What this change means
The bottom and top lines move, and Wind settles over a Lake, an open center appearing where both ends of the pit were sinking. The top line leads: trying to escape your obstacles through the wrong methods and the wrong people only binds you more tightly. The first line warns of the same mistake at the start, rushing ahead without watching circumstances, which drops you to the bottom. Both edges of this movement are about acting blindly or badly. The resulting hexagram, 61 Inner Integrity, offers the remedy: when you're whole inside, it shows outside, and your truth can move others toward worthwhile things. So the way out isn't a cleverer escape route. It's becoming honest with yourself about how you've been acting and who you've been leaning on. Get your inner house in order, and the cords that seemed so tight can start to loosen.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The judgment of 61 Inner Integrity
When you're whole within, it shows on the outside, and you'll be able to do great things and to let your truth move others toward great undertakings.
Piglets and fish: good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river. Constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
61 Inner Integrity → 29 Waterlines 1 and 6
Other transformations of Water
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1 and 2
- 5Inactionlines 1 and 3
- 39Held Backlines 2 and 3
- 58Inner Peacelines 1 and 4
- 45Meetinglines 2 and 4
- 28Excesseslines 3 and 4
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1 and 5
- 2Passivitylines 2 and 5
- 46Going Uplines 3 and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 4 and 5
- 20Observinglines 2 and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 3 and 6
- 6Conflictlines 4 and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.