What this change means
The middle lines move, second, third and fourth, and both trigrams turn to Water: the lake on the mountain becomes a stream running through one gorge after another. With three lines changing, the two judgments meet as equals. Attraction says good results come from staying receptive, letting people come close who will support you. The resulting hexagram, 29 Water, describes a time when obstacles arrive one after another, and you get past them by keeping in motion, the way a stream follows its course without stagnating. What can stop you is fear. The two images ask for the same flexibility: water doesn't fight the shape of the land, and an open heart doesn't fight the people around it. Keep moving, keep receiving help, and don't let any single difficulty freeze you in place. Each one can be passed if you keep flowing.
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 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 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.
- 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.
- 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 4 of 31 Attraction
Centering yourself in your heart and your inner resources will let what is right for you find you naturally.
Constancy brings good fortune. Regret vanishes. Restless, coming and going; friends follow your thoughts.
The trigrams
The way back
29 Water → 31 Attractionlines 2, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Attraction
- 58Inner Peacelines 1, 2, and 3
- 5Inactionlines 1, 2, and 4
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 3, and 4
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 2, and 5
- 51Shocklines 1, 3, and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 5
- 36Darknesslines 1, 4, and 5
- 46Going Uplines 2, 4, and 5
- 2Passivitylines 3, 4, and 5
- 1Activitylines 1, 2, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 1, 3, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 2, 3, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 1, 4, and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 2, 4, and 6
- 20Observinglines 3, 4, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 1, 5, and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 2, 5, and 6
- 35Advancelines 3, 5, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.