What is divination for?

[hilary]

Letting in the divine - I think.
Yet I've asked the I Ching for advice on totally mundane things, like marketing or house-buying. It's always practical and down-to-earth, of course, but I find it also keeps reminding me that spiritual life is not shut off in a little compartment all its own.
But I wonder... if someone divines about stock market trading (it's been done successfully with the I Ching!) are they making trading a part of their spiritual life? or degrading divination?

[dharma]

Hopefully yes, to the first question and couldn't possibly, to the second.

Remember, we are spiritual beings having a life experience. Our experiences are the stories we participate in and stock market trading is just one more tale in the greater story that we all are involved in.

How can anyone decide that one story is better, more ethical, more fun etc. than another? To label the simple and everyday stuff of living as 'right' or 'wrong' is just a limiting way of experiencing life.

And as for degrading divination--divination is the act of questioning the Universe about a matter and listening for the answer. How can the search for an answer to a question ever be construed as 'wrong' or 'degrading'? It simply IS--again, how can one label these things? http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/i_ching_discussion/clipart/happy.gif

[hilary]

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/i_ching_discussion/clipart/happy.gif http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/i_ching_discussion/clipart/happy.gif

[hilary]

Thanks, Pam. I see exactly what you mean about trading, and agree wholeheartedly. (I was just tossing provocative ideas about in my initial post, not personal remarks!) I think a lot depends on the qualities of the person asking the questions. I have a feeling that I personally could easily get too caught up in readings about money, so I'll leave them be for the present. Maybe in another 20 years or so, as you suggest!

Personal motives - and the effect on the querant of asking - has to be vastly more important than subject matter. (Come to think of it...)

Just one thing, though. I think that if you read carefully through this forum, you won't find anyone setting out to use the I Ching to seduce someone away from his commitments. You will find very unhappy people, very much in love but absolutely determined not to harm anyone. Sometimes it is very hard for them to realise that what they want is an impossibility, that someone somewhere is bound to be hurt. The I Ching, it seems to me, answers compassionately and truthfully, and without moral condemnation. People do not maliciously set out to fall in love and become intensely miserable in impossible situations.

Enough from me. Off the soap-box, Hilary, and do something useful for a change http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

It's good to have you around to talk some sense into me about money - thank you http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/i_ching_discussion/clipart/happy.gif

[kim]

I was very impressed with the i-ching, although i read tarot among other things, so i hope this disscussion is not limited to just the i-ching. I am new to the i-ching, but i do readings for others, for free, because my main agenda is spiritual counseling, so to speak. And i find alot of low income ppl who need me. And its incredible how much you can help a person, by focusing on where they need the advice, and no question is a waste of time, as long as it makes the persons day better or helps them along the road of life. I use divination for my own advice, mundane things also, but is that so wrong? As for seducing someone commited to another, HOW? That dumbfounded me. Divination is not spells or anything, its simply guidence, and you said you wished more ppl could see the i-ching the way you do, and not use it for their own agenda? Well, i really mean no offense, but asking for help with more money is less important than someone asking if they will find love? especially if they are lonely? Sure you can use it to better yourself, but do not down those who want to know more mundane questions about life-- because in the end it is all about love and feelings, not money and more money.Can you use money in the afterlife? Will money make my husband love me more? will more money Keep my kids off drugs? I wish. I find low income ppl generally do not ask about money-- they are more concerned with other "mundane" things. Funny huh? Mabye because they have learned that money is seperate from happines, because they don't have much of it anyway. Thats one to think about. I have used divination for finding out which way to go for more income-- but i never look down on another for what is important to them. To think that using the i-ching for finantial purposes makes you supierior to someone with a "mundane " question about love, life, or whatever, then you do not live by the book, i don't beleive divination is something different than the i-ching book you live by, although i am not sure as i am new to the i-ching. But you really ought to think on that a little deeper, and i hope you dont take this as an insult, because it is not ment as one, because the only thing i dissagree with is the pedestal you put yourself on. Step back and take another look, you might be surprised.You used the word humble, mabye think about why someone might want to know something unimportant to you-- mabye its very important to them?? Thanks for letting me get involved in this disscussion. Any imput back on this is apprieciated, and if i am wrong in any way, please let me know. I have learned the most in life by listening to others dissagree with something, and sharing their own thoughts and beliefs. love and light, Kim Murray