What this change means
Thunder wakes under the fire when the first and third lines move. The third leads with a warning about harshness: turning irritable or aggressive now tends to bring trouble, like a traveler who burns the inn that housed them. The first adds the opposite danger, pettiness and too much ease, a failure to take the situation seriously. The resulting hexagram, 21 Biting, calls for firm and decisive action against obstacles, with energy and clear limits, and without fear. Put together, these lines ask for firmness without aggression. Be serious, set boundaries, and deal with what's blocking you head-on. But keep anger out of it. There's a difference between biting through a problem and lashing out at the people around it, and this reading depends on knowing which is which.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 56 The Traveler
If you lose your kindness now and turn irritable and aggressive, you'll bring on trouble.
The traveler burns down the inn and loses the young servant. Constancy is in danger.
- Line 1 of 56 The Traveler
It's a time to act with dignity and focus on what really matters right now. Relaxing too much and not taking things seriously will bring trouble.
The traveler, small and niggling: so disaster is brought on.
- The judgment of 56 The Traveler
It's a time of small achievements. Keep a light, flexible attitude. You may be facing a period of change, new places or situations that ask you to adapt while they settle: let go of attachments and be gracious as you make new connections and your situation takes hold.
Small success. For the traveler, constancy brings good fortune.
- The judgment of 21 Biting
It's a time for firm, decisive action to overcome obstacles, even legal action if needed. Success is within reach if you act with energy and set limits. Don't be afraid: act.
Success. It is favorable to bring things to judgment.
The trigrams
The way back
21 Biting → 56 The Travelerlines 1 and 3
Other transformations of The Traveler
- 14Wealthlines 1 and 2
- 64Transitionlines 2 and 3
- 22Good Mannerslines 1 and 4
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2 and 4
- 23The Falllines 3 and 4
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1 and 5
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2 and 5
- 12Declinelines 3 and 5
- 53Gradual Progresslines 4 and 5
- 55Abundancelines 1 and 6
- 32What Lastslines 2 and 6
- 16Passionlines 3 and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 4 and 6
- 31Attractionlines 5 and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.