What this change means
Water within the earth appears as four lines change: the second, third, fourth and top. The first and fifth stay still, and in the resulting hexagram, 7 The Army, they set the course. The first says you need a just cause to move in the direction you want. The fifth says that choosing the situations you're able to face keeps you out of useless fights. After the loose, wandering life of The Traveler, this calls for discipline and organization. Speak clearly about what you want, without imposing it. Make sure your reason for acting is sound. Then pick only the battles you can win, and walk away from the rest. Order and good reason are your best protection now. A clear cause makes allies; a weak one makes enemies.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 1 of 7 The Army, which stays still
There has to be a just cause for you to move in the direction you want.
The army sets out under discipline. Without good order: misfortune.
- Line 5 of 7 The Army, which stays still
Choosing the situations you're able to face will keep you out of useless fights.
There is game in the field. It is favorable to seize it. No fault. The eldest son leads the army; the younger son hauls corpses. Even with constancy, misfortune.
- 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.
- Line 2 of 56 The Traveler
You carry with you the resources you need to be secure wherever you are and whatever comes up. You'll draw help from simple, capable people.
The traveler reaches the inn, carries their goods close, and gains a young servant who is loyal.
- 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 4 of 56 The Traveler
Even though you can gain material rewards and comfort, avoid living in constant distrust and worry.
The traveler finds a place to stay and gets their goods and their axe. My heart is not glad.
- 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 judgment of 7 The Army
Whatever your question, the favorable answer comes from acting with discipline and organization: face the situation head-on and speak clearly, say what you want, without trying to impose it.
The constancy of a seasoned leader brings good fortune. No fault.
The trigrams
The way back
7 The Army → 56 The Travelerlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
Other transformations of The Traveler
- 41Decreaselines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 42Increaselines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 8Unionlines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.