Transformation · lines 1, 2, 3, and 6

Held Back becomes Inner Integrity

Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

Wind above the lake: the three lower lines and the top one move, and Held Back becomes 61 Inner Integrity. The fourth and fifth lines of that figure stay put, and they set the tone. The fourth asks you to lean on spiritual forces to strengthen your integrity and head confidently toward your goal, without looking back. The fifth speaks of an inner strength that draws others toward shared well-being and shared aims. Both locate the way through inside you. After the long work of facing obstacles, what moves things now is wholeness within, which shows on the outside and lets your truth move others. Don't keep checking over your shoulder at the setbacks. Strengthen what's genuine in you, through whatever practice sustains you, and go forward. People who share your aims tend to gather around that kind of steadiness.

What to read, in order

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

  1. Line 4 of 61 Inner Integrity, which stays still

    It's a time to lean on spiritual forces to strengthen your inner integrity and head confidently toward your goal, without looking back.

    The moon is nearly full. One horse of the pair is lost. No fault.

  2. Line 5 of 61 Inner Integrity, which stays still

    You have an inner strength that lets you draw others toward a shared well-being and shared goals.

    There is sincere trust, holding fast like links in a chain. No fault.

  3. The judgment of 39 Held Back

    Every time you advance, something blocks you, forcing you to stop, step back, and look for help from like-minded people who give you their support. That way you'll get past the obstacles one by one until the final victory.

    The southwest is favorable; the northeast is not. It is favorable to see the great person. Constancy brings good fortune.

  4. Line 1 of 39 Held Back

    A strategic retreat in the face of obstacles will help you reflect, come up with new strategies, and act when conditions are right.

    Going: hardship. Coming: praise.

  5. Line 2 of 39 Held Back

    It's time to face the difficulties, which seem to grow as you advance. Still, if your actions go hand in hand with inner integrity, you'll succeed in the end.

    The king's servant, in hardship upon hardship, and not of their own doing.

  6. Line 3 of 39 Held Back

    The right thing now is to step back from the obstacles and return to normal conditions, with the people who love you, until the time to act comes.

    Going: hardship. Coming: a return.

  7. Line 6 of 39 Held Back

    You've reached such maturity and confidence that you can face difficulties calmly and help others; in the same way, you'll receive help from those above you.

    Going: hardship. Coming: greatness. Good fortune. It is favorable to see the great person.

  8. The judgment of 61 Inner Integrity

    When you're whole within, it shows on the outside, and you'll be able to do great things and to let your truth move others toward great undertakings.

    Piglets and fish: good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river. Constancy is favorable.

The trigrams

Below Mountain Lake
Above Water Wind

The way back

61 Inner Integrity → 39 Held Back
lines 1, 2, 3, and 6

Other transformations of Held Back

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Toss the coins