When there are changing lines (6 or 9), you are directed to create and read a second hexagram as well. The trigrams for this reading are: heaven on bottom, earth on top and the hexagram is read as: earth (3 yin) over/heaven (3 yang) #11 T’ai /Peace. The eight possible trigrams are:Ī hexagram is made up of six lines, constructed from two trigrams which in the case above reads like this: yang (7), yang (9), yang (9), yin (6), yin (8), yin (8). The reading is created from two trigrams which will form a hexagram which will give you the interpretation of the question. For every 7 or 8 keep the original line and put it next to the original. For every 9 you will rewrite the _ (yang) to a – – (yin). For every 6 you will rewrite the – – (yin) to a _ (yang). If you have tossed a 6 or 9 then you will write another set of lines besides the original for your second reading. Start at the bottom (first toss): next to each 6 or 8 write two hash-marks (a yin – – line), next to each 7 or 9 write a straight yang line (_). With pen and paper: write a check mark next to the 6s and 9s, this will serve as a reminder that it is a changing line. These numbers form the trigrams which form the hexagrams. (Ie: 7, 9, 9, 6, 8, 8 -with 7 being the first of the toss). Throw the three coins six times and write the value, starting with the bottom line and working to the top. These appear as follows:Ħ (Yin + Yin + Yin or 2+2+2) – – a broken changing line (old Yin -> Yang)Ĩ (Yang+Yang+Yin or 3+3+2) – – a broken non-changing line (Yin)ĩ (Yang+Yang+Yang or 3+3+3) _ a straight changing line (old Yang -> Yin)ħ (Yin+Yin+Yang or 2+2+3) _ a straight non-changing line (Yang) There are four possible number combinations that make up the four lines. Each time you throw three coins, you count the numeric value of the coins together. Heads (or Yang) is given a count of 3 and (Tails or Yin) is given a count of 2. The coins have points, which will add up to a number which will create a single line of the hexagram. Try to be as specific as you can on the question – try to ask about seeing your path within the situation. The contemplation is really where the work is. How to perform a toss: Contemplate a question or situation. Find a comfy spot, get 3 quarters, a pen and paper, and have these three websites handy- they are used to see what the structure is and to interpret the reading: Starting: it is good to practice with coins to get in touch with your spirit and open the doors of the sages. There is a process to the I Ching and if you find yourself reading this article then it has likely shown up at a perfect time to help guide you in your life. At first it may seem like a lot, keep with it and you will get it. I am including steps on how to perform a reading and resources on how to interpret it. You can also use 3 coins or an app on a smartphone (I like the Iphone app I Ching by Brian Browne Walker). Really anything you use and put your energy power into will serve you. Traditionally it is done with a container of hand-shaved bamboo sticks in varying lengths – the PhD students in our school created their own, they are quite nice and charged with their energy. There are various ways to perform a reading. The I Ching is not meant to answer questions of ‘what is going to happen,’ but rather ‘do I have your blessing?’ Other questions include: ‘what is my path?’, ‘where am I going’, ‘how can I get there’, ‘how can I deal with these obstacles’ and, ‘is this the right way?’ Think of Alice in Wonderland – she was practicing wu wei while sitting on the tree stump and she found her path with the help of her own sages. I remember the moment I got that lesson with absolute clearly! Now the wu-wei skill is in my tool belt and I love it! That was very hard for me to learn (coming from a make-it-work sense of life in NYC) and it literally took me 1.5 years of living in Hawaii to learn it. It means to be so in touch with our environment and the people in it that our actions flow naturally from the situation – go with the flow. Wu Wei – the art of ‘doing without action’ or doing nothing yet accomplishing everything. The Daoist ideal is to have crystal-clear perception that enables you to move naturally at the right time. It is meant to assist you on your path so you can be in tune with your own nature. I find it a wonderful help in guiding me through some of life’s questions. It is likely written in 2000-3000 BC and is one of the bases for Daoism. Not quite Hansel and Gretel but almost… The I Ching is also known as the Book of Changes.
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