What this change means
When calves and thighs both lurch forward, the Mountain under the Lake dissolves into Water, and the lake starts to drain. The third line leads this movement: clinging to whoever goes ahead of you, or to a dream you haven't examined, brings distress. The second line backs it up from below, warning that moving now brings misfortune and staying put brings good fortune. The resulting hexagram, 47 Overwhelmed, shows what happens when those warnings go unheard: a stretch when circumstances are against you, few people believe what you say, and obstacles hem you in. Even then, there's a resource left, the inner light that lives in you. So don't chase. Stop pressing on doors that won't open, accept that this is a time to wait, and lean on your own steadiness until better conditions come. Patience now spares you a harder squeeze later.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 31 Attraction
Don't act hastily, attaching yourself to the wrong people or chasing your dreams without thinking: this will take you off the path.
Contact at the thighs. Holding on to what follows. Going on: distress.
- Line 2 of 31 Attraction
Wait, without rushing or taking the initiative, until the right people and situations show up on their own.
Contact at the calves. Misfortune. Staying put brings good fortune.
- The judgment of 31 Attraction
You'll get good results to the extent that you stay open and receptive, which lets people come close who will support you and help you get there, generously and without self-interest.
Success. Constancy is favorable. Taking a wife brings good fortune.
- The judgment of 47 Overwhelmed
Things are very much against you: the wrong people surround you, no one believes what you say, and obstacles hem you in. All you can do is accept it and wait for better conditions to come. Your only resource is the inner light that lives in you; turn to that strength to hold you up right now.
Success. For the great person, constancy brings good fortune. No fault. They speak and are not believed.
The trigrams
The way back
47 Overwhelmed → 31 Attractionlines 2 and 3
Other transformations of Attraction
- 43Overflowinglines 1 and 2
- 17Adaptinglines 1 and 3
- 63After the Endlines 1 and 4
- 48Right Actionlines 2 and 4
- 8Unionlines 3 and 4
- 55Abundancelines 1 and 5
- 32What Lastslines 2 and 5
- 16Passionlines 3 and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 4 and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1 and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2 and 6
- 12Declinelines 3 and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 4 and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.