What this change means
Under heaven, the wind blows: three lines move, the third, fourth and top, and the double pit becomes a situation of encounters you may be underestimating. Water's own counsel is that a stream gets past each barrier simply by not stopping, and that a sincere heart is what gets through. The resulting hexagram, 44 Lack of Firmness, warns that unsuitable people or situations surround you. You know it, but you think you can manage them, maybe out of habit. Unless you set firm limits, they'll gain control over you and you won't be able to pull away. Weighed in balance, the two say: keep moving, but with your boundaries in place. Getting through danger doesn't mean letting anyone who seems helpful come close. Watch for your own casualness. Taking these influences seriously now is far easier than untangling yourself from them later.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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 44 Lack of Firmness
You're surrounded by unsuitable people or situations. You know it, but you think you have the power to control them and don't take them very seriously; it may even be a bad habit. If you don't pay attention and set firm limits, they'll take control over you and you won't be able to pull away.
The woman is strong. Do not take her as a wife.
- 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 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 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 trigrams
The way back
44 Lack of Firmness → 29 Waterlines 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Water
- 63After the Endlines 1, 2, and 3
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 2, and 4
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 3, and 4
- 31Attractionlines 2, 3, and 4
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 2, and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 3, and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 2, 3, and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 4, and 5
- 16Passionlines 2, 4, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 3, 4, and 5
- 42Increaselines 1, 2, and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 3, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 2, 3, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 4, and 6
- 12Declinelines 2, 4, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 1, 5, and 6
- 23The Falllines 2, 5, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 3, 5, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.