What this change means
What happens when there's no limit at all? The third line answers plainly: when you can't hold yourself back or set boundaries, trouble follows. The old line speaks of someone without measure who sighs afterward, yet it adds that there's no fault, because the sigh is the start of recognizing it. If you see the excess and do something about it, you'll get past the obstacles. As this line moves, the Lake below becomes Heaven, and the hexagram becomes 5 Inaction. That's the remedy. Stop, and wait instead of acting. Waiting here isn't idle: use it to prepare for the active period ahead, and look at your situation without lying to yourself about how much you've been spending, saying or taking on. A calm, relaxed pause can correct what an anxious rush would only make worse.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 3 of 60 Thrift
When you can't hold yourself back and set limits, you bring on trouble. If you recognize it and do something about it, you'll get past the obstacles.
One without measure will sigh afterward. No fault.
- The judgment of 60 Thrift
It's a time to conserve your time, energy and resources so you're ready for what lies ahead. If you do, when challenges arrive you'll be prepared and will overcome them easily.
Success. Bitter measure cannot be kept up with constancy.
- The judgment of 5 Inaction
It's time to wait, not to act. Waiting doesn't mean standing still, though: it's a good time to prepare for the active period that's coming. A calm, relaxed attitude will lead you to success: look at the conditions without lying to yourself, and stay alert so you know when it's time to act. Destiny follows its own course.
There is sincere trust. Shining success. Constancy brings good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
The trigrams
The way back
5 Inaction → 60 Thriftline 3
Other transformations of Thrift
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.