What this change means
Going brings hardship; coming brings greatness, and with it good fortune. The top line moves alone, and it's the heart of this reading. You've reached a maturity and confidence that let you face difficulties calmly and even help others through theirs, and in turn help tends to come to you from those above. It's favorable to seek out someone wise or influential. As this line changes, the Water above becomes Wind, and the danger on the mountain becomes a tree growing there. Held Back opens onto 53 Gradual Progress: advancement that comes step by step, through stages that make it lasting. Trying to speed things up only brings delays. So the greatness this line points to isn't a leap. Turn back, offer your experience, accept the guidance offered from above, and climb one rung at a time.
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.
- 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 53 Gradual Progress
You'll make progress, and it will come step by step, gradually, through stages that make it lasting and stable. Trying to speed things up will bring delays and obstacles. Keep at it, one rung at a time.
The woman goes to be married: good fortune. Constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
53 Gradual Progress → 39 Held Backline 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.