What this change means
The mountain now rests on the earth, its top worn thin, as four lines change. Look to the first and third lines of the result, the pair that stays still. The first says your enemies hold power now and use any means, even slander, to damage your image; your only option is to guard your inner strength until better times come. The third says that turning to spiritual resources and inner help keeps adversity away. So 47 Overwhelmed opens onto 23 The Fall, a time of obstacles when even your true words aren't believed and lesser people misuse power. This isn't the moment to push ahead or to defend yourself loudly. Hold steady inside, lean on your spiritual practice, and be generous with those who depend on you. Securing your base, as the image suggests, is how you get through while circumstances change.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 1 of 23 The Fall, which stays still
Your enemies have the power now and use any means to damage your image, even slander. All you can do is keep your inner strength and wait for better times.
The bed is stripped at the legs. Constancy is destroyed: misfortune.
- Line 3 of 23 The Fall, which stays still
Turning to spiritual resources and inner help will keep adversity away.
Stripping. No fault.
- 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 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 5 of 47 Overwhelmed
Little by little things will improve, thanks to your habit of helping others. Spiritual resources will be a great help now.
Nose cut off, feet cut off. Hard pressed by the red sash. Little by little relief comes. It is favorable to make sacrifices.
- 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 23 The Fall
It's a time of obstacles and difficulties when, even if you're right, your words aren't believed. Lesser people who misuse power are on the rise, and you could become their victim. Recognizing this time without trying to push ahead, and being generous and giving toward those beneath you, will help you hold on while circumstances change.
It is not favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
23 The Fall → 47 Overwhelmedlines 2, 4, 5, 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
- 42Increaselines 1, 2, 4, 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
- 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.