Transformation · lines 4, 5, and 6
Success in Small Matters becomes Gradual Progress
What this change means
The three upper lines move together, and the Thunder becomes Wind: a tree grows on the mountain, slowly and firmly. The two judgments are weighed evenly. The starting hexagram sees a time for small achievements rather than great things, and says going beyond your means wastes effort. The resulting hexagram, 53 Gradual Progress, promises progress that comes step by step, through stages that make it stable and lasting, and warns that trying to speed things up brings delays. These two agree almost perfectly. The modest scale isn't a limit on where you can get, only on how fast. Take the next small step, then the one after it. Don't skip stages or force the pace. Climbing rung by rung is how this situation tends to lead somewhere solid.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- The judgment of 62 Success in Small Matters
This isn't a time for great things; it's a time for small achievements. Recognizing that will help you live in step with the moment. Trying to go beyond your present means and resources will lead you astray and waste your efforts.
Success. Constancy is favorable. Small things can be done, not great ones. The flying bird leaves its call behind: it is not fitting to rise, it is fitting to descend. Great good fortune.
- The judgment of 53 Gradual Progress
You'll make progress, and it will come step by step, gradually, through stages that make it lasting and stable. Trying to speed things up will bring delays and obstacles. Keep at it, one rung at a time.
The woman goes to be married: good fortune. Constancy is favorable.
- Line 4 of 62 Success in Small Matters
It's not the time to act, but it is the time to stand firm, without straying from your purposes, until the time to act arrives.
No fault. Without going beyond, it meets it. Going is dangerous: be on guard. Do not act with lasting constancy.
- Line 5 of 62 Success in Small Matters
Your humility will help you find people who will act on your behalf.
Thick clouds, yet no rain, out of our western fields. The prince shoots a corded arrow and takes what is in the cave.
- Line 6 of 62 Success in Small Matters
If you insist on chasing goals that are out of reach for now, you'll lose whatever you put into them.
Not meeting it, goes past it. The bird in flight falls into the net. Misfortune. This is called calamity and ruin.
The trigrams
The way back
53 Gradual Progress → 62 Success in Small Matterslines 4, 5, and 6
Other transformations of Success in Small Matters
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 2, and 3
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 2, and 4
- 24Coming Backlines 1, 3, and 4
- 7The Armylines 2, 3, and 4
- 43Overflowinglines 1, 2, and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 3, and 5
- 47Overwhelmedlines 2, 3, and 5
- 63After the Endlines 1, 4, and 5
- 48Right Actionlines 2, 4, and 5
- 8Unionlines 3, 4, and 5
- 14Wealthlines 1, 2, and 6
- 21Bitinglines 1, 3, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 2, 3, and 6
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 4, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 2, 4, and 6
- 23The Falllines 3, 4, and 6
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 5, and 6
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 2, 5, and 6
- 12Declinelines 3, 5, and 6
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.