Usage of i ching

[cornucopia]

I've read how Chinese emperors used the I Ching as an oracle to predict future events and circumstances or best course of action under present circumstances. I've also read that the I Ching shoud not be used to predict future events.

Can someone clarify for me what EXACTLY the I Ching is good for? I'm not interested in using it as a psychoanalysis tool or for spiritual growth. I do like the Taoist philosophy references that were later added on but it was originally used as an oracle for divination purposes. I want to use it strictly as an oracle. Is that possible and how? Does the relating hexagram refer to a future event, state of mind etc depending on the question?

All insights are welcomed!

Thanks!

 

[foxx777]

We hear over and over how "the I Ching is not a fortune teller" but face it, most of us really are asking about the future when we use it. And yes, the emperors of antiquity used it thus.

Even when I say it is a contemplative tool for me, I am still contemplating what the outcome of something will be.

I think when we approach the I Ching in the same spirit as the ancient emperors did - sober, grave, and in deadly earnest about our fate - it responds as an oracle.

The relating hexagram is sometimes indicating the future, but sometimes is simply the context or background. Your intuition will discern which it is, as well as your knowledge of the facts and details of your situation.:bows:

 

[ginnie]

When we ask, "What might I expect if ..., " the I Ching will show that. For example, if I'm thinking of taking a course, and I ask that question and get 56.4, "my heart is not glad," then I would seriously have to consider spending my time, energy, and money on such a course. In other words, it can elucidate the alternatives, without our needing to take them. The guidance is mainly for now, and the I Ching itself advises us as a general rule not to think too far into the future. At least, I have been advised that way.

 

[precision grace]

..I'm not interested in using it as a psychoanalysis tool or for spiritual growth. I do like the Taoist philosophy references that were later added on but it was originally used as an oracle for divination purposes. I want to use it strictly as an oracle. Is that possible and how? Does the relating hexagram refer to a future event, state of mind etc depending on the question?

All insights are welcomed!

Thanks!

You cannot use it as an oracle without being influenced by it in a psychoanalytical/spiritual growth way. It's kind of like you cannot go from being inside the house to being in the garden without having passed through the door first (or a window). :bows:

 

[cornucopia]

When we ask, "What might I expect if ..., " the I Ching will show that. For example, if I'm thinking of taking a course, and I ask that question and get 56.4, "my heart is not glad," then I would seriously have to consider spending my time, energy, and money on such a course. In other words, it can elucidate the alternatives, without our needing to take them. The guidance is mainly for now, and the I Ching itself advises us as a general rule not to think too far into the future. At least, I have been advised that way.

Hi Ginnie this helps greatly...thanks!

 

[johnny ng]

It helps me to act rightly to avoid harm. Purified our minds and were free of cares.

 

[long yi]

Iching is a fundamental science. You can use it in whatever ways that suit your purpose.

Briefly,
1. If you read the scripture in each hexagram, there is a teaching. Depending on the Iching book, you learn something about the situation. This does not tell the future. For example, you ask for soul mate and get hexagram 35, there is the definition of soul mate buried under that teaching.

2. If you analyze the same reading with six line method and its relationship to the time of casting the hexagram, then you know the character and events in the picture. If the characters are real humans (e.g. spousal relationship, third party etc.), you can analyze the story and future.

3. If you analyze the hexagram with the one of the house in 8 houses where the hexagram resides, you can predict things like earthquake.

4. If you analyze the hexagram by breaking them into trigram and evaluate the trigram relationship. you can easily tell certain things, such as whether the courtship results in marriage.

Before an election, you can predict using Iching who wins the election. You must predict that a few hours before the ballot is counted. To use Iching to predict future, you must predict a few hours before the future outcome is known. For example, election results: who become president.