What this change means
Light sinks into the earth: lines three, four, five and six move, and Innocence becomes 36 Darkness. Look to the first and second lines, which stay still. The first says that trying to move ahead now only shows you obstacles, so keep persevering on the right path your heart sets, advancing as far as you can. The second says difficulties grow and affect you directly, but firm resolve and acting for a greater good lead to victory. The resulting hexagram describes a dark time among the wrong people, where protecting yourself, holding your integrity and not showing your light openly keeps you safe until better times. Innocence gives the core. Stay true inside even while you keep a low profile. Don't compromise your heart to fit in, and don't flaunt it either. Hard times pass.
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 36 Darkness, which stays still
Trying to move ahead right now will only show you obstacles. Keep persevering on the right path, the one your heart moves you along, without straying from your goal and advancing as far as you can.
The wounded light, in flight, lowers its wings. The noble person is on the road: three days without eating. There is somewhere to go; the host grumbles.
- Line 2 of 36 Darkness, which stays still
Difficulties are growing and circumstances affect you directly, but your firm resolve, acting for a greater good, and contributing as you're able will lead you to victory.
The wounded light: wounded in the left thigh. Rescued with a strong horse. Good fortune.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Line 5 of 25 Innocence
If adverse things happen to you that aren't caused by your own negligence, don't worry: little by little things will straighten out until they're back on course.
An undeserved illness. Take no medicine: there will be joy.
- 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.
- The judgment of 36 Darkness
It's a dark time: circumstances force you to live alongside the wrong people. If you know how to protect yourself, hold on to your integrity, and go unnoticed, without openly showing your light and your talents, you'll stay safe until better times come. However hard they seem, hard times pass too.
Constancy in hardship is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
36 Darkness → 25 Innocencelines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Innocence
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 52Abidinglines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 28Excesseslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 29Waterlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 39Held Backlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.