What this change means
A mountain under Heaven: as the third and top lines move, the gathering opens onto a retreat. The top line leads with its sighs and tears, reaching for someone who doesn't want to come; letting the sorrow show may make them reconsider. The third line deepens it: you're trying to join a group that isn't willing, and only a go-between might bring you closer. The resulting hexagram, 33 Leaving Behind, reframes the whole thing. Stepping back right now isn't a failure. It lets you recover your strength and think the situation through. What looks like a loss can become a gain if you release what isn't good for you. So say what you feel, honestly, and then let go. Keep your distance from those who reject you, without resentment. You can always pick up again later, in a better direction.
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 45 Meeting
You're trying to join someone who doesn't want to join you. Letting your sorrow show may make them reconsider, and you'll get what you want.
Sighs and laments, tears and a running nose. No fault.
- Line 3 of 45 Meeting
You're trying to meet with people who aren't willing. If you look for someone who can bring you closer to that group, you'll get help.
Gathering, sighing. Nothing is favorable. Going: no fault. Small distress.
- 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 33 Leaving Behind
Leaving a path behind or stepping back right now isn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it will help you recover your strength and think carefully about the situation and how to set it right. Sometimes what looks like a loss turns into a gain, if you can let go of what isn't good for you and then pick up again in the right direction.
Success. In small things, constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
33 Leaving Behind → 45 Meetinglines 3 and 6
Other transformations of Meeting
- 58Inner Peacelines 1 and 2
- 49Renewallines 1 and 3
- 28Excesseslines 2 and 3
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1 and 4
- 29Waterlines 2 and 4
- 39Held Backlines 3 and 4
- 51Shocklines 1 and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2 and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 3 and 5
- 2Passivitylines 4 and 5
- 25Innocencelines 1 and 6
- 6Conflictlines 2 and 6
- 20Observinglines 4 and 6
- 35Advancelines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.