What this change means
The top line moves, and the upper Water turns into Wind blowing over water, loosening what was bound. This line is the bleakest image in the pit: tied with cords and set among thorns, with no way out for a long time. In practical terms, the more you try to escape by doing things the wrong way and siding with the wrong people, the more tangled you get. The resulting hexagram, 59 Release from Obstacles, shows the way out. Freedom comes through sincerity and through bringing opposing sides together around shared goals. The tension grew because selfishness took over; to move forward, be humble and let the current carry you instead of fighting it. So stop struggling against the cords. Look at the company you keep and the methods you use, drop what's wrong in both, and let a more generous approach untie the knot.
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.
- 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 59 Release from Obstacles
You can free yourself from the obstacles that hold you back if you're able to act sincerely and bring opposites together around shared goals. The tension has arisen because selfishness rules. To move forward, be humble and let the current carry you rather than going against it.
Success. The king goes to his temple. It is favorable to cross the great river. Constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
59 Release from Obstacles → 29 Waterline 6
Other transformations of Water
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.