Transformation · lines 1, 4, and 5
Leaving Behind becomes Good Manners
What this change means
The first, fourth and fifth lines change, and the figure flips: Fire now burns at the foot of the Mountain. Treat the two judgments as partners. The starting one asks for modest steadiness, a step back to gather yourself, small things done well, and no regret over what you leave. The resulting hexagram, 22 Good Manners, adds the tone to take. Kindness and courtesy toward others bring good results, and details that might seem superficial at another time matter now. Keep to everyday affairs, though, not great undertakings or major rulings. Make your retreat polite, keep the details graceful, and let civility carry you through a period when grand moves aren't called for. A gracious goodbye can open more doors later than a dramatic one.
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 22 Good Manners
It's a time to be kind and courteous and to use good manners with others if you want good results in what you undertake. What might seem superficial at another time leads you to success now. It's a time to handle everyday matters, not great undertakings.
Success. In small things, it is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- 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 4 of 33 Leaving Behind
You need to leave this road behind without clinging and without regret, sure that it's the right thing. Otherwise, even if you let go, a grieving heart will keep you from opening up to what's new.
A retreat with affection. For the noble person, good fortune; for the petty person, not so.
- 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
22 Good Manners → 33 Leaving Behindlines 1, 4, 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
- 21Bitinglines 1, 3, and 5
- 64Transitionlines 2, 3, 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.