Computer Generated

[hope]

I've read here once someone commenting on using the computer to generate divination from I-Ching but I couldn't find the thread.

Can anyone point me to the thread? If not, is there any difference if I use the coins physically or use the program set up by Hilary under the Free online I-ching.

Peace to all and thankyou

 

[heylise]

Hi Hope,

I remember a thread about it, but don't know which one. You can search (see at left, date/keyword search).

My personal experience is, that the computer gives me better answers. As if I personally have no control over how the toss is made. Maybe one's subconscious can make the coins fall a little bit differently? No idea.

Maybe for people who need to concentrate, or meditate, it is different. I hardly have to, I only have to 'know' the question. Not even in words, knowing my feelings about it is enough.

LiSe

 

[rosada]

I find that while the first toss or two may be terrifically insightful using the computer, I quickly start getting answers that make no sence at all. Perhaps because I need to meditate more on the answer given, before asking other questions - just as is advised in hexagram 4.

 

[cguleff]

Hope,

My experience is similar to Heylise's. When I do readings for others, the physical coins work fine, but when I do my own readings, the computer generated readings work better.

When I handle the coins, I keep watching the sequence of lines and which ones are changing, trying to anticipate the shape of the reading before it's done. Sometimes I react emotionally before all the coins have been tossed and I've had a chance to read the text and commentaries.

When dealing with the intuitional arts, individuality is important. What works for one person does not work for another. For example, I have a friend who does not respond to or like I Ching readings. He cannot grasp the applicability of the answers. He prefers readings I do with playing cards -- they give him more concrete answers that he can understand. (I'm not skilled with card readings. I started doing them only out of curiosity.) I've even done parallel readings using both the I Ching and the cards, and though both readings say the same thing, he brushes off the I Ching reading and focuses on the message of the cards.

It sounds like you're doing some good exploration and thinking about the I Ching, Hope. You've asked some good questions on this website.

Thanx,
Chris

 

[frederick]

Hope:-

I'm a semi-retired computer programmer, a musician/composer, a soft erotic fiction writer, a male, my girlfriend likes to walk around my house naked, and I'm also American...
The combination of these factors brings my Yi Ching attention span down to somewhere around 37.5 seconds.
I tried to time it once, but I got distracted...

To shake coins, let alone draw sticks, for me, can sometimes be a fool's game. I'll be thinking of anything but the question by the third line. Also, as Chris said, I run stats on the build up as the Hex materializes (I can't help it and don't want to); if this bends the result, I don't know...
Whatever, I find the automated, computer generated readings work very well.

I've been using a throughly antiquated(sp?) program called "The Multimedia I-Ching" (Priceton Teaching Associates Software) for close to a decade, which won't run under Win XT - I must reboot into "unsafe mode".

I place my cursor over the coins, close my eyes, direct my will to the south no matter which way I'm facing, click once to get the coins spinning, take in a breath, silently repeat my question, click again to stop them, and the response is presented to me in an easy to research WB transliteration.

This occurs in about the same amount of time it took you to read the above paragraph.

I then cross-reference Legge, Wing, Coates, and anyone else I can find in the local area; blending them with my own experence.

I get extremely accurate results every time; but, I know this works for me.
And if I didn't have my Vaio and had to throw coins with pencil and paper, I know it would still work just as well...
uh... probably...

Each to their own; go with what you know and the Yi will accomodate.

Peace back at 'ya and much love:-

Freddy

 

[yuanqi]

Hello,

I believe that the I ching talks to us each differently, I had down a reading today and then for the heck of it I did it onlline and got the same Hexagrams!

So it can work in many ways...I would of never thought it would be possible..

 

[pargenton]

Hi all,
This link can be useful as it explains the difference between computer generated pseudo-random numbers and true random numbers.
It is also the reason why some people (including myself) are suspicious with regard to standard Yi computer programs (i.e. without a true random numbers generator).

http://www.fourmilab.ch/hotbits/

Peace
Paolo

 

[ewald]

Any decent random number generator uses a so-called "seed" to start the process of generating random numbers. The seed is something random from another source as the generator itself, usually the computer time.
So in most cases, the results from computer generated readings are perfectly fine.

I've had feedback from one user on my site who found that she didn't get random readings, as they seemed to repeat themselves. It turned out that this had to do with the browser she was using (Safari), that had a bug that made it not apply a seed (which I corrected with some extra code).