Transformation · lines 1, 2, 5, and 6
Great Achievements becomes Held Back
What this change means
Water on the mountain: lines one, two, five and six move, and Great Achievements becomes 39 Held Back. Two unmoved lines, the third and fourth, shape the reading. The third says it's right to withdraw from the obstacles for now and go back to ordinary life among the people who love you, until the time to act arrives. The fourth says you won't get past the obstacles on your own; return to more stable ground and look for support from like-minded people. The resulting hexagram describes being blocked each time you advance, and the need to stop, turn inward and seek help. The bold impulse of Great Achievements meets a wall here. Don't fight it alone. Go back to solid ground and to the people close to you, rebuild, and advance again with their support.
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 39 Held Back, which stays still
The right thing now is to step back from the obstacles and return to normal conditions, with the people who love you, until the time to act comes.
Going: hardship. Coming: a return.
- Line 4 of 39 Held Back, which stays still
You won't get past the obstacles on your own. It's time to return to more stable conditions and look for support from like-minded people; with their help you'll succeed.
Going: hardship. Coming: joined with others.
- The judgment of 26 Great Achievements
It's a good moment to leave your comfort zone and take on new actions, beyond what you think you can do. Heaven favors unusual actions that will lead you to success, because you have the qualities needed.
Constancy is favorable. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
- Line 1 of 26 Great Achievements
Wait before acting for now; acting hastily won't turn out well.
There is danger. It is favorable to stop.
- Line 2 of 26 Great Achievements
Wait until conditions are right to act, because outside circumstances are holding you back.
The axle strap slips from the cart.
- Line 5 of 26 Great Achievements
Facing the situations and people trying to stop you, not head-on but cleverly, ensures your success.
The tusks of a gelded boar. Good fortune.
- Line 6 of 26 Great Achievements
Everything is in your favor right now; success is assured. You'll receive help from Heaven.
How wide the roads of heaven. Success.
- The judgment of 39 Held Back
Every time you advance, something blocks you, forcing you to stop, step back, and look for help from like-minded people who give you their support. That way you'll get past the obstacles one by one until the final victory.
The southwest is favorable; the northeast is not. It is favorable to see the great person. Constancy brings good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
39 Held Back → 26 Great Achievementslines 1, 2, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Great Achievements
- 35Advancelines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 20Observinglines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 6Conflictlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 25Innocencelines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 2Passivitylines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 51Shocklines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 28Excesseslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 49Renewallines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 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.