What this change means
Thunder rolling under heaven replaces the dry lake as the first, second and top lines move. The two judgments weigh equally. 47 Overwhelmed speaks of being hemmed in, surrounded by the wrong people, unheard, and holding on to your inner light while you wait. The resulting hexagram, 25 Innocence, says that acting with a pure heart, free of hidden motives and true to what is right, lets heaven's blessings reach you; otherwise, obstacles multiply. So the movement asks for clean motives. When you've been doubted and pressed, it's tempting to scheme, to answer manipulation with manipulation. This change points the other way. Act plainly and honestly, without calculating every angle, and let your conduct speak for itself. The inner light you've relied on is the same thing the resulting hexagram calls original human nature. Keep to it, and the way tends to clear.
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 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.
- The judgment of 25 Innocence
If you act with a pure heart, free of hidden motives and without straying from what is right, true to original human nature, you'll let the blessings of heaven reach you. Otherwise you'll meet obstacles and your affairs will become difficult.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. If it is not upright, there is calamity. It is not favorable to have somewhere to go.
- 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 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 trigrams
The way back
25 Innocence → 47 Overwhelmedlines 1, 2, and 6
Other transformations of Overwhelmed
- 49Renewallines 1, 2, and 3
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 2, and 4
- 5Inactionlines 1, 3, and 4
- 39Held Backlines 2, 3, and 4
- 51Shocklines 1, 2, and 5
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 3, and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 2, 3, and 5
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1, 4, and 5
- 2Passivitylines 2, 4, and 5
- 46Going Uplines 3, 4, and 5
- 1Activitylines 1, 3, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 2, 3, and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 4, and 6
- 20Observinglines 2, 4, and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 3, 4, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 5, and 6
- 35Advancelines 2, 5, and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 3, 5, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.