Tao-Astrology.com

Explaining the I Ching. Three Methods of Divination.

Taoist Master Alfred Huang, in his publication, "The Complete I Ching", explains the concept of "The Tao of I". The Tao of I, he writes, explains that when a situation progresses to its extremes, it alternates to its opposite. That means that nothing goes on forever in the same way. It will always come to a point when there'll be a turnaround to the opposite effect. Like the bulls and bears in the stock market.

Everything is in the process of continuous change. We measure this change with a scale called "time". Very often, people get the concept of "time" mixed up with mathematics. The reality of time is change. Change, however, can only move forward and at it's own pace. Many scientists claim that it is possible to influence the passage of time, but that 'time' they are talking of is just mathematics. Mathematical time is not real, because change is real.

The I Ching has its roots in very ancient China. Back in the days of little distractions, and no electricity, the concept of the I Ching was developed through the observation of real on-going change. Scholars through the ages have worked on and developed the understanding of this incredibly powerful philosophy. It is powerful because it's foundation is built upon the observation of reality. We are fortunate to be part of the process.

For those who love the subject, it will be a life long learning path. There are no fixed rules, nor calculations, nor quick answers. Just understanding and awareness.

Practical use of the I Ching aids in decision making and understanding of events that affect us and how to make sense of the present. The present is the only reality available to us. The past is gone, and the future doesn't really exist yet. The I Ching is likely to indicate the trend at which a particular situation is heading, but the end effect is left in the hands of its beholder, which is us.

In this site, 3 methods of IChing divination are introduced.

1. The Classical Method.This is the most popular method, where by 3 coins are cast six times to produce 6 lines of a hexagram from the bottom up. The "Book Of Changes" is used as a reference for deciphering the metaphorical message of the I Ching Hexagrams. These texts are sacred. They have been developed through the ages, spanning the history of Taoism and Confucianism. For this section we recommend the book, "The Complete I Ching: The Definitive Translation by the Taoist Master Alfred Huang" , which we find to be the best translation available to date. This method is very flexible, and is best done personally. The readings require contemplation, and intuition of the diviner, in order to be fully understood, and utilized.
2. The Plum Blossom, or Mei Hua method. This method is interesting and very popular with some practitioners. It does not require the casting of coins or other objects, but rather formulating the hexagrams using the Chinese solar calendar, and/or other objects in the immediate surroundings. Often used for predictions, it is especially useful for making quick readings. This method requires memorizing the properties of the trigrams in the bagua, and takes lots of practice to be used effectively.
3. The Na Jia Method. This is a more mathematical method, quite similar to the numerology. This practice of the IChing can be very revealing to those who have mastered this technique. Like the Classical Method, three coins are cast six times, to form the hexagram. But there are no texts to refer to. Readings are done by detailed analysis of each line on the hexagram. This technique is very abstract. It, however, can reaveal tons of information to those who are well versed in the technique.

All three methods involve building a pair of hexagrams, while meditating a question, or focusing on a problem in question. Enlightenment is than sought from reading the meanings of the hexagrams combinations. The approach to analysis may be quite different for each method, like using different kinds of maps to find the route to a destination. Some people prefer traditional printed maps, some prefer the modern GPS system. Ultimately all will get to their destination if they follow their maps correctly.

The way to find out if the IChing really works is to use it.

   ¦  The I Ching Oracle  ¦  I Ching Hexagrams  ¦  Casting the Coins  ¦  Classical I Ching Method  ¦  Plum Blossom Divination  ¦ Na Jia Divination  ¦ I Ching Intepretations  ¦ I Ching Resources ¦