What this change means
The fifth line moves, and Fire above becomes Heaven: a mountain under the open sky. This line pictures a hunter who loses an arrow shooting a pheasant and, in the end, wins renown and a mandate. Practically, savoring a moment you know won't last, and using it fully, is what brings results. The small loss is part of the price. The resulting hexagram, 33 Leaving Behind, says stepping back or leaving a path now isn't failure. It lets you recover strength, think clearly, and set things right; what looks like loss can turn into gain. So make good use of the moment while it lasts, without clinging to it. Accept a small cost, enjoy what's offered, and be ready to move on gracefully when it's time.
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 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.
- 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 33 Leaving Behind
Leaving a path behind or stepping back right now isn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it will help you recover your strength and think carefully about the situation and how to set it right. Sometimes what looks like a loss turns into a gain, if you can let go of what isn't good for you and then pick up again in the right direction.
Success. In small things, constancy is favorable.
The trigrams
The way back
33 Leaving Behind → 56 The Travelerline 5
Other transformations of The Traveler
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.