Transformation · lines 1, 4, 5, and 6
What Lasts becomes Small Things
What this change means
Wind moves across Heaven when the first, fourth, fifth and top lines change: What Lasts becomes 9 Small Things. Success is promised, but not yet; obstacles still need clearing, and for now you can take small steps while waiting to act on a larger scale. With four lines moving, the two still lines of the new figure give direction. The second says that even though circumstances push you forward, it's time to go back and prepare for a better moment. The third warns that forcing an advance at any cost only brings larger obstacles from outside. So hold your steady course, but shorten your stride. Don't let pressure from outside rush you. Prepare, do the small things, and save the big push for when the way is truly clear.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 2 of 9 Small Things, which stays still
Even though circumstances push you to advance, for now it's time to go back and prepare to act at a better moment.
Led back. Good fortune.
- Line 3 of 9 Small Things, which stays still
Trying to advance at any cost only brings bigger obstacles from outside.
The spokes come loose from the cart. Husband and wife glare at each other.
- The judgment of 32 What Lasts
This moment asks you for action, not stillness. It asks you to have clear goals to head toward and to act in line with them. That way you'll achieve things, and your achievements will keep growing and will last.
Success. No fault. Constancy is favorable. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- Line 1 of 32 What Lasts
Don't expect extraordinary achievements when you're only just starting to move in the right direction.
Digging deep into duration. Even with constancy, misfortune. Nothing is favorable.
- Line 4 of 32 What Lasts
Motivation and enthusiasm aren't all you need to achieve something; you also need to find the places where those dreams can flourish.
No game in the field.
- Line 5 of 32 What Lasts
Right now your achievements will depend on your ability to be bold and open yourself to new paths.
Making one's virtue last, with constancy. For the wife, good fortune; for the husband, misfortune.
- Line 6 of 32 What Lasts
If you're always acting without giving yourself time to reflect and rest, you'll end up exhausted and stuck.
Shaking duration. Misfortune.
- The judgment of 9 Small Things
You're facing a situation that promises success, but it isn't time yet. There are still obstacles on the way that you need to resolve. For now you can take small actions and wait for the right moment to act on a large scale.
Success. Dense clouds and no rain, from my western outskirts.
The trigrams
The way back
9 Small Things → 32 What Lastslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
Other transformations of What Lasts
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 63After the Endlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 60Thriftlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 8Unionlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 21Bitinglines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 23The Falllines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 12Declinelines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.