What this change means
Mountain below, Water above: changing the first, fourth and fifth lines turns a bright, stirring figure into a steep road. Two judgments balance the reading. Abundance offers a high point, and with it the advice to take its eventual decline in good spirits. The resulting hexagram, 39 Held Back, says that each time you advance, something blocks you, so you have to stop, step back, and look for help from like-minded people. With their support, obstacles can be passed one by one until the goal is reached. The fullness, then, doesn't spare you resistance. Expect delays and don't read them as failure. Each block is a cue to pause, look at yourself honestly, and find allies. Progress comes in stages here, and patience with that rhythm is part of the work.
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 55 Abundance
You're growing toward a period of satisfaction and abundance. It will last for a while, and when it ends, stay calm, without sadness or worry. Enjoy it while it lasts, and when it wanes, keep your spirits up and enjoy what you've achieved.
Success. The king reaches it. Do not grieve: the noonday sun is fitting.
- The judgment of 39 Held Back
Every time you advance, something blocks you, forcing you to stop, step back, and look for help from like-minded people who give you their support. That way you'll get past the obstacles one by one until the final victory.
The southwest is favorable; the northeast is not. It is favorable to see the great person. Constancy brings good fortune.
- Line 1 of 55 Abundance
It's a very favorable time, but it asks for determined, energetic action from you to make the results greater.
Meets the lord who is its match. Even for ten days, no fault. Going earns esteem.
- Line 4 of 55 Abundance
The shadows and obstacles that came up for a while are beginning to fade. If you act wisely and decisively, everything will go well.
Full is the awning: at noon the Dipper is seen. Meets the lord who is its like. Good fortune.
- Line 5 of 55 Abundance
You're willing to listen to advice and act on it; this will make difficult situations give way naturally.
Brilliance comes; there is blessing and renown. Good fortune.
The trigrams
The way back
39 Held Back → 55 Abundancelines 1, 4, and 5
Other transformations of Abundance
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 2, and 3
- 46Going Uplines 1, 2, and 4
- 2Passivitylines 1, 3, and 4
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2, 3, and 4
- 28Excesseslines 1, 2, and 5
- 45Meetinglines 1, 3, and 5
- 58Inner Peacelines 2, 3, and 5
- 5Inactionlines 2, 4, and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 3, 4, and 5
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 2, and 6
- 35Advancelines 1, 3, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 2, 3, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 1, 4, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 2, 4, and 6
- 27Nourishmentlines 3, 4, and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 5, and 6
- 1Activitylines 2, 5, and 6
- 25Innocencelines 3, 5, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.