What this change means
Water upon water: the second, third and top lines move, and both trigrams become the flowing pit. The two judgments are weighed equally. Gradual Progress asks for patience through stages; 29 Water describes obstacles that come one after another, which you can pass the way a stream does, by continuing to move without stagnating. Fear that paralyzes you would only leave you stuck. Together they give you a rhythm: keep going, steadily, neither racing nor freezing. Each difficulty is one more stage, not a wall. Hold your conduct constant, keep learning, and pass on what you learn. A stream doesn't argue with the rocks; it finds the way around and under them. Trust that persistence finds the way through, and that the slow, honest pace of Gradual Progress is exactly what this kind of terrain rewards.
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 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.
- The judgment of 29 Water
Just as a stream moves through obstacles and gets past them, following its course without stagnating, you're at a time when obstacles will come one after another, but you'll get past them if you can keep moving. Letting fear paralyze you will only leave you stuck.
There is sincere trust. Only the heart gets through. Going earns esteem.
- 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 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 trigrams
The way back
29 Water → 53 Gradual Progresslines 2, 3, and 6
Other transformations of Gradual Progress
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 2, and 3
- 1Activitylines 1, 2, and 4
- 25Innocencelines 1, 3, and 4
- 6Conflictlines 2, 3, and 4
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 2, and 5
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 3, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 2, 3, and 5
- 30The Flamelines 1, 4, and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 2, 4, and 5
- 35Advancelines 3, 4, and 5
- 5Inactionlines 1, 2, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 3, and 6
- 49Renewallines 1, 4, and 6
- 28Excesseslines 2, 4, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 3, 4, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 1, 5, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 2, 5, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 3, 5, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.