What this change means
Wind blowing over thunder, a figure of growth, comes out of four moving lines. Read the still third and fifth lines of the new hexagram for guidance. The third says good fortune surrounds you; even situations that look hard hold hidden blessings, and what matters is doing things the right way. The fifth says kindness and generosity draw help and heaven's blessings toward you. So 47 Overwhelmed leads into 42 Increase, a time of gain when your projects can grow and prosper. The hardship wasn't empty. It may be where the hidden blessing lies. Now the task is to act rightly and generously, to follow the example of people whose qualities you admire, and to drop the habits that caused you trouble before. Increase that comes this way tends to be shared, and shared gains are the ones that last.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 42 Increase, which stays still
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, which stays still
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.
- The judgment of 47 Overwhelmed
Things are very much against you: the wrong people surround you, no one believes what you say, and obstacles hem you in. All you can do is accept it and wait for better conditions to come. Your only resource is the inner light that lives in you; turn to that strength to hold you up right now.
Success. For the great person, constancy brings good fortune. No fault. They speak and are not believed.
- Line 1 of 47 Overwhelmed
In these hard times, above all, keep your inner strength: it will be your support.
Buttocks caught on a tree stump. Goes into a dark valley; for three years, not seen.
- Line 2 of 47 Overwhelmed
The troubles right now are on the inside; on the outside, everything is fine. You need to recognize where the problem lies to solve it, and it's wise to seek help.
Hard pressed with wine and food. The red sash arrives. It is favorable to make sacrifices. Setting out brings misfortune. No fault.
- Line 4 of 47 Overwhelmed
Helping others in times of hardship matters, but that help has to be quick to do its job.
Comes slowly, slowly, hard pressed in a metal carriage. Distress, but there is an end.
- Line 6 of 47 Overwhelmed
The pressure is nearing its end, and the obstacles will be easy to overcome. If your inner strength is with you as well, success will come much more easily.
Hard pressed among creeping vines, on what totters. It is said: moving brings regret. If there is regret, setting out brings good fortune.
- 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 trigrams
The way back
42 Increase → 47 Overwhelmedlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Overwhelmed
- 63After the Endlines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 55Abundancelines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 23The Falllines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.