Curious what other do...

[Kimberloucha]

Greetings,
I am just learning the I-Ching and I am trying to find ways to journal my readings that would make it easy to document and track my readings. I would like to be able to go back and write about how a reading turned out as well.
I am not a big fan of using the computer to document and would prefer handwritten.
Anyone have any tricks or suggestions that they use to keep track of their readings.
Thank you

 

[bradford]

I use this journalling software. It's free to download and print out.
http://www.hermetica.info/Journal.jpg

 

[Trojina]

Greetings,
I am just learning the I-Ching and I am trying to find ways to journal my readings that would make it easy to document and track my readings. I would like to be able to go back and write about how a reading turned out as well.
I am not a big fan of using the computer to document and would prefer handwritten.
Anyone have any tricks or suggestions that they use to keep track of their readings.
Thank you

you will naturally remember readings if you think about them and associate them to your life situations. The more abstractly you take your answers I think the less likley you are to remember them...so tie the experience in with the reading. I can't help but do that...if I think of 46.3 for example I automatically see myself standing outside of a closed classroom door, no classes on...Yi had said 46.3 ha ! I guess I remember it because the experience stuck in my mind together with the reading. That said naturally many will be forgotten. Afterall we wouldn't want to carry all of em in our heads, it would get heavy For some reason some stay with me, some don't. That's where the computer journal is handy though it is excessively tedious entering them onto computer and they can always be lost on computer too.


Anytime someone asks this question Brad posts a link to a piece of paper, I've seen this before

 

[meng]

IC journal: clean piece of copy paper, folded in half and laid to the left of the keyboard (I write lefty). I designate current or memorable ones, in case I want to refer to them, but only until all four sections are filled with numbers and some references to questions, I throw it out, and start again with a fresh sheet. I'll remember what I need to if I'm paying attention by the end of each sheet. I really dislike clutter and needless stacks of paper; even unused files on my computer go away.

 

[Kimberloucha]

Thanks bradford!

 

[Kimberloucha]

thank you trojan,
remembering and relating is where I am stuck. I will try to form an image in my mind and see if that helps. I do love paper.

 

[Kimberloucha]

I'll remember what I need to if I'm paying attention by the end of each sheet. I really dislike clutter and needless stacks of paper; even unused files on my computer go away.

I agree with clutter. I would like to keep everything in one book since I will not be carrying my desktop with me. Thank you for your tip. I will test that out.

 

[Trojina]

oh I forgot to say I usually put all my casts in my big diary where I also have 'to do' lists, shopping lists, reflections, dreams, ideas, feelings, thoughts, poems and everything else.....so the hexagrams nestle in amongst

milk
tea
eggs
bread

or

put bins out
clean bathroom
phone Fred

'dancing is poetry with arms and legs'

.....and so on. I reckon having the answers nestling amongst all that make them nestle in my mind too. I envisage my diary as a big nest, lots of bits of straw and fabric and feathers I bring back to it. I hate the clinical feel of recording online in a journal as I
also like to doodle around the to do list and the Yi's answers and just make a big mess really....but a mess where I know more or less where tings are...hehe I mean 'things' but the diary is a ting of time. Also software to record with seems less private for some reason

 

[bradford]

One bit of advice would be to log the question carefully, word-for-word, before tossing the coins. It's a good habit to learn to take care with your questions. Then at a minimum, logging the resulting figures. That doesn't take up much space. Then it might be helpful to go back later and see how well different translations and commentaries fared.

 

[Kimberloucha]

oh I forgot to say I usually put all my casts in my big diary where I also have 'to do' lists, shopping lists, reflections, dreams, ideas, feelings, thoughts, poems and everything else.....so the hexagrams nestle in amongst

milk
tea
eggs
bread

or

put bins out
clean bathroom
phone Fred

'dancing is poetry with arms and legs'

.....and so on. I reckon having the answers nestling amongst all that make them nestle in my mind too. I envisage my diary as a big nest, lots of bits of straw and fabric and feathers I bring back to it. I hate the clinical feel of recording online in a journal as I
also like to doodle around the to do list and the Yi's answers and just make a big mess really....but a mess where I know more or less where tings are...hehe I mean 'things' but the diary is a ting of time. Also software to record with seems less private for some reason

I like this idea quite a bit. I think I will try this. I like the idea of having everything together in one spot. I do like the organization of software but it is too sterile. I like the idea of comparing it to a 'nest'.
Thank you.

 

[Kimberloucha]

One bit of advice would be to log the question carefully, word-for-word, before tossing the coins. It's a good habit to learn to take care with your questions. Then at a minimum, logging the resulting figures. That doesn't take up much space. Then it might be helpful to go back later and see how well different translations and commentaries fared.

Thank you, I do this currently. And all I have is the question and the hexagram with the name and number. Where I am lacking is my initial thoughts or reactions. And then no place for what's happened later. Maybe that is not as important at this stage.

 

[meng]

I agree with clutter. I would like to keep everything in one book since I will not be carrying my desktop with me. Thank you for your tip. I will test that out.

chuckling.. I was being self-effacing. It's utter chaos, there is no system. The only order is the crisp white sheet of folded paper. If someone found a well preserved sheet a couple thousand years from now, they'd probably read all sorts of meaning into it.

 

[Kimberloucha]

chuckling.. I was being self-effacing. It's utter chaos, there is no system. The only order is the crisp white sheet of folded paper. If someone found a well preserved sheet a couple thousand years from now, they'd probably read all sorts of meaning into it.

hehe. This will make me question the seriousness that many people have with "old" things being important.

 

[meng]

hehe. This will make me question the seriousness that many people have with "old" things being important.

And rightfully so.

We humans have a habit of letting go, and then looking back, then longing again. then going back. Then letting go, then looking back...on and on.

Naturally I respect the practice of record keeping, I'm just poor at it. It feels unnatural, or maybe that part of my brain is underdeveloped. Or, maybe I just need a secretary, oh..ahem, I mean, an administrative assistant. Miss X, read back to me the early reading on May 23rd, 2012, please, then gather my notes on...oh? You don't keep notes either?

 

[rosada]

I write the notes right in borders of my I Ching book. They're brief and sometimes when i see them again I don't even remember what I was referring to but it's worked out better than logging on the computer or having a dozen half started journals...

 

[Kimberloucha]

having a dozen half started journals...

This is my problem exactly. I have been trying to keep journals for 25 years and I think I have only filled 4 the rest I start and give up or start to dislike them or things change so much for me that I don't want to carry around old stuff. I am going to try not to stress this time around.

 

[Kimberloucha]

And rightfully so.

We humans have a habit of letting go, and then looking back, then longing again. then going back. Then letting go, then looking back...on and on.

Naturally I respect the practice of record keeping, I'm just poor at it. It feels unnatural, or maybe that part of my brain is underdeveloped. Or, maybe I just need a secretary, oh..ahem, I mean, an administrative assistant. Miss X, read back to me the early reading on May 23rd, 2012, please, then gather my notes on...oh? You don't keep notes either?

I am a record keeper just not an organized one and then I get sick of all the clutter and I throw everything away. Sorta defeats the purpose of keeping a record.

 

[meng]

Ah, so you use the meng system of chaotic order too! There is order in most areas of my life. I keep every receipt emailed by bill category, always current, usually pay early... mainly because I so dislike the feeling of unfinished obligations looming over me. When working, I do the most difficult or dreadful things first, to get them out of the way. But for some reason, Yi reading record keeping never appealed to me, though I did keep notes for years, and my first W/B looked like a Pentecostal's King James, with every sentence highlighted and notes written all over the pages' borders. Then I tore it up and threw it away. Needed a crisp, new, white sheet to start fresh with.

 

[meng]

On the more imaginary side, there's a bit of residual vibe from every reading recorded, and carrying that around would hold onto a lot of karmic type energy, I would think.

 

[Kimberloucha]

On the more imaginary side, there's a bit of residual vibe from every reading recorded, and carrying that around would hold onto a lot of karmic type energy, I would think.

I never thought of it that way but it makes sense. Not sure I want all that following me around.

 

[meng]

I never thought of it that way but it makes sense. Not sure I want all that following me around.

Or, how 'bout a friend asks, hey, what's that you're carrying, around there? and you answer, "oh, it's just 28 years of me."

My record is me, just without many references, especially not glowing ones. As though they don't exist, and neither do I. Yet this form of me has a mind of its own. It thinks it runs the Empire.

 

[Kimberloucha]

Exactly!!! (to all above statements)