Beginners' room

[heylise]

The name of hexagram 11, Tai, is the name of one of the 5 sacred mountains. For the ancient Zhou-people, the people of king Wen, it was the most important one, because they lived close to Mount Tai.

The character has at the top ?big?. It looks like a man bragging about how big the fish was, but probably it was just a drawing of a big man. Below the man are two hands, raised in devotion. And finally a drawing of ?water?, a meandering river with the streaming water indicated.
Water is ?shui?, like in FengShui: wind-and-water, the art of making or finding a place with good living conditions. The trigram ?water? is called different, it has the name of hexagram 29, Kan, and that means pit, but Kan has as most important attribute water.

Mountains usually have fertile valleys at their foot. They gather water, which gives a constant supply, they make the clouds ascend, and release the rain by cooling off. They cause both heat and coldness to be less severe. So mountains are symbols of the blessings from heaven. Go to the mountain and ask for favors, and there is a good chance he will grant them.

TAI: Grand, great, eminent, supreme, excessive, arrogant, spread out and reach everywhere, quiet, ease, good luck, effortless, honorable, prosperous, too much, exaggerated, lofty.

Hexagram 12, pi, is composed of a mouth below, and at the top a little sprout which cannot get through the earth, or maybe it has been cut off. Its meaning: no or not. Together with the mouth: to say no, to deny.
PI: go against, oppose (heaven?s will), bad, obstruct, wicked, evil, clogged, stopped, to deny, no, not.

It is the opposite of Tai, but another very old meaning was quite different: grand, vast, receive with respect, good, serious, concur with orders. Maybe this is when one says no oneself at the right moment.

LiSe

 

[geene]

looking for advice or even someone to practice Tai Chi according to I-ching with. My e-mail is geenebradlee@yahoo.com

 

[gene]

Geene

William Chen has classes in New York. He teaches yang style and was a student of Chen Man Ching. He also has a website though I don't recall the URL right off hand. He may not be willing to teach you directly but one of his top students might.

Gene

 

[candid]

*checks in to see it vacant... dusts a few cobwebs out of the corners... strolls back out*

 

[lindsay]

Question: Do the circumstances of a reading affect its outcome? Specifically, does the Yi require divination be done in certain circumstances to give an accurate answer?

Case: I live and work in the city. Most of the day I am surrounded by people, some I know and most I do not know. The other day I did a reading during my lunch period in a crowded and bustling restaurant. A stranger, a very young woman, asked permission to sit at my table in the middle of my divination. Of course I agreed. The circumstances for divination were not ideal, but I had no other opportunity that day. She pretended not to watch, but I found it difficult to concentrate on the question as I cast the hexagram.

To be honest, I have never found the circumstances of a reading made much difference. I have done readings in deep meditation and I have done them on the run in the middle of a crowd. One can be alone anywhere. The Yi always seems to answer the question whether you are able to keep it sharply in focus or not.

Some people say a good, valid reading requires the focused attention of the querent bending all her mental energy into the question. In fact, some people recommend doing divination in a state of meditation or trance, where one becomes fully associated with the question itself.

In my case, although I wrote the question down and tried to concentrate, my thoughts were scattered. I felt self-conscious and my attention was divided. The result was a reading that seemed incredible. I cast Hexagram 1 unchanging for a simple question looking forward to Sunday?s chat appointment. Ridiculous.

So I wonder how important the conditions of a reading really are? Can bad conditions yield bad results? This is not a question of sincerity (I was sincere) ? but of opportunity. Should one wait to divine under ?suitable? conditions, or go ahead as the opportunity presents itself? If the Yi requires certain conditions for divination, is that not a limitation? How can it help in times of need, messy, tumultuous times when one cannot focus on anything? When a lover leaves or a loved one dies or one?s life falls apart ? this is not a time for focused attention. Even joyful occasions flood the mind with emotion and turmoil.

What do you think?

Lindsay

 

[heylise]

Lots of emotion and turmoil, like you described, are in my experience a very good occasion for asking a question. No need to ask it with the right words, it is asking itself. When you really need an answer, the circumstances are not very important.

But a question which is not pressed by your emotions needs ?circumstances?, a ritual, quietness, the right words, your attention, all these things many think are absolutely necessary. If your emotions are not all over the place, you need at least your thinking to be focused.

Hex.1 unchanging looks as if the YiJing simply opened the first page and said ?well, here I am, where do we start??. But another possibility might be: hex.1 is only yang, and pure yang is like war. Aggressive, on its own, unyielding. Maybe telling you that in these circumstances a question was only possible by being extremely yang, warding off every outer influence?

LiSe

 

[hilary]

I think the conditions are not so important, provided you are clear on some level what you're asking about. If you are really brought to consult for some reason deeper than the question you manage to ask, don't expect Yi to take too much notice of your pretext for opening the conversation. (Voice of personal experience here!)

I don't think this was a 'dud' answer - I think it must have been about something else.

 

[candid]

I liken Yi divination to prayer. There's no bad time to pray, and sometime amidst turmoil the prayer is more intense and penetrating. Consequently, the answer also appears more direct, possibly due to an increased sense of urgency, awareness and receptivity.

I believe the term psychotacy applies (though I'm unsure of the correct spelling). A condition of fight or flight response where relevant input is amplified and irrelevant input is blocked out, such as when narrowly escaping a car accident or being confronted with extreme sudden danger.

 

[gene]

Mander

I would recommend you study the material in the Wilhelm Baynes version of the I Ching first. It will give you info on how the lines relate to one another and how to interpret them etc. It would be hard for me to say much here because it is such a deep subject.

Gene

 

[martin]

Hello Anonymous,

6 and 7 form an interesting contrast.
In 7 there is often a lot of insecurity, not knowing what to do.
Hence a longing for guidance and leadership. And a willingness to listen to leaders.
But in 6 there is rather to much leadership. It may very well be that others who are supposed to lead you are too authoritarian.

So, I think "authority" and how to deal with is one of the issues here.
Yes, "a lot of standing up for one's position" is probably part of the game.
If you don't like that, don't take the job, I would say.
On the other hand, there is of course something to learn here. As always.
You might take the job and see it as an interesting exercise. It's up to you.

Hope this makes sense,

Martin

 

[mst]

Hi,

I am attending my second interview for a new job, I asked the question, what will I need to do to get this job, the result Hex 22 changing at 4.

Having looked at a few translations, I can only interpret the reading like so:

To forge ahead, be yourself, by not being yourself, I will only fool people for a limited time, be graceful.

Once changed to Hex 30 the feeling I get is one that to become great, one will have to keep aware and look for opportunities, or otherwise bad luck will be the result.

Can anyone add anymore to this? I would be very greatful.

Thanks

Mander

 

[frandoch]

Hi Mander,

An additional perspextive on Hex 30.

Outer World: You have the opportunity to bring benefits to everyone, including yourself, if you combine your abilities with the attribute of integrity. You must always maintain an understanding that your ability to shine is dependent on your adherence to the highest principles. This means that you should always be aware that it is not you, or your ego, which is responsible for success, but your higher self in conjunction with the Higher Powers. Such humility and gratitude is the result of following the Sage, as is the success that following this path will produce.

Michael F.

 

[mst]

Hi,

I've been posting questions around a specific job I have been investigating, I have now been to the second interview and waiting on a response. I have raised the question- what is the outcome of my second interview? being a novice, I'm not sure how to relate this hexagram, mainly as there are many changing lines. The Hex 47, changing lines 2,4,5,6. Can anyone provide any support please...

Many thanks

Mander

 

[mst]

Hi Eve,

Re 34 - I hope this helps - 34 is displaying flexibility, to cope with any form of challenge, you must remain agile and flexible, to become strong and invulnerable is to be rigid, square and not flexible. It appears a great form of power is building up, coming out of retirement is another thought to consider,it could be the relationship is now coming out of retirement and issues are surfacing that may indicate the time for you to be flexible enabling you to cope. I hope this helps..I am quite new to the IChing so if this helps -great, if not, please accept my apologies.

Thanks

Mander

 

[martin]

Hi Eve,

22 to 20 somehow feels softer and more subtle than 62 to 34, your earlier reading.
If every line of 34 changes you get 20. So, these two hexagrams are opposites, or complements, however one wants to call it.
As if something has changed in the mean time. Less tension, more peace, more inwardness?

22, grace, beautiful form, charming behavior maybe, fine, but the most important thing is inner quality, sincerity of feeling, which doesn't always manifest itself in outer splendor.
Sometimes (as in line 5) the roll of silk (a traditional gift in ancient china) is small and yet there is good fortune in the end.

While 34 (the background in the earlier reading) may indicate a tendency to force things 20 just watches and lets it happen. As if there is more trust now.

Just some thoughts ...

Martin

 

[eve]

thank you Martin, you might be right, I'll chew on it-trust- grrrrrrrrrrrr


eve.

 

[mst]

test

 

[mst]

Hi there,

I am now in my fourth week in my new job, on the third day my manager had told the whole team that she would be moving on and she leaves this Friday.

Now my concern has been that I am some what tripping over myself slightly, this new role requires alot of education, I feel that I am learning loads, but contributing very little. I am having difficulties in keeping focussed. Last week was the hardest week to date, and I felt that both my manager and I were indirectly in competition with each other, I started to feel stressed and now Monday, i'm off sick, this is not a good start, so I felt it was time for some help, I asked the question what actions should I take to ensure I secure this job..I got 59..not changing

Can anyone guide me on what actions or thoughts this may bring.


Thanks

MST

 

[chrislofting]

Hi Mst,

You wrote:
> I am now in my fourth week in my new job, on the third day
> my manager had told the whole team that she would be moving
> on and she leaves this Friday.
>
> Now my concern has been that I am some what tripping over
> myself slightly, this new role requires alot of education, I
> feel that I am learning loads, but contributing very little.
> I am having difficulties in keeping focussed. Last week was
> the hardest week to date, and I felt that both my manager
> and I were indirectly in competition with each other, I
> started to feel stressed and now Monday, i'm off sick, this
> is not a good start, so I felt it was time for some help, I
> asked the question what actions should I take to ensure I
> secure this job..I got 59..not changing
>
> Can anyone guide me on what actions or thoughts this may
> bring.
>
>

from as generic perspective:

59 : "HUAN : scatter clouds or crowds; break up obstacles; dispel illusions, fears and suspicions; clear up misunderstandings; dissolve, evaporate, disintegrate, fade, vanish; fog lifting or clearing away."

Getting a hexagram NOT changing is rare (64 in 4096 = 1 in 64). It can be interpreted as not positive in that the IC is about change. But it can also be interpreted as a 'pure' archetypal situation. The suggestion is a need to dispell all illusions, be clear in expressing any problems etc etc and so 'clear the air', otherwise the 'fog' just gets thicker and you start to bump into things, tread on toes, etc etc and that will just feed your anxiety ;-)

The generic properties of hexagram 59 reflect the mixing of the generic properties of hexagram 29 with the generic properties of hexagram 60. This is a combination of a focus on containment/control (29) together with a focus on standardisations (60) and is reflected in the general focus of dispelling illusions.

In pairings:

In the binary sequence hexagram 59 pairs with hexagram 29.
The overall focus in this pair is on some form of perceived clarity, be it through social acts in the form of rote learning etc (29) or else the act of dispelling illusions (59). Overall, hexagram 29 has focus on integration (and so a comment on the dangers of rote learning etc) whereas hexagram 59 focuses on differentiations, on a particular 'fact' that emerges once the 'fog' has cleared.

In the binary sequence hexagram 59 opposes hexagram 55.
Just as 59 reflects the dispelling of illusions through clearing things away, so 55 reflects the development through excessive growth.

At the LOCAL level we are dealing with an octet of hexagrams with WATER as base. The association is between 40 and 59 where the exaggerated sense of loosening structure is reflected in a more balanced format through the dispelling of illusions.

In the traditional sequence hexagram 59 pairs with hexagram 60.
This pairing reflects an overall focus on issues of establishing 'clarity', be it through the imposition of standards (60), or the active dispelling of illusions (59).

In the traditional sequence hexagram 59 opposes hexagram 06.
This pairing from the traditional sequence reflects the total focus in hexagram 59 on dispelling all illusions as compared to the need to compromise (hexagram 06).

Hope this gives you a better grasp of what 59 is about ;-)

Chris.

 

[mst]

Hi Chris,

A very comprehensive reply-thanks I think I can grasp some of this but not all, in particular, as my manager is leaving this week, I would of felt it was better to let the situation ride rather than trying to clear the air as she will be going in four days. The pairings confuse me, why when the hexagram is static do we compare ..you can tell i'm new

thanks again

MST

 

[chrislofting]

Mst

you wrote:
> Hi Chris,
>
> A very comprehensive reply-thanks I think I can grasp some
> of this but not all, in particular, as my manager is leaving
> this week, I would of felt it was better to let the
> situation ride rather than trying to clear the air as she
> will be going in four days.

the interaction is not just with your manager, it is with the whole context and so witnesses to the current situation. 'They' will remain such that any action or non-action performed now will 'colour' their interpretations of you in general.

If dont want to 'clear the air' with your current manager you may want to 'clear the air' with the witnesses of the current interactions in that false impressions can be created that may be hard to remove later. In any new position it is often useful to nip possible 'false' interpretations in the bud - all of that 'first impressions' stuff ;-)

> The pairings confuse me, why
> when the hexagram is static do we compare

we dont. The pairing data just reflects more information about 59 through analysis of interactions with other hexagrams. IOW I gave you more information about the archetype that is 59. You wont find that data in the current texts available in bookshops - although Cleary did some pair analysis in his "Buddhist I Ching" and Karcher has done some in his "Total I Ching" but both, IMHO, are 'weak' in that neither of them have focused on the methodology we use as a species to derive meaning (see below).

There are two tables you can use off my website:

http://pages.prodigy.net/lofting/table.html - gives access to my basic interpretations of the I Ching hexagrams. You can ignore the information you dont understand in that my perspective is not to focus on the I Ching as a 10th century BC text but to include the last 3000+ years of our developing an understanding of what is behind the I Ching and our derivation of meaning in general and so develop a 21st century AD I Ching ;-)

http://pages.prodigy.net/lofting/icpoints.html - gives access to my pairing data in analysis of the I Ching hexagram - and will also soon give generic interpretations of all possible 63 line change patterns per hexagram.

Once you pick a hexagram, be it from the interpretation page or the pairing page, you can flip from one page to the other for that hexagram by clicking on the hexagram image.

...and in passing dont forget the proactive Quick IC page - http://pages.prodigy.net/lofting/lofting/proact3.html

...and the affirmations page - http://pages.prodigy.net/lofting/icproact.html

...and a focus on interpretations of IC lines etc - http://pages.prodigy.net/lofting/linecomms.html

have fun! ;-) - there is a LOT more in the IC than is usually presented!

> ..you can tell i'm
> new [

]
>

no problem. Most of my material is 'new' as well so many 'traditionalists' dont get it or dont like it, but then the proof is in the eating ;-) - the IC is, for me, a specialisation of a generalisation that is sourced at the level of our species-nature - see IDM (http://pages.prodigy.net/lofting/idm001.html ) - wherever you see 'differentiate' replace it with 'yang', wherever you see 'integrate' replace it with 'yin'. I know the IC pretty well as a result of the IDM analysis but I am not a 'guru' re traditional line comment texts etc - too local, too dependent on 10th century BC thinking, thinking that still reflects the GENERIC elements of our species-nature and so we can find modern-day analogies to the local interpretations.

Chris.

 

[mst]

Thanks Chris...lots to absorb, I have been back to your comments numerous times, still trying to digest them

I will need to focus on talking to a number of people when i'm back, we have the leaving bash this Friday, where the MD will also be present, so I guess alot of people to meet and to change their thoughts of me, just out of interest before I wrote this one, I asked what is a happening to me got 15 changing to 2, this made some sense
When 2 is talking about DAO, eminent - expansion Harvest - determination of a mare
The noble one proceeds probing As pioneer he meets with confusion, in the rear he finds a master
Harvest: in the Southwest finding friends (or money), in the Northeast losing friends
A determination of peace: auspicious. The line that really struck out at me was:


For solving things, to seek a solution is usually not the best option. Dissolution works better.

Does this mean one should find and answer through being dissolutioned?

Cheers

MST

 

[chrislofting]

HI Mst,

you wrote:
>
> Thanks Chris...lots to absord, I have been back to your
> comments numerous times, still trying to digest them[

] I
> will need to focus on talking to a number of people when i'm
> back, we have the leaving bash this Friday, where the MD
> will also be present, so I guess alot of people to meet and
> to change their thoughts of me, just out of interest before
> I wrote this one, I asked what is a happening to me got 15
> changing to 2,

hmm... hexagram 15 is about levelling-out, avoid exaggerations, reduce the highs, fill in the lows:

"CH'IEN : think and speak of yourself in a modest way; respectful, unassuming, retiring, unobtrusive; yielding, compliant, reverent, lowly. The ideogram: words and unite, keeping words close to the underlaying facts."ERANOS p223

If we interpret 15 as the archetype expression and 02 as the 'distortion' so the warning here is to not get too carried away in the process of 'keeping words close to the underlaying facts' etc, not to be too 'devotional' to this action.

In the ICPlus, 15/3 is ""Distinguishing oneself and yet remaining modest attracts the respect and support of others rather than their envy. This enables one to complete many things."

Note that 02 reflects (besides total darkness)issues of devotion in another/others, total trust where the focus is on integrating with the context (the 'others') - something reflected in the line comment with the emphasis on remaining 'modest' in this process and so a form of warning ;-))

02 overall reflects integration with the context and so the ability to 'blend in', to dissapear, to not 'stick out' - reflecting the focus on following rather than leading ;-) (in human emotions it maps to fear. we resolve fear issues by security in numbers, integrating with the context etc that can be driven to be a devotion to someone/something, blending in - expressed in nature through the use of camouflage, through freezing, playing dead and overall on 'dissapearing' into the general. Proactively the focus of asserting identity is through someone/something, be it guru, church, football team, club, family etc etc)

Chris.

 

[heylise]

"For solving things, to seek a solution is usually not the best option. Dissolution works better".

All the lines of hex.59 are saying that taking measures - strong, or focused, or sensible, or preconceived - is not the best thing to do. Line 1: don't aim too high (stay in your own truth, 61), line 2: look if any opportunity opens up (20, contemplate), line 3: move like the wind, flowing around objects, able to pass through the most narrow apertures (57), line 4: keep your group/mind/actions open, free from restrictions, and thus free from opposition (6, contention), line 5: trust providence (4, ignorance, childlike openness), line 6: do not fix your emotions in yourself, let them flow like water (29, repeating danger).
This is the dissolution. Not to pin down a problem, but to live, and let living take care of it. If you are open and positive, true to yourself and true to others, then the whole problem will solve itself.

Usually it is in relations very difficult to "make" an image of yourself for them. That ends up in a mask. But being open and confident makes a strong impression. When you trust yourself, others will think you are obviously trustworthy. Love yourself, they will love you. Be open, and they will open up too. As soon as anyone feels you are afraid of something, or being too careful in what you do, they will come to the conclusion that there must be a reason for it.

The ideogram of 59 is water and a man in (or at the entrance of) a cave or pit, with a stick and looking around sharply. When the Yi was made, there were still many people living in caves or pits. It was often a cause for severe quarrels, especially when the weather was cold or bad during a long time. The only way to live together like that, was to relax as much as possible. Forget imago's, grudges, wishes for the time being, just behave as easy as you can. The space is too narrow for sulutions, just try to dissolve everything, which is hard and sharp.

LiSe

 

[mst]

Thanks Chris and Lise, this will help me loads, we had a meeting today, they are restructuring the departments, so it is time for this advice to kick in....

Thanks once agin, this is great feedback.


Mander

 

[alvaro]

hi everyone!

i'm new to the i ching consultation. actually, i started to read some oriental philosophy, and i came tangentially interested in this book.

i must admit i'm quite skeptical, but since a few "serious" philosopers considered the i ching a "serious" book i decided i should give it a chance, even though i believe i'm still very much interested in the wisdom that's inside, not only in the divinatory part (wrong discussion group?

Hope not!).

The thing is that the idea of synchronicity, linked together with the ideas of kharma, and dharma sound quite interesting.

i started to read the book, and asked a few questions. in some cases the answers made sense, in others the answers were rather obscure. i guess i must get used to the language and style yet.

now the question... after you get the first hexagram, which other ones do you consider?

should you take the second hexagram (the one you get after the first line modifications) as a future situation?

what's the meaning of the internal hexagram (lines 234 345)?

what are the meanings of the previous and next hexagrams?

can you relate the different hexs to different time points? or situations (previous ideas, actions, outcome, etc)?

this is for not saying anything on the multiple changing lines! (still haven't studied that section!)

hope you can get me out of this confusion!!!

all the best!

alvaro in uruguay

 

[Sparhawk]

Que tal paisano?!!

Well, this is a real surprise! Is the world becoming smaller by the minute or what?

Although I've been living in the U.S. for more than 17 years I am from Montevideo myself.

First I must say that you came to the right place to discuss your concerns about the Yi. This is a fine group of people and very dedicated to its study.

Regarding your message, it is OK to be skeptical at first. My approach was very playful at the beginning too (some thirty years ago). The Yi, however, always find ways to smack you in the forehead...

Even those obscure answers you are getting will become clear in your mind if you keep meditating about them.

<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

now the question... after you get the first hexagram, which other ones do you consider?

should you take the second hexagram (the one you get after the first line modifications) as a future situation?

what's the meaning of the internal hexagram (lines 234 345)?

what are the meanings of the previous and next hexagrams?

can you relate the different hexs to different time points? or situations (previous ideas, actions, outcome, etc)?

this is for not saying anything on the multiple changing lines! (still haven't studied that section!)<!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

I will try to answer some of these questions, the way I see them (some other fellow list members may have other opinions about them but my way has worked for me)

First, if you receive an hexagram with changing lines, regardless of what the lines are, this hexagram is your MAIN answer. What applies to your question in the present. This is synchronicity at its finest. In my case, I pay attention to the Judgement, the Image and the lines (but only to the changing lines of the original hexagram)

Second, the hexagram created by the changing lines of the original is usually seen as a complement of the first. How you use this complement is pretty much up to you. Regarding time frames, the first hexagram could be seen as the present and the second as a future event or perhaps the way the situation may develop once the recommended steps from the first are taken (or it could also be interpreted as a consequence of not following them if the second seems to contradict the first)

Third, the study of what Wilhelm calls the "Nuclear Hexagram" or the "Nuclear Trigrams", lines 234-345, is a little more complicated and needs some serious study of the Pa Kua (Eight Trigrams family). In short, regarding your question, it deals with the internal tensions of the hexagrams' components (i.e. filial relationships between the trigrams, moving direction tendencies, etc.) Quite a bit to memorize but on the other hand, once you memorize them, is there for you to use in your interpretations.

My advise on this is for you to keep asking questions. The Yi and its answers will become clearer in your mind with serious use and study. Don't despair if you cannot understand something. Sleep on an answer for a couple of nights and many times, after a few days, you will say: "Aha! This is what the Yi was trying to tell me"

I hope I didn't confuse you more...

All the best y nos vemos!

Luis

 

[hilary]

Hello Alvaro, and welcome!

If you are just starting, I would suggest not to drive yourself mad looking at every possible hexagram etc. It's more important to get a conversation going. Many people have a wonderful relationship with Yi (the I Ching) without ever bothering with all the 'extras' - they just find them stifling. Personally, I love them, which is why you will find opposites, contrasts, nuclears etc all over this website!

By the way, I am very impressed that you're sceptical, and you have asked some questions! Not many people manage both.

So, about your questions...

The second hexagram is a possible future, yes. More to the point, it's often what the situation is pulled towards in the present moment. Why is it pulled that way? Often because it represents what you are focussing on, one way or another.

The internal/ nuclear hexagram is like the main hexagram's 'seed'. It might emerge from it as something you need to look at in practice... it might not. It might a hidden danger, a hidden possibility, even hidden purpose. This one is definitely on the 'optional extras' list, however.

The previous hexagram in the sequence (starting from #3) is just what comes before. Maybe what led up to the present situation, maybe something you have to master and understand in order to be in harmony with it. The next hexagram in the sequence can't tell you nearly so much, because what you are looking at in a reading are the possibilities of change: it's not about running along the same tracks, like a train.

Time in the Yi, IMHO, tends to be subjective: it talks more about the sequence of personal change than about calendars, I think. For previous ideas and actions - look at the previous hexagram... for possible outcomes or turning points, look at the moving lines as well as the second hexagram...

And if you do receive multiple changing lines, just forget that people fuss about them, and read it as if a good friend were talking to you. You might just find you understand it all perfectly.

 

[alvaro]

Thanks for the helpful answers!

Regarding the skepticism... Let me drop a bomb. What if the messages we get from the I Ching were wroten ambiguosly on purpose, so they can be a tool for personal research?

This is my approach to the Yi for the moment...

Still, I don't want to reject (that's a too strong word!) the divinatory part.

Hope I'm not offending anyone.

Thanks again.

Alvaro

 

[heylise]

"What if the messages we get from the I Ching were wroten ambiguously on purpose, so they can be a tool for personal research?"

Personally that is exactly how I think they were written. An exact answer would not serve any purpose. It is not good to be told what to do, or what will happen. It is good to receive an ambiguous answer so your own intuition gets triggered. Because your own intuition is the only tool which can tell you the right path for you.
The Yi is a tool for personal research, AND a divinatory tool, AND a tool for clarifying a situation. Because it is all the same thing.

LiSe