Transformation · lines 1, 3, 4, and 5
Right Action becomes A Subordinate Role
What this change means
Thunder sounds above the lake once four lines change. Its unmoving second and top lines speak for the reading. The second says that even if the person you answer to ignores you, keeping your position and your loyalty will show your greatness. The top line warns that holding a lesser role with resentment or unease costs you the rewards you'd gain by doing it wholeheartedly. So 48 Right Action opens onto 54 A Subordinate Role, where you need to take second place and where personal initiative tends to fail. The opportunity here isn't to lead but to serve well. Use your talents fully inside the role you have, without bitterness, and let your steadiness speak for you. Recognizing the moment and acting in keeping with it is what lets things change in your favor later.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 2 of 54 A Subordinate Role, which stays still
Even if the person you answer to ignores you, keep your position and your loyalty: this will show your greatness.
The one-eyed can see. The constancy of the one who lives apart is favorable.
- Line 6 of 54 A Subordinate Role, which stays still
Holding a subordinate position with resentment or unease only makes you lose the rewards you'd find if you did it wholeheartedly.
The woman holds the basket, and there is nothing in it; the man cuts the sheep, and there is no blood. Nothing is favorable.
- The judgment of 48 Right Action
You're at a moment when opportunities are on your side. But if you don't know how to use them because you keep putting off decisions and actions, being in the right place at the right time won't do you any good. It's not about looking for new things but about making use of what you have, or there will be loss.
The town is changed, the well is not. Nothing lost, nothing gained. They come and go, and draw from the well. Nearly there, the rope does not yet reach the well; if the jar breaks, misfortune.
- Line 1 of 48 Right Action
Your mood is low, so everything looks bleak to you: you don't see the opportunities and you don't draw help.
A muddy well: no one drinks. No birds come to the old well.
- Line 3 of 48 Right Action
You aren't using all your talents, and you have many, so the opportunities are there but you don't take them.
The well is cleaned, and no one drinks: my heart aches. Water could be drawn. If the king were clear-sighted, all would share in the blessing.
- Line 4 of 48 Right Action
It's time to rethink and focus on the opportunities. If you focus on action and use your talents, you'll succeed.
The well is lined with brick. No fault.
- Line 5 of 48 Right Action
You recognize the opportunities around you and feel motivated and determined to act, which will bring success.
The well is clear: the cold spring is drunk.
- The judgment of 54 A Subordinate Role
You're in a situation where you have to take second place to others; any personal initiative will lead to failure. Recognizing the moment and acting in keeping with it is all you can do until things change and you're in a better position.
Setting out brings misfortune. Nothing is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
54 A Subordinate Role → 48 Right Actionlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Right Action
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 55Abundancelines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 16Passionlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 42Increaselines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 12Declinelines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 23The Falllines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 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.