How to consult the I Ching
You will need...
- A question (something beginning 'How can I...?' or 'What if I...?' is good)
- A translation (see the book reviews for suggestions, or use an online I Ching translation)
- A means of casting your hexagram. (We'll use three coins for now - the change in your pocket will do fine.)
Once you've chosen your question for the I Ching, write it down.
There are countless ways to cast a hexagram. To start you off, this page describes the most popular method, which just uses three coins. (You can also read a discussion and explanation of several other methods, starting with consulting the I Ching with yarrow stalks.)
Some people prefer to use three Chinese coins, but any three identical coins will do. Years of using the I Ching have given me the feeling that the cosmos is practically bursting with the desire to express itself to you and show you the meaning just below the surface of life. That's why I really don't believe it matters what you use to divine with - unless you find that using special materials makes it easier to concentrate.
The three coin method
Throw the three coins together.
Each head counts three; each tail counts two. (Or the other way round, if you prefer - there is no 'right way'.)
Add up the result - it will be 6,7,8 or 9. For example, head (3) plus head (3) plus tail (2) makes 8. You can use the following table to translate this number into the first line of your hexagram:
|
Number |
Line-type |
Yin/yang |
Written |
|
6 |
changing broken line |
old yin |
|
|
7 |
unchanging solid line |
young yang |
|
|
8 |
unchanging broken line |
young yin |
|
|
9 |
changing solid line |
old yang |
|
These numbers are especially useful if you ever want to consult with yarrow stalks, for example. But it could be easier to remember like this:
|
Three tails: |
|
|
Two tails, one head: |
|
|
Two heads, one tail: |
|
|
Three heads: |
|
Write down the line you received: it's the first line of your hexagram, which is the one at the bottom. Hexagrams are like plants: they grow from the ground up.
Repeat the same process five more times, working from the bottom up to the sixth and last line.
Now you've written down your primary hexagram. This is the basis of the whole answer: there's no more casting to be done. In your I Ching translation (whichever one you're using) there should be a reference chart where you can read off the hexagram you've received.
