What do I need to know now?

[bologna_tendra]

I asked this question and got hexagram 38 with a changing line, which gives hexagram 54 as a future hexagram. If you receive a changing reading in response to a question asking about the present, does this mean (in this case) that the future hexagram refers to what I will need to know in the future?

How exactly future hexagrams function in I Ching is not clear to me, especially when some questions are time based or refer to the present, whilst other questions may refer to the future, this seems to me a confusing matter, and I'd appreciate any insight or information on this.

 

[Freedda]

My understanding:

If you get a moving line or lines, you get a second hexagram as a result of these, and it's often called the 'resulting' or 'responding' hexagram. It is not, in my view, a future hexagram.

I consider it part of the overall answer. Often I think of it as a suggested attitude or approach to address the situation I asked about. Some people think of it as sort of the 'background' or back-story to you situation. I've also thought of it as pointing you in a 'direction', but not as a future place your going to, but more as advice, an attitude, a way of thinking you should consider to address your situation.

A few things:

* There is a free course offered on this website, see:
https://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/learn/beginners/

* questions like yours that are more general, and about 'how' (and not posing a specific question) are better to post in the Exploring Divination section.

* for the future, a good format for sharing the response you got from the Yi is:

12.4.6 > 23 or 12.4.6 to 23, which means you got "hexagram 12 with moving lines 4 and 6, resulting in hexagram 23'. (And I suggest you share this and your question/query at the beginning of a post, and then give us the rest of the story or information - don't make us hunt for it).

Best, d.

 

[bologna_tendra]

I don't understand a few things in your message. If lines 2 and 4 were moving, as in your example, why would you write that as 12.4.6 as opposed to 12.2.4?

Also why is it of relevance to state which line is changing - as they are surely only of relevance in terms of what change they result in the second or future hexagram - so surely by stating which hexagram the change results in, that is all the information needed, and anything is unnecessarily convoluted?

With regards to the second hexagram, you mention it is the resulting hexagram and yet some people consider it the background. Something cannot be both resulting and the background - surely the term "future" is accurate, as it is the hexagram that results - it is what happens next and so is a consequence, ahead in time, and certainly not behind or part of any background - that doesn't make any philosophical sense

 

[Freedda]

As I said, you are asking questions that are best posed in Exploring Divination section - though that's not something you may have know. Maybe the moderator might move it there.

If lines 2 and 4 were moving, as in your example, why would you write that as 12.4.6 as opposed to 12.2.4?

That was a mistake on my part, and I've now gone back and corrected it.

... why is it of relevance to state which line is changing - as they are surely only of relevance in terms of what change they result in ...

This is not at all the case! And again, I suggest you take a look at the free lessons available here,which can help answer this question.

But taking a stab: the I Ching has specific text associated with each line, and the general advice is that you read or consult this text when you get these moving lines - e.g if you get 64 with line 2 moving, then read and include the text of line 64.2 as part of the answer to your question. This is pretty universally applied. I even know of people who look at these lines and NOT at all at the resulting (what you can future) hexagram.

... the second hexagram, you mention it is the resulting hexagram and yet some people consider it the background. Something cannot be both resulting and the background - surely the term "future" is accurate, as it is the hexagram that results ...

The term 'Future' is not accurate! It is only what some people think the 'resulting' hexagram means. But that is not a universally held idea. (And again, I recommend you look at the free lessons here.)

One I Ching (Yi) author says this about the 'resulting' hexagram:

The new Hexagram is the Resultant ... This is the direction of the change.​

The idea here is that this is a direction - like directions or a route marked on a map: you look at this advice or heed these warnings to get where you want to. But IT IS NOT saying "this hexagram is pointing you north and in the future (near and/or far) you will be magincally transported to the North Pole!"

Similarly, another Yi author and teacher whom I trust says the Yi's response is never about the future, but is always about your current situation - and is giving you advice about your current sitation! And that it is only in making use of this 'here-and-now' advice that you can work to create the future you'd like to see happen.

It's sort of like going to a financial advisor and having them say: 'if we take your IRA and roll it over into another account, you'll have a much better chance of getting a higher rate of return' (because we've been following the market and making adjustements to our portfolios) ...

versus ...

... going to a financial advisor and them telling you, 'I magically predict that in the near future your money will grow and grow!' (And I'll take my fee now!)​

I know which one I'd trust!

Consulting the I Ching is very personal, and each of us has a different way of approaching it. I like to think of the 'resulting' hexagram as giving me a suggested attitude (or at least that's where I start). Others, as I have mentioned, use it in different ways, but most all the people I know don't see it as a future prediction!

And remember, the I Ching was never meant to be a philospophy, and therefore doesn't always make 'philosophical sense'. You might think of it more as posing a question to a counselor, or a trusted friend: each of them is going to have a different approach to how they answer you.

(And remember to, the Yi never included 'instructions' so we're making due here with the best available advice and information we can!)

And finally, the proof is in the pudding: I'd suggest that you look back at your reading (or at a different one) and try on a few of these different hexagram 'hats' - does it make sense as the 'resulting' hexagram, or as the 'background' hexagram, or as you think, as the 'future' hexagram?

Or, is it perhaps another part of the overall advice and answer being given to you? That's another way I approach it, which also makes philosophical sense as well.

Best, D.

 

[bologna_tendra]

Thank you for taking the time to explain your insights into divination and also for pointing out my errors of formatting regarding the etiquette of the website. I will in future post on the alternative thread you recommend, and I will repost a reading I posted last week in the correct format which is of importance to me and see if this helps to garner more insight from others.

All the best

 

[Freedda]

Sure, and to clarify, if you're posting a reading or query, it can go in this forum. Besides all else I've blathered on about, consider that it is often a good idea to add what you think your reading means, even if it's basic or you're unsure.


Best, D.

 

[hilary]

Thread magically transported to Exploring Divination .

If you or anyone reading this is curious about 'forum etiquette', I just made an introductory course/ guided tour for the forums. Here it is.