What this change means
Thunder doubles as four lines move. 51 Shock answers through its steady second and fourth lines. The second says difficult situations may arise and losses may come, but there's nothing to fear: what you lose tends to return, and you'll find your way to achievement again. The fourth describes a time when you can't see clearly what's holding you back, so your efforts don't settle anything; it's wiser to wait until conditions change. After stepping away from one situation, you may be shaken by surprises. Keep calm and composed when others would panic. If you can't see the cause of a blockage, don't keep pushing at it. Let go of what you've lost for now, steady yourself, and act again when the picture clears.
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 51 Shock, which stays still
Situations may come up that seem hard to face, and you may even suffer losses. There's nothing to fear: what you lose you'll get back, and you'll be on the path of achievement again.
Thunder comes: danger. Countless cowries are lost; one climbs the nine hills. Do not chase them: in seven days they are found.
- Line 4 of 51 Shock, which stays still
You can't see clearly what's holding you back, so the things you do don't settle matters. It's a time to wait until conditions change.
Thunder sinks into the mud.
- 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.
- 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.
- Line 6 of 33 Leaving Behind
You're in the right position to leave behind what has run its course. You can do it knowing it's right and without mourning the loss, and this will bring you great success.
A retreat at ease. Nothing that is not favorable.
- The judgment of 51 Shock
When unexpected situations come along that would frighten others, keep control and act calmly, without losing your composure. This attitude will get you results in what you want and let you succeed where others fail.
Success. Thunder comes, and there is dread; then laughter and easy talk. The thunder alarms a hundred leagues around, yet neither the ladle nor the sacrificial wine is let fall.
The trigrams
The way back
51 Shock → 33 Leaving Behindlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Leaving Behind
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 58Inner Peacelines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 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.