How to jump into I Ching as a Newbie.
Amazon.com presently lists 6,774 books on the I Ching and 32 now on Kindle. 2,100,000 links for I Ching are on a Google search.
I’m in an on-going blogging class that has inspired me to write something for people who know nothing about the I Ching and may want to find out more about it without investing time or money buying and reading books on a subject that probably isn’t for them. So this is a test post to see if anyone responds. This is a way also to get feedback if you should try this method and responses are open to anyone in the Blogosphere.
The LVS online Blogging class also has a blog you can find HERE.
So if you know nothing about the I Ching and are curious the best way is to do it first and read about it later. You can try this and also get feedback if you want it.
1.
a) Formulate your question and write it down. I keep a date log for my more important questions.
b) Think of the I Ching as a wise person that has lived for well over 3,000 years with an accumulation of collective wisdom.
c) Make your question short, clear and focused on one thing. Don’t ask an either or question.
d) Try not to ask fortune telling questions, like, “Will I get married?” A better way to ask that question might be, “Advise me on the way to find a partner.“
e) Don’t ask the same question more than one time. If you check out the three different links I used here as a quick way to ask the I Ching a question chose just one.
I Ching is a guide for the best way to act in any given situation. The ancient Chinese text is full of phrases about “the superior man” which refers to the inquirer with advice on how to act in the best (superior) way for the given situation.
Think of a situation where you would like counsel. An example might be “How should I respond to ….?” (what ever the situation)
Another question might be something like: “What is causing ….?” (what ever)
Or, “What is my life purpose?” That’s a heavy one. Write that one down.
I have found asking the I Ching to elaborate on a dream to be helpful with sometimes amazing results. The I Ching is akin to dreams as both are often enigmatic and also symbolic in meaning.
2.
Find your answer on line. The easiest way to jump into I Ching is to go to an online link that does the virtual coin throw for you. If you find the response interesting and want to know more about I Ching you can do that later. For now, ask your question with this quick jumping into method. I include several sites here where you can ask your question quickly and without having to know anything else.
a) Chris’s free I Ching page
This is very easy to do. Just type in your question. Write down the resulting I Ching number(s) for future reference.
b) Eclectic Energies
This is a page where one clicks on the virtual coins and an answer comes up. You will have a choice of 3 kinds of coins to use. There are links on this page for more information if you want to read it.
c) I Ching online
A place to key in your question with a guide for phrasing questions and a good simple explanation on I Ching Basics.
There is also a link to a place where you can find an image with all the Hexagrams and by clicking on them find an interpretation for your answer. This site also has a forum one can join.
3.
If you want feedback you can post the question you asked here in the comment section.
a) Tell the number of the Hexagram you received, or both if there was a changing line which then results in 2 Hexagrams. You don’t need to understand about changing lines yet in this quick jump in for newbies exercise.
Example Question: What will the results for moving to Princeton be for me?
Results: Hexagram #26 changing to #14.
b) I will respond with some expansion on the results based on what I find in the I Ching resources that I use.
c) By posting your question and answer you will open up the dialogue for possible other viewers of this blog to give their thoughts on the subject.
d) You can always read the Wilhelm or Legge interpretations yourself on line by going to the resource links in this blog.
4.
If you post your question and answer in a comment here and receive feedback you can tell us if the reading was meaningful to you in anyway. That would be interesting for all.
Related posts:
- Question about Hexagram 12 – Standstill
- I Ching Question Response for Bean
- I Ching Question Response for Sliloh
- What does I Ching tell me about Inspiration?
- Asking a question of I Ching
Tags: I Ching, Inspiration, Questions
Adele on 
Luis Andrade on 
February 14th, 2009 at 3:44 am
My question was: what can I expect when I attempt to quit smoking?
I thought that would be a good one since I didn’t manage it last fall so well.
I tried all three of those links and two of them seemed like positive answers, the third lost me.
a.
49. Ko / Revolution (Molting)
—- —-
———- above Tui The Joyous, Lake
———-
———-
—- —- below Li The Clinging, Flame
———-
The Judgement
Revolution. On your own day
You are believed.
Supreme success,
Furthering through perseverance.
Remorse disappears.
The Image
Fire in the lake: the image of Revolution.
Thus the superior man
Sets the calendar in order
And makes the seasons clear.
The Lines
Six at the top means:
The superior man changes like a panther.
The inferior man molts in the face.
Starting brings misfortune.
To remain persevering brings good fortune.
13. T’ung J^en / Fellowship with Men
———-
———- above Ch’ien The Creative, Heaven
———-
———-
—- —- below Li The Clinging, Flame
———-
The Judgement
Fellowship with Men in the open.
Success.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
The perseverance of the superior man furthers.
The Image
Heaven together with fire:
The image of Fellowship with Men.
Thus the superior man organizes the clans
And makes distinctions between things.
b.
42 changing to 20
42. Benefiting
Line 1:
Advantageous for performing big works.
A source of good fortune,
without fault.
The situation is advantageous for taking on big things. This will provide future benefit. It is not wrong to do so.
c.
16. Yu – Enthusiasm
— –
— – above Chên The Arousing, Thunder
—–
— –
— – below K’un The Receptive, Earth
— –
The Judgement
Enthusiasm. It furthers one to install helpers
And to set armies marching.
The Image
Thunder comes resounding out of the earth:
The image of Enthusiasm.
Thus the ancient kings made music
In order to honor merit,
And offered it with splendor
To the Supreme Deity,
Inviting their ancestors to be present.
Changing Lines
Changing yin at the bottom means:
Enthusiasm that expresses itself
Brings misfortune.
Changing yin in the second place means:
Firm as a rock. Not a whole day.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Changing yin in the third place means:
Enthusiasm that looks upward creates remorse.
Hesitation brings remorse.
Changing yang in the fourth place means:
The source of enthusiasm.
He achieves great things.
Doubt not.
You gather friends around you
As a hair clasp gathers the hair.
Changing yin in the fifth place means:
Persistently ill, and still does not die.
Changing yin at the top means:
Deluded enthusiasm.
But if after completion one changes,
There is no blame.
Okay, deluded enthusiasm doesn’t sound good :p But over all I think I’ll be successful this time.
Sliloh’s last blog post..Handmade quilt
February 14th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I will get back to you on another comment or post about your question. Your response reminded me that I left something important out of my instructions. That is one should only ask the question once. I’m going to first fix my post and then get back to you. So Don’t go away.
Adele’s last blog post..Ask I Ching for Beginners
February 15th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I have been really struggling with trying to decide if I should try to make it out to SobCon- Business School for Bloggers this May. I can’t afford it. I would need sponsoring and scholarships. But my biggest fear is that if I can raise the money, that I will have a MS flare and end up sick in a strange city. I worry that I would be a poor investment for those that sponsor me and would not be able to participate fully. On the flip side, I think it would be an awesome experience and I would come back with lots of great information for my students.
My question was: Should I try to get sponsorships and scholarships so I can attend SOBCon 09?
The I Ching responded with
42. I / Increase
———-
———- above Sun The Gentle, Wind
—- —-
—- —-
—- —- below Ch^en The Arousing, Thunder
———-
The Judgement
Increase. It furthers one
To undertake something.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
The Image
Wind and thunder: the image of Increase.
Thus the superior man:
If he sees good, he imitates it;
If he has faults, he rids himself of them.
The Lines
[] Six in the fourth place means:
If you walk in the middle
And report to the prince,
He will follow.
It furthers one to be used
In the removal of the capital.
25. Wu Wang / Innocence (The Unexpected)
———-
———- above Ch’ien The Creative, Heaven
———-
—- —-
—- —- below Ch^en The Arousing, Thunder
———-
The Judgement
Innocence. Supreme success.
Perseverance furthers.
If someone is not as he should be,
He has misfortune,
And it does not further him
To undertake anything.
The Image
Under heaven thunder rolls:
All things attain the natural state of innocence.
Thus the kings of old,
Rich in virtue, and in harmony with the time,
Fostered and nourished all beings.
Oh boy, there is a lot to ponder there!
Bean’s last blog post..Blogging for Fun, Fame and Fortune: March topics
March 31st, 2009 at 3:55 pm
hello everyone:
i am an i ching practitioner since 12 years ago. however, i still some lines confusing, specially the six in the second place of hexagram 12, Stagnation, in the wilhelm edition.
¿Could you give an alternative text or explanation? regards.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:25 am
Hello Voet,
It would be easier to answer your question if I knew what question you asked of the I Ching when you received six in the second place for Hexagram 12. Perhaps you just want to know how I see that line in general. I will do my best to respond in a new post.
Thanks for your question-comment.
Adele’s last blog post..John Cage – Music of Changes and I Ching
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I asked the I Ching what could I expect if I bought a little vacation house in the bahamas and it answered with hexagram #58. I decided to try the same question again the next day and it answered with hexagram #21. Should I ask the same question twice or just once?
Thanks
Andrea Rodriguez
August 4th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Hi Andrea,
The general view from what I have read is that one does not ask the same question twice. Of course some times when we get an answer that we don’t like we might do that and still not like the answer. In your case, Getting The Joyous for buying a home in the Bahamas sure sounds like a joyous occasion to me. I’m wondering why you asked again. And even so, # 21, Biting Through, is about enforcing the law. Lucky you – The Bahamas!
Thanks for posting.
Adele
September 30th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Hi,
I know that one should not ask the same question twice. But i wonder if there are exceptions. The hexagram 8, says to inquire the oracle once again. What it means? To realy ask again the same question? Or ask exactly if one has sublimity, and …. as said in the passage?
Thank You!
September 30th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Charles, Thanks for posting. Your question is interesting because in my experience of doing readings of the I Ching for myself and sometimes for others, we often want to ask again when we don’t like the answer.
Yes, in the Wilhelm version of the I Ching, Hexagram 8 says that you can inquire again to see whether you are up to the task of “joining.” I would say only you can decide if you need to ask that. And perhaps the second question would be based on just what the I Ching says, “Inquire of the oracle once again whether you possess sublimity, constancy and perseverance; then there is no blame” So that is not exactly the same question but more of an elaboration.
I am tempted at times to ask a question again when I am not liking the answer but that never works for me. Also, sometimes, when I don’t understand the response I get, if I just wait a while and check back, something invariably happens that wasn’t apparent at the time of the question and I can see how the result makes sense.
As to your question, “Are there exceptions to not asking the question twice?” As I pointed out above, for Hexagram 8, the I Ching isn’t really saying to ask twice. But for my own experience, I sometimes ask the same question again when it is a totally different time or situation.