What this change means
Water settles over the lake as three lines move, and an overloaded structure learns to carry only what it can. Here the two judgments are read together. Excesses describes a sagging ridgepole, a load past normal limits, and asks for extraordinary steps to keep what you've achieved standing. The resulting hexagram, 60 Thrift, asks you to conserve time, energy and resources so that challenges find you ready and can be met with ease. These two meet in one practical idea: lighten the load. Sometimes the extraordinary measure is to stop adding weight. Look at where you're spending too much, cut what isn't essential, and keep reserves. A beam that bears less, and bears it well, holds longer than one asked to carry everything. That reserve is also what lets you face the next demand calmly.
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 28 Excesses
You're in a situation that calls for extraordinary measures to keep what you've achieved from collapsing. Check and strengthen the foundations that hold up your projects, take innovative action and step out of your comfort zone. That way your success is assured; otherwise, loss can't be avoided.
The ridgepole sags. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. Success.
- The judgment of 60 Thrift
It's a time to conserve your time, energy and resources so you're ready for what lies ahead. If you do, when challenges arrive you'll be prepared and will overcome them easily.
Success. Bitter measure cannot be kept up with constancy.
- Line 1 of 28 Excesses
To carry out an extraordinary project now, start cautiously, checking each step to build good foundations.
Spreading white rushes underneath. No fault.
- Line 3 of 28 Excesses
Acting hastily and not listening to advice will lead you to loss, because in the end no one will want to help you.
The ridgepole sags. Misfortune.
- Line 4 of 28 Excesses
You can receive help from those under you now, but if you take advantage of it and there's no balance between giving and receiving, they'll withdraw their support and there will be loss.
The ridgepole rises. Good fortune. If there is something else, distress.
The trigrams
The way back
60 Thrift → 28 Excesseslines 1, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Excesses
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 2, and 3
- 63After the Endlines 1, 2, and 4
- 8Unionlines 2, 3, and 4
- 55Abundancelines 1, 2, and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 3, and 5
- 16Passionlines 2, 3, and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 4, and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 2, 4, and 5
- 7The Armylines 3, 4, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 2, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 3, and 6
- 12Declinelines 2, 3, and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 4, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 2, 4, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 3, 4, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 1, 5, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 2, 5, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 3, 5, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.