Hexagram 49 Unchanging
When I look at things like the I Ching Reddit board, it takes me back to when clear answers from the I Ching were but a twinkle in my eye.
I see people stuffing multiple questions into one I Ching reading, subsequently getting answers that confuse, and spinning their mental wheels needlessly when it could have been so much more simple.
While I have direct I Ching Horoscopes on Two Dreams, I also have a lot of advanced words about the oracle.
But my purpose for this post is to provide you with a step-by-step framework for skipping the years of frustration and/or toil I experienced while gaining the knowledge I do have about the I Ching.
I hope that the structure and order of these guides and suggestions helps you avoid being someone that puts themselves at the mercy of the expertise and faux-expertise of people that populate I Ching message boards.
With this, I believe you can be mostly self-sufficient. And I wish you nothing less.
Read The Simplest Explanation of The I Ching Post
This post will tell you how the oracle traditionally works, so you have a base of knowledge about the I Ching.
Read And Act on The Making Your Own I Ching Deck Post
As someone that spent years clanging coins together, I can confidently say that using a self-created I Ching card deck has been the fastest, and most satisfying way to consult the oracle.
If you can brush aside the dogma and traditionalists that want to talk your ear off about yarrow stalks, and special coins, I believe you'll find that using cards makes it all a much easier process.
Read The Strategic Divination Addendum Post
Before you formulate a question, check out the ‘Strategic Divination: Addendum’ post and follow my suggested guidelines.
The most important being: do not ask about two things in one oracle reading.
That alone will put you ahead of the majority of people talking about the I Ching on the internet.
Use The Website That Can Tell You Quickly Which Changing Lines You Received
Once you've used your I Ching deck to get an answer, and you've gotten more than one hexagram (indicating that this is not an unchanging reading), go to Russell Cottrell’s site to see what changing lines you've received.
Let's say the two cards you pulled were Hexagram 11 and Hexagram 42: 11 > 42
If you put those two Hexagrams into Russell Cottrell's dropdown menus, you'll see that the changing lines are 11.2.3.5.6 > 42
But I also use transitional lines, which offer you the additional lines of the reading that can give it all more context.
Whether you want to be looking at as many as 11 lines in a reading is ultimately up to you.
As a new diviner, it may be too much.
But, from my experience, they've been helpful in getting me to a more accurate view of a situation/question - answer.
If you do want to use them as I do (and as I use them in this site's horoscopes), you'll see on Cottrell's site that they show the lines (including the transitional lines) as 11.2 > 11.3 > 36.3 > 11.5 > 24.5 > 11.6 > 3.6 > 42
Check Out What Your Reading Says Using The James Legge Translation
Once you know the lines of your reading (or the unchanging hexagram, if you receive that kind of reading), I'd recommend heading over to the James Legge translation of the I Ching.
Read the translations for each line, and if there are changing lines, like you saw in 11 > 42, also read the translation for the general Hexagram, in this case, Hexagram 42.
Interpreting
If I could give you one tip for interpreting, I'd give you one that came up in the above referenced 'Strategic Divination: An Addendum' post: ask yourself "what is this reading not saying?"
As an overall reading, 11 > 42 is "Higher Purpose's Increase."
Then you can look at the translation of each line and do the same thing, in the context of whatever singular question you asked.
I admit, it's not easy to interpret when starting out. The lines tell stories that may have been easier to understand 3000 years ago, but by engaging with the oracle habitually, you come to your own understandings.
So, until I publish a book with my own interpretations of each line and Hexagram of the I Ching, I offer two tips for interpreting more accurately:
- 1) Search For The Experiences Others Have Had With Your Reading/Line(s)/Hexagram(s)
One way you can do this is search your reading on this site.
For example, go into Google and search your reading 11.2.3.5.6 > 42 and see if anything comes up.
I can't guarantee it will, but you might find that in one of my horoscope posts, I received the same reading, which you can read to inform your own interpretation.
A second place to go is the Online Clarity forum https://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/ where many people share their experiences with readings. It's a place that was priceless for me during my early days with the oracle.
- 2) Journal About The Outcomes That Arrive After Your Readings
If you're asking about an important event, come back to your I Ching reading and write down how everything actually turned out.
When you start getting the same line or hexagram in future readings, you can start to see patterns of how they tend to play out in real life.
In my Simplified James Legge translation post, I use my personal titles for each Hexagram.
These titles (and meanings) for all 64 Hexagrams took me a very long time to understand, so learn from my toil, and start from a more experienced place than I started from.
Final Thoughts
Everything that preceded this will put you far ahead of others that are less focused and strategic in their divination.
With all of this, you can find yourself with fulfilling readings using the I Ching.
And when you're ready, you can take a look at something like the original 'Strategic Divination' post that goes into greater depth.
But, no matter what direction you choose, I hope that you come to appreciate the wisdom you can glean from the I Ching just as much as I do.
Maybe one day it won't stand in the shadow of the Tarot. One can hope at least.