I Ching The Book of Changes I Ching The Book of Changes For countless centuries emperor and peasant, scholar and unlearned alike have sought to understand the timeless wisdom and eerie divinations of the I Ching, translated, the Book of Changes. Using the simple tools of three coins, one can seek insight from the I Chlng regarding whatever question is on one's heart. Casting the Coins Using the With your mind focused on I Clling the question you've written down, gather three coins of The Question the same size into your hands, There is a shake them until they are question burning randomly arranged in your in your heart and hand, then cast them gently mind. Think about upon the table in front of you. it and then write it Notice how the coins have down, privately, on landed with either beads' or a piece of paper. Writing the 'tails' facing up. question down helps you to focus on the precise subject Building a Trigram being asked about. thereby Match the beads or tails' avoiding ambiguity. Be sure pattern of the cast coins with to word your question so that one of the 4 patterns shown it requires a commentary type in the following table. Make of answer ... i.e., do not ask a note of the associated line question that requires a 'yes' form next to the matched or 'no' answer. For example. pattern and write it down. ask "What if..." or "What is (Note that if you cast three- this all about...?" of-a-kind, the line form will have a dot after it). Repeat this coin casting process 2 Building a Hexagram more times. each time placing You need to create 2 the next line form on top of trigrams to make a full the previous one. Having hexagram. So, create a done this 3 times, you will second trigram using the same have a 3 line figure known process above. When done as a trigram. you will have created a Example trlgram hexagram consisting of a lower trigram (the first one) 3rdcast-+ -- 2ndcast -+ • and an upper trigram (the 1st cast -+ -- second one). ~ . \ ® @- '· - Example hexagram ~ I ~ ~/ \~~ @j, -- - Sth cast -+ Upper .~ .~-..~ ~ ll!llltm, llCiJtml ~ - -· Sth cast -+ trigram '::::.:'l ' ::::.::Y \~ 4th cast -+ -- 3rd cast :-+ -- Lower ((1 I\ ~ {£;)- - -· 2nd cast-+ • trlgram - 1stcast -+ -- Interpreting the Finding the Hexagram Hexagram Cross reference the The hexagram you lower trigram with the upper have created contains words trigram using the chart below. of insight pertaining to your For the moment, ignore any question. Seek to apply the dots that may appear beside words you're given to the any of the line forms. Make question you asked, in a note of the hexagram number sincere and introspective way. that the two trigrams form, Suspend preconceptions that and turn to the page with may cloud your vision regard­ that number. ing the subject under consid­ eration. Your intuition will --- confirm whether or not you ;::::. = =-= == == == == == = have been enlightened. =: 1 "' s 21 11 1 14 a Sometimes you may not ~ 25 51 3 77 24 42 21 17 understand the full meaning of =:1.t02t4751MU your hexagram, as it relates .. 12 .. 52 15 .. .. 31 to the question you asked . 12 11 • 23 2 "' ..... Whether or not so, be certain that the question you asked 13 11 13 ZZ • 71 10 • 10 5' ., 41 11 11 • • is the question that is truly the one most on your mind at the time you cast the coins. Since the pattern of the must transform the current falling coins is determined, in hexagram into its future form. part, by the cosmic vibrations You do this by converting the emanating from your mind, it dotted line forms into their is possible for the I Ching to opposite forms, that is solid answer the question that is lines become dashed lines and really on your mind and not dashed lines become solid the one you wrote down. if lines. For example ... the two are not the same. lJsingthe procedure If your Hexagram described above, look up contains any 'Dotted' the meaning of the second line forms hexagram, realizing that this You may have cast Second Huagam one or more "three-of-a-kind" changing to ... patterns (3-heads or 3-tails). 61h cast 5th east resulting in a 'dotted' line form 4thea.st --•-+ in your hexagram. If so, there 3rdcast -- -- remains further information 2ndcaat • -+ -- fstcast -- -- for you from the I Ching. The dotted line means that second hexagram is predicting your hexagram is soon to a likely future condition undergo a change. To learn regarding the question that how it is going to change, you you've asked. Hexagram 1: Heaven above Heaven below. Yielding. The universe is united in power. So too the wise person execute his actions with power and creativity. Excep­ tional progress comes by correct persistence. Hexagram 2: Earth above, Earth below. Yielding. The receptive earth is -- in power. The wise -- person follows the -- natural path of calm- ness and correct per- sistence. Others may lead while you support their goals. Hexagram 3: Hexagram 5: Water above, Water above, Thunder below. Heaven below. Confusion. Waiting. -- Thunderclouds indi-cate Clouds of anxietyrise. profound disquiet. Un­ -- -- Do not be anxious, but -- dertake no distant goal, -- wait with confidence. but organize support. The moment wiJI arrive Concern yourself with when correct persis­ the problems of the tence brings progress. moment. Hexagram 6: Hexagram 4: Heaven above, Mountain above, Water below. Water below. Inexperience. Conflict. As spring water collects Heaven and water, -- at the base of the quiet strength and profun­ -- -- mountain, the enlight­ dity, conflict. Avoid -- -- confrontation. yield ened person fmds his level through learning. with caution. persist decisiveness, and cor­ not against obstacles. rect persistence. Hexagram 7: Hexagram 9: Earth above, Water below. Wincf above, l Cooperation. Heaven below. Restraint. The receptive earth -- The winds of gradual -- holds the water. and the -- wise person will find change. supported by -- strength in the company the strength of Heaven. of many fellows. With shows that restraint leadership there will be brings progress and sat­ correct persistence and isfaction. Make minor good fortune. changes and conceal all actions. Hexagram 8: Water above, Earth below. Hexagram 10: Unity. Heaven above, Lake below. == The receptive earth Correct conduct. = = beneath. with profundity -- above, indicates the need The excessive beneath. for unity and collective the strong above. Dis­ awareness of the goal. criminate between the Do not procrastinate. inferior and superior to Join with others and achieve progress. J return to the plan. Change gives way to stability. - Hexagram 11 : H exagram 13: Eartll above, Heaven above, Heaven below Fire below. Prosperity. Community. -- The strength of Heaven Strength ofheaven, de- ~§§ -- mingles with the recep­ pendence of fire. Rec­ tive earth. The wise ognize the dependence -- leader benefits from this of all upon their fel - harmony. Good fortune lows. The wiseperson approaches. seeks the collective flow to gain advantage. Hexagram 14: Hexagram 12: Fire above, Heaven above, Heaven below. Earth below. Sovereignty. Stagnation. The strength of heaven ·----­ The strong and the re­ holds a fiery intelli- -- ceptive do not meet. gence, the maker of an -- Strong persons give way enlightened ruler. Re- to the inferior. The en­ sist evil; exalt good. lightened person remains Proper Leadership reserved to avoid mis­ brings great progress. fortune. No advantage in persistence. HexaRram 15: Hexagram 17: Eartll above, Lake above, Mountain below. Thunder below. Moderation. Flexibility. -- The tranquil mountain In the midst of excess. -- -- amid the receptive earth growth and persistence -- -- indicates great progress produces progress. The -- through the reduction of enlightened person excess. Progress comes adapts. and leads the by equality of extremes. way from darkness to comfort. Hexagram 16: Thuncfer above, Hexagram 18: Earth below. Mountain above, Harmony Wind below. -- From the receptive earth Repair. -- comes the loud thunder. -- Winds of gradual -- So from harmony with -- change wear away the -- supporters does the wise -- mountain. Cultivate person gain advantage. -- action in others to bring about repair and great progress. If starting. meditate on the future. Hexagram 19: Hexagram 21: Earth above, Lake below. Fire above, Promotion. Thunder below. Reform. -- 111eearthabovereflects -- in the lake beneath. So 111e turbulence of thun­ -- der and lightning indi­ -- is the enlightened per­ cates the need for -- son willing to teach and -- learn from others. change. Achieve prog­ Progress comes through ress through reform. persistence. Administer justice. Hexagram 20: Hexagram 22: Wind above, Earth below. Mountain above, Contemplation. Fire below. As the wind moves over Serenity. -- the earth. so too the Illumination reveals the -- rulers of old travelled foot of the immovable -- the world. 11ley visited mountain. So the wise -- its regions and contem­ person perceives and plated its many cultures. avoids disputes. No Explore new ideas. progress except in small matters. Hexagram 23: Hexagram 25: Mountain above, Heaven above, Earth below. Thunder below. Deterioration. Spontaneity. The weak earth cannot Strength above and === -- support the mountain. activity below indicates -- -- The realm deteriorates. an alignment with a -- En lightened people natural state. Act with stabilize their lives persistence and inspi- through generosity ration. but without a toward the needy true rgoal. Hexagram 24: Hexagram 26: Earth above, Mountain above, Thunder below. Heaven below. Repetition. Potential. = = The beginning of a new The strength of the --== cycle shows that repe- Heavens comes from -- tition brings new prog­ within the mountain. ress toward a goal. The enlightened per­ Friends return. The re­ son studies the past's peating cycle is part of wisdom to develops his the Way. own character. Hexagram 27: Hexagram 29: Mountain above, Water above, Thunder below. Water below. Nurturing. Danger. = = Energy stirs beneath im­ Profundity produces -- = = mobility.