I Ching Though it seems to have existed for more than 4, 000 years in some form or the other, we can only speculate about the origins of this phenomenon. With a philosophy reflecting Taoism and Confucianism, it is used as an oracle to consult for advice on how to act, how to face the future and experience it well prepared. In other words, it may be regarded as a fortune teller in the form of a book.
Alfred Douglas’ The Oracle of Change, How to Consult the I Ching Douglas has divided the book into two parts. In the introduction, with history, context and a brief analysis of ideas in the text, as well as how to consult it, he advises us how to interpret the results.
The translation of the I Ching forms the second part, including the 64 hexagrams and 4 appendices.
Methods The three methods of consulting the I Ching are
The traditional method of throwing yarrow sticks.
Throwing three coins
and
- The six wands method.
Coins for Me I only use the coins method. Take 3 coins of the same kind. For example, 3 1-Rupee coins. It is better to take the smaller sized ones. Keep paper and pen handy. Throw the coins 6 times, focussing on your question in your mind. Note the coins as they fall: how many heads, how many tails.
Assign 3 to each head and 2 to each tail and total the values and note them down. So you'll get 2+2+2, or 3+2+2, or 3+3+2, or 3+3+3. That is, 6, 7, 8 or 9.
In this way, you will get six numbers. From these numbers you draw 6 lines. The first line is the bottom line(which resulted from your first throw).
6 and 8 are “broken lines”. 6 will change to an unbroken one for the subsequent reading. 7 and 9 are unbroken but 9 will change to a broken line for the subsequent reading.
So you will have a set of 6 lines one on top of the other.
All this is explained in the section Throwing the Three Coins.
Then you go to the page with a diagram where you can find out, by seeing the first or lower three in the left side column and the upper three in the top row, which is your hexagram.
Hexagrams There are 64, all of them enchanting and, often, amusing. But, many a time, they give you an insight, or a gentle warning or a reassurance: the fox has almost succeeded in crossing the river but wets its tail; nothing is favourable.
Oddity It is sometimes almost unnerving to find this book behaving like a real being when, for example, you ask the same question again and again. There are times when it will scold you for that!
Itching to Find Out Who does not want to know what the future holds? Linda Goodman or Bejan Daruwalla books all line many a bookshelf. However, the I Ching is a more quaint and, I might add, more cerebral enterprise.
- Thank You! We appreciate your effort.
