What this change means
Only the fourth line moves, and the mountain above the lake becomes fire: light now flares over still water, and the two pull in different directions. The line itself is hopeful. Working on yourself, letting go of a fault or a weakness, eases what has been troubling you, and joy can come quickly. As you change, you tend to attract people who are in tune with who you're becoming. The resulting hexagram, 38 Opposites, sets that inner work in a world of differences: the people around you aren't like you, yet you need to share with them, and what you can achieve together is small for now. Don't give in or try to make everyone the same. Keep your own nature and let them keep theirs, and contribute from there to something shared. Self-improvement is the bridge here: the less you're driven by old habits, the easier it is to work beside people unlike you.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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.
- 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 38 Opposites
You're in a situation of opposition: the people around you are different from you, yet you need to share with them. This means that what you can achieve for now is small. Even so, don't give in. It matters that both you and they keep your own nature and contribute from there to a shared project.
In small matters, good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
38 Opposites → 41 Decreaseline 4
Other transformations of Decrease
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.