What this change means
Water hidden within the earth forms as lines one, four and six move: Lake becomes Water, Fire becomes Earth, and the figure is 7 The Army. Both judgments are weighed. Opposites says the people around you are different and you have to share with them, so achievements stay small, but you shouldn't give in. The resulting hexagram asks for discipline and organization: face the situation head-on, speak clearly, say what you want, and don't impose it. Together they suggest that differences can be managed through order. You don't have to agree with everyone to work together well. Set clear structures, state your needs plainly, and lead by persuasion rather than force. Respect each person's nature. A disciplined group of different people tends to accomplish more than a disorganized one of like minds.
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 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 7 The Army
Whatever your question, the favorable answer comes from acting with discipline and organization: face the situation head-on and speak clearly, say what you want, without trying to impose it.
The constancy of a seasoned leader brings good fortune. No fault.
- 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.
- Line 4 of 38 Opposites
Keeping to yourself in this time of opposition will help you find people who are truly like you and achieve success.
Alone in opposition, meets a worthy man; they trust each other. Danger. No fault.
- 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.
The trigrams
The way back
7 The Army → 38 Oppositeslines 1, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Opposites
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 2, and 3
- 23The Falllines 1, 2, and 4
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 3, and 4
- 22Good Mannerslines 2, 3, and 4
- 12Declinelines 1, 2, and 5
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1, 3, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 2, 3, and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 4, and 5
- 42Increaselines 2, 4, and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 3, 4, and 5
- 16Passionlines 1, 2, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 1, 3, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 2, 3, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 2, 4, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 3, 4, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1, 5, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 2, 5, and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 3, 5, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.