What this change means
Thunder upon thunder: the third and fourth lines move, and both trigrams become Thunder. The fourth leads, giving you a glimpse of the heart of the problem so you can leave quickly and reach safe ground before the trouble takes hold. The third adds a stroke of luck that lets you advance, along with the reminder not to celebrate while the obstacles still stand. The resulting hexagram, 51 Shock, brings unexpected events that would frighten others. Your task is to keep control and act calmly, without losing composure; that can let you succeed where others fail. Put together, these lines describe a jolt that also opens a door. Watch for panic on one side and premature triumph on the other. Stay steady, see clearly, and move when it's time.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 51 Shock
When unexpected situations come along that would frighten others, keep control and act calmly, without losing your composure. This attitude will get you results in what you want and let you succeed where others fail.
Success. Thunder comes, and there is dread; then laughter and easy talk. The thunder alarms a hundred leagues around, yet neither the ladle nor the sacrificial wine is let fall.
The trigrams
The way back
51 Shock → 36 Darknesslines 3 and 4
Other transformations of Darkness
- 46Going Uplines 1 and 2
- 2Passivitylines 1 and 3
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2 and 3
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1 and 4
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2 and 4
- 39Held Backlines 1 and 5
- 5Inactionlines 2 and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 3 and 5
- 49Renewallines 4 and 5
- 52Abidinglines 1 and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 2 and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 3 and 6
- 30The Flamelines 4 and 6
- 37The Tribelines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.