What this change means
Heaven above, earth below, and the two pull apart: as three lines move, the nourishing exchange of the jaws breaks down. With three lines, the reading pairs the two judgments. Nourishment advises seeking your own sustenance and watching what you let pass your lips. The resulting hexagram, 12 Decline, describes adverse people and situations all around you, and advises against getting involved with them no matter what they offer. It's not a time for decisions; withdraw somewhere safe and keep a low profile. Taken together, this asks you to be selective about what you take in. Not every offer is food. Turn down what comes with strings attached, guard your words, and live simply on your own resources until conditions change. Quiet self-care is the strategy here.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- The judgment of 27 Nourishment
Right now you need to take care of your physical and spiritual nourishment, so you have the resources you need in each area, and at the same time help others grow through what you do. Success lies in giving and receiving: take in what is good for you and share it with those around you.
Constancy brings good fortune. Watching the jaws; seeking for oneself what fills the mouth.
- The judgment of 12 Decline
You're surrounded by adverse people and situations. Avoid getting involved with those people, no matter what they offer you. Circumstances aren't good for acting or making decisions; it's time to withdraw to a safe place and wait for conditions to change. It's time to keep a low profile.
Stagnation: these are not worthy people. The constancy of the noble person is not favorable. The great goes, the small comes.
- Line 1 of 27 Nourishment
Being ungrateful for what you have and busying yourself envying what others have will hold back your achievements.
You let go of your sacred tortoise and watch my jaw working. Misfortune.
- Line 4 of 27 Nourishment
Getting the right nourishment for yourself and seeing how you can help others nourish themselves well brings you success and help.
Jaws upside down: good fortune. The tiger stares, intent and watchful; its desire chases on and on. No fault.
- Line 5 of 27 Nourishment
Being aware of your limits in helping others and asking advice on how to do it will bring you moderate achievements, not extraordinary ones, but it's something.
Against the norm. Abiding in constancy brings good fortune. The great river cannot be crossed.
The trigrams
The way back
12 Decline → 27 Nourishmentlines 1, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Nourishment
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 2, and 3
- 64Transitionlines 1, 2, and 4
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 3, and 4
- 14Wealthlines 2, 3, and 4
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 2, and 5
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 3, and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 2, 3, and 5
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2, 4, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3, 4, and 5
- 7The Armylines 1, 2, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 3, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 2, 3, and 6
- 16Passionlines 1, 4, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2, 4, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 3, 4, and 6
- 8Unionlines 1, 5, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 2, 5, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 3, 5, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.