What this change means
Thunder stirring under the earth replaces water on the mountain as the first, third and fifth lines change. With three lines moving, the two judgments are weighed together. Held Back speaks of hard going: you advance, you're stopped, you step back, and you find support from people of like mind. The resulting hexagram, 24 Coming Back, describes the return after a dark stretch, when help comes again and your undertakings are favored. It also carries a warning: remember the mistakes that led you into the difficulty, because repeating them could take you back there. Seen side by side, they mark a turning point. The obstacles that forced you to pause have taught you something. Before you move again, name what went wrong, accept the help that's coming, and take up your work carefully. The return is real, and so is the chance of slipping into the old pattern.
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 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.
- The judgment of 24 Coming Back
After a period of adversity and darkness, the return comes. Still, be aware of the mistakes that led you into the dark, because if you repeat them you could fall again. People will come to help you, and your undertakings and projects will be favored.
Success. Going out and coming in without harm; friends arrive, no fault. Back and forth along its way: in seven days comes the return. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- 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.
- 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.
- Line 5 of 39 Held Back
You have great conviction and clear goals, which let you keep going despite the obstacles. Your inner strength will draw help to you.
Great hardship: friends arrive.
The trigrams
The way back
24 Coming Back → 39 Held Backlines 1, 3, and 5
Other transformations of Held Back
- 60Thriftlines 1, 2, and 3
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, and 4
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 3, and 4
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 3, and 4
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, and 5
- 7The Armylines 2, 3, and 5
- 55Abundancelines 1, 4, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 2, 4, and 5
- 16Passionlines 3, 4, and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, and 6
- 42Increaselines 1, 3, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 4, and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 4, and 6
- 12Declinelines 3, 4, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 5, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 5, and 6
- 23The Falllines 3, 5, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.