What this change means
A withered poplar flowers, and an old woman takes a young husband: the fifth line blooms, but nothing comes of it. No fault, no praise. In practical terms, when you put your effort into strengthening ties with those above you and forget the people you lead, success stays limited. It looks good and doesn't grow. As this line moves, the Lake above becomes Thunder, and the resulting hexagram, 32 What Lasts, asks for action guided by clear goals, so achievements can keep growing and endure. The contrast is the point. Flowers on a dead tree don't last; roots do. Look down as well as up. Spend time with those who depend on you, listen to them, and build loyalty there. What lasts is usually what's supported from below, not what's admired from above.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 5 of 28 Excesses
When you focus on strengthening ties with those above you but forget to pay attention to those you lead, your success will be limited.
The withered poplar puts out flowers. An old woman takes a young husband. No fault, no praise.
- 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 32 What Lasts
This moment asks you for action, not stillness. It asks you to have clear goals to head toward and to act in line with them. That way you'll achieve things, and your achievements will keep growing and will last.
Success. No fault. Constancy is favorable. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
32 What Lasts → 28 Excessesline 5
Other transformations of Excesses
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.