Transformation · lines 1 and 3
Great Manifestation becomes Clearing Obstacles
What this change means
Thunder and rain break loose as the first and third lines move, and Heaven below turns to Water. The third line leads with a warning: showing off your power now invites hostility, like a ram tangling its horns in a fence. The first line adds that, despite your qualities, some unfavorable situations still hold you back; don't push, but work through them patiently. The resulting hexagram, 40 Clearing Obstacles, shows where this restraint leads. The obstacles have been overcome one by one, and what's needed now is balance. Act quickly and decisively where you can, without overrating your abilities, and if you need to rest or even step back before going on, do it. Strength here is measured by timing, not by display. Release the urge to prove yourself, and let the knots loosen on their own.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 34 Great Manifestation
If you show off your power and your achievements right now, you'll draw hostile looks and bad situations your way.
The petty person uses strength; the noble person does not. Constancy is in danger. A ram butts the fence and tangles its horns.
- Line 1 of 34 Great Manifestation
Despite your excellent qualities, some unfavorable situations still won't let you move forward. Don't push. Work through the obstacles one by one, and circumstances will give way in the end.
Strength in the toes. Setting out brings misfortune. There is sincere trust.
- The judgment of 34 Great Manifestation
You have what it takes to carry out big projects and achieve extraordinary things. Still, you need to stay active and keep persevering. Thinking and acting in harmony will keep you holding to what is right and will make your achievements last.
Constancy is favorable.
- The judgment of 40 Clearing Obstacles
The obstacles have been overcome one by one. You're in a time when balance matters: act quickly and decisively as far as you can, without overrating your abilities. If you feel you need a rest, or even to step back before going on, do it.
The southwest is favorable. With nowhere to go, coming back brings good fortune. With somewhere to go, going early brings good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
40 Clearing Obstacles → 34 Great Manifestationlines 1 and 3
Other transformations of Great Manifestation
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1 and 2
- 51Shocklines 2 and 3
- 46Going Uplines 1 and 4
- 36Darknesslines 2 and 4
- 19Fleeting Successlines 3 and 4
- 28Excesseslines 1 and 5
- 49Renewallines 2 and 5
- 58Inner Peacelines 3 and 5
- 5Inactionlines 4 and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1 and 6
- 30The Flamelines 2 and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 3 and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 4 and 6
- 1Activitylines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.