What this change means
Four lines move, and both trigrams change: Wind below becomes Thunder, Wind above becomes Heaven, and thunder rolls under the sky. With this much in motion, the guidance comes from the two lines of the resulting hexagram that stay still. The fifth says that if adverse things happen that aren't caused by your negligence, there's no need to worry; little by little things straighten out and return to their course. The top line warns that trying to force matters before conditions are right sends you astray and delays what you want. The resulting hexagram, 25 Innocence, asks you to act with a clean heart, without hidden motives, true to what is right. Then good things can reach you. So don't blame yourself for what isn't yours, don't push before the time, and keep your intentions honest.
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 25 Innocence, which stays still
If adverse things happen to you that aren't caused by your own negligence, don't worry: little by little things will straighten out until they're back on course.
An undeserved illness. Take no medicine: there will be joy.
- Line 6 of 25 Innocence, which stays still
If you try to force things without waiting for the right conditions, you'll go astray and delay getting what you want.
Without falseness. Moving on brings calamity. Nothing is favorable.
- The judgment of 57 Gentleness
It's a time when you'll gain and succeed through gentleness. This isn't the time for big actions, or for using pressure or force. It's a time to choose a path and stay on it steadily. Even if you don't see much progress, success will show itself through the build-up of small actions and through seeking the support of those above you.
Small success. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. It is favorable to see the great person.
- Line 1 of 57 Gentleness
Don't give in to indecision: going forward and back will delay your success. Right now firm, decisive action is better than wavering.
Advancing and retreating. The constancy of the warrior is favorable.
- Line 2 of 57 Gentleness
You're being held back by dark forces you can't identify. So it's wise to turn to people who, through magical practices, can help you move forward.
Yielding beneath the bed. Scribes and diviners are called in great numbers. Good fortune. No fault.
- Line 3 of 57 Gentleness
Thinking about what to do without making up your mind to do what needs doing will only delay your success.
Yielding again and again. Distress.
- Line 4 of 57 Gentleness
You're able to act as the situation requires, so go ahead, without haste but without delay, and you'll succeed.
Regret vanishes. In the hunt, three kinds of game are taken.
- The judgment of 25 Innocence
If you act with a pure heart, free of hidden motives and without straying from what is right, true to original human nature, you'll let the blessings of heaven reach you. Otherwise you'll meet obstacles and your affairs will become difficult.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. If it is not upright, there is calamity. It is not favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
25 Innocence → 57 Gentlenesslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
Other transformations of Gentleness
- 27Nourishmentlines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 30The Flamelines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 35Advancelines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 49Renewallines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 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.