What this change means
The fifth line moves, and the Wind above turns into Mountain: the figure becomes mountain upon mountain, a picture of stopping. The goose has reached the hill, yet something keeps it apart. You may feel cut off, with hostile people stirring misunderstandings around you. The line's advice is clear: wait calmly, because this passes on its own. The old image of the wife who doesn't conceive for three years ends with nothing able to defeat her in the end. The resulting hexagram, 52 Abiding, turns that waiting into a practice. Stay centered and still, don't go beyond what is actually happening, and let outer conditions show you when to move again. Don't argue with the rumors or rush to defend yourself. Quiet steadiness is the strongest answer now, and the delay doesn't undo the progress you've made.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 5 of 53 Gradual Progress
In the middle of your progress you're cut off, and hostile people stir up misunderstandings around you. All you can do is wait calmly for this to pass; it will pass on its own.
The wild goose moves by degrees to the hill. For three years the wife does not conceive; in the end nothing overcomes her. Good fortune.
- 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 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 trigrams
The way back
52 Abiding → 53 Gradual Progressline 5
Other transformations of Gradual Progress
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.