What this change means
Four lines move, every one except the third and the top, and the doubled Water becomes doubled Thunder: one shock after another instead of one pit after another. The still third and top lines of 51 Shock give the counsel. The third says the blows you're taking aren't fate; they come more from within, which makes them harder, and once you see that, you can correct course and settle things. The top line names your main enemy: a lack of calm, picking up worry from the air over matters that don't really affect you. Step away from that atmosphere and return to your center, and things will quiet down. So look inward before blaming circumstances. Much of the shaking can be stilled by your own composure. Keep your head when others lose theirs, and you'll find steadier ground than the noise suggests.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 51 Shock, which stays still
The blows you're taking right now aren't caused by fate. They come more from within, and that makes things harder. Once you realize this, you'll make the corrections and resolve the situation.
Thunder that stuns and stuns. If thunder sets one going, no disaster.
- Line 6 of 51 Shock, which stays still
Your main enemy now is a lack of calm: catching the worry that fills the air over situations that aren't affecting you. If you can step away from that atmosphere and return to your center, things will settle.
Thunder, shiver upon shiver; the eyes restless and lost. Setting out brings misfortune. The thunder strikes not oneself but the neighbor: no fault. Over the marriage there will be talk.
- The judgment of 29 Water
Just as a stream moves through obstacles and gets past them, following its course without stagnating, you're at a time when obstacles will come one after another, but you'll get past them if you can keep moving. Letting fear paralyze you will only leave you stuck.
There is sincere trust. Only the heart gets through. Going earns esteem.
- Line 1 of 29 Water
You won't get results if you keep acting recklessly in the direction you're going, without watching outside circumstances.
Pit upon pit. Entering the bottom of the pit. Misfortune.
- Line 2 of 29 Water
You're in a dangerous situation where you only get results in small matters. This isn't the time for great success.
In the pit there is danger. Seeking, a little is gained.
- Line 4 of 29 Water
Obstacles will be overcome now only if you open up to help that seems minor but will make the difference.
A jug of wine, a bowl of grain besides, in clay vessels. The simple offering passes in through the window. In the end, no fault.
- Line 5 of 29 Water
You'll get out of the obstacles now if you follow the path of least resistance and, step by step, head toward your goal.
The pit does not overflow; it fills just to the level. No fault.
- The judgment of 51 Shock
When unexpected situations come along that would frighten others, keep control and act calmly, without losing your composure. This attitude will get you results in what you want and let you succeed where others fail.
Success. Thunder comes, and there is dread; then laughter and easy talk. The thunder alarms a hundred leagues around, yet neither the ladle nor the sacrificial wine is let fall.
The trigrams
The way back
51 Shock → 29 Waterlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Water
- 49Renewallines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 36Darknesslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 37The Tribelines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 1Activitylines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 35Advancelines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 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.