What this change means
Thunder deep within the earth: with the first, fourth and fifth lines moving, the gathering turns into a return. Both judgments carry equal weight. Meeting invites you to call on your people and reach for your goals. The resulting hexagram, 24 Coming Back, describes the light returning after a dark stretch, with people coming to help and your projects favored. There's a warning in it, too: remember the mistakes that led you into the dark, because repeating them could bring the fall again. So this is a homecoming of sorts. People you'd lost touch with, or a project you'd set aside, may come back within reach. Welcome them and gather again, but bring the lessons with you. Go gently at first; a return is fragile in its early days. Rebuilding the circle on clearer ground is what lets the renewal last.
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 45 Meeting
A very favorable situation is coming, with everything ready for you to take the next step toward your goals. You can ask for help and meet with those who will support you. It's a time to take on important things, do some kind of spiritual practice, and prepare in case anything unexpected happens.
Success. The king comes to his temple. It is favorable to see the great person. Success. Constancy is favorable. Offering large animals brings good fortune. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- The judgment of 24 Coming Back
After a period of adversity and darkness, the return comes. Still, be aware of the mistakes that led you into the dark, because if you repeat them you could fall again. People will come to help you, and your undertakings and projects will be favored.
Success. Going out and coming in without harm; friends arrive, no fault. Back and forth along its way: in seven days comes the return. It is favorable to have somewhere to go.
- Line 1 of 45 Meeting
You know you need to meet with people who will support you, but you're unsure whether to do it. If you finally make up your mind and act, you'll get help.
There is sincere trust, but not to the end: now disorder, now gathering. If you cry out, one clasp of the hand and laughter returns. Do not worry. Going: no fault.
- Line 4 of 45 Meeting
When you act without selfish aims and on behalf of someone above you, you're rewarded.
Great good fortune. No fault.
- Line 5 of 45 Meeting
You meet like-minded people, but also people who are somewhat wary of you. It's important to win their trust to reach your goals.
Gathering in one's place. No fault. Where there is no trust, a great and lasting constancy: regret vanishes.
The trigrams
The way back
24 Coming Back → 45 Meetinglines 1, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Meeting
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, and 3
- 60Thriftlines 1, 2, and 4
- 63After the Endlines 1, 3, and 4
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 3, and 4
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, and 5
- 55Abundancelines 1, 3, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 2, 3, and 5
- 7The Armylines 2, 4, and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 3, 4, and 5
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 3, and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 3, and 6
- 42Increaselines 1, 4, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2, 4, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 3, 4, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 1, 5, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 2, 5, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 3, 5, and 6
- 23The Falllines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.