Transformation · lines 2 and 4
Leaving Behind becomes Gentleness
What this change means
Wind follows wind as the second and fourth lines move, and both trigrams become soft and penetrating. The fourth line leads: let go without clinging and without mourning, convinced it's right, or regret will keep you closed to what's coming. The second line gives you the anchor. Whatever you leave behind, hold firmly to what's fair, so firmly that nothing can work you loose. The resulting hexagram, 57 Gentleness, describes how to move next. This isn't the time for big actions, pressure or force. Choose a direction and stay on it steadily; success tends to build from many small actions and from seeking the support of those above you, even if you don't see much progress at first. Leave gently, keep your principles tight, and let patient consistency do the work that force can't.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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 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.
- 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 57 Gentleness
It's a time when you'll gain and succeed through gentleness. This isn't the time for big actions, or for using pressure or force. It's a time to choose a path and stay on it steadily. Even if you don't see much progress, success will show itself through the build-up of small actions and through seeking the support of those above you.
Small success. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. It is favorable to see the great person.
The trigrams
The way back
57 Gentleness → 33 Leaving Behindlines 2 and 4
Other transformations of Leaving Behind
- 1Activitylines 1 and 2
- 25Innocencelines 1 and 3
- 6Conflictlines 2 and 3
- 37The Tribelines 1 and 4
- 20Observinglines 3 and 4
- 30The Flamelines 1 and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 2 and 5
- 35Advancelines 3 and 5
- 52Abidinglines 4 and 5
- 49Renewallines 1 and 6
- 28Excesseslines 2 and 6
- 45Meetinglines 3 and 6
- 39Held Backlines 4 and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.