Transformation · lines 1, 3, 5, and 6
Water becomes Great Achievements
What this change means
Heaven gathers inside a mountain when four lines move, the first, third, fifth and top, and the doubled danger becomes stored-up strength. The still second and fourth lines of 26 Great Achievements guide you. The second says to wait until conditions are right, because outside circumstances are holding you back. The fourth says that if you watch the circumstances and spot obstacles before they arise, getting ready to overcome them when the time comes, you'll succeed. So this is a time of preparation with great potential behind it. Don't force a breakthrough while the brakes are on. Study the road ahead, anticipate where it will get hard, and build your resources. Watch for frustration at being held back. Restraint now isn't lost time; it's what lets your capacity accumulate until the moment for unusual action arrives.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 2 of 26 Great Achievements, which stays still
Wait until conditions are right to act, because outside circumstances are holding you back.
The axle strap slips from the cart.
- Line 4 of 26 Great Achievements, which stays still
If you watch the circumstances and spot obstacles before they arise, preparing to overcome them when the time comes, you'll succeed.
The board on the calf's horns. Great good fortune.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Line 6 of 29 Water
Trying to escape the obstacles, you get more tangled if you keep doing things the wrong way and side with the wrong people.
Bound with braided cords, set among thorn thickets; three years and no way out. Misfortune.
- The judgment of 26 Great Achievements
It's a good moment to leave your comfort zone and take on new actions, beyond what you think you can do. Heaven favors unusual actions that will lead you to success, because you have the qualities needed.
Constancy is favorable. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
The trigrams
The way back
26 Great Achievements → 29 Waterlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Water
- 49Renewallines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 36Darknesslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 51Shocklines 1, 2, 4, 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
- 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.