Transformation · lines 2, 3, 4, and 5

Darkness becomes Inner Peace

Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

Lakes joined together: the four middle lines move and both trigrams become Lake. What stays still in 58 Inner Peace, the resulting hexagram, are the bottom and top lines, and they mark two ends of the same path. The first says calm and inner joy will help you stay centered and reach what you want. The top warns that without real inner peace, shallow amusements can slowly take hold until you're lost in them and left to chance. Coming from Darkness, the risk is turning to distraction to escape the hard time. Choose the calm instead. Cultivate what steadies you from within. Watch for small comforts that slowly take over. Joy that comes from inside keeps you centered; pleasure used to forget can carry you away.

What to read, in order

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

  1. Line 1 of 58 Inner Peace, which stays still

    A state of calm and inner joy will help you stay centered and achieve what you want.

    Joy in harmony. Good fortune.

  2. Line 6 of 58 Inner Peace, which stays still

    If you haven't developed real inner peace, you're easy prey for shallow entertainments, which will win you over bit by bit until you lose yourself in them. Now you're only in the hands of fate; you have no control.

    Joy that draws on.

  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 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.

  5. 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.

  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 5 of 36 Darkness

    For now you can't withdraw to better circumstances, so you have to stay where you are, with your mind fixed on your goal and a low profile so you don't draw attention.

    The wounded light of Jizi. Constancy is favorable.

  8. The judgment of 58 Inner Peace

    You're in a time of calm and inner peace that lets you achieve great things. Spending time with people whose energy is like yours will nourish and recharge you to reach your aims. Still, don't lose sight of your goals, or you'll slide into inertia.

    Success. Constancy is favorable.

The trigrams

Below Fire Lake
Above Earth Lake

The way back

58 Inner Peace → 36 Darkness
lines 2, 3, 4, and 5

Other transformations of Darkness

Make your own cast

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

Toss the coins