What this change means
Wind moves over the earth as the fourth and top lines change, and the gathering becomes a time to watch. The top line leads: you're reaching for someone who holds back from you, and sorrow honestly shown may make them reconsider. The fourth line balances that ache with a promise: working selflessly for the person who leads earns its reward. The resulting hexagram, 20 Observing, says to observe before you act. You inspire others, and you also need to look to those who inspire you. So pause before pressing your case again. Let your feelings be known, then step back and watch how things move. Keep serving the larger purpose without asking anything in return. People notice that kind of conduct, and sometimes the one who held back comes closer once they see you clearly. Things tend to unfold in their right time.
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 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.
- 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 20 Observing
Observe before you act. Right now you're a source of inspiration for others, and at the same time you need to observe those who inspire you. This will let things unfold at the right moment, and perfectly.
Hands washed, the offering not yet made. There is sincere trust, solemn and grave.
The trigrams
The way back
20 Observing → 45 Meetinglines 4 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
- 33Leaving Behindlines 3 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.