Transformation · lines 1, 3, 4, and 6
Clearing Obstacles becomes Great Achievements
What this change means
Heaven is held within the mountain as four lines change, and Clearing Obstacles becomes 26 Great Achievements. The second and fifth lines of that figure stay still, and they guide the reading. The second asks you to wait until conditions are right, because outside circumstances are holding you back. The fifth says that dealing with the people and situations trying to stop you, cleverly rather than head-on, secures your success. The resulting hexagram favors bold, unusual action beyond your comfort zone, since you have the qualities it needs. So you have real strength, but the timing and the method matter. Don't charge straight at the opposition. Wait for the opening, and when you move, move with intelligence. The obstacles you just cleared taught you something; let that experience make you clever rather than merely forceful.
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 26 Great Achievements, which stays still
Wait until conditions are right to act, because outside circumstances are holding you back.
The axle strap slips from the cart.
- Line 5 of 26 Great Achievements, which stays still
Facing the situations and people trying to stop you, not head-on but cleverly, ensures your success.
The tusks of a gelded boar. Good fortune.
- 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.
- 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 3 of 40 Clearing Obstacles
If you act high-handed and boast about your achievements, exaggerating them, you'll draw quarrels and envy that threaten to take away what you've gained.
Carries a load on the back and rides in a carriage: this brings raiders. Constancy brings distress.
- Line 4 of 40 Clearing Obstacles
It's important to let go of ties and loyalties that can't be trusted and that, if anything, will slow your progress, so you can move forward freely.
Untie your big toe: the friend arrives, and then there is trust.
- 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 judgment of 26 Great Achievements
It's a good moment to leave your comfort zone and take on new actions, beyond what you think you can do. Heaven favors unusual actions that will lead you to success, because you have the qualities needed.
Constancy is favorable. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
The trigrams
The way back
26 Great Achievements → 40 Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Clearing Obstacles
- 36Darknesslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 49Renewallines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 5Inactionlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 39Held Backlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 30The Flamelines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 1Activitylines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 20Observinglines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.