What this change means
Earth above, earth below: with three lines moving, the wind and thunder fall silent into receptive ground. Balance the two judgments. Increase means gain and generosity, a time to move toward the good and correct your faults. The resulting hexagram, 2 Passivity, says this isn't the moment to take the initiative; let others guide you and keep at your projects with patience. The combination asks for humility in growth. Things can still prosper, but not through your leadership right now. Support rather than direct. Follow good guidance and learn from it, which fits the Increase habit of learning from good examples. Be reliable, steady and generous in the background. Don't start ambitious ventures on your own. Patience and support now tend to prepare a firmer place for you when initiative returns.
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 42 Increase
You're in a time of gain and growth: your projects will grow and prosper. At times like this it's important to keep your inner integrity, follow the example of people who have the qualities you want to gain, and get rid of the traits that have caused you trouble before. Overall, it's a time of achievement and generosity.
It is favorable to have somewhere to go. It is favorable to cross the great river.
- The judgment of 2 Passivity
This is not the time to take the initiative to achieve things. It's better to let others guide you and to keep at your projects with patience.
Great success. The constancy of a mare is favorable. The noble person has somewhere to go: going ahead, they lose the way; following behind, they find someone to guide them. It is favorable to find friends in the southwest and to lose them in the northeast. Calm constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 1 of 42 Increase
It's a good moment to carry out important projects.
It is favorable to undertake a great work. Great good fortune. No fault.
- Line 5 of 42 Increase
A generous, kind heart is sure to receive help and blessings from heaven.
There is sincere trust and a kind heart: do not ask. Great good fortune. There is sincere trust: my virtue is met with kindness.
- Line 6 of 42 Increase
If you become selfish, hoard your achievements and gains for yourself alone, and don't watch your words, this time of growth won't last long.
No one adds to it; someone strikes it. The heart is set, but without steadiness. Misfortune.
The trigrams
The way back
2 Passivity → 42 Increaselines 1, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Increase
- 57Gentlenesslines 1, 2, and 3
- 6Conflictlines 1, 2, and 4
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 3, and 4
- 1Activitylines 2, 3, and 4
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 2, and 5
- 52Abidinglines 1, 3, and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 2, 3, and 5
- 35Advancelines 1, 4, and 5
- 38Oppositeslines 2, 4, and 5
- 30The Flamelines 3, 4, and 5
- 29Waterlines 1, 2, and 6
- 39Held Backlines 1, 3, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 2, 3, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 1, 4, and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 2, 4, and 6
- 49Renewallines 3, 4, and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2, 5, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 3, 5, and 6
- 51Shocklines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.