Transformation · lines 4 and 6
What Lasts becomes Loss, Then Gain
What this change means
Wind below the mountain: with the fourth and top lines moving, the Thunder above becomes Mountain, and What Lasts turns toward 18 Loss, Then Gain. The top line leads, warning that constant activity without reflection or rest ends in exhaustion and a standstill. The fourth adds that enthusiasm isn't enough if you keep working in a field with nothing in it; you need to find where your dreams can actually grow. The resulting hexagram says mistakes have brought you into decline, but owning them and making corrections can lead you back to success, given time. So stop and look. Some of the effort you've poured in may have gone to the wrong place or simply too fast. Reflect on what caused the loss, change ground if you need to, act, and then let recovery take its time.
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 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.
- 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.
- 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 18 Loss, Then Gain
You've made mistakes that have brought you into decline; still, admitting it and making the corrections needed will lead you back to success. Take time to reflect on what caused the loss and, once you've acted, give success time to arrive.
Great success. It is favorable to cross the great river. Three days before the first day, three days after the first day.
The trigrams
The way back
18 Loss, Then Gain → 32 What Lastslines 4 and 6
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
- 7The Armylines 3 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
- 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.