What this change means
Heaven and Earth pull apart when the third and top lines move: the lake on the mountain becomes heaven above earth, with nothing passing between them. The top line leads, warning that words without matching actions bring only modest results. The third line warns against attaching yourself hastily to the wrong people or chasing dreams without thinking, since going on that way brings distress. The resulting hexagram, 12 Decline, says you're surrounded by adverse people and situations. Avoid getting involved with them, whatever they offer, and wait somewhere safe for conditions to change. Put plainly, this isn't a time to be seduced or to seduce. Be skeptical of promises, including the ones you're tempted to make. Keep a low profile, protect your integrity, and save your openness for a season when it can be met.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 6 of 31 Attraction
If you try to influence others or win their support with words alone and not with matching actions, your achievements will be modest.
Contact at the jaws, the cheeks, the tongue.
- 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.
- 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 12 Decline
You're surrounded by adverse people and situations. Avoid getting involved with those people, no matter what they offer you. Circumstances aren't good for acting or making decisions; it's time to withdraw to a safe place and wait for conditions to change. It's time to keep a low profile.
Stagnation: these are not worthy people. The constancy of the noble person is not favorable. The great goes, the small comes.
The trigrams
The way back
12 Decline → 31 Attractionlines 3 and 6
Other transformations of Attraction
- 43Overflowinglines 1 and 2
- 17Adaptinglines 1 and 3
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2 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
- 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.