What this change means
Water above the lake, and the shaking finds its measure. Three lines move, the second, fourth and fifth, so the two judgments speak together. Shock asks you to stay calm and keep control when sudden events would frighten others, which is how you get through where they stumble. The resulting hexagram, 60 Thrift, asks you to conserve your time, energy and resources so you're ready for what's ahead. Put side by side, they say the best response to a jolt isn't a burst of activity but careful saving. Don't spend everything reacting. Set limits on what you give to the alarm of the moment and keep a reserve. When the real challenges come, you'll meet them prepared, and they tend to be easier to overcome. Composure and moderation are the same virtue here.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- 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 60 Thrift
It's a time to conserve your time, energy and resources so you're ready for what lies ahead. If you do, when challenges arrive you'll be prepared and will overcome them easily.
Success. Bitter measure cannot be kept up with constancy.
- 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 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 trigrams
The way back
60 Thrift → 51 Shocklines 2, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Shock
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, and 3
- 7The Armylines 1, 2, and 4
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 3, and 4
- 11Well-Beinglines 2, 3, and 4
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1, 2, and 5
- 31Attractionlines 1, 3, and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 3, and 5
- 8Unionlines 1, 4, and 5
- 63After the Endlines 3, 4, and 5
- 64Transitionlines 1, 2, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 1, 3, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 2, 3, and 6
- 23The Falllines 1, 4, and 6
- 41Decreaselines 2, 4, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 3, 4, and 6
- 12Declinelines 1, 5, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2, 5, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3, 5, and 6
- 42Increaselines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.