What this change means
Heaven rises and water sinks: three lines move, and the two trigrams now pull in opposite directions. Weigh the two judgments together. Decrease asks you to moderate, to save resources and energy, to avoid excess while you prepare. The resulting hexagram, 6 Conflict, describes a dispute that action can't solve, where cleverness works better than force. Admitting that nothing can be settled right now, letting events take their course, and seeking advice from someone wise in the matter are what help you out. The restraint of Decrease becomes very practical: hold back anger, don't feed the fight, don't spend your strength on winning a point. Think through how things began, because the root of the conflict often lies there. Saving energy here means refusing to be drawn in. Let time, good counsel and a cooler head do what pressure can't.
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 41 Decrease
It's a time for moderation and saving: conserving your resources and energy matters a great deal now. A period of growth will follow, but for now you need to stay aware and avoid excess of every kind while you get ready to take on big projects.
There is sincere trust. Great good fortune. No fault. Constancy is possible. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. What to offer? Two bowls will do for the offering.
- The judgment of 6 Conflict
A conflict is arising that can't be solved by action; cleverness works better than force. Recognizing that you can't resolve anything right now, letting events take their course, and seeking the advice of someone wise in this area will help you get out of the conflict.
There is sincere trust, but it is blocked. Caution: stopping halfway brings good fortune; going all the way to the end, misfortune. It is favorable to see the great person. It is not favorable to cross the great river.
- Line 1 of 41 Decrease
Once your tasks are done, this is a time when you can use your time and energy to help others, as long as they ask for that help.
When the work is done, go quickly. No fault. Weigh how much to take away.
- Line 4 of 41 Decrease
If you work on improving yourself, you'll raise your vibration and also draw people in tune with it.
Lessens the ailment; let joy come quickly. No fault.
- Line 5 of 41 Decrease
Lucky chances will come unexpectedly, like a gift from heaven, because you've earned them.
Someone adds to it: a tortoise worth ten strings of shells cannot go against it. Great good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
6 Conflict → 41 Decreaselines 1, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Decrease
- 52Abidinglines 1, 2, and 3
- 35Advancelines 1, 2, and 4
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 3, and 4
- 30The Flamelines 2, 3, and 4
- 20Observinglines 1, 2, and 5
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 3, and 5
- 37The Tribelines 2, 3, and 5
- 25Innocencelines 2, 4, and 5
- 1Activitylines 3, 4, and 5
- 2Passivitylines 1, 2, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 1, 3, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 2, 3, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 4, and 6
- 51Shocklines 2, 4, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 3, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 1, 5, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 2, 5, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 3, 5, and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.