What this change means
Thunder doubles as the first and second lines move: the rain below turns into another clap, and Clearing Obstacles becomes 51 Shock. The second line leads. With the hard part behind you, flatterers tend to appear; refuse their praise, expose what isn't right, and act with spotless integrity. The first line tempers it, asking you to rest and recover your strength now that the obstacles are gone. Together they describe a moment that is both relief and test: rest your body, but keep your judgment awake. The resulting hexagram warns that unexpected situations may come up that would frighten others. Meet them with control and calm, without losing your composure, and you can succeed where others falter. So take the pause you need, keep away from sweet talk, and when the next jolt arrives, respond from a rested, clear mind.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 2 of 40 Clearing Obstacles
The obstacles are overcome; now you're easy prey for flattery. If you avoid falling for it and bring what isn't right into the open, cleanly and without a single flaw, you'll succeed.
On the hunt, catches three foxes and gains a yellow arrow. Constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 1 of 40 Clearing Obstacles
With the obstacles behind you, take a rest for now so you can recover your strength to keep going.
No fault.
- The judgment of 40 Clearing Obstacles
The obstacles have been overcome one by one. You're in a time when balance matters: act quickly and decisively as far as you can, without overrating your abilities. If you feel you need a rest, or even to step back before going on, do it.
The southwest is favorable. With nowhere to go, coming back brings good fortune. With somewhere to go, going early brings good fortune.
- The judgment of 51 Shock
When unexpected situations come along that would frighten others, keep control and act calmly, without losing your composure. This attitude will get you results in what you want and let you succeed where others fail.
Success. Thunder comes, and there is dread; then laughter and easy talk. The thunder alarms a hundred leagues around, yet neither the ladle nor the sacrificial wine is let fall.
The trigrams
The way back
51 Shock → 40 Clearing Obstacleslines 1 and 2
Other transformations of Clearing Obstacles
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1 and 3
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 2 and 3
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1 and 4
- 2Passivitylines 2 and 4
- 46Going Uplines 3 and 4
- 58Inner Peacelines 1 and 5
- 45Meetinglines 2 and 5
- 28Excesseslines 3 and 5
- 29Waterlines 4 and 5
- 38Oppositeslines 1 and 6
- 35Advancelines 2 and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 3 and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 4 and 6
- 6Conflictlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.