What this change means
The four middle lines move, and with them every yielding line of Nourishment turns firm: the jaws become pure Heaven. What remains still in the resulting hexagram, 1 Activity, sits at the bottom and the top, and those two lines carry the reading. The first says it's not yet time to act. The top warns that pride may be your worst enemy right now. That's a sober frame for a hexagram of creative power. The strength is real, new beginnings are possible, and you have qualities that can carry a project through. But strength gathered from good nourishment can tempt you to show it too soon. Hold back a little longer. Keep feeding your body and spirit, watch your words, and don't let confidence slide into arrogance. When the moment ripens, the energy will still be there.
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 1 Activity, which stays still
It's not yet time to act.
A dragon under the water. Do not act.
- Line 6 of 1 Activity, which stays still
Pride may be your worst enemy right now.
A dragon that climbs too high. There is regret.
- 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.
- Line 2 of 27 Nourishment
Expecting others to sort out your affairs and acting selfishly isn't favorable.
Jaws turned upside down: against the norm. Seeking sustenance from the hill. Setting out brings misfortune.
- Line 3 of 27 Nourishment
Watch the balance between your worldly food and your higher food closely: tending only to the first, and overindulging, brings misfortune.
Going against sustenance. Even with constancy, misfortune. For ten years, do not act. Nothing is favorable.
- 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 judgment of 1 Activity
The creative principle. Activity. New beginnings, flourishing, and the qualities you need to carry any undertaking or project through to success.
Great success. Constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
1 Activity → 27 Nourishmentlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Nourishment
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 6Conflictlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 46Going Uplines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 39Held Backlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 49Renewallines 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.