What this change means
Water spreads over the earth as the first and top lines move: people drawing together, or drifting apart. The top line leads, and it's a caution. Selfishness, hoarding your gains and careless words can bring growth to a sudden end, and an unsteady heart invites trouble. The first line is bolder, favoring a major undertaking. The resulting hexagram, 8 Union, says success depends on joining people aligned with your aims who support you, while making sure you yourself have the qualities to carry the work. Put together, the message is that the big project needs partners, and partners stay only when you're generous and trustworthy. Share credit and results. Speak with care. Choose your allies well, and be the kind of ally others want to keep. That's what turns a single effort into lasting union.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 8 Union
Right now success lies in joining with people who are aligned with your project and who are a support for you. But it's important that you, too, have the qualities needed to carry it out; that's why you can toss the coins once more to find out whether you have those qualities.
Good fortune. Consult the oracle again: great and lasting constancy. No fault. The restless come from every side. The one who comes late: misfortune.
The trigrams
The way back
8 Union → 42 Increaselines 1 and 6
Other transformations of Increase
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1 and 2
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1 and 3
- 9Small Thingslines 2 and 3
- 12Declinelines 1 and 4
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2 and 4
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3 and 4
- 23The Falllines 1 and 5
- 41Decreaselines 2 and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 3 and 5
- 21Bitinglines 4 and 5
- 60Thriftlines 2 and 6
- 63After the Endlines 3 and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 4 and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.