Transformation · lines 2 and 3
Clearing Obstacles becomes Success in Small Matters
What this change means
Thunder over the mountain: the second and third lines move, the rain below settles into stone, and Clearing Obstacles becomes 62 Success in Small Matters. The third line leads with its image of someone riding in a carriage while hauling a burden, an open invitation to raiders. Boasting and high-handedness now draw envy and disputes. The second line adds the danger of flattery, and the cure: name what isn't right and act cleanly. Both lines concern how you carry a success, whether others' praise or your own pride inflates it. The resulting hexagram scales things down. This isn't a time for great things but for small achievements, and trying to reach beyond your present means tends to waste effort. Keep your claims modest and your conduct clean. Small, well-chosen steps are safer than a grand show that brings trouble to your door.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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 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.
- 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 62 Success in Small Matters
This isn't a time for great things; it's a time for small achievements. Recognizing that will help you live in step with the moment. Trying to go beyond your present means and resources will lead you astray and waste your efforts.
Success. Constancy is favorable. Small things can be done, not great ones. The flying bird leaves its call behind: it is not fitting to rise, it is fitting to descend. Great good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
62 Success in Small Matters → 40 Clearing Obstacleslines 2 and 3
Other transformations of Clearing Obstacles
- 51Shocklines 1 and 2
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1 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.