Hexagram 49: Revolution (Molting)
䷰ 革 Gé – The Book of Changes
The Judgment
Revolution is believed in only after it has been accomplished. There will be great progress and success. Advantage will come from being firm and correct. In that case occasion for repentance will disappear.
The Image
Fire in the midst of the waters of a marsh: the image of Revolution. Thus the superior man regulates his astronomical calculations, and makes clear the seasons and times.
Description
Revolution (Ge) shows fire inside the lake: two forces that cannot coexist, so one must transform the other. Like an animal molting its skin, a situation changes completely. Change of this scale is trusted only after it has proven itself; it needs the right timing, a just cause and the support of others.
The six lines
A line's place shapes its role: 1 the beginning, 2 the center of the inner world, 3 the threshold to the outside, 4 close to power, 5 the ruler's place, 6 the end and the excess. Keep this grid in mind and the line texts become much easier to read. More in the guide →
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Line 1: Old Yang (bottom)
Revolution begins. Favorable — change is necessary; the old must fall.
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Line 2: Old Yin
Revolution with clarity. Favorable — truth guides the shift; act with vision.
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Line 3: Old Yang
Revolution with chaos. Danger — upheaval without purpose destroys; center yourself.
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Line 4: Old Yang
Revolution with courage. Favorable — transformation demands boldness; step forward.
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Line 5: Old Yang
Revolution with arrogance. Danger — ego distorts the cause; serve the greater good.
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Line 6: Old Yin (top)
Revolution complete. Favorable — the new emerges; honor the ashes.
Reading by area of life
❤️ What does hexagram 49 mean for relationships and private life?
Old roles no longer fit, and patching them up won't do. A relationship is ready for fundamental change. Talk openly about what needs to transform: how you live, share tasks, spend time, love. Don't expect immediate trust; changes become credible when they hold over time. Timing matters, so choose the moment carefully, then commit fully to the new form.
💼 What does hexagram 49 mean for work and money?
A real overhaul is due: a new business model, a career change, a restructured team. Half-measures will fail. Prepare carefully, explain the reasons clearly, and win support before you act. People believe in change only once they see it working, so deliver visible results early. Done for the right reasons and at the right time, transformation brings lasting improvement.
🌌 What does hexagram 49 mean for your personal path and spirituality?
Molt. An old skin of beliefs, habits or identity has become too tight. Let it go deliberately rather than waiting for it to tear. Watch the seasons of your life the way astronomers watch the sky, and recognize when one cycle has ended. Inner revolution needs conviction and patience; the new self proves itself through what it does.
Nuclear hexagram
Lines 2, 3 and 4 form the lower trigram, lines 3, 4 and 5 the upper one. Leaving out the beginning and the end reveals the core of the situation, what is at work out of sight. It is a secondary aspect, not a second verdict. If it seems to contradict the main hexagram, that happens and is not an error. More in the guide →
Lines 2, 3, 4 and 3, 4, 5 form nuclear hexagram 44, Coming to Meet. It shows what is at work beneath the surface – an inner tendency, not a verdict on the situation itself.
Hexagram 44 – Coming to Meet
Coming to Meet shows a female who is bold and strong. It will not be good to marry such a female.
The two trigrams
- Upper, outer: Dui – Lake
- The Joyous (Youngest Daughter). Within, it shows as joy, self-reflection and openness; without, as inspiration that finds expression through conversation and creativity.
- Lower, inner: Li – Fire
- The Clinging (Middle Daughter). Within, it is clarity, inner vision and passion; without, a light that guides and connects through beauty and meaning.