What this change means
A horse runs off, and the first line of Opposites says not to chase it. That's the heart of this change, since it's the only line moving. Don't try to bring anyone close by force. Differences are real, sometimes large, and they deserve to be recognized. If someone near you drifts away for a while, let them go; they tend to return on their own. Even meeting people you dislike does no harm if you stay clear about who you are. With the lower Lake turning to Water, the figure becomes 64 Transition, fire standing above water. Things are coming together, but some pieces haven't settled yet, and impatience is where mistakes slip in. So hold back from chasing, persuading or forcing. Give distance its time, stay alert, and let what belongs with you find its own way back.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 1 of 38 Opposites
Don't try to join with anyone by force; it's important to recognize differences, however large. Even if someone close to you pulls away for a while, let them go: they'll come back on their own.
Regret vanishes. The horse is lost: do not chase it; it comes back by itself. Seeing wicked people: no fault.
- The judgment of 38 Opposites
You're in a situation of opposition: the people around you are different from you, yet you need to share with them. This means that what you can achieve for now is small. Even so, don't give in. It matters that both you and they keep your own nature and contribute from there to a shared project.
In small matters, good fortune.
- The judgment of 64 Transition
Things are coming together so that success can arrive and you can take on great projects, but some things still haven't fallen into place. So stay alert, so you don't make mistakes born of immaturity, or you'll drift from your goals. This can happen even after you've gotten what you want: you stop, you hesitate, and mistakes happen.
Success. The little fox has nearly crossed and wets its tail. Nothing is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
64 Transition → 38 Oppositesline 1
Other transformations of Opposites
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.