What this change means
Fire in the middle of the lake forms when the first, fifth and top lines change. The pair of judgments sits evenly. The Traveler already taught you to hold few attachments and expect modest gains. The resulting hexagram, 49 Renewal, speaks of shedding an old skin: open yourself to new ways, take each step at the right moment, and weigh what needs to change and what still works. So the traveler's lightness prepares you for a deeper transformation. You've already learned to let go of things; now let go of old habits too. Choose the timing carefully. Don't throw out everything, only what has stopped serving you. Make room, and the new will have space to arrive. The road has been teaching you this all along.
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 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 49 Renewal
You're in a time of renewal, like shedding a skin. Open yourself to change and to new ways of doing things. Success lies in taking each step at exactly the right moment, and in weighing what needs to change and what doesn't, what is no longer doing its job. Don't be afraid to let it go: you need to make room for the new to arrive.
When the day has come, there is trust. Great success. Constancy is favorable. Regret vanishes.
- 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.
- Line 5 of 56 The Traveler
If you can enjoy this passing situation and make the most of it, you'll achieve things.
Shoots a pheasant; one arrow is lost. In the end, renown and a mandate.
- Line 6 of 56 The Traveler
If you relax too much, forgetting that you're only passing through, and stop tending to your ultimate purpose, you'll run into problems.
The bird burns its nest. The traveler laughs first and wails aloud after. Loses the ox at Yi. Misfortune.
The trigrams
The way back
49 Renewal → 56 The Travelerlines 1, 5, and 6
Other transformations of The Traveler
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 2, and 3
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 2, and 4
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 3, and 4
- 4Immaturitylines 2, 3, and 4
- 1Activitylines 1, 2, and 5
- 25Innocencelines 1, 3, and 5
- 6Conflictlines 2, 3, and 5
- 37The Tribelines 1, 4, and 5
- 57Gentlenesslines 2, 4, and 5
- 20Observinglines 3, 4, and 5
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 2, and 6
- 51Shocklines 1, 3, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 2, 3, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 1, 4, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 2, 4, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 3, 4, and 6
- 28Excesseslines 2, 5, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 3, 5, and 6
- 39Held Backlines 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.