What this change means
Light goes down into the earth as three lines move, and the open growth of Increase must hide for a while. Weigh the two judgments evenly. Increase describes gain, generosity and integrity. The resulting hexagram, 36 Darkness, describes a hard time when circumstances force you to live among the wrong people. Protect yourself, hold on to your integrity, and stay unnoticed, without openly showing your light and talents, until better times come. Hard times pass too. The integrity at the heart of Increase is exactly what you need to keep now, even in secret. Don't advertise your gains or plans to people who might misuse them. Keep doing good quietly. Correct your own faults where no one is watching. Your light isn't lost by being hidden; it's kept safe for when it can shine again.
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 36 Darkness
It's a dark time: circumstances force you to live alongside the wrong people. If you know how to protect yourself, hold on to your integrity, and go unnoticed, without openly showing your light and your talents, you'll stay safe until better times come. However hard they seem, hard times pass too.
Constancy in hardship is favorable.
- Line 3 of 42 Increase
Good fortune surrounds you: even in situations that might seem hard, there are hidden blessings. What matters is doing things the right way.
Increased through unhappy events. No fault. There is sincere trust; walking the middle way, they come before the duke with the jade tablet.
- 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
36 Darkness → 42 Increaselines 3, 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
- 2Passivitylines 1, 5, and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2, 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.