yarrow stalks

[conrad]

Does anyone know where to buy Yarrow Stalks (Either in London, or internet)?

 

[hilary]

From Jane English - recommended

 

[stevev]

Alternatively

You can use spaghetti, uncooked of course !

 

[ewald]

You might also be able to get them yourself from nature, as Harmen describes (in Dutch). In the Netherlands at least, yarrow is pretty common at road sides.

 

[mudpie]

I appreciate the Jane english website and the instructions there about how to use yarrow sticks. It seems rather complicated......is there a simpler way? I feel like I would be so clumsy doing all that, and I dont have any yarrow sticks on hand to try it with! How can you use spaghetti sticks? do you have to make them different lengths?

 

[hilary]

No, your spaghetti would all be the same length, just like your yarrow stalks - until it broke, that is. (I don't think the spaghetti was an entirely serious suggestion.) Bamboo skewers work well.

Being elaborate and time-consuming is sort-of the point of the yarrow method. I put the simplest version I know of here.

 

[stevev]

I did use spaghetti once when I had nothing else, but it was a long time ago and I can't remember how it's done with yarrow or bamboo, whatever. At least you can full digest your question with spaghetti.

 

[hilary]

Right!

As Hexagram 8 has it:
"Retracing the oracle consultation to its sauce..."

:bag:

 

[stevev]

30.1.2 < 50.3.4.5.6 = 29

Fire under the Cauldron leads to the Washing Up

 

[mudpie]

the spagheti sticks worked pretty well for a practice run...and I got a reading....although they did keep breaking, esp when I tried to hold them between the fingers. is there any significance to holding them between the fingers??...can't you just set them aside....as in "here is the one that goes between my ring finger and pinky....here are the ones that go between my ring finger and middle finger"...and so on, until you get the pile?
I asked the I Ching what is the significance in holding the sticks between the fingers? the answer (in coins) was 6.5. Is that the yi's way of saying: HEY! good question.maybe that point should be argued.
who is the authority on this...where does the method of use of yarrow sticks originate? I reveal my ignorance on this matter.

 

[lindsay]

Beats me who dreamed up the yarrow-stick method. The important thing is to have the water boiling by the end of the procedure. No point reliving the pasta.

Lindsay

 

[active8]

As tempted as I am to get them from Jane English, I am hopeful to find some in nature and clip some without taking out the whole lot. J. H. Brennan, ( in _The Magical I Ching_ ) covers how he suggests harvesting stalks in a spiritual kinda way.

I cut some bamboo skewers from the dollar store, but they're quite slippery and they drop too easily. Perhaps spaghetti would be better, but it's brittle, so now you'd have to focus on staying relaxed (you should prabably be relaxed enough to focus on the question, anyway.)

Actually, once you've practiced with the stalks, it's not so complicated. You might (as I did) practice it while reading the directions without actually focusing on a question. You'll get the hang of it.

I'm still learning, so I ask for my portent (omen) for the day and keep a journal so I can get a feel for how the oracle speaks. Not having much time to do the Yarrow oracle, I just toss 3 coins. They can be quarters, or what are these days called Feng Shui coins - found at New Age stores. They're the ones with the square hole in the middle. Uh, I Shouldn't assume you live in the US. It's been suggested that one use coins with which they are familiar so there's no confusion over which side is heads and which is tails.

You can also try the random generated computer method. There a are a few online and some don't require a program download. For some reason, the program "I Ching Diviner" sets off my anti-virus program and I'm not sure why because the link to the particular virus/trojan to which it refers is a dead end - no info.

HTH
Mike

 

[active8]

The references that I've read aren't totally clear, but I believe the tortoise shell method may have predated the yarrow stalk method.

Mike

 

[mudpie]

I have gotten so good with the spaghetti sticks that I never break them. And I wish I had never done this because now the coins feel like a less worthy method. I'll get over that... the sticks take a long time. Haven't tried cooking the pasta as finale, yet, it's too hot for spaghetti, but somehow that seems a fitting ritual.
BTW, I was reading Nigel Richmond and he says any kind of sticks that feel good for you in your hands are okay