Making the Change
gé · Lake over FireWait until the change is ripe, then make it cleanly.
已日乃孚，元亨。利貞。悔亡。
Change earns trust only once its day has truly come. When that day arrives, the way opens wide, provided you stay upright. Then old regrets fall away.
The six lines
初九：鞏用黃牛之革。
You are bound tight in yellow oxhide. Hold still for now; this is not yet the moment to alter anything.
六二：已日乃革之，征吉，无咎。
When the proper day has come, make the change. Moving ahead now is favorable, and no blame attaches to it.
九三：征凶，貞厲，革言三就，有孚。
Pushing ahead brings trouble, and even standing firm carries risk. Let talk of change go round three times; then people will trust it.
九四：悔亡，有孚改命，吉。
Regret falls away. With sincere trust behind you, you can rewrite the old mandate, and that bodes well.
九五：大人虎變，未占有孚。
The great person changes as a tiger does, stripes bold and plain to see. Trust is there even before any divination is cast.
上六：君子豹變，小人革面，征凶，居貞吉。
The noble person changes like a leopard, while lesser people change only their faces. Pressing further brings trouble; settling and holding steady goes well.
The I Ching is a tool for reflection. Do not use it as the basis for medical, legal or money decisions.