What this change means
The fourth line moves, and its image is a well being lined with brick: work on the structure itself, quiet but necessary. No fault in it. Its practical counsel is to rethink things and focus on the opportunities, because if you put your energy into action and use your talents, you'll succeed. Above, Water becomes Lake, and the image becomes a lake rising over the trees. The resulting hexagram, 28 Excesses, describes a situation that calls for extraordinary measures to keep what you've built from collapsing: check and strengthen the foundations, try something innovative, and step outside your comfort zone. The two fit together closely. Repairing the lining of the well is exactly that kind of reinforcement. Take time now to shore up what supports your plans, then act on the openings in front of you. Without that work, the weight can become too much.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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.
- 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.
- The judgment of 28 Excesses
You're in a situation that calls for extraordinary measures to keep what you've achieved from collapsing. Check and strengthen the foundations that hold up your projects, take innovative action and step out of your comfort zone. That way your success is assured; otherwise, loss can't be avoided.
The ridgepole sags. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. Success.
The trigrams
The way back
28 Excesses → 48 Right Actionline 4
Other transformations of Right Action
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.