Transformation · lines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Leaving Behind becomes Passivity
What this change means
Every line becomes yielding as four lines move, Earth below and Earth above. The first two lines of 2 Passivity, which don't move, guide the reading. The first says decline can happen without anyone noticing, and that it's time to take precautions so it doesn't become complete. The second adds that quietly, without fuss, you can succeed. The retreat now becomes receptivity. This isn't the moment to take the initiative; let others guide you and keep at your projects patiently. Watch for small signs that things are slipping, and act early on them. Then stay quiet and steady. Success here doesn't come from bold moves but from attentive, unglamorous persistence and a willingness to be carried rather than to lead.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 1 of 2 Passivity, which stays still
Things can decline without anyone noticing. It's time to take precautions so the decline doesn't become total.
Frost underfoot. Firm ice is on its way.
- Line 2 of 2 Passivity, which stays still
Quietly, without a lot of fuss, you can succeed.
Straight, square, great. Without learning it, nothing that is not favorable.
- 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 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.
- 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 2 Passivity
This is not the time to take the initiative to achieve things. It's better to let others guide you and to keep at your projects with patience.
Great success. The constancy of a mare is favorable. The noble person has somewhere to go: going ahead, they lose the way; following behind, they find someone to guide them. It is favorable to find friends in the southwest and to lose them in the northeast. Calm constancy brings good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
2 Passivity → 33 Leaving Behindlines 3, 4, 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
- 51Shocklines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 2, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.