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Rain on a window

Rain

The Yijing mentions rain several times – in Hexagram 9, and then in 38.6, 43.3, 50.3 and 62.5. What does it represent? Wilhelm, writing about 50.3, has a succinct answer: ‘The fall of rain symbolizes here, as in other instances, release of tension.’ Wilhelm is (here, as in other instances)… Read more »Rain

rough mountain track

Puzzling over 54, line 1

It’s a not-unfamiliar experience with readings: the oracle text of the hexagram says one thing, and then a moving line says something quite different. You probably know the basic principle: the moving line text takes precedence. It’s the ‘You Are Here’ sign to the hexagram’s overall scene-setting. Still, it’s worth… Read more »Puzzling over 54, line 1

ancient wall at Machu Picchu

Foundations: trusting the oracle

When I teach the Yijing Foundations Class – which I’ll be doing again in September – I concentrate on the few really necessary basics for good readings: ways to relate to all the imagery (words and trigrams) understanding the structure of a reading (primary, relating, lines positions)and also knowing what… Read more »Foundations: trusting the oracle

two pairs of woolly-socked feet warming at the fire

An old friend

I’ve been writing a lot lately about seeing readings with fresh eyes, engaging with the imagery directly, as if for the first time. Here’s a post about the other side of that coin – about the joy of being familiar with Yi, so that readings are like chatting with an… Read more »An old friend

roe deer fawn with ears pricked

For the first time

I was lucky enough to play in a good youth orchestra with a conductor who had plenty to teach us. One of many things he said that stuck with me was that, when playing something familiar, you should imagine someone in the audience who’s hearing this music for the first… Read more »For the first time