What this change means
Water rises over wood, the well drawing up what lies below, as the second, fifth and top lines move. Both judgments matter equally here. Abiding has kept you still, waiting for the outside to signal the hour. The resulting hexagram, 48 Right Action, says the moment is here, opportunities on your side, but they'll be wasted if you keep postponing decisions; it's about using what you already have. The tension is clear. Stillness was right until now, but it can turn into delay. Watch for that line. When the signs say go, draw from your own well and act, rather than waiting for something new to appear. Hesitation dressed up as patience is still hesitation, and the well only helps those who lower the bucket.
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 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.
- 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.
- Line 6 of 52 Abiding
There's perfect stillness, an inner calm that lets you master what's outside. Success.
Deep stillness. Good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
48 Right Action → 52 Abidinglines 2, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Abiding
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, and 3
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, and 4
- 21Bitinglines 1, 3, and 4
- 64Transitionlines 2, 3, and 4
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, and 5
- 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
- 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.