Opposites becomes Excesses

What to read, in order

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

1. ●Line 2 of 28 Excesses, which stays still

   It's an exceptional time, so the measures must be exceptional too. Your actions should rest on unusual acts that seem small but bring extraordinary results.

   The withered poplar puts out shoots. An old man takes a young wife. Nothing that is not favorable.

2. ●Line 4 of 28 Excesses, which stays still

   You can receive help from those under you now, but if you take advantage of it and there's no balance between giving and receiving, they'll withdraw their support and there will be loss.

   The ridgepole rises. Good fortune. If there is something else, distress.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Line 3 of 38 Opposites

   Even if conditions turn against you and you're even attacked, staying true to yourself and to those you admire will lead you to success.

   Sees the cart dragged back, the ox held fast; the driver, branded on the forehead, nose cut off. No beginning, but an end.

6. Line 5 of 38 Opposites

   In the midst of opposites you'll find someone loyal whom you won't recognize at first, but they'll come to you and support you.

   Regret vanishes. Their clan bites into tender flesh. Going: what fault could there be?

7. Line 6 of 38 Opposites

   Isolation leads you into a moment of confusion where you don't recognize friends or allies; you're even about to attack them. But little by little the confusion clears, and joining with like-minded people will bring you success.

   Alone in opposition: sees a pig covered in mud, a cart loaded with ghosts. First the bow is drawn; then it is set down. Not a raider: a wedding party. If on the way the rain comes, good fortune.

8. The judgment of 28 Excesses

   You're in a situation that calls for extraordinary measures to keep what you've achieved from collapsing. Check and strengthen the foundations that hold up your projects, take innovative action and step out of your comfort zone. That way your success is assured; otherwise, loss can't be avoided.

   The ridgepole sags. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. Success.

The trigrams

The way back

Other transformations of Opposites

• → 52Abidinglines 1, 2, 3, and 4
• → 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
• → 20Observinglines 1, 2, 4, and 5
• → 57Gentlenesslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
• → 37The Tribelines 2, 3, 4, and 5
• → 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
• → 2Passivitylines 1, 2, 4, and 6
• → 46Going Uplines 1, 3, 4, and 6
• → 36Darknesslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
• → 45Meetinglines 1, 2, 5, and 6
• → 49Renewallines 2, 3, 5, and 6
• → 29Waterlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
• → 3Initial Obstacleslines 2, 4, 5, and 6
• → 5Inactionlines 3, 4, 5, and 6