Transformation · lines 5 and 6
Nourishment becomes Initial Obstacles
What this change means
Clouds gather over thunder when the fifth and top lines move, and the work of feeding others meets a hard beginning. Leading the pair, the top line makes you a provider: you find the means to manage your own life and to support others, a heavy charge where risk and good fortune travel together, and the crossing is favored. The fifth tempers it: know your limits in helping, ask advice, and accept moderate results; stay steady rather than attempting the great river yourself. The resulting hexagram, 3 Initial Obstacles, says this isn't the time to act directly. Look for allies who can act for you, and stay alert for when to take the initiative back. So provide through others. Build a network, delegate, and ask counsel. You don't have to carry every load in person for it to reach those who need it.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 6 of 27 Nourishment
You gain the resources to take care of your own affairs, and you help others get theirs. This brings a great responsibility, but also great success.
From here comes sustenance. Danger; good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
- 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 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 3 Initial Obstacles
This isn't the time to act directly: look for people who can act for you, allies who represent you. Still, stay alert so you know when the time comes to take back the initiative and control.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. Having somewhere to go is of no use yet. It is favorable to install lords.
The trigrams
The way back
3 Initial Obstacles → 27 Nourishmentlines 5 and 6
Other transformations of Nourishment
- 4Immaturitylines 1 and 2
- 52Abidinglines 1 and 3
- 26Great Achievementslines 2 and 3
- 35Advancelines 1 and 4
- 38Oppositeslines 2 and 4
- 30The Flamelines 3 and 4
- 20Observinglines 1 and 5
- 61Inner Integritylines 2 and 5
- 37The Tribelines 3 and 5
- 25Innocencelines 4 and 5
- 2Passivitylines 1 and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2 and 6
- 36Darknesslines 3 and 6
- 51Shocklines 4 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.