What this change means
Thunder and lightning arrive where the mountain and the sky had been: the first, third and fifth lines move, and quiet withdrawal gives way to decisive action. Both judgments hold, with no line outweighing them. The starting one gives the pause its purpose: you withdraw to gather force and to work out exactly what's wrong, setting aside whatever isn't good for you. The resulting hexagram, 21 Biting, names the next step: firm, energetic action to remove what's in the way, with clear limits, even through formal means if it comes to that. Fear isn't useful here. The sequence matters. First, the distance that clarifies; then, once you know what has to go, a clean, decisive bite through the obstacle rather than endless chewing on it.
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 33 Leaving Behind
Leaving a path behind or stepping back right now isn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it will help you recover your strength and think carefully about the situation and how to set it right. Sometimes what looks like a loss turns into a gain, if you can let go of what isn't good for you and then pick up again in the right direction.
Success. In small things, constancy is favorable.
- The judgment of 21 Biting
It's a time for firm, decisive action to overcome obstacles, even legal action if needed. Success is within reach if you act with energy and set limits. Don't be afraid: act.
Success. It is favorable to bring things to judgment.
- Line 1 of 33 Leaving Behind
In hard times, when retreat can't be avoided, you'll suffer losses if you don't pull back quickly and actively and still hope to get something out of that road.
Retreating at the tail. Danger. Having somewhere to go is of no use yet.
- Line 3 of 33 Leaving Behind
If, just as you're leaving something behind, you still let circumstances tempt you to stay, you'll need to find allies to make even a little progress.
A tethered retreat. There is sickness, danger. Keeping servants and maids: good fortune.
- Line 5 of 33 Leaving Behind
Withdrawing at the right moment, and doing it on friendly terms with the circumstances and the people you leave behind, will bring you success.
A fine retreat. Constancy brings good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
21 Biting → 33 Leaving Behindlines 1, 3, and 5
Other transformations of Leaving Behind
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, and 3
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, and 4
- 42Increaselines 1, 3, and 4
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 4
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, and 5
- 64Transitionlines 2, 3, and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 4, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 4, and 5
- 23The Falllines 3, 4, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 3, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 3, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 4, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 4, and 6
- 8Unionlines 3, 4, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 1, 5, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 2, 5, and 6
- 16Passionlines 3, 5, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.