What this change means
Thunder in the middle of the lake: the third, fourth and fifth lines move, and Fire becomes Thunder below while Earth becomes Lake above. Darkness has asked you to survive a bad stretch through honesty and a low profile. The resulting hexagram, 17 Adapting, says it's time both to lead and to follow, acting genuinely from the place life asks you to take, which tends to bring more support. In balance, these say that surviving the dark involves reading your role. Follow where you must, lead where you can, and stay true wherever you stand. Rest when it's time, like the noble person going indoors at dusk. Watch for insisting on a position that isn't yours right now. Flexibility, held together with integrity, is your shelter.
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 17 Adapting
It's a time both to lead and to follow. If you can see the place life is asking you to take right now, and act genuinely from wherever you belong, you'll gain more leadership and more support for what you do.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. No fault.
- 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.
- 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.
The trigrams
The way back
17 Adapting → 36 Darknesslines 3, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Darkness
- 7The Armylines 1, 2, and 3
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, and 4
- 16Passionlines 1, 3, 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
- 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.