What this change means
Water settles on a mountain as four lines move: every step forward seems to meet a new wall. The reading rests on the two lines of the resulting hexagram that stay still. In 39 Held Back, each advance gets blocked, asking you to stop, step back, and look for like-minded people who will support you, so you can get past the obstacles one by one. Its second line says the difficulties may seem to grow as you advance, yet when your actions go hand in hand with inner integrity, you succeed in the end. Its top line speaks of maturity: you can now face hard things calmly and help others, and in turn receive help from those above you. Keep your integrity, accept help, and give it.
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 39 Held Back, which stays still
It's time to face the difficulties, which seem to grow as you advance. Still, if your actions go hand in hand with inner integrity, you'll succeed in the end.
The king's servant, in hardship upon hardship, and not of their own doing.
- Line 6 of 39 Held Back, which stays still
You've reached such maturity and confidence that you can face difficulties calmly and help others; in the same way, you'll receive help from those above you.
Going: hardship. Coming: greatness. Good fortune. It is favorable to see the great person.
- 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.
- 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.
- Line 3 of 51 Shock
The blows you're taking right now aren't caused by fate. They come more from within, and that makes things harder. Once you realize this, you'll make the corrections and resolve the situation.
Thunder that stuns and stuns. If thunder sets one going, no disaster.
- Line 4 of 51 Shock
You can't see clearly what's holding you back, so the things you do don't settle matters. It's a time to wait until conditions change.
Thunder sinks into the mud.
- Line 5 of 51 Shock
Obstacles come one after another and seem endless. Still, staying connected to your center and true to your purpose will keep you from losses.
Thunder going and coming: danger. Of much, nothing is lost; there is a duty to carry out.
- The judgment of 39 Held Back
Every time you advance, something blocks you, forcing you to stop, step back, and look for help from like-minded people who give you their support. That way you'll get past the obstacles one by one until the final victory.
The southwest is favorable; the northeast is not. It is favorable to see the great person. Constancy brings good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
39 Held Back → 51 Shocklines 1, 3, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Shock
- 46Going Uplines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 28Excesseslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 29Waterlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 5Inactionlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 6Conflictlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 1Activitylines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 20Observinglines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 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.