Your current situation can be depicted as "Biting Through" transforming into "The Arousing (Shock, Thunder)".
In front of you lies "Fire" which transforms into "Thunder". That means that brightness and warmth are being transformed into movement, initiative, and action. Behind you lies "Thunder", representing movement, initiative, and action.
The Situation
21. Shih Ho - Biting Through Above (in front): Li - The Clinging (Fire) Below (behind): Chên - The Arousing (Thunder)
Comment by Richard Wilhelm:
This hexagram represents an open mouth (cf. hexagram 27) with an obstruction (in the fourth place) between the teeth. As a result the lips cannot meet. To bring them together one must bite energetically through the obstacle. Since the hexagram is made up of the trigrams for thunder and for lightning, it indicates how obstacles are forcibly removed in nature. Energetic biting through overcomes the obstacle that prevents joining of the lips; the storm with its thunder and lightning overcomes the disturbing tension in nature. Recourse to law and penalties overcomes the disturbances of harmonious social life caused by criminals and slanderers. The theme of this hexagram is a criminal lawsuit, in contradistinction to that of Sung, CONFLICT (6), which refers to civil suits.
The Judgement for the Current Situation
Biting Through has success. It is favorable to let justice be administered.
Comment by Richard Wilhelm:
When an obstacle to union arises, energetic biting through brings success. This is true in all situations. Whenever unity cannot be established, the obstruction is due to a talebearer and traitor who is interfering and blocking the way. To prevent permanent injury, vigorous measures must be taken at once. Deliberate obstruction of this sort does not vanish of its own accord. Judgment and punishment are required to deter or obviate it. However, it is important to proceed in the right way. The hexagram combines Li, clarity, and Chên, excitement. Li is yielding, Chên is hard. Unqualified hardness and excitement would be too violent in meting out punishment; unqualified clarity and gentleness would be too weak. The two together create the just measure. It is of moment that the man who makes the decisions (represented by the fifth line) is gentle by nature, while he commands respect by his conduct in his position.
The Image for the Current Situation
Thunder and lightning: The image of Biting Through. Thus the kings of former times made firm the laws Through clearly defined penalties.
Comment by Richard Wilhelm:
Penalties are the individual applications of the law. The lawsspecify the penalties. Clarity prevails when mild and severepenalties are differentiated, according to the nature of the crimes. This is symbolized by the clarity of lightning. The law is strengthenedby a just application of penalties. This is symbolized by the terrorof thunder. This clarity and severity have the effect of instillingrespect; it is not that the penalties are ends in themselves. The obstructions in the social life of man increase when there is alack of clarity in the penal codes and slackness in executing them. The only to strengthen the law is to make it clear and make penaltiescertain and swift.
Interpretation of the Changing Line(s)
Line 6: His neck is fastened in the wooden cangue, So that his ears disappear. Misfortune.
Comment by Richard Wilhelm:
In contrast to the first line, this line refers to a man who is incorrigible. His punishment is the wooden cangue, and his ears disappear under it–that is to say, he is deaf to warnings. This obstinacy leads to misfortune.
The Future
51. Chên - The Arousing (Shock, Thunder) Above (in front): Chên - The Arousing (Thunder) Below (behind): Chên - The Arousing (Thunder)
Comment by Richard Wilhelm:
The hexagram Chên represents the eldest son, who seizes rule with energy and power. A yang line develops below two yin lines and presses upward forcibly. This movement is so violent that it arouses terror. It is symbolized by thunder, which bursts forth from the earth and by its shock causes fear and trembling.
The Judgement for the Future
Shock brings success. Shock comes--oh, oh! Laughing words--ha, ha! The shock terrifies for a hundred miles, And he does not let fall the sacrificial spoon and chalice.
Comment by Richard Wilhelm:
The shock that comes from the manifestation of God within the depths of the earth makes man afraid, but this fear of God is good, for joy and merriment can follow upon it. When a man has learned within his heart what fear and trembling mean, he is safeguarded against any terror produced by outside influences. Let the thunder roll and spread terror a hundred miles around: he remains so composed and reverent in spirit that the sacrificial rite is not interrupted. This is the spirit that must animate leaders and rulers of men–a profound inner seriousness from which all outer terrors glance off harmlessly.
The Image for the Future
Thunder repeated: the image of Shock. Thus in fear and trembling The superior man sets his life in order And examines himself.
Comment by Richard Wilhelm:
The shock of continuing thunder brings fear and trembling. The superior man is always filled with reverence at the manifestation of God; he sets his life in order and searches his heart, lest it harbor any secret opposition to the will of God. Thus reverence is the foundation of true culture.