Transformation · lines 1, 4, and 6
Held Back becomes Gathering with Equals
What this change means
Fire rises to meet heaven as the first, fourth and top lines move, and the struggle on the mountain becomes a gathering. The two judgments carry equal weight. Held Back describes hard going: every advance blocked, every block met by stepping back and seeking support from those who share your outlook. The resulting hexagram, 13 Gathering with Equals, describes meetings with people of a nature like yours, with whom you can take on important tasks. Relationships grounded in trust and mutual support form, and large, innovative projects are favored. Seen together, the allies Held Back sends you to find are already within reach, and the obstacle becomes the reason you come together. Reach out to them, build on trust, and think bigger than you would alone. Keep each person's role clear, and let the shared work move what one person couldn't.
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 13 Gathering with Equals
It's a time of meetings with people of a high nature like yours, with whom you can carry out important tasks and projects. Relationships built on trust and mutual support take shape. Large, innovative projects are favored.
Community in the open country. Success. It is favorable to cross the great river. The constancy of the noble person is favorable.
- 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 4 of 39 Held Back
You won't get past the obstacles on your own. It's time to return to more stable conditions and look for support from like-minded people; with their help you'll succeed.
Going: hardship. Coming: joined with others.
- 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
13 Gathering with Equals → 39 Held Backlines 1, 4, 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
- 42Increaselines 1, 3, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2, 3, 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.