Cambios

Transformation · lines 1, 2, 4, and 6

Darkness becomes The Vessel of Nourishment

明夷 36 Darkness 鼎 50 The Vessel of Nourishment
Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

Fire above wood, a cauldron: the first, second, fourth and top lines move. In 50 The Vessel of Nourishment, the resulting hexagram, it's the third and fifth lines that don't change, and their message is reassuring. The third says you're in a place where your talents aren't recognized yet, but there's nothing to worry about: stay true to yourself, act with integrity, and success tends to come in the end. The fifth adds that your qualities can carry you there without your needing to prove anything. After the long concealment of the starting hexagram, this confirms the approach. Don't force recognition. Keep cooking, slowly, with what you have. Watch for the urge to prove yourself to people who can't see you yet.

What to read, in order

Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.

  1. Line 3 of 50 The Vessel of Nourishment, which stays still

    For now you're in a place where your talents and qualities aren't recognized. There's nothing to worry about: if you stay true to yourself and act with integrity, success will come in the end.

    The ears of the cauldron are altered; its going is blocked. The pheasant fat is not eaten. When the rain comes, regret wanes. In the end, good fortune.

  2. Line 5 of 50 The Vessel of Nourishment, which stays still

    Your qualities will carry you to success without your having to prove anything. Naturally, everything will go your way.

    The cauldron with yellow ears and a bar of gold. Constancy is favorable.

  3. The judgment of 36 Darkness

    It's a dark time: circumstances force you to live alongside the wrong people. If you know how to protect yourself, hold on to your integrity, and go unnoticed, without openly showing your light and your talents, you'll stay safe until better times come. However hard they seem, hard times pass too.

    Constancy in hardship is favorable.

  4. Line 1 of 36 Darkness

    Trying to move ahead right now will only show you obstacles. Keep persevering on the right path, the one your heart moves you along, without straying from your goal and advancing as far as you can.

    The wounded light, in flight, lowers its wings. The noble person is on the road: three days without eating. There is somewhere to go; the host grumbles.

  5. Line 2 of 36 Darkness

    Difficulties are growing and circumstances affect you directly, but your firm resolve, acting for a greater good, and contributing as you're able will lead you to victory.

    The wounded light: wounded in the left thigh. Rescued with a strong horse. Good fortune.

  6. Line 4 of 36 Darkness

    You'll be allowed to see the causes of the hard situations you're facing. This will help you act quickly and withdraw to safe ground before adversity takes complete control.

    It enters the left side of the belly; it reaches the heart of the wounded light and goes out through the courtyard gate.

  7. Line 6 of 36 Darkness

    If you keep persevering, quietly and without drawing attention, the bad situations and the people behind them will fall under their own weight.

    No light, darkness. First it climbs to heaven; later it goes into the earth.

  8. The judgment of 50 The Vessel of Nourishment

    It's a time of change and adjustment, and it will happen naturally, without great upheaval, the way food cooks. Keep the flame lit: it's the enthusiasm that gives you the strength to keep going. And be clear about the resources you have, the way a cook chooses the ingredients. The change will come about little by little.

    Great good fortune. Success.

The trigrams

Below Fire Wind
Above Earth Fire

The way back

50 The Vessel of Nourishment → 36 Darkness
lines 1, 2, 4, and 6

Other transformations of Darkness

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

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