What this change means
The fifth line brings an ally you may not recognize at first: in the middle of opposites, someone loyal comes to you and supports you. It moves alone, so it's the core of this change. Regret vanishes, and going forward carries no fault. With the upper Fire turning to Heaven, the figure becomes 10 Treading Carefully, heaven above the lake. The resulting hexagram describes a delicate situation, where conducting yourself with awareness and gentleness can make even rivals give ground or become allies. So pay attention to the people around you, especially those who don't look like friends. Some of them may be on your side. Move with care and good manners, don't provoke, and accept support when it's offered. In a tense setting, the help you need tends to come from unexpected quarters.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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?
- 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 10 Treading Carefully
You're facing a difficult situation. If you know how to conduct yourself properly, moving with awareness and gentleness, even people who could be rivals and stand in your way will give ground, and may even become your allies.
Stepping on the tiger's tail; it does not bite. Success.
The trigrams
The way back
10 Treading Carefully → 38 Oppositesline 5
Other transformations of Opposites
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.