What this change means
Thunder in the middle of the lake: as the third, fifth and top lines change, the paired fires turn toward the rhythm of leading and following. Your starting light is clear and generous, steered from within. The resulting hexagram, 17 Adapting, says it's a time both to lead and to follow. If you see the place life is asking you to take, and act genuinely from there, you'll gain more leadership and support. Weighed together, they ask your clarity to be humble enough to adapt. Sometimes your light leads; sometimes it follows someone else's. Watch for rigidity about your role. And when dusk comes, as the image says, rest. Knowing when to step back, and letting someone else carry the light for a while, is part of following well.
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 17 Adapting
It's a time both to lead and to follow. If you can see the place life is asking you to take right now, and act genuinely from wherever you belong, you'll gain more leadership and more support for what you do.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. No fault.
- 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 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 6 of 30 The Flame
If you recognize the mistakes in what you've done and make the corrections needed, you'll succeed.
The king sets out on campaign. There is merit: the chief's head is cut off, and the captives are not the chief's own people. No fault.
The trigrams
The way back
17 Adapting → 30 The Flamelines 3, 5, and 6
Other transformations of The Flame
- 64Transitionlines 1, 2, and 3
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 2, and 4
- 23The Falllines 1, 3, and 4
- 41Decreaselines 2, 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
- 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.