What this change means
Wind rising out of fire: the first and top lines move, and Held Back becomes 37 The Tribe, the image of a household in good order. The top line leads. Your maturity lets you meet difficulties calmly and help others, and help comes back to you from above. The first line, at the other end of the figure, praises the deliberate retreat that gives you time to think and plan. Between them, the beginning and the end of the hard road both point toward home. The resulting hexagram says things move forward when relationships are right, with everyone in their proper place and fully playing their part, and when words and actions match. So bring your steadiness into the circle closest to you. Clarify roles, keep your promises, and make sure what you say lines up with what you do. That order tends to carry you further than another solitary push.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 37 The Tribe
Right relationships, with everyone in their proper place and fully carrying out their role, will move things forward and make success last. Your words need to match your actions so they come across as genuine.
The constancy of the woman is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
37 The Tribe → 39 Held Backlines 1 and 6
Other transformations of Held Back
- 5Inactionlines 1 and 2
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1 and 3
- 29Waterlines 2 and 3
- 49Renewallines 1 and 4
- 28Excesseslines 2 and 4
- 45Meetinglines 3 and 4
- 36Darknesslines 1 and 5
- 46Going Uplines 2 and 5
- 2Passivitylines 3 and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 4 and 5
- 57Gentlenesslines 2 and 6
- 20Observinglines 3 and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 4 and 6
- 52Abidinglines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.