Transformation · lines 2, 3, and 4
Clearing Obstacles becomes Simplicity
What this change means
Three middle lines move, and a mountain comes to rest inside the earth: Clearing Obstacles becomes 15 Simplicity. The two judgments carry equal weight. Clearing Obstacles says that with the hard part over, balance is key: act decisively where you can, don't overrate your abilities, and take rest when you need it. The resulting hexagram asks you not to boast or show off, to keep things simple and act fairly; your qualities will show and be recognized without your pushing them forward. Put together, they make a clear point about the time after a victory. Success tempts you to display it. Resist. Keep your accounts honest, your manner plain, and your claims within what you've actually done. Fairness and simplicity now protect what you've cleared, and they tend to earn more lasting respect than any announcement.
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 15 Simplicity
This isn't the time to boast or show off. It's time to keep things simple and to make sure you act fairly; your qualities and talents will show on their own and be recognized.
Success. The noble person reaches the end.
- 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 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.
The trigrams
The way back
15 Simplicity → 40 Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Clearing Obstacles
- 55Abundancelines 1, 2, and 3
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 2, and 4
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 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
- 21Bitinglines 1, 2, and 6
- 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.