What this change means
Water gathers under the Earth when the third and fourth lines move: the drive of What Lasts turns into the need for discipline. The fourth line leads. Enthusiasm isn't all it takes; you also need to find where your dreams can actually flourish, or you'll keep hunting in an empty field. The third line warns that if circumstances grow larger than your projects, they'll take control and your steadiness may slip. The resulting hexagram, 7 The Army, answers both. Bring order and organization to what you're doing, face the situation head-on and say clearly what you want, without trying to force it on anyone. In other words, stop drifting with events. Choose your ground, organize your effort around it, and speak plainly. Structure is what keeps purpose from being swallowed by circumstance.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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 3 of 32 What Lasts
If you let outside circumstances grow bigger than your dreams and projects, they'll end up gaining power over you.
Not making one's virtue last; perhaps shame will follow. Constancy brings distress.
- 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.
- The judgment of 7 The Army
Whatever your question, the favorable answer comes from acting with discipline and organization: face the situation head-on and speak clearly, say what you want, without trying to impose it.
The constancy of a seasoned leader brings good fortune. No fault.
The trigrams
The way back
7 The Army → 32 What Lastslines 3 and 4
Other transformations of What Lasts
- 55Abundancelines 1 and 2
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1 and 3
- 16Passionlines 2 and 3
- 11Well-Beinglines 1 and 4
- 15Simplicitylines 2 and 4
- 43Overflowinglines 1 and 5
- 31Attractionlines 2 and 5
- 47Overwhelmedlines 3 and 5
- 48Right Actionlines 4 and 5
- 14Wealthlines 1 and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 2 and 6
- 64Transitionlines 3 and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 4 and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.