What this change means
Fire goes out below and Thunder rises from the Earth as the first, third and fourth lines move: thunder breaking out of the ground. Until now the light has been buried, and you've survived by guarding yourself and going unnoticed. The resulting hexagram, 16 Passion, brings a strong drive toward action that you can share with others to win their help for big projects, provided you also keep their needs in mind. In balance, this is the moment the hidden fire turns into enthusiasm. The energy you've kept down can come up now, but it serves best when it rallies people rather than displaying yourself. Watch for bursting out so fast that you forget the caution that kept you safe. Let your drive be generous, and let others share in it.
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 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.
- The judgment of 16 Passion
A time of passionate drive toward action. You can pass this passion on to others to gain their help, which lets you take on big projects with resolve and optimism. For these ventures to succeed and last, you can't look after only your own interests; you also need to keep in mind the needs of the people working with you.
It is favorable to install lords and set the army in motion.
- 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.
- Line 3 of 36 Darkness
A small stroke of luck lets you move forward, but the obstacles aren't overcome yet, so don't celebrate too soon. Stay alert until they're fully defeated.
The wounded light on the southern hunt: the great chief is taken. Constancy must not be hurried.
- 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.
The trigrams
The way back
16 Passion → 36 Darknesslines 1, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Darkness
- 7The Armylines 1, 2, and 3
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, and 4
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2, 3, and 4
- 48Right Actionlines 1, 2, and 5
- 8Unionlines 1, 3, and 5
- 60Thriftlines 2, 3, and 5
- 31Attractionlines 1, 4, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 4, and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 3, 4, and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 2, and 6
- 23The Falllines 1, 3, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 2, 3, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 4, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 2, 4, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 3, 4, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 5, and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 2, 5, and 6
- 42Increaselines 3, 5, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.