Opposites becomes Darkness

What to read, in order

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

1. ●Line 1 of 36 Darkness, which stays still

   Trying to move ahead right now will only show you obstacles. Keep persevering on the right path, the one your heart moves you along, without straying from your goal and advancing as far as you can.

   The wounded light, in flight, lowers its wings. The noble person is on the road: three days without eating. There is somewhere to go; the host grumbles.

2. ●Line 5 of 36 Darkness, which stays still

   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.

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 2 of 38 Opposites

   You can reach agreements with people like you whom you're not in touch with, using skillful means to bring those meetings about.

   Meets their lord in a back lane. 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 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.

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 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 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
• → 45Meetinglines 1, 2, 5, and 6
• → 28Excesseslines 1, 3, 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