Transformation · lines 1, 3, and 4

Water becomes Overflowing

Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

Here the lake rises over heaven: three lines move, the first, third and fourth, and the doubled Water gives way to tension that wants out. From the pit, the judgment asks you to keep flowing through obstacles that keep coming, to hold on to sincerity, and to refuse to be paralyzed by fear. The resulting hexagram, 43 Overflowing, warns of excess buildup: situations, personal or in your relationships, may be close to spilling over. It asks you to bring what's happening into the open, but carefully, choosing your words so you don't provoke, and acting with generosity to ease the pressure. Read side by side, they say movement is still the answer, but the movement now is honest speech with tact. Don't let things pile up in silence, and don't blow them up either. Name what's going on, gently, and give something to lower the tension.

What to read, in order

Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.

  1. 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.

  2. The judgment of 43 Overflowing

    It's a time of excessive buildup: some situations are about to get out of control and overwhelm you, both personally and in your relationships. You need to bring what's happening into the open, but without speaking about it directly; watch your words so you don't provoke reactions. It's a time to act generously to ease the tension that's there.

    It is proclaimed in the king's court. A sincere cry: there is danger. Word comes from one's own city. It is not favorable to take up arms. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.

  3. 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.

  4. Line 3 of 29 Water

    It's time to stop, watch and act only when you're sure that moving forward will lead to success. Ask for inner guidance.

    Coming and going: pit and pit. Danger, and depth besides. Entering the bottom of the pit. Do not act.

  5. 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.

The trigrams

Below Water Heaven
Above Water Lake

The way back

43 Overflowing → 29 Water
lines 1, 3, and 4

Other transformations of Water

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Toss the coins