Transformation · lines 1, 2, and 6
Clearing Obstacles becomes Biting
What this change means
Thunder and lightning arrive together as three lines change, and Clearing Obstacles becomes 21 Biting. Here both judgments count. The first one describes a road just cleared, where speed and resolve help as long as you don't mistake confidence for capacity. The resulting hexagram calls for firm, decisive action to overcome what still stands in the way, even legal action if needed, setting limits with energy and without fear. Together they sharpen the starting hexagram's call to decisiveness. Something remains that needs to be bitten through, and leniency won't solve it. Act with force, but with measure: know your real strength, aim at the actual problem, and set clear limits. Once that's done, take the rest the release allows. Firmness and balance aren't opposites here.
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 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 21 Biting
It's a time for firm, decisive action to overcome obstacles, even legal action if needed. Success is within reach if you act with energy and set limits. Don't be afraid: act.
Success. It is favorable to bring things to judgment.
- 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.
- 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 6 of 40 Clearing Obstacles
Once you've strengthened your inner self, you can get through the obstacles and achieve your purpose with firm, decisive action.
The duke shoots at a falcon on top of the high wall and hits it. Nothing that is not favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
21 Biting → 40 Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 2, and 6
Other transformations of Clearing Obstacles
- 55Abundancelines 1, 2, and 3
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 2, and 4
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 3, and 4
- 15Simplicitylines 2, 3, and 4
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 2, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 3, and 5
- 31Attractionlines 2, 3, and 5
- 60Thriftlines 1, 4, and 5
- 8Unionlines 2, 4, and 5
- 48Right Actionlines 3, 4, and 5
- 14Wealthlines 1, 3, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 2, 3, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 1, 4, and 6
- 23The Falllines 2, 4, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 3, 4, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 5, and 6
- 12Declinelines 2, 5, and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 3, 5, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.