Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).
I sometimes make a note or two about the circumstances to remind myself later.
Hi, Just wondering whether others would be willing to share their advice, guidance, and suggestions for best practices. I know any form of journaling is quite personal, but just interested in those who have systems for journaling yi replies that would like to share them with the rest of us.
- Digital vs. Paper Methods
- What to do for Easy Retrieval
- Journaling the Yi for readings for others vs for yourself
- Journaling Yi within a Journal...does it work?
- Categorization by Hexagram?
- ETC
Thanks,
Modest Learner
I must vanquish the past to move forward. My 'method' is a sheet of paper which is covered with readings numbers, very little order to it, other than some mark of distinction so I could return to it later. But their shelf life is usually no more than 24 hours, 3 days, tops. So they just fill up the sheet. Then I flip it over usually and do the same to the other side. Then I throw it away and get a fresh sheet. For me, it's always been this way. I've had software to track readings, that I felt were about as useless as tits on a bull.
I think we start to remember what relates to our impacted moments after a few hundred times. It's like crossing a stream on the dry rocks: it's probably a little different each time you cross. But then, there is no crossing; it seems one moment I am here, the next I am there. I'm talking about my own personal readings, not trying to interpret for another, which I'm tentative about usually, more so now than ever. The looking glass is multifaceted, and another's delicate circumstances surrounding their question deserve my respect.
As far as I am concerned my castings resist all such 'methods' and categorisation...they just don't like it. I've tried but it just doesn't work...because for me it just doesn't work like that.
(. . .) but the castings are alongside shopping lists, and to do lists, rants, doodles and other rubbish.
Its all a bit like compost ...the readings are all part of the compost, and its organic compost too...you can't compartmentalise compost really, it would belike trying to compartmentalise your mind
I have got a good memory though and i think the important connections between readings and experience become over time etched into my mental compost
Anyway, I digressed a bit here . . for those interested there was a discussion about journalling programs here in the past, it should be somewhere in the archives . .
my readings demand a lot of work for me or I might get too slow or sometimes I regress into my own doodling
I had this idea that I would keep a journal of computer files (I like to use Notepad); I did it maybe a few times. Now I just use regular sheets of paper. I have several going at any given time, at home and work, etc. Could be better-organized. I write the date, then my question or issue; I think it works better to write it down first. I sometimes make a note or two about the circumstances to remind myself later. Then I write the results, something like 29:4-47/22 (hexagram 29 with moving line 4, changing to 47; 22 is the anti-hexagram). If I use coins, I will sketch the hexagrams as I generate them. I may or may not write the names of the hexagrams or key points from the line texts; it is assumed that I can look them up again if I want to come back to them later. I write small; the paper ends up looking like a page out of a logbook, which I guess it would be if I ever gather the papers together.
I find it easiest to look up the hexagrams using the pang tong yao page; they are listed in binary order, and the resulting hexagram and anti-hexagram are pairs.
russellcottrell.com/VirtualYarrowStalks/pangTong.htm
—Russell
I've had software to track readings, that I felt were about as useless as tits on a bull.
Never underestimate the unearthing powers of regressive doodling. I suppose that's yet a third way to cross the stream, regressive doodling along. And then the soft crunch, of landing onto the other side. Readings sometimes do inspire one to doodle, in whatever form moves them along.
Sooo, oh please, now I MUST know the name of this software!
. . . Out of curiosity, how often do you find yourself reviewing old casts?
Modest Learner
I do digital casts... anyone want to talk me out of it? I have never used coins or yarrow...
Modest Learner.
For those folks who throw coins...any stories about what you use, how long you been using them, and any rituals (superstitious rituals ;-) ) Do you carry them everywhere?
Modest Learner.
I look over my old entries fairly often, probably once or twice a month, just out of curiosity. I used to do it more often, when I was exploring all the different ways of interpreting the lines (transitional hexagrams, steps of change, patterns of change, etc.) Now I am a little more settled in how I do it.
p.s. Yarrow stalks are fun to try a few times. Lately I have been selecting coins out of a dish as previously described.
—Russell
I always use coins and always have. Seem to use 5p pieces all the time...but they don't have to be the same ones. Actually I occasionally do use the online oracle for a quick answer or something but I don't really like it. I feel much more connected with a coin cast answer.....thats just how i feel plus I find I just don't really want the computer even on when I'm wanting to 'commune' with the Oracle....I'm aware that sounds precious but to me consulting is something I want to seperate apart from clicking mouses with screens flickering...all that mental noise.
I have no rituals except I hate it when coins roll and hit furniture or fall off the table and usually abandon the cast till another time when that happens. Also occasionally the coins just keep leaping out of my hands while I am trying to cast and thats another signal to me to leave it for a while...i don't know why it is...it just seems to have become my signal to me to leave off
FWIW I personally don't think beginners should start by using the online tool...it leads to the situation where a newbie has done 20 casts and has no idea what any of them mean....so they post them here instead of taking time to think about them. At least casting by coins takes real time, the mind has time to be there...and hand casting naturally limits the number of questions...I mean past 30 your arms start aching lol
Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).