Transformation · lines 1, 2, 3, and 4

Inner Peace becomes Held Back

Starting hexagram
Resulting hexagram

What this change means

Four lines move, and the two lakes become Mountain below and Water above: water on a mountain, the image of a hard road. With so many lines changing, the reading rests on the two lines of the resulting hexagram that don't move. The fifth says your conviction and clear goals let you keep going despite obstacles, and your inner strength draws help toward you. The top line says you've reached enough maturity and confidence to face difficulty calmly and help others, and that help will come to you from above in the same way. The resulting hexagram, 39 Held Back, describes advancing, being blocked, stepping back, and seeking like-minded support until the obstacles fall one by one. Your inner peace is the asset here. Keep your aims clear, help where you can, and accept help in return.

What to read, in order

Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.

  1. Line 5 of 39 Held Back, which stays still

    You have great conviction and clear goals, which let you keep going despite the obstacles. Your inner strength will draw help to you.

    Great hardship: friends arrive.

  2. Line 6 of 39 Held Back, which stays still

    You've reached such maturity and confidence that you can face difficulties calmly and help others; in the same way, you'll receive help from those above you.

    Going: hardship. Coming: greatness. Good fortune. It is favorable to see the great person.

  3. The judgment of 58 Inner Peace

    You're in a time of calm and inner peace that lets you achieve great things. Spending time with people whose energy is like yours will nourish and recharge you to reach your aims. Still, don't lose sight of your goals, or you'll slide into inertia.

    Success. Constancy is favorable.

  4. Line 1 of 58 Inner Peace

    A state of calm and inner joy will help you stay centered and achieve what you want.

    Joy in harmony. Good fortune.

  5. Line 2 of 58 Inner Peace

    Take great care over whom you spend time with and what activities you choose, because if you let yourself be drawn into worldly things without cultivating your inner life, you'll stray from your goals.

    Joy with trust. Good fortune. Regret vanishes.

  6. Line 3 of 58 Inner Peace

    If you don't cultivate your inner strength and you let distractions carry you off, you may fall into addictions and drift from your purpose.

    Joy that comes seeking. Misfortune.

  7. Line 4 of 58 Inner Peace

    You're moving between serenity and indulgence. Indulgence leads to empty pleasure; serenity, to inner joy. That is the true path to success.

    Joy that bargains, never at rest. Once the ill is set apart, there is gladness.

  8. The judgment of 39 Held Back

    Every time you advance, something blocks you, forcing you to stop, step back, and look for help from like-minded people who give you their support. That way you'll get past the obstacles one by one until the final victory.

    The southwest is favorable; the northeast is not. It is favorable to see the great person. Constancy brings good fortune.

The trigrams

Below Lake Mountain
Above Lake Water

The way back

39 Held Back → 58 Inner Peace
lines 1, 2, 3, and 4

Other transformations of Inner Peace

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Toss the coins