Transformation · lines 2, 3, 4, and 6
Gradual Progress becomes Overwhelmed
What this change means
Four lines change, the second, third, fourth and top, and the figure becomes a lake drained of water. The still lines of 47 Overwhelmed speak now. Its first line says to keep your inner strength above all, since that will be your support. Its fifth says things improve little by little, thanks to your habit of helping others, and that spiritual resources are a great help. In the frame of Gradual Progress, this is the slow climb under heavy pressure. Don't expect to fix everything quickly, and don't measure yourself by outside results right now. Hold on to your inner light, keep helping the people you can help, and turn to whatever practice steadies your spirit. Improvement comes by degrees, which is exactly the rhythm this hexagram has been teaching you from the start.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 1 of 47 Overwhelmed, which stays still
In these hard times, above all, keep your inner strength: it will be your support.
Buttocks caught on a tree stump. Goes into a dark valley; for three years, not seen.
- Line 5 of 47 Overwhelmed, which stays still
Little by little things will improve, thanks to your habit of helping others. Spiritual resources will be a great help now.
Nose cut off, feet cut off. Hard pressed by the red sash. Little by little relief comes. It is favorable to make sacrifices.
- The judgment of 53 Gradual Progress
You'll make progress, and it will come step by step, gradually, through stages that make it lasting and stable. Trying to speed things up will bring delays and obstacles. Keep at it, one rung at a time.
The woman goes to be married: good fortune. Constancy is favorable.
- Line 2 of 53 Gradual Progress
You'll have a first success as you move forward. Nothing spectacular, but it will let you rest and recharge to keep going.
The wild goose moves by degrees to the boulder. It eats and drinks with joy. Good fortune.
- Line 3 of 53 Gradual Progress
If you don't let things unfold at their own pace and try to hurry them, your progress will fail.
The wild goose moves by degrees to the high plain. The husband marches off and does not return; the wife conceives and does not give birth. Misfortune. It is favorable to fend off raiders.
- Line 4 of 53 Gradual Progress
In the middle of your progress, situations come up that are out of your control. Don't despair: act with caution and respond wisely to these obstacles. That way you'll stay safe while conditions improve.
The wild goose moves by degrees to the tree. Perhaps it finds a flat branch. No fault.
- Line 6 of 53 Gradual Progress
You're moving successfully toward your goal. You'll get what you want and may even inspire others.
The wild goose moves by degrees to the high plain. Its feathers can serve in the ritual dance. Good fortune.
- The judgment of 47 Overwhelmed
Things are very much against you: the wrong people surround you, no one believes what you say, and obstacles hem you in. All you can do is accept it and wait for better conditions to come. Your only resource is the inner light that lives in you; turn to that strength to hold you up right now.
Success. For the great person, constancy brings good fortune. No fault. They speak and are not believed.
The trigrams
The way back
47 Overwhelmed → 53 Gradual Progresslines 2, 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of Gradual Progress
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 21Bitinglines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 64Transitionlines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 60Thriftlines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 7The Armylines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 32What Lastslines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 16Passionlines 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.