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I Ching

mountaineer's rope hammered into the rock face

Readings for ‘uncertain times’

Every article and every commercial email nowadays says something about ‘these challenging times’ or ‘these uncertain times’. And of course, we know an oracle for that: Yi is made for challenging, uncertain, bewildering times when none of our normal responses or resources is helping. Talking with Yi lately, and seeing… Read more »Readings for ‘uncertain times’

woodland with sapling in the shade of great trees

The need for Hexagram 12

Hexagram 12 is called Pi 否 – Blocked, Standstill, Stasis, Negation. It encapsulates the experience of being denied and stymied. The noble one’s constancy bears no fruit: despite your best, most creative efforts, it just isn’t happening. The Sequence into this one is (as so often) quite enigmatic: ‘Things cannot… Read more »The need for Hexagram 12

taut threads of spider silk in the dark

Staying connected

Divination means we’re connected. It demonstrates that there’s no such thing as ‘isolation’: the cosmos has 100% uptime. You can toss three coins six times, any time, to experience its absolute connectivity. Yi’s connection works, as it always has, through imagery. It doesn’t just talk (though it certainly does that,… Read more »Staying connected

compass on map

The importance of the question

I’ve mentioned this before, and no doubt will again… the question you ask the Yi matters. It’s important to understand that this isn’t about choosing the right wording for your question. The words really don’t matter. ‘Argh – help!’ can be a perfectly-formed question for the Oracle, leading to a… Read more »The importance of the question

arrows ready in quiver

Release the arrows

This entry is part 7 of 8 in the series Two-line relationships

Archery in Hexagram 40 Hexagram 40 is Release: its core theme, from the simple decision of the Oracle to the clear air after the storm of the Image, is the release of tension. That might remind you of archery, which is a special, intentional kind of tension-release: deliberately drawing the bow,… Read more »Release the arrows