to succeed.

    Not plowing with the harvest in mind, not clearing land with the ripe field in mind: then it is favorable to have somewhere to go.

  5. Line 3 of 25 Innocence

    Watch and act at the right time, because a good deed done at the wrong moment turns out badly.

    An undeserved calamity: someone tied up an ox; the traveler takes it, and the calamity falls on the villagers.

  6. Line 4 of 25 Innocence

    No one can take from you what belongs to you, so keep doing the right thing at the right time, and you'll reap the fruits.

    Constancy is possible. No fault.

  7. Line 6 of 25 Innocence

    If you try to force things without waiting for the right conditions, you'll go astray and delay getting what you want.

    Without falseness. Moving on brings calamity. Nothing is favorable.

  8. The judgment of 5 Inaction

    It's time to wait, not to act. Waiting doesn't mean standing still, though: it's a good time to prepare for the active period that's coming. A calm, relaxed attitude will lead you to success: look at the conditions without lying to yourself, and stay alert so you know when it's time to act. Destiny follows its own course.

    There is sincere trust. Shining success. Constancy brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.

The trigrams

Below Thunder Heaven
Above Heaven Water

The way back

5 Inaction → 25 Innocence
lines 2, 3, 4, and 6

Other transformations of Innocence

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Toss the coins