Transformation · lines 2, 3, and 4
Leaving Behind becomes Release from Obstacles
What this change means
Wind blows across Water where once a mountain stood under Heaven: the second, third and fourth lines move, and what was stuck begins to disperse. In a three-line change the judgments count equally. Read from the starting side, this retreat buys you time to heal and to plan a repair, and what you shed may prove to be a gain; keep your steps small and steady. The resulting hexagram, 59 Release from Obstacles, says you can free yourself from what holds you back by acting sincerely and drawing opposing sides toward a common aim. Selfishness is what created the tension. Be humble, go with the current instead of fighting it, and let your withdrawal lower the pressure rather than add to it. Sometimes leaving the room is what lets others come together.
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 59 Release from Obstacles
You can free yourself from the obstacles that hold you back if you're able to act sincerely and bring opposites together around shared goals. The tension has arisen because selfishness rules. To move forward, be humble and let the current carry you rather than going against it.
Success. The king goes to his temple. It is favorable to cross the great river. Constancy is favorable.
- Line 2 of 33 Leaving Behind
If you leave behind what doesn't serve you and hold fast to what is fair and right, you'll reach your goals in the end.
Bound with the hide of a yellow ox: no one can work it loose.
- 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 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.
The trigrams
The way back
59 Release from Obstacles → 33 Leaving Behindlines 2, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Leaving Behind
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, and 3
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, and 4
- 42Increaselines 1, 3, and 4
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, and 5
- 21Bitinglines 1, 3, 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.