What this change means
Two lines move at the base, and the lower Thunder becomes Water: the jolt turns into rain that loosens what was stuck. The second line leads. It speaks of real setbacks, even losses, and asks you not to chase what slipped away, because it tends to return when you stop grasping. The first line supports it: you saw this coming, worried early, and already started looking for answers, so the scare can end in relief. Together they say that the hard part is not as final as it looks. The resulting hexagram, 40 Clearing Obstacles, shows the knots coming undone one by one. Now balance matters. Act quickly and decisively where you can, but don't overrate your strength, and if you need to rest or step back before going on, do it. Forgive the mistakes that came with the scare, your own included, and move on.
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 51 Shock
Situations may come up that seem hard to face, and you may even suffer losses. There's nothing to fear: what you lose you'll get back, and you'll be on the path of achievement again.
Thunder comes: danger. Countless cowries are lost; one climbs the nine hills. Do not chase them: in seven days they are found.
- Line 1 of 51 Shock
You see what's coming before it happens. That makes you worry ahead of time, but it also sets you looking for solutions, so when others start to worry, you'll already be focused on solving things.
Thunder comes, and there is dread; afterward, laughter and easy talk. Good fortune.
- The judgment of 51 Shock
When unexpected situations come along that would frighten others, keep control and act calmly, without losing your composure. This attitude will get you results in what you want and let you succeed where others fail.
Success. Thunder comes, and there is dread; then laughter and easy talk. The thunder alarms a hundred leagues around, yet neither the ladle nor the sacrificial wine is let fall.
- The judgment of 40 Clearing Obstacles
The obstacles have been overcome one by one. You're in a time when balance matters: act quickly and decisively as far as you can, without overrating your abilities. If you feel you need a rest, or even to step back before going on, do it.
The southwest is favorable. With nowhere to go, coming back brings good fortune. With somewhere to go, going early brings good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
40 Clearing Obstacles → 51 Shocklines 1 and 2
Other transformations of Shock
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1 and 3
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2 and 3
- 2Passivitylines 1 and 4
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2 and 4
- 36Darknesslines 3 and 4
- 45Meetinglines 1 and 5
- 58Inner Peacelines 2 and 5
- 49Renewallines 3 and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 4 and 5
- 35Advancelines 1 and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 2 and 6
- 30The Flamelines 3 and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 4 and 6
- 25Innocencelines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.