What this change means
With the first and fifth lines moving, a mountain stands under heaven, and the flame's season turns toward withdrawal. The fifth line leads: after a rise comes a decline, sometimes with real sorrow, but if you stand firm and understand that this is life's rhythm, you'll recover. The first line asks for calm and focus on your own projects, without being caught in the noise and crossing footsteps around you. The resulting hexagram, 33 Leaving Behind, says that stepping back now isn't a defeat. It can help you recover strength and think the situation through, and what looks like a loss may turn into a gain if you let go of what isn't good for you. So don't fight the ebb. Withdraw calmly, stay focused, and trust that a retreat taken in good time prepares the next rise.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 5 of 30 The Flame
After a rise, expect a decline. If you stand firm and understand that this is life's natural rhythm, you'll recover.
Tears pouring down in streams, sighs of sorrow. Good fortune.
- Line 1 of 30 The Flame
Right now it's important to stay calm and focused on your projects, without getting swept up in the noise around you.
Footsteps crossing every which way. With reverence, no fault.
- The judgment of 30 The Flame
There's clarity in what you do: your inner self guides you toward your goals. A generous attitude helps you, one that leads you to share your light, and this will increase your gains and achievements.
Constancy is favorable. Success. Raising a cow brings good fortune.
- The judgment of 33 Leaving Behind
Leaving a path behind or stepping back right now isn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it will help you recover your strength and think carefully about the situation and how to set it right. Sometimes what looks like a loss turns into a gain, if you can let go of what isn't good for you and then pick up again in the right direction.
Success. In small things, constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
33 Leaving Behind → 30 The Flamelines 1 and 5
Other transformations of The Flame
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1 and 2
- 35Advancelines 1 and 3
- 38Oppositeslines 2 and 3
- 52Abidinglines 1 and 4
- 26Great Achievementslines 2 and 4
- 27Nourishmentlines 3 and 4
- 1Activitylines 2 and 5
- 25Innocencelines 3 and 5
- 37The Tribelines 4 and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1 and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2 and 6
- 51Shocklines 3 and 6
- 36Darknesslines 4 and 6
- 49Renewallines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.