Strategic Divination: Using The I Ching To Know What’s Next, Without Losing Your Mind

(For an addendum to this post, click here)

Contents

Introduction

What Is Divination?

What Is Strategic Divination?

Why I Choose The I Ching Over The Tarot (And Everything Else)

The Role of The I Ching In Chaos Therapy

How To Consult The I Ching

Choosing The Right Question

Questions You Don't Want To Ask

Questions That Get Results

My 5 Principles For Interpreting I Ching Readings

How To Do A Reading For Yourself

The Fundamentals of Interpreting Your Reading

Interpreting An Unchanging Reading

Unchanging Reading Examples

Interpreting Readings With One Changing Line

One Changing Line Reading Examples

Interpreting Readings With Multiple Changing Lines

Multiple Changing Line Reading Examples

Readings For Deciding Between Different Options

Examples Where I was Wrong And What We Can Learn From It

How To Get Better At Interpreting Your Readings

How To Divine Without Losing Your Mind

Last Thoughts

Bonus: Hexagram Meanings

Bonus: Change Patterns

—

Introduction

“A field without birds.”

It was the line that stuck out most of all in my reading of 32.4.6 > 18 (Hexagram 32, lines 4 and 6, with a relating hexagram of 18).

The question was “What should I know right now?” and the date was January 11th, 2013. Six days later I was bleeding out on my family’s carpet.

I survived, but what was left of me was mostly a shell. Through my time in the hospital I was conditioned to doubt myself. To see myself as dangerous, and untrustworthy. And by the time I made it out, I was afraid to pick up my coins again. Because I never again wanted a mental hospital to be my home.

As my late twenties unfolded, the defensiveness began to unravel. I finally received a diagnosis that made sense, from a psychiatrist that helped me drop my dose of Risperidone that had begun causing involuntary arm movements, and the oppositional coupling of a dry mouth with drooling.

And then I finally started asking questions again. And in the years since, I’ve seen the benefits of a regular I Ching practice. I’ve experienced the reassurance that can come from a hexagram. The bad decisions that I managed to swerve around with otherworldly GPS. And with the good decisions came good changes, good habits, and growth.

Over 7,000 readings (conservative estimate) later, and thousands of hours spent reading about the I Ching, and analyzing my readings, I have my own approach to quickly get a feel for what an answer is telling me, and what might be on the way in my life.

Even if you have no present experience with the I Ching, I hope that what I provide in this piece can make an admittedly complex oracle as simple as possible, so that you can obtain practical results, and guidance, in the shortest amount of time possible. If you come away from it all with an I Ching practice of your own, I’ll say it was a success.

What Is Divination?

Some say divination is a connection to a higher power. That you’re receiving the answer to your questions from God, the Universe, your ancestors. There’s obviously an assumed “divinity” in the word “divination.”

If you forced me to give my theory of divination, I’d say the answers can come from outside entities, such as your “Spirit Team” (a group of ancestors and beings that have your back), but that they’re made possible because of the past, present, and future, existing all at once (See: ‘Time Loops’, a book that changed my life when it was released).

But after conducting as many readings as I have, I care less about “how” divination works, or convincing you of my personal theories, and more about how we can make it work better for us.

What Is Strategic Divination?

Strategic Divination is what I call my process of divining. It’s choosing precise questions, and then using a system of interpretation that simplifies the process as much as possible, while giving you the best chance of coming to correct conclusions.

What is it exactly? I’d say:

- It's when you want the answer rather than a koan you have to sit with for weeks. While you may need to sit with some readings, I believe it’s possible to get closer to the truth a lot faster than that.

- It's not being afraid to ask the question you really want to know. If you can’t be straightforward from the beginning, how do you expect a straight answer?

- It's not being afraid to ask a follow-up question when the first answer wasn't clear enough for you. Do you want to know, or do you want things to look pretty, and neat?

- It's also knowing when to fold and accept what you've been given. Sometimes you’ll be wrong, and sometimes you’ll just dig a hole for yourself. It’s important to know when to give it a rest.

The only real requirements for Strategic Divination outside of what you’ll find in this piece are respect for the oracle (in this case, the I Ching), and being sincere in your questioning. I’ve seen several stories over the years of hexagram 4 (the “inexperienced fool” of the I Ching) castings clubbing the skeptical over the head until they recognize that there may be something to all of this. But if you’re not willing to approach all of this with the respect it deserves from the start, please go away.

Why I Choose The I Ching Over The Tarot (And Everything Else)

In a world that has Tarot cards which appeal to every taste and temperament, countless divinatory decks, playing cards, and even things like Geomancy, my preferred oracle is the I Ching. It was the first I came in contact with, and it’s had me ever since.

I’ll save the history for those that are better at it (See: this great biography), but here’s what you should know: It’s about 3000 years old (older than Buddhism and Christianity), and it describes human relationships, events, and emotions that are still relevant 3000 years later. Humans, it turns out, still come in the same flawed, evolutionary package.

Other than being someone who appreciates words, I choose the I Ching over the Tarot because:

It holds no punches, and it's straightforward. If it tells you misfortune, there's misfortune. You can't tell yourself the 10 of swords means you're actually equipped with enough silverware to have a dinner party with your partner when you get it in a reading about the future of your relationship, or that the Grim Reaper actually looks very joyful plowing human heads in the field.

Great cartomancers will roll their eyes (as they should), but many out there aren't great cartomancers, and they'll often trust the booklet that comes with their cards before their own eyes (See Camelia Elias, and Enrique Enriquez for teachers that can tell you how to look for what's there).

With the I Ching, the images are in your mind. And sometimes they're exaggerated. But for me, at least, they've been a lot more clear, and direct, than a Tarot spread. And maybe they will be for you, as well.

With the I Ching there are 64 hexagrams which each have a theme, just like each tarot card does. Each hexagram has 6 lines detailing a different aspect of that theme

There's a lot of depth to it, but not all of that depth is relevant all at once. It depends on if you receive a changing line, more than one changing line, or no changing lines at all. But we'll get into that in a second.

The Role of The I Ching In Chaos Therapy

From my personal experience, I know that challenges can turn into chaos, and chaos can turn into states as extreme as psychosis. And I honestly believe that if I had a better relationship with the I Ching (as well as myself, of course), I could have possibly minimized the damage that the most challenging time in my life did to me.

A lot of our problems could have been avoided with the right advice at the right time. And the I Ching can be the mentor that many are searching for.

There's a lot to be said for having real humans in your life that can give real guidance. But if you were as isolated as I was, sometimes you need help before you can get to that point. Before you can even get a therapist. I believe that the I Ching has the potential to serve as a bridge, to get you over an emotional sinkhole, to a place of greater stability. I hope that Strategic Divination can help you, as it’s helped me: in getting clear on what’s what in your life, so that you can make better decisions for yourself, and hopefully avoid a situation like the one I found myself in.

How To Consult The I Ching

I'm not going to ask you to procure yarrow stalks. All you need to consult the I Ching are three pennies, which you'll throw 6 times.

When you throw three pennies, each time you'll either get

- Two heads and one tail equals a broken line

- Two tails and one head equals an unbroken line

- Three heads equals a "changing" solid line that creates a broken line in the relating/context hexagram

- Three tails equals a "changing" broken line that creates a solid line in the relating/context hexagram

- If there are no "changing" lines, you have an "unchanging" hexagram

- And you create each line of a hexagram from the bottom up.

Let's break this down as simply as possible:

- When any reading has a changing line it produces a relating/context hexagram. If your reading is a painting, the relating hexagram is the wall that it hangs on.

- A changing line means that particular line of the hexagram is a part of the answer we received

- If your reading produced no changing lines it means that all you really need to focus on is the meaning of that hexagram (using what is called the Judgement/Oracle and the Image) for our answer, rather than the lines of that hexagram. "Unchanging" doesn't mean that nothing will change in the situation, or in the circumstances you had a question about. It simply means there's no relating hexagram, because there was no ‘all heads’ or ‘all tails’ line in your reading.

If that seems like a lot, there are easier ways to produce a reading. There are websites that allow you to throw your coins in real life and then just enter what the throw was. Do it six times and you've created your reading and didn't have to draw anything on a piece of paper. In the section on consulting the I Ching a little bit further down, I'll give you suggested websites to do this.

But before you consult the I Ching, you have to figure out what you actually want to know.

Choosing The Right Question

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.

"I don't much care where--" said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.

"--so long as I got somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.

"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

Hexagram 16.3 is, in my opinion, perfect for the above, oft-quoted exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat. It goes like this (in Bradford Hatcher’s translation of the I Ching which I will be using and referencing throughout this piece):

Wide-eyed readiness is regrettable

The slow will have regrets

It basically means get the hell on if you're trying to get somewhere. Make up your mind.

So, here we are. You may be new to the I Ching, but there's probably rumblings inside you. Something you want to know about yourself, or them, or that. Take a breath, and think about what that might be.

The key is to be honest with yourself. If you really want to know that, then step up, and let's get to it, then (a Hexagram 40 sentiment).

If you do know what you want, it helps to know the most efficient way to get there. And that's where designing your question(s) comes into play.

Let's start with the bad questions:

Questions You Don't Want To Ask

1) Three Kids In A Trench Coat Questions

This is when you try to ask multiple questions all at once. The truth is, you're still not getting through the door. You might see some shapes of an answer past the bouncer's shoulders, but your ass is still gonna be out on the street.

The I Ching (and most oracles - let me know which ones work well with them, if you can) doesn't do multiple questions at once.

Here are some examples of this kind of question:

"Would she date me, or would she turn me down?"

"Do I have COVID-19, or am I fine?"

"Will x be successful, and make me (insert dollar figure)"

As you can see, the first two are pretty clearly more than one question. The third is a little more subtle, but I would actually approach it a little differently.

"Will x be successful" can be its own question.

"Will x make me ___" can be another.

By breaking questions down in this way, your answers can be more precise, because you don’t have to guess which question it’s answering, or if it’s somehow answering both. And the more precise the answer, the more accurate your conclusions can be. The obvious issue with this way of forming questions is it takes ... patience. But if you try to force your way of doing things on to an oracle that has been the same for 3000 years, you're gonna lose. And what you'll lose is clarity in your interpretations.

So, feel free to be stubborn, but don't blame anyone else for being lost in the woods.

2) Timing Questions

Calendars that are supposed to map on to particular hexagrams do exist. But I've had no success in using them. If you can make it work, have at it, but if you're just getting started, I'm not going to recommend spending your time investigating these methods.

The clearest way to get a feel for when something might happen is (surprise), the most time-consuming way of going about it.

If you're looking to find out when you'll switch jobs, I hate to say it, but the best way to get as good a sense of it as you can is to ask "Will I start a new job in November," "Will I start a new job in December," etc.

I'll touch on this again, but Strategic Divination is often a game of "getting warmer.” Marco Polo. Once you have a sense of the hexagrams and certain lines it gets much easier to look at a reading and say "yeah, I don't think I'm even in the right neighborhood."

If you received hexagram 63 unchanging for whether you were quitting your job this month, I'd say more often than not, there's a good chance you'll be gone. And if after receiving that hexagram you asked if you'd be quitting your job in the following month, and received something like 55.6, I'd say you're already distanced from that workplace (of course, it's not always so neat).

Questions That Get Results

1) Will ____?

This question, and the answers it produces, may not always be the easiest to interpret if you're starting out (or even if you've been doing this a long time), but it's as straightforward as you can get.

A "Will I/they/she/he ____" question is usually what people want to know to begin with. And if that is what you want to know, why pretend it isn't.

Some may say the future isn't set in stone, but if you've made it this far into this piece, I'm guessing you're willing to be proven wrong (at least once). And if a question like this couldn't be answered sufficiently, the I Ching wouldn't have survived this long, and been used by rulers for guidance.

As mentioned briefly above, a "will ___" question can be used to examine how things evolve over time: Will I ____ in December," "Will I ____ in January," etc.

Examples:

- Will I get a new job in January?

- Will the United States institute Universal Healthcare by 2030?

2) What Will Happen?

This is a favorite of mine when making decisions: What will happen if I do, and what will happen if I don't? By looking at both answers it's sometimes easy to see that you want outcome A rather than outcome B.

If you're asking what will happen if I do x and you get 4.4, and get 41.5 for what will happen if you don't, the answer is clear to me (option 2).

Of course, there's also the more general version of a "what will happen" question, like "What will happen with (event/outcome/etc.). This is a version I'd recommend less, because if you're asking what will happen with some event or circumstance in your life, you may be sidestepping a clearer question that revolves around a specific outcome you're anticipating will, or won't take place. But the thing about asking more than one question about a situation, from my experience, it can sometimes offer you more context that you can use to understand previous readings (unpopular opinion).

Examples:

- What will happen if I buy course X?

- What will happen if I don’t buy course X?

3) What Do I Need To Know About ____?

This was my favorite question before I started to straight-up ask "will or won't"'s. "What do I need to know about ____" is nice because it helps you mind your business. If it’s not essential for you to know about something, you won't get any light shining on that element of your query. You're only getting what you need to know. I've often found it capable of providing answers that give me a good sense of what is gonna go down, despite not asking "what will happen," but it's a different flavor. It often gives me something I can get a feel for immediately.

This is a particularly good question when you're asking about your coming year: "What do I need to know about 2021?”

Examples:

- What do I need to know about my life in the 2020s?

- What do I need to know about my Bipolar diagnosis?

4) What am I not understanding about ____?

Some veteran I Ching diviners will tell you to sit with your answers for as long as possible, and tell you not to 'bludgeon' the oracle with repeated asks. I'm not them.

While it's important to be respectful of the oracle, you shouldn't be shy about asking follow-up questions. With the I Ching you're not pulling three cards like a traditional Marseille Tarot spread. Consider a question like this your way of pulling an additional card (or possibly a spread like a Celtic Cross (but we’ll get into another way of making the I Ching Tarot-ish later)).

This may actually be my most asked question. I'm not a person that likes to assume, so if I can get an idea of what I'm missing from the reading I'm looking at, it can sometimes give me extra certainty that I'm not taking a response the wrong way.

I'd say treat the oracle less like 10.4, and more like 15.6.

Example:

- What am I not understanding about 54.5.6 for whether I’ll get a new job?

5) Outside Perspective Questions

A) This is where some of you might get lost, but I can't deny the benefits of these questions. If you have a relationship with your Spirit Team/ancestors, then starting your question by addressing them can be a good idea. I'm at the point now where I rarely ask a question that isn't kicked off with a "Spirit Team," to get their insight, specifically. Of course, we can't know the true source of an oracle's answers, but if you have a trusting relationship with spirits, the readings can have a greater authority, whether real, or imagined (and what isn't imagined, in a way).

Examples:

- Spirit Team, what do I need to know about the next seven days?

- Spirit Team, how should I approach my relationship for the next 30 days?

B) Another way to get an outside perspective is to ask the future you about a situation. I believe my ass will be dead in 2046 (I'll tell the story at some point), so sometimes I ask what 2040 me, or 2046 me, wants me to know about a situation I'm looking at in the present. At what would be 50+, I have confidence in my future self's insight, looking back at my life as it stands now. This is a helpful question especially if you're a proponent of the block universe theory discussed heavily in the aforementioned book, ‘Time Loops’.

Examples:

- 2022 me, what do I need to know about my career in 2021?

- 2050 me, what will happen with my relationship in the next 10 years?

C) The next two ways of getting an outside perspective may not be favored by some, for ethical reasons, which I understand. The first is asking what another person thinks about ____. If you believe in precognition as laid out above, you could say that you were always going to have this information, but if you have a more fluid view of how this stuff might work, it could come back to you asking yourself what business you have finding out such a thing.

There are also diviners who say that asking what others think is unhelpful. That you won't know where you stop and the other person begins in the answer. I personally disagree with that argument, based on personal experience. But I do think there's the chance that you can ask about such things and then not do anything with the information. If you're asking how another person feels about you, and then get a positive reading, but never initiate a conversation with them, what was the point?

Examples:

- What will my partner think about me 12 months from now?

D) The next type of question involves the perspectives of those adjacent to the situation at hand. If you ask what your mother or father will think about your boss, partner, or friend, six to twelve months from now, chances are you know your parents well enough to get a good sense of what the texture of that situation will be at that time, based on the answer.

Similarly, if you ask what the friends or family of another party might think about you six to twelve months from now, that gives you a good sense of what the general feeling about you will be around that time, and gives you more insight into what the other party might be feeling.

Examples:

- What will my father think about my career six months from now?

- What will my partner’s friends think about me for the next 12 months?

E) The last example of these types of questions involves public, or historical figures. If there's someone whose opinion matters to you, but you have no connection to them all, or can't make a connection with them (because they’re deceased), you can pick their brain (or their mind that exists outside of their brain) and find some direction. Necromancy mileage may vary.

Examples:

- Ajahn Chah, can you please tell how I should approach my practice for the next 30 days?

- Tupac, was Puffy responsible for your murder?

6) The Stop Obsessing Questions

Sometimes you may go on an I Ching binge (aka my daily life). Sometimes you need to come up for air, stop looking at the situation from every angle, and simplify things as much as you possibly can. That's a great time to ask either one of my "Stop Obsessing Questions": "Above all else, what do I need to know about ____" and "What is the only thing I need to know about ____."

If you accept the answer (like some people say you should've accepted the very first answer), you can push yourself away from the table, and put the Abraham Lincoln visaged silverware down.

But sometimes that won't stop you, and you'll have to take your lumps on your own, because you don't know what you don't know (4.1.4 > 38).

Examples:

- Above all else, what do I need to know about whether low carb will help me maintain my weight while on Risperidone?

- What is the only thing I need to know about whether I’ll quit my job in the next 30 days?

7) The Silver Lining/Peace Question

A reading can kick your ass sometimes. One question I sometimes use when that happens is: What can you tell me about ____ that will bring me peace?

It’s a way of seeing the glass as half full through the eyes of divination. It doesn’t always work, but sometimes it can be a good question to calm yourself down.

Examples:

- What can you tell me about my living situation in 2021 that will bring me peace?

- What can you tell me about the future of my treatment that will bring me peace?

--

Hopefully after all of that you have some ideas for where you want to take your next reading. You may have multiple questions you want to ask. What I’ll discuss next are the overarching principles of Strategic Divination, and my I Ching practice.

My 5 Principles For Interpreting I Ching Readings

1) A strategically chosen question is necessary to reveal the shape of things to come.

2) The readings are always right, it's the interpretations that can be wrong (It may sound like a cop out, but with enough experience you may see the truth in this).

- (Why are they always right? Because the past, present, and future exist simultaneously)

- (How can the interpretations be wrong? Because humans can "outsmart" themselves. And if humans were allowed to have a 100 percent clear answer every time, we'd be able to change what already is. Really, it's our emotions and desires that give us rose colored, or 5-percent tinted glasses)

3) Context, thoroughness, and experience lead to more accurate interpretations (knowing where to look for context, asking follow-up questions, looking at how our past readings played out)

- (I can’t overstate the importance of context. So here’s context three more times in my surely obnoxious-to-some excessive parentheses-ing: Context, context, context. Context is one of the most important parts (maybe the most important) of my interpretations. The context of a line’s parent hexagram can shed light on a line. A relating hexagram can shed light on a reading as a whole. Change Patterns can tell you if you’re in the right time zone with your interpretation. Context helps us be less blind.)

4) Experience > Translations > Commentaries when interpreting any reading.

5) The 4 Steps To Clarity for multiple changing lines, and the 2 Steps To Clarity (you’re gonna have to deal with these silly brand names) for unchanging, and one-line readings should be followed before you start freestyling.

How To Do A Reading For Yourself

You have your question, you have the principles that guide my whole process, now we just have to get you your reading. We’ll get to my advice on the actual interpretation in a bit.

You can do a reading completely manually with three pennies, a pen, and paper, using the photo earlier in this piece to guide you. And if you choose to do so, here's a hexagram key for you to see which hexagram you received based on the first three lines, and the upper three lines (which are called “trigrams”).

But, if you're just starting out, or if you'd just like to save time, you can do it with three pennies, and a website in place of pen and paper.

With these, you just throw your three coins, input what you received for each of your 6 throws, and then you have the basic reading. Here are some sites that can do that:

Option 1

- Steps:

- If you use this website the line with the number 9 means you threw three heads

- 7 means two tails, one heads

- 6 means three tails

- 8 means two heads, one tails

Option 2

- Steps:

- This site is self-explanatory, you enter heads or tails for each coin.

Option 3

- Steps:

- You don't have to type a question into their website

- Use the "real coins manually" option

- You enter your coins and it'll tell you of a "future" hexagram, which from my experience is better called the relating/context hexagram, but we'll be getting into that later when interpreting.

—

All three of these options include their own translation/interpretation, and while do enjoy LiSe's translation (option 1), I'd recommend going through all of the steps that follow, so you don't get off-track on the first translation you see when just starting out.

After doing a reading with one of these sites, you'll either have an unchanging hexagram, a reading with one changing line, or multiple changing lines. Now that you have a reading, it's important to know which translations might be best to reference. So let’s discuss some options:

Free Option 1

The main text we'll be using throughout is Bradford Hatcher's, which you can find again, here.

It's very dense, and full of a lot of useful information, but let's go through the most important parts, using hexagram 55 as an example.

- 1) Is the number of the hexagram in the sequence of 64, along with its title

- 2 & 4) These give you the Image, and the Judgement. Both are important in any translation when interpreting an unchanging hexagram (no changing lines). See the bonus section for my paraphrases that combine these two sections in as clear a language as I could put them.

- 3) These are commentaries. It's always important to remember that these are not the translation of the original Chinese. These are the thoughts of the translator. And pretty much any translation you find will have commentaries for hexagrams and their lines. Sometimes they can be helpful, but it's always important to focus on the translation before the commentary. Sometimes commentaries can lead you astray.

Now, let's break down Bradford's entries for the lines of hexagram 55:

- 1) This is the line number, in the formatting you'll see throughout this piece. And when you're using this particular translation, hitting ctrl+f and 55.2, 46.3, or whatever I Ching line you're looking up, can get you to the right place.

- 2) This is the Fan Yao. The only thing you need to know about this is that it's important information for easily figuring out transitional lines, which we'll be getting into later.

- 3) The translation. This is the most important part to pay attention to when you want to know the meaning of your reading.

- 4) This section is essentially its own commentary, or paraphrase of particular aspects on the line.

- 5) This is the translator's commentary on the line.

Bradford's book is extremely valuable, and that should be enough information for you to find what you need from it efficiently.

But let's get into some other resources that can help with your readings:

Free Option 2

James Legge's translation may be my favorite of them all, despite how old it is. It really helped me understand some hexagrams in a way that modern translators were unable to. I think so much of it that I actually put a copy of the public domain translation on this website after I originally posted this piece. In that version of his translation, you’ll find the titles I personally use for each hexagram, based on how I’ve seen them play out in real life.

Free Option 3

One of the first sites I came across when trying to understand the meaning of my readings was James DeKorne's website, which features multiple translations, and commentaries.

Use the dropdown to choose your hexagram, and what you'll find are some alternate titles for it, the judgement, and image (which, as we discussed, are essential for interpreting an unchanging hexagram reading) along with a commentary for them, and then you'll get to translations of individual lines.

Personally, the translations I would pay attention to on the website are those of James Legge, Wilhem/Baynes, John Blofeld, and Thomas Cleary, all of which you'll find listed under their last names. And again, the previous advice about commentaries still applies: remember that they are not the translation, they're someone's take on what the words mean.

Free Option 4

Another free translation, that I mentioned above, is LiSe's, and you can find those hexagram entries listed here.

I Ching Translations For Purchase

So, that's what I would recommend for free translations. Let's get into the things you'd have to pay for:

Option 1

Hilary Barret's 'I Ching: Walking your path, creating your future'. From my understanding, you can only find this one used (which is how I got my copy). This is a great, practical translation, and it's written by a woman, in a land of neverending male translations. So, it's refreshing in some ways. Hilary's website, Online Clarity (which I am a member of), was the first place I found on the internet in 2012 when searching for information on the I Ching. I'll touch on the value of the site more a little further down.

And I do see there is a newer book from Hilary, that might be the same translation in a different package, but I can't say for sure.

Option 2

Richard John Lynn's 'The Classic of Changes'. I really enjoy this translation, and it's led to some a-ha moments for lines I was having a difficult time really understanding. It might be mostly the influence of Wang Bi's interpretations, but it's a big change-up from so many translations that seem to be almost redundant.

Option 3

John Blofeld's 'I Ching: The Book of Change'. A very down to earth, practical translation, that I often find myself turning to.

Option 4

Wilhelm/Baynes' 'The I Ching or Book of Changes'. This may be the most popular English translation in the world. I've found value from it, but it's not my go-to.

Option 5

Lastly, I'll recommend the translations of Thomas Cleary. He has 'The Taoist I Ching' and 'The Buddhist I Ching' with slight variations in the translations. I've personally found the Taoist edition to be my favorite of the two, simply based on my experiences referencing it for readings.

--

I mentioned in one of my principles that experience trumps everything else when interpreting. Well, I'd say that can also include the experiences of others. And the website Online Clarity is where I learned from a lot of individuals, by reading their past experiences with lines.

When it comes to my knowledge of the I Ching, I'd say the three most important teachers I've had (who I also never spoke with) have been a woman with the username Trojina, Hilary Barrett, and Bradford Hatcher (who passed in 2020).

Whenever I have trouble with a line, or hexagram, I search the Online Clarity website for their takes on things.

Here's go-to search queries you can paste into Google to do that yourself:

site:https://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/ trojina 55.5

site:https://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/ hilary 46.6

site:https://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/ bradford 13.6

Of course, you'll want to add whatever line you're looking to learn about (Ex: 33.3), or whatever unchanging hexagram you're curious about (16 uc). That's the formatting used on the website, so those will be the easiest ways to find the information quickly.

The Fundamentals of Interpreting Your Reading

This is the part of the post where the principles combine with the practical steps to provide the framework we’ll use to interpret readings. I’ll first provide some ways to think about, and approach your reading, as well as ways to avoid fooling yourself. After that, we will get into unchanging, one-line, and multi-line readings, with seven examples of each type, from my own personal readings. Let’s begin:

1) Remember That A Reading Can Be Very Literal, or Very Metaphorical

You have to be prepared for both. If a reading mentions your “neighbor” it could end up playing out with your actual neighbor. If you received 38.2, you may very well meet with someone in an alley, or a narrow lane, or space, of some sort (which I’ve seen). Or 38.2 could end up playing out as a text message, or a direct message (which I’ve also seen). If you can come away from a reading with an understanding of the general direction of things, take that as a win. Because ‘what will be’ often makes a fool out of you when you think you know it all.

2) Visualize The Text

Let’s stay with hexagram 38 and say you received 38.3 for a reading, which is translated as:

Seeing a wagon held up

Its oxen restrained

Its occupant’s head shaved and nose cut off

Regardless of beginning, there will be an end

That’s a very visual series of events. What does that look like in your mind? Let the scene play out.

What would that visual look like in the context of your reading?

3) Remember That The Text Can Be Extra Dramatic

In the previous example, a person loses their nose. If you received that line for a work, or school question, I would bet on you keeping your actual nose on your face. If you received 56.6, the line gets translated as:

Like a bird that burns its own nest

This strange individual begins to laugh

Then follows with wailing and weeping

Forfeiting cattle in the exchange

Disappointing

I remember in the early days thinking I was in for some rough days when I received this line. From my personal experience, it’s never been much worse than damaging something without really realizing what you’re doing. There may be some people out there that have actually cried when receiving this line, but I never have.

Remember that everything is “not sure.” If you’re dreading an outcome because of a line you received, take it down a couple notches. We’ll go over more ways to handle readings mentally, and emotionally, near the end.

4) Pay Attention To The Judgement In A Line’s Text

When I say judgement here I mean, the “good fortune,” “misfortune,” “disappointing,” “shame,” etc., that you’ll see throughout the I Ching.

From what I understand, these were added to the lines after the original I Ching was created, but they have validity.

If you received 29.1:

Twice the exposure

Going into the canyon’s inner recesses

Foreboding

Don’t lie to yourself and say that “foreboding” sounds pretty pleasant, actually. These judgements are there to warn you, and hopefully keep you from swerving off the road of life with misguided decisions.

5) Substitute Your Name For “The Noble One”

I picked this one up from Trojina. If you see “noble one” in the text of your reading, put your name in place of it.

Let’s say I received hexagram 33 unchanging. I would look at the text with myself included inside of it:

Beneath the sky is a mountain

Distancing

Johnathan, accordingly,

is distant from the common people

Not with ill will, but with reserve

It’s kinda like this Hulk Hogan book my grandmother got custom made for me as a child with my name used in the text for the main character. Simply thinking of your reading with your name in it can make it resonate with you in a way that it otherwise wouldn’t.

It’s too easy to see an I Ching reading for the 3000 year old text it is, rather than something describing your present. And this may all seem silly, but I’ve seen it help.

6) Ask Yourself What The Reading Is Not Saying

This is a tip that will help you more as you gain more experience with the oracle. It’s easy to lie to yourself, and read into a reading in whatever way makes you feel good. But deluding yourself provides a short-term benefit, and realizing you were lying to yourself when the readings real results show their head won’t feel so good. So, figure out what the reading isn’t saying.

Let’s say you asked if you’ll ever reconcile with a friend, and you received 48.1:

The well’s mud is not consumed

An ancient well with nothing to take

That should be a pretty clear answer, but let’s look at the rest of the lines of the hexagram:

48.2

The well is down low: shoot at the fish

The bucket is damaged and leaking

48.3

The well has been cleaned, but nothing is consumed

Causing our hearts’ sorrow

It is suitable and available to draw from

Were the sovereign made aware,

all might receive of this abundance

48.4

The well is being relined

Nothing is wrong

48.5

The well has a clear, cold spring to drink from

48.6

As the well comes in, do not cover

Being true is most promising

Do you see the difference between those, and what you received? Please understand that you didn’t receive any of those lines. If you received 48.4 it might indicate the friendship is in the process of being repaired. But you got 48.1, and that’s just the way it is. It’s not the end of the world, and it’d be good if we didn’t treat it as such. But you’re looking out for yourself when you try to sidestep self-deception.

You can also look at other hexagrams to contrast the one you’ve received. If you received hexagram 42 unchanging, understand that it’s not hexagram 41.

7) Always Remember What Hexagram You’re In

Let’s continue with hexagrams 41 and 42. Let’s say you asked if you’d get a raise in the next 12 months and got 41.5:

Somebody grants one ten matched pairs of tortoise shells

One cannot refuse

Outstanding opportunity

That’s a positive reading, but hexagram 41 involves decrease, and reduction. You may gain something, but with this reading, it may come with a loss of some sort.

But let’s say you received 42.2:

Somebody grants one ten matched pairs of tortoise shells

One cannot refuse

Enduring commitment is promising

The sovereign presents offerings to the divine*

Promising

There’s still tortoise shells, and it’s still a positive reading, but hexagram 42 involves increase, and augmentation. In this case, I’d feel confident that the answer to your question would be “yes.”

The point is that we should always take into account where we are in the book. Which hexagram is casting its shadow on the reading? Don’t forget that.

8) Ask What Is The Worst Possible Way I Can Interpret This?

When you ask yourself this you're giving yourself free rein to see those words in the darkest light imaginable.

When you see the text for 2.6:

Dragons at war in the wild

They bleed indigo and golden

It doesn't carry with it a judgement, like "good fortune" or "misfortune," it simply tells you that two dragons are at war, and they're bleeding. War doesn't sound good, though, does it? And blood is usually something you want to keep inside your body.

9) Ask What Is The Best Possible Way I Can Interpret This?

Going back to our example of hexagram 2.6. What is the best way you can interpret that line?

For one, when it speaks of dragons, it might not mean you. Maybe you're watching the battle. Maybe you're being fought over. Maybe you have a favorite dragon here, and yours is getting the best of the other.

It’s good to consider both sides of the coin to keep yourself grounded.

10) Heat-Check Yourself To Avoid Falling Victim To Bias

It may seem funny to speak about bias in a piece about divination (which many will tell you is completely random), but here we are. As a last line of defense, I think it can be helpful to keep in mind the biases you’re most likely to fall victim to when interpreting your readings:

A) Confirmation Bias

Tip 6 for asking what your reading is not saying can help sidestep this one, but it’s probably what most people fall victim to, and it’s understandable. If you want something so bad, you’ll turn an F on your paper into a piece of abstract art to make it become an A. But again, remember that you’ll only be doing a disservice to yourself.

B) Experience Bias

But I’ve told you that experience is important for interpreting a reading, so what’s the issue here? For this I’d say be on the lookout for the experience you bring with you from outside of the oracle, not the experience you’ve gained from using it.

If your experience with line 42.3 is that you get something positive out of a bad situation, I’d say my experience aligns with yours. But if you come to the I Ching with your own idea of what a “jade credential” is, or what the color “gold” represents based on what Aleister Crowley said 19-whenever-the-fuck, you have a chance of being wrong. Remember that this is an old text. Remember that China in the 2020s is different in a lot of ways from the United States in the 2020s. And then remember that China at the time of the I Ching’s creation was a very different place from China in the 2020s. Let the experience you gain from seeing readings play out guide you, not what you expect going into your practice.

C) The Halo Effect & Over-precision

There’s no wholly good, or bad, hexagram, or line. 28.6 is a line that speaks of being in over your head and having to deal with the consequences of it. It sounds pretty bad, but I’ve had some experiences with 28.6 where things have certainly been intense, but they’ve also been rewarding.

Pay attention to your experience, and pay attention to the judgement affixed to your reading, but don’t turn a molehill into a mountain, or a molehill into a crown. At the end of the day, you’ll have to live out the reading, and then update your assessment of that particular reading for whenever you come across it again in the future. Stay flexible. You can always be surprised.

Interpreting An Unchanging Reading

As I mentioned earlier, “unchanging” does not mean there will be no change in the situation you asked about it. It only means that you had no changing lines. So you didn’t throw three heads, or three tails, if you have an unchanging hexagram.

For an unchanging reading, the most important things to look at will be the image, and the judgement/oracle. So, let’s say you asked if you’d get a raise at work, and you received hexagram 61 unchanging. If we’re using the Hatcher translation, here’s what you’d pay attention to:

Image

Over the pond there is wind

The truth within

The noble young one, accordingly,

considers legal process while delaying execution

Judgement/Oracle

The Truth Within

Piglets and fishes* - promising

Worthwhile to cross the great stream

Worthwhile to persist

Those are the two most important things. The commentary is nice to have, but what’s above is essential. In the bonus section, you’ll find my paraphrase of the image and judgement, along with the nuclear hexagram, and the theme/title of the hexagram. Those last two elements can provide you with additional context that is helpful in gaining an understanding of what a hexagram is all about, especially if you’re just starting out. The Bradford Hatcher translation also has a list of key words for each hexagram, which can give you a better sense of what you’re working with.

So, you have the text, but how should you think about the text? I actually asked my Spirit Team “what does it mean when you receive an unchanging hexagram?” and received 17.3. When I asked what I wasn’t understanding, I received 4.3.6 > 46, which, when taking into account transitional lines (which we’ll get to when we talk about multi-line readings) is 4.3 > 18.6 > 46.

17.3 is translated as:

Bound to one of maturity

Giving up the little child

Following comes to be seeking of gain

Worthwhile to abide in persistence

And the transitional reading of 4.3 > 18.6 > 46 is:

4.3

Not at all useful to court the woman

Who encounters a man with money

And loses self-possession

Not a direction with merit

-

18.6

Not serving sovereign or noble

Of higher worth is one’s service

17.3 is about choosing the mature option. 4.3 is about immaturity as a result of shiny rewards, while 18.6 is about renouncing what’s common, in pursuit of a higher calling. I’d say the advice when you receive an unchanging hexagram is to ask how your higher, more mature self would approach the advice the Image and Judgement provides.

What does that mean in practical terms: Stay ethical, on the up-and-up, in control, rather than craving, and clinging to specific outcomes. When you see “noble young one” in the text of your reading, try to follow in the footsteps that noble young one would create.

But of course, there’s usually more that goes into deciding how to interpret your reading. Let’s look at seven examples from my own unchanging readings, so you can get a better feel for how they might appear in reality.

Unchanging Reading Examples

Quick note, before we begin: Again, you can find every hexagram paraphrase you see here in the bonus section, to reference them for your own readings.

1) Will I move to NYC in October (2020)?

Answer

Hexagram 62 Unchanging (uc)

- Be extra humble, extra mournful, and extra thrifty. You can have success in small things, but not big things. By avoiding overextending yourself, and instead staying grounded, great things will come.

Nuclear Hexagram (Context)

Hexagram 28 Unchanging (uc)

- Stand alone without fear, and renounce the world without feeling bad about doing so. Something's got to give, so it's beneficial for you to go anywhere else, and doing so will have success.

My Interpretation

For a little background, sometimes I get little feelings, and ideas that pop in my head. And then I start doing some detective work: if it's about whether something will happen in a certain part of the year, I might sniff around a bit, ask a few questions, and try to get a clearer picture of what might be the case, and what feels like it isn't. In this case, I asked about several months, and this was one month where I felt the answer was definitely "no."

This reading is a good example of what a nuclear hexagram does and doesn't signify, from my experience. I recommend that you think of a nuclear hexagram as the context of the question, not necessarily the context of the answer.

With hexagram 28, this is a question about renouncing the world, and getting out of dodge, because your world in this situation will collapse. But with 62 unchanging as the answer, which you can see with my paraphrase of the Image and Judgement, it was saying 'ground any thoughts you may have about this'. Don't overreach. And it was easy to do seeing as I love Denver weather, and wasn't actively trying to move anywhere. I was just following up on intuitive 'tips' that I wanted to validate (there were other, different answers, I received for other months asked about, but that's another story).

When periods of time that you've asked about approach you can just smell the tea, instead of trying to read the tea leaves. And as it got closer, the reality that I needed to take the advice of the hexagram became evident.

2) What will happen if I sign up for the Dhamma Wheel course?

Answer

Hexagram 26 Unchanging (uc)

- Learn from the past, whether it's actions, or people that came before you, to build up your character. If you don't rest on your laurels and neglect your duties, good will come. It's good to commit to something

Nuclear Hexagram (Context)

Hexagram 54 Unchanging (uc)

- Be careful at the beginning, and look at the long-lasting and permanent to understand what's fleeting and impermanent. If you're subordinate, trying to make anything happen will be bad for you, and you won't have anything to show for it

My Interpretation

Dhamma Wheel is an email course offered by the Buddhist publication, Tricycle, providing a daily meditation on the Pali suttas (scriptures). I like using the I Ching to decide yes or no on some purchases, so here we are this question.

The context is hexagram 54, which is essentially about subordination. As you can see from my paraphrase, it's also about looking at the long lasting to understand what's impermanent, which is especially relevant for the 2500 year old religion of Buddhism.

Hexagram 26's paraphrase should be pretty obvious in the context of the question. The whole course is about learning from the early stories of the Buddha, to build up your character. Taking the course was a positive for me. Waking up every morning to a brief email about what I could focus on for the day helped me make progress in the early days of my practice. Sometimes readings really are that straightforward. And this is one example where the advice to treat unchanging hexagrams as your higher self would is very relevant.

3) What do I need to know about the (copywriting) project for 2019?

Answer

Hexagram 21 Unchanging (uc)

- Make clear the right way of doing things, and the consequences for not doing them that way. There will be success, and it will be good to ensure things are handled fairly

Nuclear Hexagram (Context)

Hexagram 39 Unchanging (uc)

- Take a look at your own character and make it more virtuous. Move in the direction of others, rather than the path of isolation. You'll be benefitted if you seek out someone more capable than you. Persisting in this will bring you good results.

My Interpretation

I'd say the easiest way to sum up hexagram 21 is to call it "deliberating and making a determination." And often, with hexagram 21, you either don't have all of the evidence at the time of asking a question, or you haven't assessed it all to make an informed judgement.

In this particular example, there was a lot I didn't know about the freelance project I was on. One thing I didn't know was that some requirements would change for the work we were producing. Another thing I didn't know is that I was going to be offered a promotion at my day job n in the spring of 2019 that ensured I wouldn't have the time to continue writing. And it was then that I deliberated and made the determination to withdraw from my freelance work.

Hexagram 39 was relevant as the context because there was indeed an element of the whole situation being an obstacle I had to figure out how to tackle, because I couldn't do both at once. But things worked out how they had to work out, as life does.

4) What will happen if I use Squarespace for my Two Dreams site?

Answer

Hexagram 58 Unchanging (uc)

- Open up to others, communicate, and do things together. You'll have success, but should persist in a way that's virtuous

Nuclear Hexagram (Context)

Hexagram 37 Unchanging (uc)

- Speak with substance, and be consistent. If you're the weaker party and can't take initiative, persistence will be beneficial.

My Interpretation

Let's start this reading with the nuclear hexagram. It was 37, and it was on point. I was considering trying WordPress again, and I even thought about using Webflow but I was the party in the situation that didn’t have a lot of wiggle room, which the above paraphrase speaks of. Why? Because I have no desire to code. And with that lack of desire, Squarespace was the best fit.

58 unchanging, to me, indicated that it was a good decision: By choosing Squarespace I would get to open up the channels of communication, as the hexagram often represents. It made it easy to get my ideas out, quickly, and here you are reading this. So, I suppose it worked out.

5) Spirit Team, how can I balance practicing the Dhamma and participating in the world?

Answer

Hexagram 46 Unchanging (uc)

- Through your virtue, and character, build-up things little by little until they become great. Don't have any anxiety about meeting with someone in a higher position, or someone more capable of you. Going in the direction of new connections will bring success

Nuclear Hexagram (Context)

Hexagram 54 Unchanging (uc)

- Be careful at the beginning, and look at the long-lasting and permanent to understand what's fleeting and impermanent. If you're subordinate, trying to make anything happen will be bad for you, and you won't have anything to show for it

My Interpretation

54 as the nuclear hexagram is interesting here. In Buddhism, the Dhamma is a bit more stable than the worldly, which definitely leans towards the "fleeting." If it didn't have some stability on a conventional level, there'd be no benefit to practicing it. In addition to that, there is an element of not being in total control with the question I asked: If you're not living in a monastery, you have no choice but to interact with the world, but you do have a choice in how you interact.

46 is almost like a savings account that slowly adds up to something substantial with each trickle. Putting the Dhamma into practice is about doing little things, creating new patterns, and creating healthy conditions in hopes that they become more common, and arise more naturally in the future. It may not have been the answer I would have hoped for, but it's certainly the right answer. Even when you use something like magic to speed up the process of change in your life (like I've used for my practice), you still have to actually practice. It's one foot in front of the other to advance.

Just because an answer is obvious after you see it doesn't mean it's easy to accept. And if you consult the I Ching you'll probably learn that firsthand.

6) Spirit Team, will (my therapist) stay on Talkspace?

Answer

Hexagram 6 Unchanging (uc)

- Plan well before you start anything. And cut this short before it goes too far if it looks like it's trouble. It's good to get outside assistance from someone more capable than you, but not a good idea to make a big commitment.

Nuclear Hexagram (Context)

Hexagram 37 Unchanging (uc)

- Speak with substance, and be consistent. If you're the weaker party and can't take initiative, persistence will be beneficial.

My Interpretation

The paraphrase of the image and judgement held true for me. Once my therapist brought up the potential of him leaving the platform, there was a lot of planning on my part. Finding a good therapist is often difficult, so I wanted to stay with what worked. I asked several questions about the possibility, and what to do, and ended up making arrangements to continue my therapy without using the website.

Hexagram 6 is usually translated as "Conflict" and it often plays out that way, one way or another. In this case the main conflict was him and the policies of Talkspace, and the image and judgement text gave advice about the rest. Hexagram 37 here shows an interdependent relationship, one in which I was the weaker party with my therapist, and he was the weaker party with the platform.

As conflict tends to play out, hexagram 6 advises you to be careful at the beginning, recommends being wary in the middle, but adds that if you push a conflict to its limit, it'll be no good for anyone. And he took that advice to heart without knowing anything about my reading: he left the service before it became a bigger problem.

7) Will Jay Electronica release an album this year?

Answer

Hexagram 35 Unchanging (uc)

- Display your character, and what you're made of. You're being given gifts and opportunities, and getting multiple meetings with others

Nuclear Hexagram (Context)

Hexagram 39 Unchanging (uc)

- Take a look at your own character and make it more virtuous. Move in the direction of others, rather than the path of isolation. You'll be benefitted if you seek out someone more capable than you. Persisting in this will bring you good results.

My Interpretation

While I've found hexagram 46 to be about moving forward to pursue something external to you, with 35, the success seems to come from using what you've already got, and putting it on display.

On February 6th 2020, Jay Electronica announced that he'd be releasing his debut album. And I asked this question that day, mostly because I like collecting data using the I Ching. I like asking questions that I know I'll get a yes or no on, so I can look back at a reading and learn from it. And I did get a yes or no answer on this one.

On March 13th 2020, Jay Electronica released his debut album, 'A Written Testimony', and on October 5th 2020, he released his second album, which was originally going to be his debut years earlier. It goes with the theme of making progress by putting what you have out there. And with hexagram 35 in particular, there's the element of "three." When lines, or hexagram texts have mention of specific numbers, it's important to pay attention, because sometimes it can be literal (which it wasn't in this case), or it can just tell you if there's more than one, of whatever is being asked about. Hexagram 49.3 comes to mind as well for this.

In Bradford's translation of the judgement, he writes "And by the light of a day three times grants audience," which is relevant when we're dealing with an artist who has fans. Hexagram 39 as the nuclear hexagram speaks of an obstacle that needs tackling, but also of moving towards others, rather than away, which was the basis of the question.

Interpreting Readings With One Changing Line

Let’s move on to readings with only one changing line. While some diviners believe that one changing line doesn’t produce a relating/context hexagram the way readings with two, or more changing lines do, I disagree. I believe that the second hexagram produced is relevant, no matter how many changing lines you have.

If you’re using Bradford’s translation, you can do a quick ctrl+f and type in something like 14.6. When you do, you’ll see this:

It says “Zhi Gua” and all you need to understand is that 34 means when you receive only 14.6, the relating/context hexagram will be 34.

So, if you asked a question and received hexagram 14.6, we can look at the translation for that line, as well as my paraphrase for 34’s Image and Judgement:

Assistance comes from heaven

Promising

Nothing cannot be turned to advantage

-

Hexagram 34 Unchanging (uc)

- Don't do anything that's improper, or out of line. Persisting will be good for you.

And that’s the only translation text I would pay attention to for this hypothetical reading.

But there is more you can, and probably should, pay attention to. While 14.6 is fairly straightforward, for many lines, it’s helpful to look at different translations, like the ones I mentioned earlier. For 14.6, here are some that we can consider besides the Bradford Hatcher version:

James Legge:

The sixth line, dynamic, shows its subject with help accorded to him from Heaven. There will be good fortune, advantage in every respect.

John Blofeld:

Those under heaven's protection enjoy good fortune and success in everything.

Wilhelm/Baynes:

He is blessed by heaven. Good fortune. Nothing that does not further.

They all get the main point across: that you’re blessed, and will have success. But as you’ll see when you ask your own questions, there are some differences between translations that will end up illuminating some of your blindspots while interpreting.

One last thing I wanted to point out before we get into some examples is one feature of Hatcher’s translation that I sometimes find useful to reference, which is what he calls “The Matrix - A Translator’s Manual.”

If you go to that section of the book, and look up whatever line you may have received, you’ll see a section that looks like this:

This is helpful because you can see the other English words that could be relevant when translating the original Chinese of the line you received. And when a line just isn’t resonating with you, it helps to go here and see some other words and phrases that could help the meaning of the line get through your head.

But let’s get into some readings.

One Changing Line Reading Examples

1) Will Jalil be released from prison in 2020?

Answer

Hexagram 63.3

The illustrious ancestor* subjugated barbarian country

It took three years to conquer them

Lesser people were not at all useful

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 3

- Turn confusion into something orderly. Despite the difficulties, you should persist, but not start anything new. Getting assistance will help you

My Interpretation

When I got this reading, I thought there was a chance. I've seen Bradford himself say this is a line about a battle that's already been fought, with the very similar 64.4 indicating a battle that has yet to be fought. That may be something indicated by the original Chinese, but based on my personal experience with the line, I'm not so sure. Because Jalil has yet to be released.

I could tell myself that it was referring to the battle that had already begun when I cast sigils in hopes of speeding his release process up, but it's a simpler explanation to say that it's referring to something that will take an extended amount of time to resolve itself, but that it will be resolved. The relating hexagram of 3 is about the difficulties of the birthing process. The struggle for something to brought out into the world, which is relevant when it comes to the parole process in this country.

If this reading had been 63 unchanging, that would have been a clear yes, from my experience. But the lines of 63 diverge from the clear "it is done" their parent hexagram tells us.

2) Spirit Team, what reading best represents the Two Dreams Mission post?

Answer

Hexagram 32.6

Continuously stimulated

Unfortunate

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 50

- Assume the correct, ethical position to fall in line with your destiny. Doing so will help you make great progress and transform yourself

My Interpretation

The Two Dreams Mission piece that is currently on the site is not the original. When I completed the original and asked about it, this is the reading I received. And I knew it wasn't a great one. It's a line about being all over the place, being overly busy, having too many pots on the stove. I knew it was accurate, but I wasn't able to create anything different than what I had at the time. In retrospect, things needed to cook, like hexagram 50 speaks of with its traditional title of "The Caldron."

But there was a transformation happening over time. The ingredients merged together, the focus became less busy, and things simplified on their own. Sometimes you'll get a reading like this and know that "unfortunate" might be the best you can do at that moment. I could have asked a follow-up question like "how can I make this mission piece less unfortunate," but when you have a deadline for yourself, sometimes you just have to follow-through.

3) What do I need to know about practicing Theravada Buddhism?

Answer

Hexagram 38.4

Estranged and alone

Meeting someone unique

Exchanging confidences

The distress

Is no longer wrong

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 41

- Control your anger, and tame your desires. You'll have much success and won't make a mistake if you're sincere and ethical. Even a modest offering of just a couple of things will suffice.

My Interpretation

I flirted with practicing Buddhism since middle school, but as the summer of 2019 winded down, I had enough stress in my life to actually do it. I picked up the 'Dhammapada', and began reading about Theravada Buddhism, which is probably the most bare bones school still in existence.

And getting this answer made the choice to embrace it pretty straightforward. After five years of regularly meditating, I learned that the Eightfold Path was what I needed to make myself really feel better. The "distress" really was no longer wrong, because it led me to my practice. And looking at the relating hexagram speaks to that more with its talk of taming your desires, and being sincere and ethical.

4) What do I need to know about my bipolar disorder?

Answer

Hexagram 53.6

The wild geese advance by degrees across the highlands

Their feathers are worthy to use in performing the sacred dance

Auspicious

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 39

- Take a look at your own character and make it more virtuous. Move in the direction of others, rather than the path of isolation. You'll be benefited if you seek out someone more capable than you. Persisting in this will bring you good results.

My Interpretation

Hexagram 39, as mentioned before, indicates an obstacle, which is certainly relevant to having Bipolar Disorder. Hexagram 53 is about a gradual progression, with each line describing another situation a family of birds finds themselves in.

By 53.6, all that's left are their feathers. They've moved on. What does this have to do with Bipolar Disorder? Well, to begin, my question was a general one. When you ask a question like this don't expect the oracle to change up the words it's used for three millennia. All it has to work with are the same lines it's had since its emergence. And we have to work with what we get.

53.6 can often mean a transcendence of the situation in question. Birds fade into the distance, their feathers remain, and can now be used for things other than keeping an animal gliding through the air. The answer could be saying that I've recovered to the point that my "disorder" has become something new for me. What was once the spark of my near destruction, is now a source of strength, and wisdom, gained from learning how to better control my condition. To the point that I can help others that are wearing my old shoes.

The judgement of the line is "auspicious" in Bradford Hatcher's translation. That's important. With that you can say at the time of my question, my situation wasn't trending downward. There was a benefit to all of this. While the "misfortune"'s you receive in your readings may not be the end of the world, the judgements are always good to take into account. They're guardrails to keep you from swerving off the road. They let you know of the consequences of your actions, so in the words of Jay-Z, "you don't have to go through that."

5) What will happen if I tell (my editor) that April will be my last month on the (copywriting) project?

Answer

Hexagram 25.1

With no pretense, to go forward is promising

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 12

- Withdraw from what's negative, and turn down any rewards, or accolades. Distance yourself from negative, or unworthy people, because great things have left, and lesser things have arrived

My Interpretation

As mentioned in a previous reading example, back in 2019 I received a promotion and wasn't sure I'd be able to give the copywriting project I was on the time, energy, and attention it deserved. So, I asked what would happen if I dropped out of it.

The context here, hexagram 12, is best translated as Separation, from my experience. And as you can see, the paraphrase speaks of turning down rewards. Both aspects are very relevant here.

25.1 is a very straightforward answer: it's promising to cut the bullshit and move forward on this. And that's how it played out. I was honest about where I was coming from, knew it would be a struggle to continue to produce worthy work, and pulled back for the best of the whole.

6) What is desire?

Answer

Hexagram 45.4

A lot of promise

Avoid mistakes

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 8

- Break new ground, and be on good terms with those in helping roles. If you have the right groundwork, and you're persistent, you won't make a mistake. If there's somewhere to go, or something to do, then make it happen, but anyone that's late won't have success

My Interpretation

For background: I asked "what is desire?" and "what is craving?" to help me understand the subtle differences between the two as I navigated my Buddhist practice. For craving I got 27.3, which may make sense to you if you look up the translation. For desire, I got this.

This is a line I've learned more about from experience. Sometimes, that's just how it happens. You can read about the experiences many have with certain lines, and read multiple translations, but you have to experience it enough times, and look back at what happened, to get a feel for how it plays out in your own life.

But even without that, let's just look at this translation: A lot of promise. Avoid mistakes." Doesn't that sum up desire? Desire is a glass wobbling back and forth, without spilling any water, or shattering on the floor. It's neutral. There is promise. And you have to avoid seeing that glass end up in pieces on the floor, which is what would happen if it mutated into "craving."

From my experience, I can say 45.4 usually indicates to me that you're on shaky ground, but if it ends up not backfiring on you, it'll have all been worth it. The relating hexagram, 8, to me, speaks of the promise of desire. As you can see from my paraphrase, it talks of breaking new ground, establishing something, and also of going for something if you have to, but to not be late. It's mental volition inching towards physical volition, as desire often tends to go. Once you get experience with the I Ching, and build up a working vocabulary, you'll find that asking questions to understand non-I Ching concepts, can help you spot things you wouldn't have in those subjects otherwise.

7) Will Employee A quit Company X this month?

Answer

Hexagram 18.6

Not serving sovereign or noble

Of higher worth is one’s service

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 46

- Through your virtue, and character, build-up things little by little until they become great. Don't have any anxiety about meeting with someone in a higher position, or someone more capable of you. Going in the direction of new connections will bring success

My Interpretation

My girlfriend's coworker was having some trouble at work, which was becoming a bigger issue for the company due to their organizational missteps. It seemed like it might culminate in her coworker quitting. We asked the question, and the next day she did. Let's break it down a little, even though it might be pretty obvious for some of you.

I'd say a good rule of thumb for 18.6 is: If your boss has two legs and two feet on this planet, chances are that's not really your boss if you get this line. In 2020, "sovereign or noble" could easily be changed to "CEO or Manager." With hexagram 46 as the background, it's a question of moving upward to something new, step by step.

With this reading I didn't expect it to happen the next day, but there's always going to be the things you don't expect, even if you get the general direction correct. Why?: Because the future can't trust you to hold down all of their business without you running your mouth, or trying to interfere. There's things you have to not know for them to come to fruition.

Interpreting Readings With Multiple Changing Lines

Ah, multiple changing lines. Probably the most controversial subject when it comes to interpreting I Ching readings.

Some say ignore some of the lines, based on this or that rule. Some say to think of them as a progression in time. Some say they’re all relevant, and you just have to deal with the contradictions between them.

For years I had simply taken every line into account, and I still do. But in the fall of 2020, I was searching around for some advice on other I Ching concepts, and I stumbled into an old thread that Bradford Hatcher contributed to on Online Clarity. He mentioned something called “transitional hexagrams,” which he said were ‘discovered’ or ‘re-discovered’ independently by himself, Mondo Secter, and Bruce Hamerslough, in 1976.

I was curious, so I went through every message Bradford ever posted on the Online Clarity boards speaking of the concept. What I learned is that it’s a lot less complicated than I thought it was at first glance. And after looking at dozens of past readings through the lens of their transitional lines, I was sold.

Let’s say you received a reading of 35.2.3.5 > 44. That means that lines 2, 3, and 5 are all relevant to your reading, and the three of them changing produces the relating/context hexagram of 44.

Those three lines are translated as follows:

Hexagram 35.2

So far along to be so worried

But persistence is promising

Accept these present constraints

as if a blessing from one’s grandmother

Hexagram 35.3

Many liberties

Regrets pass

Hexagram 35.5

Regrets pass

Loss and gain are not to be taken to heart

Simply to go is promising

Nothing cannot be turned to advantage

I would look at the translations for each of those three lines to interpret my answer. But after seeing the light of transitional hexagrams, I would look at the transitional lines as my primary answer, and the original lines as the supporting context, to clarify my answer. Let’s go through how we can find the transitional lines manually, and then I’ll give you an automatic option.

The easiest way to find your transitional lines is to use our primary translation, Bradford Hatcher’s free book. The first thing we’ll do is ctrl+f for 35.2. After clicking find previous and find next a little bit you’ll come to this entry, with the line’s translation. But at the very top, right next to 35.2 you’ll see “Zhi Gua 64.” That tells you that 64 is the relating hexagram. And that means 64 will be where you’ll find your first transitional line. Since the second changing line we had is 35.3, that means 64.3 will be our first transitional line.

As you may have figured out, what we’ll do next is go to hexagram 64.3, see that the Zhi Gua listed is 50, and then go to 50.5 for our last transitional line, since 35.5 was our last changing line of the original reading. The line 50.5’s Zhi Gua will end up being our original relating hexagram of 44, which will be the backdrop of the reading as a whole.

So, let’s look at our reading with the addition of the transitional lines:

Hexagram 35.2

So far along to be so worried

But persistence is promising

Accept these present constraints

as if a blessing from one’s grandmother

Hexagram 64.3

If not yet across, to go boldly has pitfalls

It is worthwhile to cross the great stream

Hexagram 50.5

A cauldron with golden ears

And metal grip

Rewarding to persist

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 44

- Make your orders known to everyone. Someone, or something is strong and you shouldn't commit, because you can't fully control/conquer them/it

What I would then do is look at that transitional reading as telling a story of sorts. With 64.3 I would look at it with the backdrop of 35.3 in mind. And 50.5 while keeping in mind 35.5. Those lines are still relevant, but they serve as supporting information for the transitional reading.

In this sense, your multiple changing line I Ching reading isn’t a whole lot different from a Tarot spread. And reading in this way can sometimes be like putting on x-ray glasses. In one thread, Bradford said of the transitional reading process:

“This isn't any big challenge to someone who works with Tarot and can make a little story out of any sequence of cards. You just connect the dots.”

I’ve found that to be true. And hopefully you’ll see the value in interpreting an I Ching reading like this when we get to some examples.

But I did mention an automatic way of figuring out your transitional lines, and that can be found here. On Russell Cottrell’s site, the setup will look like this:

You enter the first hexagram, which was 35, and then you enter the relating/context hexagram, which was 44. Once you do that you’ll see several transitional sequences populate, but the only one you’ll want to pay attention to is that first one. And as you can see, it shows us the same transitional lines we found manually. But you may find it helpful to use this website to generate those quickly, rather than identifying them yourself.

The last thing I wanted to touch on before we got to some examples are Change Patterns. I won’t be covering how to find these manually, because I already did it for you, and you can find all of the change patterns in the bonus section. But what I will discuss is why they’re valuable.

No matter the changing line(s) you have in a reading, it will come with its own Change Pattern, which consists of a Yang Pattern, and a Yin Pattern. Hilary, of Online Clarity, has described the Yang Pattern as being what the question is essentially about, and the Yin Pattern as advice for your reading. I’ve found this to be true, but I would add that the Yin Pattern can also simply be the way the reading will ultimately unfold in your life: an answer inside of the answer.

Let’s go back to 35.2.3.5. Since the changing lines are 2, 3, and 5, the change patterns as I sum them up, would be the following:

Yang Hexagram 48

- It's a question of making others feel good, and encouraging them to cooperate. There's a consistent resource here, but if you're not able to tap into it, bad things will happen.

Yin Hexagram 21

- The advice is to make the right way of doing things clear, as well as the consequences for straying from that. There will be success, and it will be good to ensure things are handled fairly.

So, when looking at the transitional reading, keeping the Change Patterns in mind is also helpful in interpreting. Change Patterns do exist for one changing line readings, but due to being more straightforward in general, I’m less likely to reference them when assessing a reading.

I know, this is a lot of information to take in, but hopefully in the examples that follow, you’ll see how it can all come together to make things a lot more straightforward than the common ways of interpreting your readings.

But as a summary, the interpretation process we’ll be following for multi-line readings are our 4 Steps To Clarity:

- Hexagram Sentence (Using the primary and relating hexagram titles, which you can find in the bonus sections)

- Original And Transitional Lines

- Relating/Context Hexagram

- Change Patterns

Multiple Changing Line Reading Examples

1) What will happen with the ____ project in 2019?

Answer

Hexagram 32.1.5 > 43

Digging in to continue

Persistence has pitfalls

Not a direction with merit

-

To continue in one’s character means persistence

For a woman of maturity, promising

For a man in youth, disappointment*

Sentence

Continuity’s Deciding

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 32.1 > 34.5 > 43

Digging in to continue

Persistence has pitfalls

Not a direction with merit

-

Losing the goat with ease

No regrets

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 43

- Share your blessings with those that don't have as many, or renounce them, rather than being complacent or lazy. Speak your truth, but don't be contentious. It will help you to have a goal in mind.

Change Pattern

1, 5

Yang 3

- It's a question of turning confusion into something orderly, persisting despite the difficulties, and getting assistance, but not starting anything new.

Yin 50

- The advice is to assume the correct, ethical position to fall in line with your destiny. Doing so will help you make great progress and transform yourself

My Interpretation

As you know very well at this point, I ended up leaving the project that was asked about here. But I wanted to use this example because when you look at the original lines and then the transitional lines, there's an x-ray effect (or 'They Live' glasses), of sorts.

The original reading seems straightforward enough, though, it didn't feel that way at the time, when I was thinking about my future. 32.1 speaks of not trying to make something more permanent than it really is, and that if you do so, there's gonna be trouble. 32.5 is a message that tells you 'if you know you really want to commit to this, you'll have good fortune, but if you're vacillating, and are unsure, it won't turn out well'. If I got that reading now, I'd say the project isn't looking too hot for me.

But when we look at the transitional lines, we can see it ended up describing what was *actually* going to happen. We have the same 32.1 telling me to not commit, but line five becomes 34.5, which speaks of giving up your goat. Goats are still valuable property in the 2020s, but they were even moreso when the I Ching was being created. So, it's noteworthy if you were to lose something valuable like livestock and have "no regrets," just as it would be noteworthy if I gave up a gig giving me hundreds more a month, and felt no regrets. But that's indeed what ended up happening. The relating hexagram of 43 was very present: I declared my truth, decided what I did and didn't want, and went through with it. The goat's new owner was the freelancer that took my place. And it gave me a good example of transitional lines for you, almost two years after I received the answer, so it all worked out.

But if we look at the Change Pattern, the Yang 3 was present. I was trying to make sense of my confusion, and it wasn't completely comfortable. And the Yin 50 is a hexagram of transformation. Things didn't happen to me as much as I decided to make the change happen.

2) Does "not dining at home, promising" mean I should go to Avanti?

Answer

Hexagram 26.1.4.6 > 32

This will get harsh

Worthwhile to quit

-

A young bull’s corral

Most promising

-

What is heaven’s thoroughfare?

Fulfillment

Sentence

Restraint's Continuity

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 26.1 > 18.4 > 50.6 > 32

This will get harsh

Worthwhile to quit

-

Indulging father’s fixations

To continue meets with disgrace

-

A cauldron with a jade grip

Very promising

Nothing cannot be turned to advantage

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 32

- Be unshakable, and don't stray from the path you're on. You'll make progress if you stay persistent, and have a goal in mind.

Change Pattern

1, 4, 6

Yang 21

- It's a question of making the right way of doing things clear, as well as the consequences for straying from that. There will be success, and it will be good to ensure things are handled fairly

Yin 48

- The advice is to make others feel good, and encourage them to cooperate. There's a consistent resource here, but if you're not able to tap into it, bad things will happen.

My Interpretation

When originally asking about this subject I received hexagram 26 unchanging, whose text mentions 'to not dine at home is promising'. Avanti is a food hall, of sorts, in Denver, so if we're talking about "dining" I want to make sure I'm understanding things right. So I asked this.

For this reading, the information outside of the individual lines helps us a great deal. Looking at the hexagram sentence first gives us a hint of what the correct course of action might be here: Restraint's Continuity. Hexagram 32 is about things continuing on in the same direction, no big changes. So, I think the sentence is fairly straightforward.

If you look at the change pattern, the 21 Yang Pattern makes this question about weighing things out, using your judgement. The 48 Yin Pattern speaks of cooperation being required in order to tap into a resource (in this case, a restaurant).

If we finally look at the actual lines, it makes it even more clear. 26.1 is about as clear as it gets: stop. 18.4 speaks of not indulging in things you shouldn't be, and the 26.4 that creates it is about delaying gratification, and keeping yourself under control. 50.6, though, may be a little confusing to someone new to the I Ching. It's a line that I see as representing a paradigm shift. A different way of thinking. A change in thinking in this case would be not going anywhere. And 26.6 is the "heaven's highway" line. I've found it to mean 'let yourself be led in this situation, even if it's intense'.

What ended up happening in this situation was the plans fell apart, naturally, with no action on my part. Heaven's highway had other things in mind. Readings are definitely not always this straightforward, but it's nice when they are.

3) What will Trump's election results be?

Answer

Hexagram 45.2.3 > 28

Drawn to the promising

Not wrong

But sincerity precedes the real reward

when offering the modest spring sacrifice

-

It seems that to congregate is the same as complaining

Not a direction with merit

To continue thus is not harmful

But a little embarrassing

Sentence

Gathering Together's Great Excess

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 45.2 > 47.3 > 28

Drawn to the promising

Not wrong

But sincerity precedes the real reward

when offering the modest spring sacrifice

-

Oppressed by stones

Grasping at thorny brambles

Going into his house

But not seeing his wife

Unfortunate

Relating/Context Hexagram

28

- Stand alone without fear, and renounce the world without feeling bad about doing so. Something's got to give, so it's beneficial for you to go anywhere else, and doing so will have success.

Change Pattern

2, 3

Yang 46

- It's a question of using your virtue to build-up things little by little until they become great. Don't have any anxiety about meeting with someone in a higher position, or someone more capable of you. Going in the direction of new connections will bring success

Yin 25

- The advice is to flow with things, and act in accordance with the time and season to make sure everything and everyone is supported. If you persist in a proper way you'll have success, but if you act improperly, you'll have problems, and it won't be a good idea to commit to anything

My Interpretation

I mean, take a look at that transitional reading. The story begins with offering a "modest spring sacrifice" and it ends with going into his home (the White House), and not seeing his wife. Because, really, it isn't his home anymore. And the relating hexagram speaks to that with its talk of renunciation, and needing to go elsewhere because the roof is going to cave in.

If you look at the change patterns, you could say the 46 yang is about the gradual build-up of votes that weren't in his favor (thankfully). And the 25 yin pattern's advice is to act in accordance with the time. When it's winter, act like it's winter, when it's summer, act like it's summer. And the other aspect to it is acting with virtue. As we can see, he didn't really take this advice. But hexagram 25 always has an element of "shit happens," which applied here as well with his repeated attempts to bend the law in his favor when the reality didn't match his opinions.

4) Will Joe Biden win the presidency?

Answer

Hexagram 63.2.3.6 > 61

The matron loses her carriage’s veil

To not pursue this

Means seven days to gain

-

The illustrious ancestor* subjugated barbarian country

It took three years to conquer them

Lesser people were not at all useful

-

Soaking one’s head

Serious

Sentence

Completion’s Inner Confidence

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 63.2 > 5.3 > 60.6 > 61

The matron loses her carriage’s veil

To not pursue this

Means seven days to gain

-

Waiting in mud

Inviting predators to approach

-

Bitter limitations

Persistence is unfortunate

Regrets pass

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 61

- Give a lot of thought to what you might do, and delay putting it into action. It benefits you to commit to something new, and persisting.

Change Pattern

2, 3, 6

Yin 18

- It's a question of inspiring others to make them better. Repairing things can be very successful. Commit to something new, and assess the before and after

Yang 17

- The advice is to follow what's natural, and bring things to a conclusion when it's time to. You'll have great success, and should persist in righteous way and there won't be any blame

My Interpretation

Before the election, on 11/1/2020, I tweeted the following interpretation of this reading:

"On 3/22 I asked the I Ching "Will Joe Biden win the presidency?" and got 63.2.3.6 > 61. Let me break my down my take, with fresh eyes: 63 is "Already Across," 61 is "Inner Truth/Confidence."

63.3 is a nice line for this reading because it speaks of conquering "demon country" and all those red hats are on a level of demon time that even Fivio can't touch.

61 speaks of a lot of consideration, and a delay before things are executed. The yang pattern for the reading is 18, which speaks of rousing the people in a repair effort and assessing the before and after.

The yin pattern is 17 which is about following natural cues, and bringing things to a conclusion at the appropriate time.

Looking at just the 63, the context of 61, and the 17 yin pattern leads me to believe what a lot of people have said, which is there's gonna be stalling, and an eventual resolution. In this case, I'd say in favor of Biden.

But there will definitely be criminal shenanigans, which we all already know. Looking at the two transitional lines, the first, 5.3 speaks of a delay leaving you vulnerable to predators/robbers. The longer it stalls, the more bullshit they'll try.

That's not every detail/line of the reading, but based on that, I'd say Biden wins. If I'm wrong, it's unfortunate for us all, but that 63 - 61 - 17 makes me feel like it's a better than average chance.

When I asked if Trump would win on 3/12/19 I see I got 41.2, which makes me feel a little better about my interpretation as well."

--

With the redundant rejected court cases claiming ballot fraud, I'd say this interpretation was on point. There was a lot of stalling, until it became insurmountable. And since hexagram 17 also speaks of 'going inside for relaxation and refreshment', that does seem like it has some relevancy when it comes to going in the White House, doesn't it?

And for more context than what I provided previously, the reason why 41.2 made me feel better about Biden's chances was because hexagram 41 is about reduction, diminishment, or sacrifice. That's the theme of the hexagram. And no matter what line you get, you never want to forget the context it's coming from with its parent hexagram. If it was 42.2 for Trump, a line about great, undeniable omens, in the hexagram of "increase," we may have been set up for an even worse four years for the country than a typical evil in its own way Democratic term. And my last note on 41.2 is just to say read Bradford's commentary for 41.2 below, which feels like it rings true in a few ways when we look at how Trump handled losing:

5) Spirit Team, do crisis actors actually exist?

Answer

Hexagram 22.1.3 > 23

Adorning those feet

Dismissing the carriage and walking

-

So elegant looking, as though dripping

With enduring persistence, promising

Sentence

Embellishment's Stripping Away

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 22.1 > 52.3 > 23

Adorning those feet

Dismissing the carriage and walking

-

Setting those restrictions

Divided at one’s waist

Rigors choke the heart

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 23

- Give to those in lesser positions to reinforce your own. It's not a good idea to make any moves, or start anything

Change Pattern

1, 3

Yang 36

- It's a question of managing the groups of people you interact with by censoring yourself, and playing dumb, and persisting to obtain positive results

Yin 6

- The advice is to plan well before you start anything. And cut this short before it goes too far if it looks like it's trouble. It's good to get outside assistance from someone more capable than you, but not a good idea to make a big commitment.

My Interpretation

I wanted to include this example for a few reasons: 1) It's very easy for people in the midst, or on the verge of a psychotic episode to cling to conspiracy theories. 2) I believe this reading displays the value in Change Patterns. And 3) It's a reminder that your judgement is never excused from playing a role in your reading.

With the context of hexagram 23 hanging over the reading, this is about things being broken down, or stripped away. Which could be about stripping away what's on the surface level here.

The original lines speak of not taking any shortcuts, just doing things in the most straightforward way (22.1), and also that what appears to be the case, may possibly be exaggerated. But it also tells you that being unceasing in your persistence about the subject of the question is promising.

If we take a look at the transitional sequence, we're still being advised to not take the easy way out, but with 52.3, we're shown the internal conflict that I was facing at the time of the question. It's interesting here, that the author of the translation we've been primarily using, Bradford Hatcher, adds the note "Crises choke the heart," which is relevant to the discussion.

If you're divided at your waist, it's insinuating a bit that you're divided between your lesser, primal desires (which tends to come from below the waist), and your higher, more rational self. It doesn't say which is better or worse here, it merely says that it's causing you some discomfort. That all makes sense, because a part of me understands that the "crisis actor" theories may have some sliver of truth in some circumstances, but that they're likely not the whole picture.

But without a clear yes, or no (or as clear as you can possibly get with the I Ching), it's sometimes helpful to look at the change pattern for a little more context. With this reading we have a yang pattern of 36, which is often about suppression, or censorship of some kind, which describes the basis of the question. And the advice is hexagram 6, which speaks of planning a lot before committing, and then putting an end to things if they look like trouble. In this case, I took the advice, and put that theory to the side. And often I've seen the yin pattern of a set of Change Patterns act as more of a promise, than a suggestion.

Sometimes the gift of a reading is to simply flip some switches in your brain, so that you know more clearly what you actually feel and think about something. And that by flipping those switches, you sometimes realize all you needed was to remember that you had the answer the whole time.

6) What am I not understanding about staying home today to find a dentist?

Answer

Hexagram 40.1.2.6 > 21

No blame

-

On the hunt, taking three foxes

Claiming the golden arrow

Persistence is timely

-

The duke takes aim at the raptor atop the

high battlement’s peak

Success at this means nothing cannot be turned to advantage

Sentence

Liberation's Deliberation and Determination

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 40.1 > 54.2 > 51.6 > 21

No blame

-

The one-eyed can still see

Warranting the secluded one’s persistence

-

The shock startles and confuses

Searching in wild-eyed panic

To go boldly is ominous

The shock is not in one’s being

Merely in one’s neighborhood

Make no mistakes

Even the marital suitor* might have something to say

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 21

- Make clear the right way of doing things, and the consequences for not doing them that way. There will be success, and it will be good to ensure things are handled fairly

Change Pattern

1, 2, 6

Yang 41

- It's a question of controlling your anger, and taming your desires. You'll have much success and won't make a mistake if you're sincere and ethical. Even a modest offering of just a couple of things will suffice.

Yin 31

- The advice is to give others your attention, and be open to welcome them. There will be success, and persistence will benefit the situation. Commit to someone or something for good results

My Interpretation

It was early 2019 and I was having dental pain. I had recently gotten dental insurance through my job and finally had a reason to use it, after waking up and accepting that it was an urgent issue. I was asking multiple questions, and just like I recommend, I asked this follow-up to get a little more clear on what the answer was.

If we look at the hexagram sentence it's "Liberation's Deliberation and Determination." Seems on point enough to me. For 40.1.26, the first line is key here when it comes to having hesitations about something. If it tells you no mistake, it's not a mistake. Line 2 for me, is often about freeing yourself from illusions. And line 6 is about taking care of a looming problem. If we were just looking at the original changing lines, with the relating hexagram, I'd say we're good to go ahead and call out of work for it. But the transitional lines added more context to base a decision off of.

We still have 40.1, telling us it's no mistake, but then we have 54.2. 54.2 is about not seeing the whole picture, but advises that persisting will be good for you. And this obviously relates to the 40.2, which I mentioned is usually about seeing things clearly/eliminating things that prevent a clear understanding. Finally, we have 51.6. "Searching in wild-eyed panic" is relevant, because I had an urgent need, and I was looking through all of the dental offices that took my insurance.

"The shock is not in one's being, merely in one's neighborhood" is also important here, and it shows how flexible a line's fruition can be, while still being relevant to your reading. In this case, the shock was indeed a noun, because the dentist office I found was about three blocks away from me, so it was literally in my neighborhood. And "marital suitor" here is simply me, trying to establish a relationship with a dentist.

The last thing we'll take a look at is the 1, 2, 6 change pattern. With the yang pattern of 41, this is a question of sacrificing, or giving something up. In this case, it's going to work. And the yin pattern, 31, is about courtship, of sorts. You're not giving up anything except the energy to establish a connection, and exert an influence. So, the advice here is to establish a relationship, which is exactly what I was doing by staying home.

Obviously, the original reading of 40.1.2.6 > 21 was enough to get me to make a decision back then, but as you can see, with Transitional Lines, and the Change Pattern, you get a much clearer sense of what action might be beneficial in the situation.

7) Was Stanley Kubrick killed because of Eyes Wide Shut?

Answer

Hexagram 25.4.5 > 27

May there be loyalty

Not a mistake

-

One without pretense still has afflictions

Do not medicate to bring about well-being

Sentence

Innocence's Hunger

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 25.4 > 42.5 > 27

May there be loyalty

Not a mistake

-

Be true and kind-hearted

Do not question sublime opportunity

Be assured that kindness is our worth

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 27

- Be careful about what you say, and take into your body. Persisting will bring good results. Make sure you know, and understand what you're consuming.

Change Pattern

4, 5

Yang 45

- It's a question of being ready and prepared to defend yourself from anything unexpected that may arise. Meet with someone more capable than you for success. Persistence will help you, as well as making a big sacrifice. It's a good idea to have a destination in mind.

Yin 26

- The advice is to learn from the past, whether it's actions, or people that came before you, to build up your character. If you don't rest on your laurels and neglect your duties, good will come. It's good to commit to something

My Interpretation

Sometimes my I Ching questions really do indulge some of my conspiratorial tendencies, and this is one example. But I think this example gives some credence to my belief that the answer is "yes" for this one.

Hexagram 25 is about being innocent. But it's also about how sometimes "shit happens." Children are good way to think about hexagram 25, because they're certainly innocent, but they have no problem saying what everyone else has the social graces not to say. With 25.4.5 > 27, the sentence would be Innocence's Hunger. With 27, the context of this question is deciding what to consume, and making sure you understand what you're taking in: in this case a theory.

25.4 is pretty straightforward: be loyal to this. Bradford's note on the line says "Certainly presume this!" 25.5 in a literal sense is about a problem that you shouldn't try to medicate, and in a less literal sense it says to let things run their course.

If we look at the transitional sequence here, 25.4 still tells us to be loyal to this, but then 42.5 speaks of not questioning sublime opportunity. Because I'm familiar with several different translations, I can tell you there's other versions of this one that can shed a different light on it:

James Legge has this line as: "The fifth line, dynamic, shows its subject with sincere heart seeking to benefit all below. There need be no question about it; the result will be great good fortune. All below will with sincere heart acknowledge his goodness."

John Blofeld has it as: "Be confident (or sincere) and kind, but refrain from asking questions and you will enjoy sublime good fortune. Faithfulness (or sincerity) and confidence are virtues proper to us."

And the very popular Wilhelm/Baynes translation gives us: "If in truth you have a kind heart, ask not. Supreme good fortune. Truly, kindness will be recognized as your virtue."

Doesn't that remind you of this part of 'Eyes Wide Shut'?:

HexagramAnd here I am writing this. And those change patterns? As you can see, they seem pretty relevant to the question. I'll just leave you with that.

Readings For Deciding Between Different Options

Some of the most effective readings I do are the “what will happen if I do” and “what will happen if I don’t” ones. Usually, just seeing the contrast in the answers will tell me which direction I want to go in, and which consequences I want to avoid.

And for the rare times when I still can’t decide, I’ll ask a simple “Should I ____” as a tiebreaker, of sorts. You may be able to say no to seeking out more data from divinatory tools to make even trivial decisions with confidence, but like Juicy J and drugs, sometimes I can’t.

I’ll offer a couple examples, starting with the most common do or don’t question for me: should I or shouldn’t I skip a dose of my antipsychotic:

1) Spirit Team, what will happen if I skip risperidone tonight?

Reading

Hexagram 43.2 > 49

Frightened and calling out

This is not a night for battle

Do not worry

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 49

- Get your forecasts in order to clarify what the seasons are and when things will happen. You'll be believed when those things actually happen. By persisting you'll have success, and no regrets.

2) Spirit Team, what will happen if I take risperidone tonight?

Reading

Hexagram 33.6 > 31

Resourceful retreat

Nothing cannot be turned to advantage

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 31

- Give others your attention, and be open to welcome them. There will be success, and persistence will benefit the situation. Commit to someone or something for good results

--

I decided to skip my dose that night, and here's why: Skipping a dose of Risperidone can usually lead to no more than six hours of sleep for me, and a charged day when I do wake up, which is why the "frightened and calling out" is important here. But obviously, the judgement of the line: "do not worry" is there to tell you all is fine with the subject in question. But I also like to get the other perspective before I make a decision, which leads us to the next reading.

With the I Ching, it sometimes tells you what was always going to be, rather than a hypothetical outcome on a path you were never going to take. And that may have been the case with 33.6. It's a line that I usually sum up in my mind as a "withdrawal that opens up space for something new." And what would I be retreating from if I had taken it that night, after having taken it for seven days prior to asking this question? It makes sense that the retreat discussed here is the letting myself go a day without taking one (not that I recommend that for anyone reading this, whose situations I do not know personally).

If we want to go deeper, we could look at the relating hexagrams. The 43.2 has the context of 49, which is about a big change. 49 speaks of looking at the calendar to know what time it really is. Knowing what time it is helps you know what's appropriate, and that's essentially what I was doing by assessing the options.

33.6's relating hexagram is 31, which is about following an attraction; being pulled. It personally wouldn't make sense to me to cast taking an antipsychotic in the light of 31, because if anything, it stabilizes me, instead of being the seed of some passionate experience. With all of that, I think a lot of you would agree that it was an easy decision to skip medication for that night.

Hopefully you'll also find benefit in putting two options side by side and letting the I Ching Scrooge you, by displaying those possible futures.

I know some of you may need to make an important decision with little information, like choosing a therapist, for example. So, here's something a little similar: How I decided on my dentist.

As you may have already read, I was having some dental problems. And nothing spurs you to action quite like dental pain, so I looked into what was near my apartment that also took my insurance, and narrowed it down to three options, and asked about each (these days I would likely ask "what will if I use ..." rather than "what do I need to know about," but it still worked out):

What do I need to know about using Dentist A?

Reading

Hexagram 42.3

Increase comes by way of unfortunate events

Avoid errors

Hold true and focused in conduct

Report to the prince, offer the jade credential

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 37

- Speak with substance, and be consistent. If you're the weaker party and can't take initiative, persistence will be beneficial.

What do I need to know about using Dentist B?

Reading

Hexagram 10 Unchanging

- Distinguish between what's proper and improper to clear things up for others. You're in a dangerous situation, but will manage to not get hurt, and you'll have success

Nuclear Hexagram

Hexagram 37

- Speak with substance, and be consistent. If you're the weaker party and can't take initiative, persistence will be beneficial.

What do I need to know about using Dentist C?

Reading

Hexagram 14.1

Having no commerce with trouble

To never be wrong

A hardship, but otherwise not a mistake

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 50

- Assume the correct, ethical position to fall in line with your destiny. Doing so will help you make great progress and transform yourself

--

Just look at those three readings and think about what looks best to you. For me, it was pretty obvious.

I chose option A. 42.3 is the perfect line for dentists. A blessing (their income), from our unfortunate business. But I did gain from my decision, finding an honorable dentist that didn't try to fill my mouth with more metal, just to make some extra money. And 37 being the context here is relevant, because I was the weaker party. I needed help. But fortunately, I was able to get some.

Hexagram 10 is when you're treading on a tiger's tail. Most translations tell you that you don't get bit, but if we're just assessing the first two options, which sounds more promising to you?

Lastly, we have 14.1. It doesn't give you a "this will lead to misfortune," or "this will lead to good fortune." It does tell you you're not getting yourself mixed up with trouble. But this is a good time to look at another translation. Here's James Legge's 14.1:

The first line, dynamic, shows that there is no approach to what is injurious, and there is no error. Let there be a realization of the difficulty and danger of the position, and there will be no error to the end.

To me, that's too close to saying "approaching this will lead to something injurious." And when looking at this line compared to 42.3, option A still seemed best. And it turned out to be just that, because I have no regrets.

When it comes to your dental health, or your mental health, don't feel that asking such questions is 'obsessing' or 'overthinking'. Sometimes we need a little help. And when the stakes are high, why not get it?

Examples Where I was Wrong And What We Can Learn From It

It's important to understand that sometimes you'll be wrong. Your interpretation will be incorrect, and you'll just have to learn from it. It's happened to me many times, but I wanted to go over at least one situation where that's happened to me, and see what we can learn from it.

This question below ended up getting approached in several different ways, and it shows you the lengths I sometimes go to when making a decision.

It may seem silly to think this hard about going to an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse, but COVID-19 made it a little more important. We made a reservation well in advance for Thanksgiving, but cases kept rising. It started to not look so smart (you could argue it never was, and that'd be fair), so I asked these questions:

Spirit Team, what will happen if we cancel our Rodizio reservation?

Reading

Hexagram 3.5

Collecting one’s riches

A little persistence is promising

A lot of persistence has pitfalls

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 24

- Due to the time, things may be stuck. When things open, you'll be free, and friends will come, and the cycle will restart again. It's a good idea to have a goal in mind.

Spirit Team, what will happen if we don't cancel our Rodizio reservation?

Answer

Hexagram 10.1.5 > 64

Simply treading forward

Nothing wrong

-

Decisive steps

Persistence is stressful

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 64

- Be careful, and make sure everything is in its proper place. If you're almost to the end of a mission and fumble it, you won't have anything to show for it

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 10.1 > 6.5 > 64

Simply treading forward

Nothing wrong

-

The contest is most promising

Change Pattern

1, 5

Yang 3

- It's a question of turning confusion into something orderly, persisting despite the difficulties, and getting assistance, but not starting anything new.

Yin 50

- The advice is to assume the correct, ethical position to fall in line with your destiny. Doing so will help you make great progress and transform yourself

Spirit Team, what am I not understanding about what will happen if we cancel our Rodizio reservation?

Answer

Hexagram 27.2.4 > 38

Subverted appetites

Dismissing the customary,

Going into the hills hungering

Going boldly into failure

-

Top-heavy appetite is promising

The tiger searches, staring and glaring

With its passion to hunt and give chase

Not wrong

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 38

- In relating to others, accept your differences. You can find success in small things.

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 27.2 > 41.4 > 38

Subverted appetites

Dismissing the customary,

Going into the hills hungering

Going boldly into failure

-

Decreasing those sufferings

To take charge and expedite becomes happiness

This is not a mistake

Change Pattern

2, 4

Yang 40

- It's a question of excusing and forgiving things is the right position to hold. If there's nowhere to go, turn around and go back, but if there is somewhere else to go, you should hurry up

Yin 37

- The advice is to speak with substance, and be consistent. If you're the weaker party and can't take initiative, persistence will be beneficial.

Spirit Team, what am I not understanding about what will happen if we don't cancel our Rodizio reservation?

Answer

Hexagram 8.1.3 > 63

Be true in joining with them

Make no mistake:

Being true more than fills this plain clay vessel

The end will come to hold even more promise

-

Joining with such inferior people

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 63

- Think about what might go wrong, and prepare for it beforehand. Stay persistent. Even if something is good in the beginning, it might be a mess at the end

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 8.1 > 3.3 > 63

Be true in joining with them

Make no mistake:

Being true more than fills this plain clay vessel

The end will come to hold even more promise

-

Pursuing the deer without preparation or forester*

All alone, going into the heart of the forest

The noble young one is discerning

Which is not the same thing as quitting

To proceed would be embarrassing

Change Pattern

1, 3

Yang 36

- It's a question of managing the groups of people you interact with by censoring yourself, and playing dumb, and persisting to obtain positive results

Yin 6

- The advice is to plan well before you start anything. And cut this short before it goes too far if it looks like it's trouble. It's good to get outside assistance from someone more capable than you, but not a good idea to make a big commitment.

Spirit Team, should we cancel the Rodizio reservation?

Answer

Hexagram 36.3.5 > 3

Brightness obscured on the southern winter hunt

Capturing the others’ great leader

This is not a call for a hasty resolution

-

Prince Ji held his brightness obscured*

Persistence was rewarded

Relating/Context Hexagram

Hexagram 3

- Turn confusion into something orderly. Despite the difficulties, you should persist, but not start anything new. Getting assistance will help you

Transitional Answer

Hexagrams 36.3 > 24.5 > 3

Brightness obscured on the southern winter hunt

Capturing the others’ great leader

This is not a call for a hasty resolution

-

Honest return

With no regrets

--

When I saw the reading of 10.1.5 > 64, it didn't make complete sense to me. When hexagram 64 is the relating/context hexagram, it usually means something is left incomplete. But how would it be incomplete if I did nothing?

And then, when I asked what I wasn't understanding about what would happen if I didn't cancel the reservation, the context was hexagram 63, which indicates completion. 8.1 speaks of an ending bringing something positive, but 8.3 talks of associating with those you shouldn't be. The transitional line of 3.3 speaks of pulling back, rather than getting yourself entangled in a situation that will leave you lost. I thought it would be possible that I'd still go, but I was wrong.

Shortly after the reading, indoor dining shut down in the city of Denver. Hexagram 64 showed its head. As far as 8.1.3 > 63, an ending did bring good fortune, and my experience with 3.3 came alive too. I didn't keep pushing ahead, and I had no say in the matter.

And 3.5 ended up playing out a bit as well. I ended up still having to call the restaurant to cancel our reservation, and collected the money that was going to be charged to my card if I didn't show up.

In the end, we had a Thanksgiving pick-up order from them, and stayed out of mask-less trouble. But what can we learn from this?

For one, the readings are never wrong, but the interpretations can be.

For two, the relating/context hexagram is always important. They don't always beat you over the head with obviousness like hexagram 63 and 64, but once you understand their meanings, it's important to look for their themes hanging over the reading. In this case, completion, and incompletion.

Lastly, I'd say be sure to pay attention to the Change Patterns. With our 8.1.3 reading we have Yang 36, and Yin 6. It's a question of censorship, or suppression, and the advice is to cut this shit out if it's not looking too good. And as it often happens with Change Patterns, the advice takes the wheel whether you want it to or not. And for everyone's sake with this reading, it definitely did.

How To Get Better At Interpreting Your Readings

How do you improve your interpretation skills? For me, it was less like going over one reading 100 times, and more like doing 100 readings. And then letting the results settle at the bottom of the looking glass (if such a thing were possible).

Just as "time heals all wounds," it also has its way of telling you if you were wrong, or right. Here are some things I'd suggest to get an education in the I Ching, from time:

1) Keep A Journal

I wouldn't have had examples to show you in this piece if it weren't for my journal. You can have it in Google Docs, you can have it in Evernote, but just put the date of the reading, the question, and the reading you received as an answer.

When time passes and you gain insight on what it actually meant, or how an event actually unfolded, write down what happened. Down the road, you can come back to your past readings and see patterns in certain lines, or hexagrams. And that's how you can have a greater understanding, that's all your own.

2) Do Daily Readings

Every day I have a "What do I need to know about today?" reading. At the end of the night, I write in my journal what happened, and look for the elements of the reading in the events that played out in my life. In addition to helping with my knowledge of the I Ching, it's been nice to be able to look back at specific days and check in with "old me."

3) Do Hourly Readings (If You're As Crazy As Me)

Something I started in the later summer of 2020 was asking "What do I need to know about the 7 am hour?, "... 8 am hour," etc. It may seem extreme (because it is), but because I'm very strange I also found a lot of value in it. For gathering a lot of data on how certain readings play out when they're boxed in by 60 minutes, but also for giving me a heads up for certain events that may be coming in my life, and for even scheduling purposes.

4) Ask Questions About Things That You Know Will Be Resolved In The Near Future

If you know there's something coming up in your life, and you're curious about what the results will be, then ask Will I ____ on (date/event). Example: Will I get a raise at my next performance review? Or will I get a new phone for my birthday. When the date, or event comes around, you'll have a clear "yes" or "no," and with it new experience with a line(s), or hexagram to learn from.

How To Divine Without Losing Your Mind

Divination comes with its dangers. But the sources of those dangers are inherently human. We have propensities for certain trains of thought that run wild in our own minds, enacting their own endless trolley problems, with our mental health on the tracks.

If you've experienced a psychotic episode you may have some of the same roadblocks I've had: overthinking, obsessive thinking, paranoia, and delusion. They're common to every one of us, but when you're stuck in the vacuum of an extreme state, they're even more pernicious.

Because of this, I wanted to offer some advice on how to practice divination without rehearsing your own forms of suffering. Some of this advice will be helpful, and some won't. Some will fall into the same traps I fell into, and for those I can't help, I hope what I've provided in this piece at least gets you closer to the truth. Take what you can:

1) Not Sure

Buddhism is anti-proselytization, and for good reason. But I'd remiss if I didn’t mention that cultivating my Buddhist practice has been the biggest factor in my improved mental health in the past couple of years. Why? Because it's similar to divination, only in that it helps you see clearly. I'll save most of my thoughts on my practice for when I write about the Web of Practice, but the most important teaching I can offer is that of "not sure." Here is maybe my favorite Dhamma talk about the practice.

It may seem too simple, but since incorporating it into my daily life, it's been a lot easier to stay in the present. The only thing you do is chop down your thoughts with the phrase "not sure." If happiness comes, remind yourself "not sure." If sadness comes, remind yourself of the same. Both are uncertain, and impermanent. And that's less of something to be sad about, and more of something to just accept. Everything arises and ceases. One day, these words, and this website, will be gone. So will I. And that's fine.

As you can probably see, "not sure" is very important when we're discussing divination. There have been many times I've asked questions of the I Ching, and with the responses, I thought I had it all figured out. Only to look silly. Sometimes we can be completely wrong about what a reading meant, only to have the obvious message smack us in the face when reality surfaces. Other times we get the general idea correct, but the details were completely different than what we expected. Even with all of the information I provided on this page, you'll still be subject to the "not sure-ness" of life. Once you can see that truth, you feel a lot more free.

2) Remember That Lying To Yourself About A Reading Is Only Hurting Yourself

When I was hospitalized, one of the women assigned to guard my room to prevent me from injuring myself again listened to me as I mentioned how I hurt my grandmother. She told me that I "only hurt myself," as coldly as one possibly could. My grandmother's knife wound, and I myself, would disagree. But that statement, which I heard as I sat on my bed in the dark, stuck with me, many years later.

I ended up stabbing myself because I couldn't handle the truth. I denied that my dwindling funds were a problem. When I was malnourished, sleep deprived, and panic-stricken, I denied that I needed help with my mental health. And when I asked the I Ching about different aspects of my life, I denied the accuracy of my readings, by simply ignoring them. It culminated in me losing my mind. And in that mindlessness, something else took over, causing me to suddenly stab myself.

I don't want anything similar to that happening to any of you. And hopefully, by starting up an I Ching practice when you're mentally stable, you'll be able to turn to its guidance when (but hopefully, only "if") things get a little shaky. And hopefully by then, you'll be well-versed enough to understand, and have faith in the reading you were given.

If you get hit with a "misfortune" from a line, don't take it personally. Take it as a gift, because it's giving you foresight. See it as an ancestor steering you in the right direction. Or your future self trying to help you avoid a damaging situation. It may be tough to accept at first. And it may never feel "pleasant." But learning how to hear bad news, reminding yourself that it's as impermanent as anything else, and bouncing back once you've digested the message, is a skill that will serve you more than most anything else you pick up in the world. And it is a skill that can be learned.

3) Don't Fall Into A Meaning Coma

There's a thin line between gathering data to get better at interpreting your readings, and falling into what I call a "Meaning Coma." A Meaning Coma is when you're indulging yourself with more, and more information, only to end up immobilized. If your I Ching practice is causing you more suffering than peace, it's a good idea to reassess your approach.

If you're asking just to know rather than to make a decision, or change in your life, you're in an information arms race against the unknown, and the unknown will always win. And you and your craving and clinging will always lose. There's always something you won't be able to know. After experiencing the power of divination, try to ground yourself and understand that moderation will benefit you, even with your speculation.

Being a glutton for the hidden has the potential for a pretty bad stomach ache. But sometimes we have to learn that lesson for ourselves.

Last Thoughts

There's a few reasons why I decided to write this post. The biggest is because I wanted to provide others with what I wish I had when I first started throwing coins.

When I approached the Book of Changes, I was looking up at a mountain of complexity, when I wanted, and needed reassurance, and peace of mind. I know now, of course, that the I Ching could never provide that for me. But I've learned that it can help me provide those things to myself.

I hope that the strategies, and instructions that I've provided here, make it easier for you to provide those things to yourself.

There's a number of people whose work, and knowledge of the I Ching, I am deeply indebted to: the aforementioned Hilary Barrett, Bradford Hatcher, and Trojina, being my biggest influences. Without their years of experience, that they've documented for all online, I'd be a lot more in the dark. And it wouldn't have been as easy to learn my own lessons about the I Ching. I hope you can use everything here to learn your own lessons. And maybe share them with the rest of us.

And one last thing: That reading of mine, on 1/11/13, six days before I stabbed myself? That was:

32.4.6 > 18

A hunt without game

-

Continuously stimulated

Unfortunate

Relating/Context Hexagram

18

- Inspire others to make them better. Repairing things can be very successful. Commit to something new, and assess the before and after

Using transitional hexagrams, 32.6 would become 46.6

Blind ascent

Advantage in not relaxing that resolve

I didn't know where I was heading, and it turns out the advice was to keep going even though I was in the dark. And I ended up here.

I hope your I Ching practice also gives you gifts for your future self to unwrap. But maybe now you'll be able to get the message sooner than I got mine.

Bonus: Hexagram Meanings

Hexagram 1

Theme: Potential, Heaven

Nuclear Hexagram: 1

1 uc

- Improve yourself constantly. Success will come by persisting in a righteous way

Hexagram 2

Theme: Receptivity, Earth

Nuclear Hexagram: 2

2 uc

- Give support to others. Be receptive. If you have a goal and pursue it you'll end up lost, but if you follow, you'll find the right leader. Seek out new allies, and you'll lose the wrong crowd. By humbly persisting, good things will come

Hexagram 3

Theme: Confusion, Chaos, Birthing

Nuclear Hexagram: 23

3 uc

- Turn confusion into something orderly. Despite the difficulties, you should persist, but not start anything new. Getting assistance will help you

Hexagram 4

Theme: Inexperience, Ignorance

Nuclear Hexagram: 24

4 uc

- Improve your character by taking decisive action. It's good to ask questions and learn, but don't keep asking the same question expecting a different answer. By persisting with a specific direction in mind, you'll have success.

Hexagram 5

Theme: Waiting, Delay

Nuclear Hexagram: 38

5 uc

- Bide your time and enjoy yourself as if you had nowhere else to be. Being sincere and persisting will bring success. It'll be a good idea to commit to something new.

Hexagram 6

Theme: Conflict, Arguing

Nuclear Hexagram: 37

6 uc

- Plan well before you start anything. And cut this short before it goes too far if it looks like it's trouble. It's good to get outside assistance from someone more capable than you, but not a good idea to make a big commitment.

Hexagram 7

Theme: Discipline, Army

Nuclear Hexagram: 24

7 uc

- With discipline, provide for others, and unify them. If you persist, and are mature and experienced, you'll have success, and won't make a mistake

Hexagram 8

Theme: Holding Together, Association

Nuclear Hexagram: 23

8 uc

- Break new ground, and be on good terms with those in helping roles. If you have the right groundwork, and you're persistent, you won't make a mistake. If there's somewhere to go, or something to do, then make it happen, but anyone that's late won't have success

Hexagram 9

Theme: Accumulation, Build-Up

Nuclear Hexagram: 38

9 uc

- Purify your character that's visible to the rest of the world. You'll have success, but there might not be anything to show for it yet

Hexagram 10

Theme: Treading, Risk

Nuclear Hexagram: 37

10 uc

- Distinguish between what's proper and improper to clear things up for others. You're in a dangerous situation, but will manage to not get hurt, and you'll have success

Hexagram 11

Theme: Flow, Synergy, Consonance

Nuclear Hexagram: 54

11 uc

- Use the ways of Heaven, and the ways of Earth together to help others. Inferior things will leave, and great things will come, and you'll have success and progress.

Hexagram 12

Theme: Separation, Dissonance

Nuclear Hexagram: 53

12 uc

- Withdraw from what's negative, and turn down any rewards, or accolades. Distance yourself from negative, or unworthy people, because great things have left, and lesser things have arrived

Hexagram 13

Theme: Fellowship, Groups

Nuclear Hexagram: 44

13 uc

- Decide what people and things belong together. It's a good idea to commit to something new, and persist for success.

Hexagram 14

Theme: Great Possession, Having

Nuclear Hexagram: 43

14 uc

- Put an end to the bad, and encourage the good, accepting divine order, and what's fated. You'll have great success

Hexagram 15

Theme: Balance, Authenticity, Realism, Respectfulness

Nuclear Hexagram: 40

15 uc

- Take from where there's a lot to bolster what has too little, to make everything fair. You'll have success, and bring things to a conclusion

Hexagram 16

Theme: Enthusiasm, Creativity, Inspiration

Nuclear Hexagram: 39

16 uc

- Express yourself creatively for a higher purpose. Get someone to assist, and put your followers into action

Hexagram 17

Theme: Following, Pursuit

Nuclear Hexagram: 53

17 uc

- Follow what's natural, and bring things to a conclusion when it's time to. You'll have great success, and should persist in righteous way and there won't be any blame

Hexagram 18

Theme: Repair, Decay

Nuclear Hexagram: 54

18 uc

- Inspire others to make them better. Repairing things can be very successful. Commit to something new, and assess the before and after

Hexagram 19

Theme: Taking Charge, Approach

Nuclear Hexagram: 24

19 uc

- Be constant in your teaching, and caring for others. Persisting in a virtuous way will bring success. But make sure you get to work, rather than admiring what you've already done

Hexagram 20

Theme: Observing, Watching

Nuclear Hexagram: 23

20 uc

- See how things are done elsewhere, and help teach the people you come across. You've prepared yourself to make a sacrifice, but haven't made it yet. Showing your sincerity will win the respect of others.

Hexagram 21

Theme: Deliberation and Determination, Punishment

Nuclear Hexagram: 39

21 uc

- Make clear the right way of doing things, and the consequences for not doing them that way. There will be success, and it will be good to ensure things are handled fairly

Hexagram 22

Theme: Embellishment, Adornment

Nuclear Hexagram: 40

22 uc

- Clarify any incidents that may be in question, but don't try to make any judgements about them. Superficial things have success, and it's favorable to try to do small things

Hexagram 23

Theme: Stripping Away, Breaking Down

Nuclear Hexagram: 2

23 uc

- Give to those in lesser positions to reinforce your own. It's not a good idea to make any moves, or start anything

Hexagram 24

Theme: Returning, New Cycle

Nuclear Hexagram: 2

24 uc

- Due to the time, things may be stuck. When things open, you'll be free, and friends will come, and the cycle will restart again. It's a good idea to have a goal in mind.

Hexagram 25

Theme: Innocence, Shit Happens

Nuclear Hexagram: 53

25 uc

- Flow with things, and act in accordance with the time and season to make sure everything and everyone is supported. If you persist in a proper way you'll have success, but if you act improperly, you'll have problems, and it won't be a good idea to commit to anything

Hexagram 26

Theme: Restraint, Learning

Nuclear Hexagram: 54

26 uc

- Learn from the past, whether it's actions, or people that came before you, to build up your character. If you don't rest on your laurels and neglect your duties, good will come. It's good to commit to something

Hexagram 27

Theme: Hunger, Nourishment

Nuclear Hexagram: 2

27 uc

- Be careful about what you say, and take into your body. Persisting will bring good results. Make sure you know, and understand what you're consuming.

Hexagram 28

Theme: Great Excess, Overtaxed

Nuclear Hexagram: 1

28 uc

- Stand alone without fear, and renounce the world without feeling bad about doing so. Something's got to give, so it's beneficial for you to go anywhere else, and doing so will have success.

Hexagram 29

Theme: Mastering Pitfalls, Facing Trials

Nuclear Hexagram: 27

29 uc

- In the presence of repeated danger, maintain your virtue, and teach others. If you're sincere, and stay confident with your heart set on something, proceeding will be worthwhile

Hexagram 30

Theme: Clarity, Understanding

Nuclear Hexagram: 28

30 uc

- Make your virtue visible to the entire world. Persisting will bring you success. If you take care of your valuable resources you'll have good results.

Hexagram 31

Theme: Attraction, Influence

Nuclear Hexagram: 44

31 uc

- Give others your attention, and be open to welcome them. There will be success, and persistence will benefit the situation. Commit to someone or something for good results

Hexagram 32

Theme: Continuity, Consistency

Nuclear Hexagram: 43

32 uc

- Be unshakable, and don't stray from the path you're on. You'll make progress if you stay persistent, and have a goal in mind.

Hexagram 33

Theme: Distancing, Pulling Back

Nuclear Hexagram: 44

33 uc

- Keep negative, or wrong people at a distance by being firm without being harsh. There will be success, and persisting can help accomplish small things

Hexagram 34

Theme: Standing Your Ground, Responsive Strength

Nuclear Hexagram: 43

34 uc

- Don't do anything that's improper, or out of line. Persisting will be good for you.

Hexagram 35

Theme: Progress, Spotlight, Prominence

Nuclear Hexagram: 39

35 uc

- Display your character, and what you're made of. You're being given gifts and opportunities, and getting multiple meetings with others

Hexagram 36

Theme: Censorship, Suppression

Nuclear Hexagram: 40

36

- Manage the groups of people you interact with by censoring yourself, and playing dumb. Persisting despite the difficulty will bring you something good

Hexagram 37

Theme: Interdependence, Teamwork

Nuclear Hexagram: 64

37 uc

- Speak with substance, and be consistent. If you're the weaker party and can't take initiative, persistence will be beneficial.

Hexagram 38

Theme: Tension, Friction

Nuclear Hexagram: 63

38 uc

- In relating to others, accept your differences. You can find success in small things.

Hexagram 39

Theme: Obstacle, Obstruction

Nuclear Hexagram: 64

39 uc

- Take a look at your own character and make it more virtuous. Move in the direction of others, rather than the path of isolation. You'll be benefited if you seek out someone more capable than you. Persisting in this will bring you good results.

Hexagram 40

Theme: Liberation, Freedom

Nuclear Hexagram: 63

40 uc

- Excusing and forgiving things is the right position to hold. If there's nowhere to go, turn around and go back, but if there is somewhere else to go, you should hurry up

Hexagram 41

Theme: Decrease, Reduction

Nuclear Hexagram: 24

41 uc

- Control your anger, and tame your desires. You'll have much success and won't make a mistake if you're sincere and ethical. Even a modest offering of just a couple of things will suffice.

Hexagram 42

Theme: Increase, Gain

Nuclear Hexagram: 23

42 uc

- Augment the good, and decrease the bad in yourself. It's beneficial to have a goal and commit to something new

Hexagram 43

Theme: Deciding, Speaking Your Truth

Nuclear Hexagram: 1

43 uc

- Share your blessings with those that don't have as many, or renounce them, rather than being complacent or lazy. Speak your truth, but don't be contentious. It will help you to have a goal in mind.

Hexagram 44

Theme: The Untameable, The Uncontrollable, Overindulgence

Nuclear Hexagram: 1

44 uc

- Make your orders known to everyone. Someone, or something is strong and you shouldn't commit, because you can't fully control/conquer them/it

Hexagram 45

Theme: Gathering Together, Protecting Yourself, Safeguarding

Nuclear Hexagram: 53

45 uc

- Be ready and prepared to defend yourself from anything unexpected that may arise. Meet with someone more capable than you for success. Persistence will help you, as well as making a big sacrifice. It's a good idea to have a destination in mind.

Hexagram 46

Theme: Advancing, Climbing Upwards

Nuclear Hexagram: 54

46 uc

- Through your virtue, and character, build-up things little by little until they become great. Don't have any anxiety about meeting with someone in a higher position, or someone more capable of you. Going in the direction of new connections will bring success

Hexagram 47

Theme: Exhaustion, Drained

Nuclear Hexagram: 37

47 uc

- Things are exhausted, and talk won't be believed, but if you're willing to put everything you've got into your purpose, you might finally have success

Hexagram 48

Theme: Resources, Cooperation

Nuclear Hexagram: 38

48 uc

- Make others feel good, and encourage them to cooperate. There's a consistent resource here, but if you're not able to tap into it, bad things will happen.

Hexagram 49

Theme: Change

Nuclear Hexagram: 43

49 uc

- Get your forecasts in order to clarify what the seasons are and when things will happen. You'll be believed when those things actually happen. By persisting you'll have success, and no regrets.

Hexagram 50

Theme: Transformation, The Cauldron

Nuclear Hexagram: 44

50 uc

- Assume the correct, ethical position to fall in line with your destiny. Doing so will help you make great progress and transform yourself.

Hexagram 51

Theme: Sudden Change, The Unexpected

Nuclear Hexagram: 39

51 uc

- You may be in fear, but you should look inside yourself and try to improve. Something may catch you off-guard but you won't fumble anything.

Hexagram 52

Theme: Stilling, Meditation

Nuclear Hexagram: 40

52 uc

- Stay in the present moment, and don't let your mind stray. Still yourself to the point that you're no longer conscious of your self, and when you go out and do not see anyone else, you won't make a mistake

Hexagram 53

Theme: Gradual Development

Nuclear Hexagram: 64

53 uc

- Maintain your virtue to be a positive influence and example to others. It's good to begin a process of committing to something gradually, and staying persistent

Hexagram 54

Theme: Subordination, Powerlessness

Nuclear Hexagram: 63

54 uc

- Be careful at the beginning, and look at the long-lasting and permanent to understand what's fleeting and impermanent. If you're subordinate, trying to make anything happen will be bad for you, and you won't have anything to show for it

Hexagram 55

Theme: Culmination, Fullness, Peaking

Nuclear Hexagram: 28

55 uc

- Make a decision and enact the appropriate penalties. There will be success. If you act like a leader, you don't have any need for anxiety about something ending, and you'll be a strong example.

Hexagram 56

Theme: Wandering, Journeying

Nuclear Hexagram: 28

56 uc

- Be wise and cautious in how you enact penalties, and don't draw things out for too long. You can have success in small things. Persisting in your wandering will bring good results.

Hexagram 57

Theme: Adaptation, Penetration

Nuclear Hexagram: 38

57 uc

- You should state your goals and start taking action. Adapt to have some small successes. You should have a goal in mind, and seek out someone more capable than you.

Hexagram 58

Theme: Exchange, Communication

Nuclear Hexagram: 37

58 uc

- Open up to others, communicate, and do things together. You'll have success, but should persist in a way that's virtuous

Hexagram 59

Theme: Dispersion, Surrender

Nuclear Hexagram: 27

59 uc

- Make an offering/give something up and establish a connection with something greater than you and transcend the present state. There will be success. Go to where you can connect with what's greater than you. It's beneficial to commit to something new and persist

Hexagram 60

Theme: Restrictions, Boundaries

Nuclear Hexagram: 27

60 uc

- Create ways to number and measure things, and examine conduct to ensure it's virtuous. Restrictions can help you succeed, but if they're too harsh and uncomfortable they're not going to last.

Hexagram 61

Theme: Inner Confidence, Subjective Truth

Nuclear Hexagram: 27

61 uc

- Give a lot of thought to what you might do, and delay putting it into action. Consider the good of all. It benefits you to commit to something new, and persisting.

Hexagram 62

Theme: Conscientiousness, Humility, Lower Expectations

Nuclear Hexagram: 28

62 uc

- Be extra humble, extra mournful, and extra thrifty. You can have success in small things, but not big things. By avoiding overextending yourself, and instead staying grounded, great things will come

Hexagram 63

Theme: Completion

Nuclear Hexagram: 64

63 uc

- Think about what might go wrong, and prepare for it beforehand. Stay persistent. Even if something is good in the beginning, it might be a mess at the end

Hexagram 64

Theme: Incompletion

Nuclear Hexagram: 63

64 uc

- Be careful, and make sure everything is in its proper place. If you're almost to the end of a mission and fumble it, you won't have anything to show for it

Bonus: Change Patterns

1

Yang 24

- It's a question of waiting for things to open, so allies can come, and the cycle can restart.

Yin 44

- The advice is to make your orders known to everyone. Someone, or something is strong and you shouldn't commit, because you can't fully control/conquer them/it

1, 2

Yang 19

- It's a question of being constant in your teaching, caring for others, and making sure you get to work, rather than admiring what you've already done

Yin 33

- The advice is to keep negative, or wrong people at a distance by being firm without being harsh, and persisting to accomplish small things

1, 2, 3

Yang 11

- It's question of using the ways of Heaven, and the ways of Earth together to help others. Inferior things will leave, and great things will come, and you'll have success and progress.

Yin 12

- The advice is to withdraw from what's negative, and turn down any rewards, or accolades. Distance yourself from negative, or unworthy people, because great things have left, and lesser things have arrived

1, 2, 3, 4

Yang 34

- It's a question of not doing anything that's improper, or out of line. Persisting will be good for you.

Yin 20

- The advice is to see how things are done elsewhere, and help teach the people you come across. You've prepared yourself to make a sacrifice, but haven't made it yet. Showing your sincerity will win the respect of others.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Yang 43

- It's a question of sharing your blessings with those that don't have as many rather than being complacent or lazy, and speaking your truth, without being contentious.

Yin 23

- The advice is to give to those in lesser positions to reinforce your own. It's not a good idea to make any moves, or start anything

1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Yang 14

- It's a question of putting an end to the bad, encouraging the good, and accepting divine order, and what's fated.

Yin 8

- The advice is to break new ground, and be on good terms with those in helping roles. If you have the right groundwork, and you're persistent, you won't make a mistake. If there's somewhere to go, or something to do, then make it happen, but anyone that's late won't have success

1, 2, 3, 5

Yang 5

- It's a question of biding your time and enjoy yourself as if you had nowhere else to be. Being sincere and persisting will bring success. It'll be a good idea to commit to something new.

Yin 35

- The advice is to display your character, and what you're made of. You're being given gifts and opportunities, and getting multiple meetings with others

1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Yang 9

- It's a question of purifying your character that's visible to the rest of the world. You'll have success, but there might not be anything to show for it yet

Yin 16

- The advice is to express yourself creatively for a higher purpose. Get someone to assist, and put your followers into action

1, 2, 3, 6

Yang 26

- It's a question of learning from the past, whether it's actions, or people that came before you, to build up your character. If you don't rest on your laurels and neglect your duties, good will come. It's good to commit to something

Yin 45

- The advice is to be ready and prepared to defend yourself from anything unexpected that may arise. Meet with someone more capable than you for success. Persistence will help you, as well as making a big sacrifice. It's a good idea to have a destination in mind.

1, 2, 4

Yang 54

- It's a question of looking at the long-lasting and permanent to understand what's fleeting and impermanent. If you're subordinate, trying to make anything happen will be bad for you, and you won't have anything to show for it

Yin 53

- The advice is to maintain your virtue to be a positive influence and example to others. It's good to begin a process of committing to something gradually, and staying persistent

1, 2, 4, 5

Yang 58

- It's a question of opening up to others, communicating, and doing things together. You'll have success, but should persist in a way that's virtuous

Yin 52

- The advice is to stay in the present moment, and don't let your mind stray. Still yourself to the point that you're no longer conscious of your self, and when you go out and do not see anyone else, you won't make a mistake

1, 2, 4, 6

Yang 38

- It's a question of relating to others and accepting your differences, while only seeking success in small things

Yin 39

- The advice is to take a look at your own character and make it more virtuous. Move in the direction of others, rather than the path of isolation. You'll be benefitted if you seek out someone more capable than you. Persisting in this will bring you good results.

1, 2, 4, 5, 6

Yang 10

- It's a question of distinguishing between what's proper and improper to clear things up for others. You're in a dangerous situation, but will manage to not get hurt, and you'll have success

Yin 15

- The advice is to take from where there's a lot to bolster what has too little, to make everything fair. You'll have success, and bring things to a conclusion

1, 2, 5

Yang 60

- It's a question of creating ways to number and measure things, and examine conduct to ensure it's virtuous. Restrictions can help you succeed, but if they're too harsh and uncomfortable they're not going to last.

Yin 56

- The advice is to be wise and cautious in how you enact penalties, while not drawing things out for too long. Persisting in your wandering will bring success in small things

1, 2, 5, 6

Yang 61

- It's a question of giving a lot of thought to what you might do, and delaying putting it into action. Consider the good of all. It benefits you to commit to something new, and persisting.

Yin 62

- The advice is to be extra humble, extra mournful, and extra thrifty. You can have success in small things, but not big things. By avoiding overextending yourself, and instead staying grounded, great things will come

1, 2, 6

Yang 41

- It's a question of controlling your anger, and taming your desires. You'll have much success and won't make a mistake if you're sincere and ethical. Even a modest offering of just a couple of things will suffice.

Yin 31

- The advice is to give others your attention, and be open to welcome them. There will be success, and persistence will benefit the situation. Commit to someone or something for good results

1, 3

Yang 36

- It's a question of managing the groups of people you interact with by censoring yourself, and playing dumb, and persisting to obtain positive results

Yin 6

- The advice is to plan well before you start anything. And cut this short before it goes too far if it looks like it's trouble. It's good to get outside assistance from someone more capable than you, but not a good idea to make a big commitment.

1, 3, 4

Yang 55

- It's a question of making a decision and enact the appropriate penalties. If you act like a leader, you don't have any need for anxiety about something ending, and you'll be a strong example.

Yin 59

- The advice is to make an offering/give something up to establish a connection with something greater than you, transcend the present state, and commit to something new.

1, 3, 4, 5

Yang 49

- It's a question of getting your forecasts in order to clarify what the seasons are and when things will happen. You'll be believed when those things actually happen. By persisting you'll have success, and no regrets.

Yin 4

- The advice is to improve your character by taking decisive action. It's good to ask questions and learn, but don't keep asking the same question expecting a different answer. By persisting with a specific direction in mind, you'll have success.

1, 3, 4, 5, 6

Yang 13

- It's a question of deciding what people and things belong together. It's a good idea to commit to something new, and persist for success.

Yin 7

- The advice is to use discipline to provide for others, and unify them. If you persist, and are mature and experienced, you'll have success, and won't make a mistake

1, 3, 4, 6

Yang 30

- It's a question of making your virtue visible to the entire world, and taking care of your valuable resources to have good results.

Yin 29

- The advice is to maintain your virtue in the presence of danger, and teach others. If you're sincere, and stay confident with your heart set on something, proceeding will be worthwhile

1, 3, 5

Yang 63

- It's a question of thinking about what might go wrong, and prepare for it beforehand. Stay persistent. Even if something is good in the beginning, it might be a mess at the end

Yin 64

- The advice is to be careful, and make sure everything is in its proper place. If you're almost to the end of a mission and fumble it, you won't have anything to show for it

1, 3, 5, 6

Yang 37

- It's a question of speaking with substance, and being consistent. And if you're the weaker party and can't take initiative, persistence will be beneficial.

Yin 40

- The advice is to excuse and forgive, and if there's nowhere to go, turn around and go back, but if there is somewhere else to go, you should hurry up

1, 3, 6

Yang 22

- It's a question of clarifying any incidents that may be in question, but don't try to make any judgements about them. Superficial things have success, and it's favorable to try to do small things

Yin 47

- The advice is to put your life on the line to fulfill your purpose. If you're truly great and persist you'll have success, with no mistakes, but people won't believe your words, only your actions

1, 4

Yang 51

- It's a question of being in fear, and looking inside to try to improve. Something may catch you off-guard but you won't fumble anything.

Yin 57

- The advice is to state your goals and start taking action. Adapt to have some small successes. You should have a goal in mind, and seek out someone more capable than you.

1, 4, 5

Yang 17

- It's a question of following what's natural, and bringing things to a conclusion when it's time to. You'll have great success, and should persist in righteous way and there won't be any blame

Yin 18

- The advice is to inspire others to make them better. Repairing things can be very successful. Commit to something new, and assess the before and after

1, 4, 5, 6

Yang 25

- It's a question of flowing with things, and acting in accordance with the time and season to make sure everything and everyone is supported. If you persist in a proper way you'll have success, but if you act improperly, you'll have problems, and it won't be a good idea to commit to anything

Yin 46

- The advice is to use your virtue to build-up things little by little until they become great. Don't have any anxiety about meeting with someone in a higher position, or someone more capable of you. Going in the direction of new connections will bring success

1, 4, 6

Yang 21

- It's a question of making the right way of doing things clear, as well as the consequences for straying from that. There will be success, and it will be good to ensure things are handled fairly

Yin 48

- The advice is to make others feel good, and encourage them to cooperate. There's a consistent resource here, but if you're not able to tap into it, bad things will happen.

1, 5

Yang 3

- It's a question of turning confusion into something orderly, persisting despite the difficulties, and getting assistance, but not starting anything new.

Yin 50

- The advice is to assume the correct, ethical position to fall in line with your destiny. Doing so will help you make great progress and transform yourself

1, 5, 6

Yang 42

- It's a question of augmenting the good, and decreasing the bad in yourself. It's beneficial to have a goal and commit to something new

Yin 32

- The advice is to be unshakable, and don't stray from the path you're on. You'll make progress if you stay persistent, and have a goal in mind.

1, 6

Yang 27

- It's a question of being careful about what you say, and take into your body, and understanding what you're consuming.

Yin 28

- The advice is to stand alone without fear, and renounce the world without feeling bad about doing so. Make a move because something's gonna give out in the situation.

2

Yang 7

- It's a question of using discipline to provide for others, and unify them. If you persist, and are mature and experienced, you'll have success, and won't make a mistake

Yin 13

- The advice is to decide what people and things belong together. It's a good idea to commit to something new, and persist for success.

2, 3

Yang 46

- It's a question of using your virtue to build-up things little by little until they become great. Don't have any anxiety about meeting with someone in a higher position, or someone more capable of you. Going in the direction of new connections will bring success

Yin 25

- The advice is to flow with things, and act in accordance with the time and season to make sure everything and everyone is supported. If you persist in a proper way you'll have success, but if you act improperly, you'll have problems, and it won't be a good idea to commit to anything

2, 3, 4

Yang 32

- It's a question of being unshakable, and not straying from the path you're on, while staying persistent and keeping a goal in mind

Yin 42

- The advice is to augment the good, and decrease the bad in yourself. It's beneficial to have a goal and commit to something new

2, 3, 4, 5

Yang 28

- It's a question of standing alone without fear, and renouncing the world without feeling bad about doing so. You're making a move because something's gonna give out in the situation.

Yin 27

- The advice is to be careful about what you say, and take into your body, and understanding what you're consuming.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Yang 44

- It's a question of making your orders known to everyone. Someone, or something is strong and you shouldn't commit, because you can't fully control/conquer them/it

Yin 24

- The advice is to allow things to open up, allies to gather, and the cycle to restart. Keeping a goal in mind is a good idea.

2, 3, 4, 6

Yang 50

- It's a question of assuming the correct, ethical position to fall in line with your destiny to make great progress and transform yourself

Yin 3

- The advice is to turn confusion into something orderly, persist despite the difficulties, and get assistance, but don't start anything new.

2, 3, 5

Yang 48

- It's a question of making others feel good, and encouraging them to cooperate. There's a consistent resource here, but if you're not able to tap into it, bad things will happen.

Yin 21

- The advice is to make the right way of doing things clear, as well as the consequences for straying from that. There will be success, and it will be good to ensure things are handled fairly

2, 3, 5, 6

Yang 57

- It's a question of stating your goals and taking action. Adapt to have some small successes. You should have a goal in mind, and seek out someone more capable than you.

Yin 51

- The advice is to look inside yourself and try to improve, despite the fear. Something may catch you off-guard but you won't fumble anything.

2, 3, 6

Yin 18

- It's a question of inspiring others to make them better. Repairing things can be very successful. Commit to something new, and assess the before and after

Yang 17

- The advice is to follow what's natural, and bring things to a conclusion when it's time to. You'll have great success, and should persist in righteous way and there won't be any blame

2, 4

Yang 40

- It's a question of excusing and forgiving things is the right position to hold. If there's nowhere to go, turn around and go back, but if there is somewhere else to go, you should hurry up

Yin 37

- The advice is to speak with substance, and be consistent. If you're the weaker party and can't take initiative, persistence will be beneficial.

2, 4, 5

Yang 47

- It's a question of putting your life on the line to fulfill your purpose. If you're truly great and persist you'll have success, with no mistakes, but people won't believe your words, only your actions

Yin 22

- The advice is to clarify any incidents that may be in question, but don't try to make any judgements about them. Superficial things have success, and it's favorable to try to do small things

2, 4, 5, 6

Yang 6

- It's a question of planning well before you start anything, and cutting things short before they go too far, while not making a big commitment.

Yin 36

- The advice is to manage the groups of people you interact with by censoring yourself, and playing dumb, and persisting to obtain positive results

2, 4, 6

Yang 64

- It's a question of being care, and making sure everything is in its proper place. If you're almost to the end of a mission and fumble it, you won't have anything to show for it

Yin 63

- The advice is to think about what might go wrong, and prepare for it beforehand. Stay persistent. Even if something is good in the beginning, it might be a mess at the end

2, 5

Yang 29

- It's a question of maintaining your virtue in the presence of danger, and teaching others. You're being sincere, and staying confident with your heart set on something.

Yin 30

- The advice is to make your virtue visible to the entire world, and take care of your valuable resources to have good results.

2, 5, 6

Yang 59

- It's a question of making an offering/giving something up to establish a connection with something greater than you, transcend the present state, and commit to something new.

Yin 55

- The advice is to make a decision and enact the appropriate penalties. If you act like a leader, you don't have any need for anxiety about something ending, and you'll be a strong example.

2, 6

Yang 4

- It's a question of improving your character by taking decisive action, and accepting the answers you get when you ask a question.

Yin 49

- The advice is to get your forecasts in order to clarify what the seasons are and when things will happen. You'll be believed when those things actually happen. By persisting you'll have success, and no regrets.

3

Yang 15

- It's a question of taking from where there's a lot to bolster what has too little, to make everything fair. You'll have success, and bring things to a conclusion

Yin 10

- The advice is to distinguish between what's proper and improper to clear things up for others. You're in a dangerous situation, but will manage to not get hurt, and you'll have success

3, 4

Yang 62

- It's a question of being extra humble, extra mournful, and extra thrifty. You can have success in small things, but not big things. By avoiding overextending yourself, and instead staying grounded, great things will come

Yin 61

- The advice is to give a lot of thought to what you might do, and delay putting it into action. Consider the good of all. It benefits you to commit to something new, and persisting.

3, 4, 5

Yang 31

- It's a question of giving others your attention, and being open to welcome them. There will be success, and persistence will benefit the situation. Commit to someone or something for good results

Yin 41

- The advice is to control your anger, and tame your desires. You'll have much success and won't make a mistake if you're sincere and ethical. Even a modest offering of just a couple of things will suffice.

3, 4, 5, 6

Yang 33

- It's a question of keeping negative, or wrong people at a distance by being firm without being harsh, and persisting to accomplish small things

Yin 19

- The advice is to be constant in your teaching, caring for others, and making sure you get to work, rather than admiring what you've already done

3, 4, 6

Yang 56

- It's a question of being wise and cautious in how you enact penalties, and not drawing things out for too long. Persisting in your wandering will bring success in small things

Yin 60

- The advice is to create ways to number and measure things, and examine conduct to ensure it's virtuous. Restrictions can help you succeed, but if they're too harsh and uncomfortable they're not going to last.

3, 5

Yang 39

- It's a question of taking a look at your own character and make it more virtuous. Move in the direction of others, rather than the path of isolation. You'll be benefitted if you seek out someone more capable than you. Persisting in this will bring you good results.

Yin 38

- The advice is in relating to others, accept your differences. You can find success in small things.

3, 5, 6

Yang 53

- It's a question of maintaining your virtue to be a positive influence and example to others. It's good to begin a process of committing to something gradually, and staying persistent

Yin 54

- The advice is to be careful at the beginning, and look at the long-lasting and permanent to understand what's fleeting and impermanent. If you're subordinate, trying to make anything happen will be bad for you, and you won't have anything to show for it

3, 6

Yang 52

- It's a question of staying in the present, and stilling yourself to the point that you're not self-conscious and are unable to see anyone else

Yin 58

- The advice is to open up to others, communicate, and do things together. You'll have success, but should persist in a way that's virtuous

4

Yang 16

- It's a question of expressing yourself creatively for a higher purpose. Get someone to assist, and put your followers into action

Yin 9

- The advice is to purify your character that's visible to the rest of the world. You'll have success, but there might not be anything to show for it yet

4, 5

Yang 45

- It's a question of being ready and prepared to defend yourself from anything unexpected that may arise. Meet with someone more capable than you for success. Persistence will help you, as well as making a big sacrifice. It's a good idea to have a destination in mind.

Yin 26

- The advice is to learn from the past, whether it's actions, or people that came before you, to build up your character. If you don't rest on your laurels and neglect your duties, good will come. It's good to commit to something

4, 5, 6

Yang 12

- It's a question of withdrawing from what's negative, and turning down any rewards, or accolades. You're distancing yourself from negative, or unworthy people, because great things have left, and lesser things have arrived

Yin 11

- The advice is to use the ways of Heaven, and the ways of Earth together to help others. Inferior things will leave, and great things will come, and you'll have success and progress.

4, 6

Yang 35

- It's a question of displaying your character, and what you're made of. You're being given gifts and opportunities, and getting multiple meetings with others

Yin 5

- The advice is to bide your time and enjoy yourself as if you had nowehere else to be. Being sincere and persisting will bring success. It'll be a good idea to commit to something new.

5

Yang 8

- It's a question of breaking new ground, and being on good terms with those in helping roles. If you have the right groundwork, and you're persistent, you won't make a mistake. If there's somewhere to go, or something to do, then make it happen, but anyone that's late won't have success

Yin 14

- The advice is to put an end to the bad, and encourage the good, accepting divine order, and what's fated. You'll have great success

5, 6

Yang 20

- It's a question of seeing how things are done elsewhere, and helping teach the people you come across. You've prepared yourself to make a sacrifice, but haven't made it yet. Showing your sincerity will win the respect of others.

Yin 34

- The advice is to not do anything that's improper, or out of line. Persisting will be good for you.

6

Yang 23

- It's a question of giving to those in lesser positions to reinforce your own. It's not a good idea to make any moves, or start anything

Yin 43

- The advice is to share your blessings with those that don't have as many and renounce them, rather than being complacent or lazy. Speak your truth, but don't be contentious. It will help you to have a goal in mind.