What this change means
Wind and thunder replace the water on the mountain as the first, third and top lines change. With three lines moving, the judgments of both hexagrams share the reading. Held Back speaks of obstacles that stop you each time you advance, and of the habit of stepping back and seeking people who share your aims. The resulting hexagram, 42 Increase, describes a time of gain and growth in which your projects can prosper. It asks you to hold on to your integrity, learn from people who already have the qualities you're after, and drop the traits that have caused you trouble before. Read side by side, they show the hard going opening onto growth, but growth that depends on what you've learned. Look honestly at the habits that kept you blocked. Let them go, model yourself on people you admire, and stay generous as things improve.
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 42 Increase
You're in a time of gain and growth: your projects will grow and prosper. At times like this it's important to keep your inner integrity, follow the example of people who have the qualities you want to gain, and get rid of the traits that have caused you trouble before. Overall, it's a time of achievement and generosity.
It is favorable to have somewhere to go. It is favorable to cross the great river.
- 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 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.
The trigrams
The way back
42 Increase → 39 Held Backlines 1, 3, and 6
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
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 3, 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
- 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.