9 Comments
author

What was I thinking? I didn't complete my essay before posting it. For those of you unfortunate enough to have gotten this "first draft", I finished the thing this morning. Sorry.

Expand full comment

is this some kind of glitch...

Expand full comment
author

ever thing is a glitch.

Expand full comment

I would like to be able to read the I Ching

Expand full comment
author

Before I got arthritis in my hand, I used to throw the Yarrow sticks; but now I am limited to the coins. I think it works just as well and it is fast and easy.

The only trick is to (1) get a good translation and read all the instructions, (2) concentrate seriously on your question, (3) and throw the coins.

The problem is that there are several ways to interpret the poetic language.

Expand full comment

Thx for the link.

Expand full comment
author

You're welcome

Expand full comment

What about the coins in the readings

Expand full comment
author
May 26·edited May 26Author

Any coins will do - as long as they have a definable front and back. With your question in mind, toss three coins on the floor (make sure to shake them up in your hands or they may always come up the same way). Each coin showing a head is Yang. Each coin showing a tail is Yin. Yang (in this instance) has a value of 2. Yin has a value of 1.

If there are more heads than tails, that makes a Yang (solid) line and if there are more tails, it is a Yin line. That is represented with a broken line. If there are 3 heads or 3 tails, you've created a "changing line". After your first throw of the coins, you write down the bottom line of the Gua and throw the coins five more times. This creates a Hexigram and it will tell its meaning at the end of the I CHING.

If there are changing lines, your question will be answered by reading the changes between the initial hexagram and the final one - that is after you've changed all the Yins to Yangs and all the Yangs to Yins.

I realize I've thrown in some terms and concepts that are alien. Your best bet is to buy master Huang's translation and read it.

Expand full comment