Throwing the coins:how do you do it?

[denv12]

I'm interested in how everyone else throws the coins.I guess we all have our own unique technique.Here's how I do it and(note)it feels right for me.

I think of a question.I write down my question.Then,I grab the coins and put them in my hands.Whilst thinking of the question I shake the coins.I repeat the question over until the coins have settled.That means that the coins are no longer turning from side to side.Then I drop them onto the table.

[nicky_p]

Hi denv

the way you throw sounds really similar to the way that I throw. I've got a book that I write all my q's in so before I throw I write it down in there. Then I turn the book upside down and put 6 dots down the page for my 6 throws. I don't know why I turn the book upside down still - when I first started consulting the I Ching I would write the hex down wrong eg
1st Line
2nd Line
3rd Line
etc

It was really wierd; I freaked myself out cos every answer I got said 'you've made a mistake' or 'consult the oracle again' and I kept thinging 'omg, i've done something wrong in my relationship' or something like that. It wasn't til I re-read the introduction that I realised that the I Ching was saying: 'no, you're asking me the wrong way!!'

Anyhow, I digress http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

I put my coins in between both hands and shake 'em asking my question. Then I let go. Every time I throw for the next line I still ask my question in full before I let go. Otherwise I get worried that my mind is wandering and jumping ahead asking other questions (I have a tendancy!)http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

I write down how the coins fall then turn the book right way round and work it all out.

The only problem I find sometimes is that I throw onto my coffee table and if I'm feeling a little agitated they bounce! I've spent a little time on my knees with my head on the floor looking for a coin under the sofa! But that's probably a good thing because the buddhist in me will say - 'you want this answer <u>too</u> much! Calm down'

That said - sometimes I do vary the way I throw - adds to the randomness!

Love
Nicky
xx

[matt]

lol Nicky, thats genius http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

[nicky_p]

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/messages/48/6016.gif

[nicky_p]

Don't have coins to hand. http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

[matt]

I can imagine a situation now... You enthusiastically throw the coins, they take an unexpected bounce, 2 of them land in clear view, but the third one rolls and rolls and rolls... finding its way between the tiniest crack in the skirting board. You pick the first two coins up and mentally note the side they fell on, and venture to retrieve the third coin - its important, the question is pressing, the wisdom is within my grasp!!! Not quite, after spending a good 20 minutes trying to fish the coin out from the skirting board crack, you eventually decided you do not have the ability to morph your fingers into new thinner shapes. So you grab a variety of fishing untensils to aid the recovery of the coin, you can see it now, glistening, sparkling, winking at you. You strip down a steel coathanger and try hooking it out - no luck. Then you try flicking it with tweezers and spinning it with twigs you had found in the garden 30 minutes earlier. It has now been 2 hours, your determination is admirable, your patience is waning however!!

You have an epiphany - to suck the coin close towards you using your new super-duper vacuuj cleaner. But first, you need to change the bag, its hasnt been changed for a while, so you pull the bag out and it splits all over the floor. You spend the next 25 minutes cleaning the mess whilst cursing under your breathe. Your curses are interspersed with sneezes, your allergic to too much dust. Finally the mess is clean and you extend the nozzel down to the skirting board, gently inching it closer and closer.... WHAM - THRUUUUKKK - KAPLOMP! Ah... Hmmm...

So you take the vacuum apart again, you manage to find the positive side - the bag is fresh, so the coin will be the only thing in there! You manage a smile, its close now, its so close. It doesnt matter that the coin may have changed face inside the vacuum, you see this as fate, and whichever face you see when you open the bag, that will be the face to complete the line!!
Tails!!! Its a Tails!!! Success!!! You allow yourself a grand sigh of satisfaction and slide back onto the sofa, surveying the array of utensils that have accumulated near the skirting board. Then a realisation strikes you like a lightening bolt, a pang of terror chrusn in your stomach... 'Oh my God' you say 'What the buggar were the other two coins saying??? Heads or Tails?'. Its been 3 hours and 21 minutes since you had thrown them, and your mental faculties had melted away in the effort to recover the third coin, you simply could not remember how they fell...

Terror turned into resignation and then resignation turned into anger, in a flash you impulsively hurl the coins across the room and fold your arms huffing loudly. You sit there for a good 3 minutes... before you slowly get up to see how they've landed... The beauty of divination http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

[nicky_p]

OMG!!! Matt has all-seeing abilities!!!

Have you been watching me?

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/messages/48/6019.gif

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/lol.gif

[void]

LOL..er Nicky what do you mean you 'would write hexagram down wrong eg 1st line 2nd line 3rd line etc ' Thats the way I always do it, whats wrong about it ? You start line 1 and work to line 6 don't you, phew don't tell me thats wrong ? And why would you have the book upside down ?

[matt]

haha thats the genius bit - turning the book upside down, its fantastic!!

Nicky, dont worry, Im sure you are more organised with your divination http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif It was more like a storyline from "Mr Bean Does IChing"

Void, I think Nicky meant she would write it down likes this..

1st line
2nd line
3rd line
4th line
5th line
6th line

So her hexagram would actually be upside down, but it wouldnt matter if you actually read the book upside down http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

It should rather be..

6th line
5th line
4th line
3rd line
2nd line
1st line

Starting from the bottom upwards. Void, even if you did it wrong, I'm sure the IChing would have accounted for this, so its okay.

[bradford_h]

Don't they always say when you get a hexagram
to write it down? Saw a write up on that once.

[peace]

I don't use a book.
I throw the coins as Matt said above:

First Hexagram Second Hexagram
(if changes)
6th X 6th
5th 5th
4th 4th
3rd 3rd
2nd X 2nd
1st line 1st line

I put an "X" where the line changes and then write the new hexagram next to it.

I look at the book later.

I'm not sure about what you mean by turning the book upside down??????

Rosalie

[bruce]

"Don't they always say when you get a hexagram to write it down?"

Only if you turn the bottom of the book up. Ask Nicky.

Such creativity!

[nicky_p]

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/blush.gif

"Mr Bean Does IChing" - sounds about right actually but do you think I could be 'miss'? http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

My nickname in a place i used to work was 'twonk' - I was a waitress and always doing things slightly wrong but never catastrophically. Think I'm just a little odd!

Love
Nicky
xx

[nicky_p]

Have just realised reading back through that I might have confused people and they might now be experiencing the panic that I did when the I ching was telling me that I was getting it wrong.

The book I turn upside down is the book i'm writing in - not my I ching book. So when I throw I write <u>down</u> what I get (a la Brad &amp; Bruce http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif) eg (randomly - lets not break a habit of a lifetime! http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif)

2h1t - 8 = - -
1t2h - 8 = - -
3h - 9 = -o-
2t1h - 7 = ---
3t - 6 = -x-
2t1h - 7 = ---

I then turn my book the right way round to read :
http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/h56.gif

I didn't want anyone to be worrying because of my weirdness http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/blush.gif

Love
Nicky
xx

[bruce]

Erm, I think the answer comes out the same if you turn either the book or writing paper, as long as you don't turn them both. But if you do turn them both, you could stand on your head to see it correctly. Unfortunately holding it up to a mirror doesn't change anything except left to right, even if the mirror is upside down.

[bradford_h]

There's no confusion in the Chinese text.
The sixth or last line there is either Shang Liu or Shang Jiu - TOP six or TOP nine.

Just to confuse everyone, for a long time, when folks stated to write hexagrams in binary, they were getting it wrong though. Whole books were wrong. The Wanderer should be written 001101, bottom line written first, at the left. Digit numerals come from the West so the fact that the Chinese wrote top to bottom, right to left didn't mean anything.

[void]

Thanks Matt you make things clear. I mean they were already perfectly clear and had been for many years until Nicky came along talking of upside down books http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/rofl.gif

Me I put the first line I throw down first as line 1, like Matt did as follows

line 6
line 5
line 4
line 3
line 2
line 1

This thread is very funny.

[nicky_p]

Dear Bruce,

I've just realised that if you hold the mirror at the top (or bottom!) of the hex it works!! May have to integrate that! http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/rofl.gif And i did have to crick my neck a little to read what hex I had written earlier. Have got a laptop but I have all sorts of wires attached to it - harder to rotate!

Dear Bradford,

I'm glad it's not just me!! I know what you mean about the binary. When I search for my hex in your pdf i search using binary. I have to rotate my book a quarter for that.

xx

[nicky_p]

Sorry Void http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/blush.gif
xx

[void]

Rosalie Nicky meant the book she records her answers in being upside down, I assume, not her copy of Wilhelm etc lol lol,

Its strange though I always feel I have to have a copy of the I Ching in front of me when I consult, which isn't strictly necessary as I know the hexes and lines off by heart - so if I was away from home I could cast the coins and know the answer - and yet it really doesn't feel right without a book. Am wondering if this is just me ? Do others cast with no book as Rosalie does ?

[bruce]

ahh, creative mirror placement! That's true, Nicky. Completely missed that. What do you do if you get hex. 1 or 2 though?

[nicky_p]

I have a little inner smile to myself and spin http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/spin.gif cos nothing matters - it's all the same - like a circle.

Love
Nicky
xx

[denv12]

Hi Nicky.Love your reply.You brightened up my day.

I set up my 3 x I Ching books on the dining table and the folder I write things in so thats about half the table covered where coins arent likely to need a search and rescue helicopter to find them.

I repeat the question over until the coins are settled then I drop them about a few inches above the table.(without a glow in the dark life jacket).

I do hate it when the coins land so close to each other that working out which one is the next can really sh*t me off.

I just look at the coins and grab one book,find the hexagram and read up,noting where the odd coin (the one thats not like the others)lands.

Thank you to everyone else for contributing.And,I really didnt think anyone would reply.

Chris.

Chris.

[peace]

Hey guys -

You are all very weird - but you sure can do graphics!

Void - I have my entire dining room table covered with I Ching books and notes.

I have my "meditation" room upstairs - so I toss upstairs and read downstairs.
I have a one page chart upstairs so I can figure out what the hexagram number is.
I have the hexagram numbers memorized - but not the lines.
After I get the hexagram numbers, I write a couple of sentences (based on intuition) what I think it means.

Then....I go downstairs and do the heavy lifting!

(I know,...too much information).

Hey Nicky.....maybe if I stand on my head, I'll get better results!

Rosalie

[matt]

Rosalie, I like the idea of writing down intuitive thoughts http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

My method if I divine:-

I use only 1 coin, throwing it a total of 18 times, noting the lines in my head - I never wirte it down. And then I just sit and let it mingle in my mind for a bit - most of the time I wont use the book.

Alternatively, I can pace up and down furiously in short circles.

[void]

Eh ? Chris please tell me what you mean when you say you hate it when coins land close to each other as you can't work out which is next ? There is no next in the 3 coin method, it doesn't matter how they fall, you are just looking for heads/tails or whatever. You must be using a different system ?

Matt I thought you had a preference for household appliances to toss ? Now you say you throw one coin 18 times ?? Why ?

Rosalie I think the people here are weirder than I ever imagined http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/crazy.gif

[nicky_p]

And I thought it was just me.....

I was wondering if Matt could explain whether there was a difference between short circles and long ones? My mind is convoluting itself trying to imagine http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

Love
Nicky
xx

[matt]

lol tossing household appliances would be fun http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif
1 coin is simple, Im a simple man. Or maybe a simpleton... hmm..

[matt]

Well, a long circle would take 5 minutes or longer to complete a full revolution. In the extreme measures, imagine Phileas Fogg, he took 80 days to complete his circle. I don't have that much time to pace upon an I Ching reading however, so.. a small circle could be defined by the amount of time it takes to walk around the living room. And the repeat the circular motion until visible signs of carpet-wearage start appearing. If your lucky, you can get some good answers to your questions - and if your not so lucky, then you have had a good work out and you can sit down and rest, contented and relaxed.

[nicky_p]

Atually there is a thing i do which i wonder whether i should if that makes sense?

Sometimes, when I'm a little pressed for time I'll ask a yes/no question.

I'll only throw 1 line -
a yang line means yes
a yin line means no
a moving yang line means maybe yes
a moving yin line means maybe no

If i get a yes/no answer I will proceed but if I get a moving line I'll take the indication of what kind of track I'm going on and change accordingly then ask again. Either that or I'll move to a full reading where I ask something along the lines of 'what do i need to know' or 'please could you advise me of what do do'

Does anyone else do anything like that? I hope I'm not being disrespectful in doing it.

Love
Nicky
xx

[nicky_p]

Hi Matt,

Maybe you could start weaving round the room in an s-shape? That way when seen from a bird's eye view:

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/messages/48/6028.gif

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

xx

[matt]

No, thats okay Nicky, Ive done that a few times before. Although, more often than not I will complete the reading out of curiosity.

[matt]

Thats a fantastic idea! I shall now re-structure my strolling patterns.

[nicky_p]

The reason I ask is because it seems a little reminiscent of 'The Dice Man' (which I haven't read but really want to) where this bloke makes all of his decisions based on the roll of a die. I think I'm OK because if the answer I recieve is different from what I'm thinking then I'll do a reading to try and understand why.

I think the paranoia is deffinitely setting in! Even the voices in my head have stopped talking to me!! http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

love
Nicky
xx

[matt]

Nicky, you would be surprised at how many 'Dice People' there are in the world. Whether it be religion, politics or football. But divinations biggest danger is in its microscopic nature. I mean, religion, politics and football urge people to follow values, principles, manifestos, policies, teams etc. Its a broader scope, but these values still infiltrate themselves into the finer parts of our lives.

But divination, whether it be by means of astrology, tarot or indeed I Ching, will affect our every day decisions that shape our values in life. Some people will use the I Ching to align themselves with Tao or 'the flow' of the universe, and they will surrender themselves to the hands of external forces. Of course, they will tell themselves that they follow internal forces, because their I Ching answers are ruminated on inside their minds and hearts, yet this rumination is a product of an external soruce. And the paradox is that in surrendering our own inner power to divination, we can numb our intuition, so it sits silently inside of us, purely because we have transferred out intuitive powers to an external source - the book now makes our decisions. The book now tells us 'the path' we should take. The book now shapes our lives.

When I first starting getting quite heavily into the I Ching, my mum actually became quite worried about me. She said I was losing myself in it. She was right, for a time, I used the book as a way of 'choosing the right path'. I would consult the I Ching many times during a day to make decisions. I had surrendered my own inner voice to an external voice instead. However... I think this process HAS to happen at some point. We need this loss of self, so we can find it again. I would tell my mum that she had no need to worry, I told her I was not using the I Ching as a substitute for my own intuition, instead I was using it as a builder of inner power. I first had to relinquish myself in order to find myself.

It was a tricky road to travel though, because when you relinquish yourself, you are effectively walking 'blind' on a road with many obstacles. Its easy to trip and fall, and the book was used to avoid those falls, to steer me. Then as my exhaustion began to grow, I let myself fall. I actually threw my I Ching book away, and I didnt consult it or think about it for years. I knew it was time to start taking a few falls instead of trying to avoid them. Sometimes we have to delude ourselves in order to see ourselves better - hex 2 - "Beforehand delusion, afterwards acquiring".

Divination treads a very fine line, but its a great and magnificent line to tread because its filled with challenge. The 'Dice Men' of this world will gain many insights about life, about the patterns of nature and the universe. But the best ever decision a 'dice man' can make, is when he throws out his hand and lets go, and never seeks to grasp tightly again. He realises the dice are inside of him, they were there all along. I used to be a dice man, full blooded. But now, Im more of a part-timer, with the aim of giving up my dice completely... one day.

[nicky_p]

Hi Matt,

I think I understand. That's why I think I'm OK. (i think therefore i am? Here's hoping http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif)

I guess that's why if I ask a question and don't recieve the answer I was expecting according my personal values then I seek understanding - either by reading more discussions of the hex I've thrown or by asking something along the lines of 'what need am I trying to fulfil by acting in this way' and then 'how do i go about fulfilling it?'. However, it creates a kind of paradox in me. I studied Buddhism at school and really liked it so large parts of it form the way that I am.

Attempting to live my Middle Way and be without desire says that I should let go so to speak and just trust. But what you say rings true as well - hence the 'Dice Man' worry. I worry that I'll end up relinquishing the responsibility of my actions to .... well, I don't know. Blind belief? And belief in what - myself or something higher?

Also, it makes me wonder whether there is a distinction between 'the' tao and 'my' tao if that makes sense? The 'external' and 'internal'. We don't all walk the same path at the end of the day but we can go in the same direction.

So, I think that I'm OK as long as I keep asking 'why' and seeking understanding... But the seeking is where the paradox comes in - because to seek is to desire.

I know I'm going round in circles! I'm hoping it's a spiral - it'll bring me to the end eventually http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

I like the idea of giving up the dice completely. To be able to trust my judgement - to know which voice in my head to listen to. (It's a good job I did psychology as a minor to my degree for a little while otherwise this talk of voices could really start to worry me http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif) The way I'm looking at it at the mo is that there must be a nugget of intuition inside of me otherwise why would I stop to ask in the first place. The problem is it's stuggling against my compulsive desire to act. Sometimes the intuition and the desire point in similar directions and it's hard to distinguish between them if you get my meaning.

Hope I haven't freaked anybody out too much with the inner ramblings of my mind. It's kind of gone off the track of the way you throw you're coins hasn't it?

Love
Nicky
xx

[matt]

Nicky, the things you said made perfect sense.

Divination is a wondrous thing if you think about it. People who choose to divine are doing so because they want to grow as people, learn more about others and themselves, learn about the universe and their relation to the universe. Its a very self-conscious act, requiring courage, depth and self-belief. Great qualities to possess.

But your right, it is such a paradox!!

The paradox comes from the journey. The divining journey helps us know ourselves better, and its actually an intuition builder, not destroyer. But then when we have attained a certain level of understanding, the journey seems to throw down the ultimate paradox - to let go.

Hmm there are apes running around on television. And they are wearing clothes and hats.

[bruce]

It seems a shame (to me) for a 20-something year old to forgo desire. The effects of convoluted repression have a way of reforming and reappearing in some frightening and unhealthy ways. To develop a keen sense of discernment seems far more useful to living a refined and fulfilled life. There are always exceptions, of course - some are born to be celibate monks and live a life of meditation - but if it is forced, a person risks a greater disillusionment than they would by coming to terms with their drives wisely, on a more desire-friendly basis.

[nicky_p]

Not desire in a celibate way http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

That would be like not eating - it's a basic human need I think. Of course you can exist without - living on a drip instead or something - but that would be just it - existing not living

I've probably used the wrong word to describe it.

I was taught in my Buddhism that there are 4 Noble truths.

1. There is dukkha - loosely translated as suffering
2. Dukkha has a cause - tanha (what I'm trying to explain - not very well!)
3. There is a freedom from tanha - nirvana
4. The way to achieve nirvana is through the eightfold path.

Tanha literally means 'thirst' apparently but I also remember it being described to me as 'attachment' or 'clinging'.

It's like when you have a pleasurable experience -you can spoil it because you try to grab onto it or posses it instead of experience it.

It draws a lot of parallels with tao for me. Living in the present. My time <u>now</u>.

I don't know if I've explained it right - perhaps Bradford could help me out? I seem to remember from his website that he's researching Buddhism at the moment and he's much more articulate than I am.

Love
Nicky
xx

[nicky_p]

I've just realised - now rhymes with tao

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

xx

[bruce]

Hi Nicky,

I hope I wasn?t being meddlesome. It was an off-the-cuff thought, literally on my way out the door, and while the thought was sparked by the friendly banter between you and Matt, I didn?t intend to point it at you. Sorry if sounded that way.

Your point is well taken, and to me it sounds like a nice balance, the way you explained it.

I?m familiar with the eight-fold path, and have friends and a birth-son who practice it. As with all spiritual concepts which have a foundation, it works according to principles and order. Buddhism is no different in that way. How precepts are followed and lived is where the variables on both sides of the spectrum become so different. One lives Dharma by how one interprets Dharma, and like I-Ching, that can vary widely. One holds to the letter of the law, the other holds to the spirit of the law. Most hold somewhere in-between. Just an observation ? consider them ramblings: those who hold tightly to letter of the way become slave to the letter. Those who live fluidly within the spirit of the way, live freely in the way.

Maybe it's all how you throw (and read) the coins? http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/proud.gif

[nicky_p]

Dear Bruce,

I wouln't go so far as to say that you were meddlesome! I will admit that I thought the '20-something year old' was reference to me but I thought 'I can take this 1 of 2 ways':

- that you were seriously concerned about me supressing my desires and causing myself serious mental anguish - after all I had been talking about voices in my head http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

- that you were teasing

- somewhere in the middle

Love
Nicky
xx

[nicky_p]

Then I realised that that made 3 ways!!

And I wonder why I am so readily teased http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

Love
Nicky
xx

[bruce]

Well, I was speaking of you, knowing you're in your twenties, but not intending to tell you how you "should" be. Yeah, somewhere in the middle is probably most correct. Teased, prolly cuz you're fun and not soooo serious. http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/angry.gif
http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/biggrin.gif

[nicky_p]

Aww Bruce,

Thank you

Life's too short to be serious all the time. There's a song on the radio at the moment:

'You can get delerious if you take life too serious!'

Can't believe I'm quoting Chico's lyrics on here!

Love
Nicky
xx

[bruce]

A little Chico never hurt. I had a church pastor friend who once told me, Bruce, what we need in this parking lot are more pickup trucks with beer cans in the back. I agreed. A well's water shouldn't be too sterile.

I realized that there was also someone else in my mind when I wrote the 20-ish post. There's a young Chinese woman I talk with occasionally, who is going through something of a metamorphosis. Part of her is drawn to 'the spiritual life', and the other part wants to go out and take on the world. So that was rattling around in my head together with the lovely dialogue between Matt and yourself. Youth is so freakin cool to observe. So honest and unencumbered.

[peace]

Hey Bruce -
You're sounding like an old man!

Rosalie

[bruce]

Rosalie, I'll have to get with my image consultant on that. A nip here and tuck there.. will be good as new.

To be candid, I don't know how old I feel. I know I love to see new things growing, old forms shedding, and life emerging. I know I'm a fool to be so outspoken, as it always invites opposition and most often criticism. I should know better. Guess it's the kid in me.

[matt]

Bruce, too much Chico can hurt, believe me!!!!!

First your eyes hurt watching him, then your belly hurts from laughing so much at him, then your ears hurt as the song goes into the 3rd minute... http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

[lightangel]

There is your controversy! To Chico or not to Chico!! http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/crazy.gif

You don't sound old, you sound wise! I am even willing to believe that Matt, who is wise for his years.. might be displaying a little youthfulness here in his condemnation of Chico! http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/biggrin.gif

[nicky_p]

Oh no! I've created a monster!

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/lol.gif

Now you know my secret shame http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/blush.gif

xx

[bruce]

Boompa! http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/paperbag.gif

Reminds me a little of Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, post Velvet Underground.

[matt]

Imagine a Turkish goat farmer performing Prince songs... whilst continually grabbing his crotch, and shouting 'Its Chico time!!" - And then you have the image of Chico. Oh no.. did I make him sound appealing?

I actually like him in a wacky, fun way. He made me laugh hysterically a few times.

[bruce]

Well gee I'ya never really listened to a Turkish goat before. But I do love Prince... amazing musician. What is it with pop/rock stars and their obsession with their crotches?

[matt]

Its because they get their musical energy from deep down below Bruce.

[matt]

Thats why they hold the cello and double bass between their legs. And thats why a good singer doesnt sing from their throat, they sing from their crotch. In fact, Elvis even went one step better - he sang from his knees. Genius.

[bruce]

oooooohh

no wonder

well, never too late to try.

[nicky_p]

You boys and you're 'down below' energy!

It gets used as an explanation for a multitude of sins!

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif

[jte]

Getting back to the original topic for a moment :-) Chris, this is how I do it...

1. Sit or lie down with paper and Yi books in front of me.

2. Clear my mind of surface thoughts.

3. Optionally, reflect for a while on the circumstances surrounding the topic I'm going to ask about.

4. Ask question aloud.

5. Begin tossing coins (I use the 3-coin method pretty much exclusively).

6. Record my answer 1 line at a time.

So, there's my take - simple no? FYI, Steve Marshall has some introductory material on his site that also covers this topic, you might check it out at http://www.biroco.com/yijing/basics.htm.

All the best,

- Jeff

[lightangel]

I wonder how Chico tosses his coins.. http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/spin.gif
Is he a turkish goat farmer? He might as well be because my investigations have yielded no result: my kids don't know who Chico is!!

[nicky_p]

OK, I'll add further to my shame!!

Here's a post for you to see him in all his glory for yourselves!

http://www.sonybmgmusic.co.uk/

I hope he provides you with as much amusement as he is over here!!

xx

[lightangel]

Lol!! Thank you Nicky.. he is funny..

[denv12]

In answer to VOID's question regards what did I refer to as "next"?.What I am refering to is this,after I throw the coins I am looking for heads and tails.I try to keep them in the order in which they landed.If a coin lands side by side to another,for example,if 2 coins land side by side and one coin lands as heads and the other lands as tails but they are alongside each other I want to make sure that I dont change that sequence.If I did it would change the number of the hexagram.

I use the 6 coin method as per the Sorrell's book.It just feels right for me.And,I use the Karcher books.

[matt]

I hope we havent started the Chico fanclub!

[nicky_p]

Hi

I never really understood the 6 coin method so I thought I'd have a little look at it.

I don't know if I understand it now really. Does every hexagram have a moving line then?

Hey Matt http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

I think we may have http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/wink.gif
If he breaks America I think we should ask for royalities!

Love
Nicky
xx

[matt]

If he breaks America, then we have our proof that miracles do indeed exist http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

[lightangel]

True.. I'm not thoroughly convinced that he's a better singer than Matt.. http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/messages/48/6038.gif .. even without knowing how bad Matt is.. http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/spin.gif

[void]

Chris, I see where you're coming from now as I just checked out the six coin method in the Sorrells book. I never heard of it before, I have always used the 3 coin method Jeff described above. I throw 3 coins six times, 2heads and one tail is a yin, 2 tails and one head is a yang, 3 tails is an old yin (changing line) and 3 tails is an old yang (changing line).

Some people do it the other way I think where they take 2 heads and one tail as a yang. I think it does not matter too much as long as you stick to the same values each time ?

I would recommend you ditch the 6 coin method as it seems it will not give you as good a reading as the 3 coin. Reason being it seems if you use the 6 coin method :

a) you always have one changing line
b) you never receive an unchanging hexagram
c)seems like you have to piddle about lining up coins in order. With 3 coin method you just chuck them down all at once.

Thus you would get quite limited answers. I can't see why the Sorrells thought this a good method to use, but they must have had their reasons I guess. Unless I'm missing something this is quite a peculiar system isn't it ? Does anyone else here use it ?

Chris have you found you are satisfied with the answers you get with this method ?

[micheline]

HI Void, Although formal readers may disagree, I think the six coin method is really good for quick throws, esp when nervous or preoccupied. YOu don't have time to think and angst as when you throw 3 coins six time, and it is surprising how adept you can get at throwing coins into a line with practice.

It is not an indepth reading and I wouldnt use it myself for serious questioning, serious matters when i want a full picture, but it is great for simple quick throws which need to be done in a hurry...I've used it in situations like :

what if I try this new hairstylist?
What do I need to know about this idea? (at work)
Why is this person late for our appointment?

the sorrells never seem to use relating hexagrams either.

Personally, I use the I ching for many many situations and I am not always looking for an indepth understanding, just a very quick summary of the situation. The 6 coin method has never proven inaccurate for these...in fact sometimes this quick throw is MORE helpful. it is very synchronistic.

JMO

[micheline]

to the person who emailed me yesterday: I couldnot reach you back..! but I do agree and I got that message also! thanks for affirming it! M