What this change means
The second, third and fourth lines move together, and fire turns to a lake at the foot of a mountain: brightness quiets into restraint. From the starting judgment comes the reminder that your clarity and inner guidance lead you toward your goals, and that sharing your light increases what you gain. The resulting hexagram, 41 Decrease, asks for moderation and saving now: conserve resources and energy, avoid excess of every kind, and prepare for bigger projects, since a period of growth follows. Read together, they ask for a generous but measured light. Give without draining yourself. Watch for the impulse to spend everything because things look bright. Curbing anger and desire, as the image puts it, keeps you clear. What you hold back now isn't lost; it's stored for the growth that comes after.
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 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 41 Decrease
It's a time for moderation and saving: conserving your resources and energy matters a great deal now. A period of growth will follow, but for now you need to stay aware and avoid excess of every kind while you get ready to take on big projects.
There is sincere trust. Great good fortune. No fault. Constancy is possible. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. What to offer? Two bowls will do for the offering.
- Line 2 of 30 The Flame
Perseverance and a connection with what is right, as you follow your inner guidance, will bring you achievement and brilliance.
Yellow radiance. Great good fortune.
- Line 3 of 30 The Flame
Don't get swept along by life's ups and downs. Standing firm, centered within yourself whatever the outside circumstances, ensures achievement.
The radiance of the setting sun. If no one beats the clay pot and sings, there comes the lament of great old age. Misfortune.
- Line 4 of 30 The Flame
A quick rise, unless your inner strength and steadiness feed it, will be short-lived.
Suddenly, so it comes: blazing, dying, cast away.
The trigrams
The way back
41 Decrease → 30 The Flamelines 2, 3, and 4
Other transformations of The Flame
- 64Transitionlines 1, 2, and 3
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 2, and 4
- 23The Falllines 1, 3, and 4
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1, 2, and 5
- 12Declinelines 1, 3, and 5
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2, 3, and 5
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 4, and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 2, 4, and 5
- 42Increaselines 3, 4, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, and 6
- 16Passionlines 1, 3, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2, 3, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 4, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 2, 4, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 3, 4, and 6
- 31Attractionlines 1, 5, and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 5, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 3, 5, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.