What this change means
Wind blows across heaven and gently holds it back, as the first, second and fifth lines move. Both judgments count equally. Abiding wants you motionless for now, centered and calm, letting the outside world tell you when the hour has come. The resulting hexagram, 9 Small Things, says success is on the horizon but not yet due; obstacles remain to be resolved, so take small steps and save the large-scale move for the right moment. The two agree in spirit. Don't overreach. Use the pause to clear what still blocks you, handle modest tasks well, and refine what you already have. The bigger action will have its time, and it'll go better for the patience you practiced now. Small, well-made steps are not a detour; they are the road.
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 52 Abiding
It's a time of stillness, of staying centered and steady: that's the best way forward in your present situation. Sometimes you need to stop, calm and confident, and wait for outer conditions to show you it's time to act. Don't go beyond what's happening now. There's no action, only a harmonious stillness, and staying that way brings success.
Still at the back; the body is not reached. Walking in the courtyard; its people are not seen. No fault.
- The judgment of 9 Small Things
You're facing a situation that promises success, but it isn't time yet. There are still obstacles on the way that you need to resolve. For now you can take small actions and wait for the right moment to act on a large scale.
Success. Dense clouds and no rain, from my western outskirts.
- Line 1 of 52 Abiding
Better to stop too soon than to take ill-advised steps.
Still the toes. No fault. Lasting constancy is favorable.
- Line 2 of 52 Abiding
Right now you can only see to stopping yourself in the right place; you can't make sure others do the same.
Still the calves. It cannot come to the aid of what it follows; the heart is not glad.
- Line 5 of 52 Abiding
You need not only to stay still and calm but also to keep quiet, because careless words could put you at risk.
Still the jaws; words come in order. Regret vanishes.
The trigrams
The way back
9 Small Things → 52 Abidinglines 1, 2, and 5
Other transformations of Abiding
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, and 3
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, and 4
- 21Bitinglines 1, 3, and 4
- 64Transitionlines 2, 3, and 4
- 42Increaselines 1, 3, and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 4, and 5
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 4, and 5
- 12Declinelines 3, 4, and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 3, and 6
- 7The Armylines 2, 3, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 1, 4, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 2, 4, and 6
- 16Passionlines 3, 4, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 5, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 5, and 6
- 8Unionlines 3, 5, and 6
- 31Attractionlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.