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Sparhawk

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What a great idea!! Nobody has thought about that before... :D
 

Trojina

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it currently has 46 as alienation and risk
 

justjoolz

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Feedback....

Well thanks for the replies ;-)

I'm also in the process of creating a server where one can log all there I ching readings online and review them at a later date with notes etc. -> www.iching.justjoolz.com

I eventually want to link the wiki to this site and make it a comprehensive online portal for the I Ching....

I would appreciate any feedback from one and all, the more constructive the criticism the better :)

I asked the I Ching to help me create a constructive response to your feedback:

Hexagram: 41 - Sun / Decrease
changes to
Hexagram: 7 - Shih / The Army

Line 1
Nine at the beginning means: Going quickly when one's tasks are finished Is without blame.

"But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others."

It is unselfish and good when a man, after completing his own urgent tasks, uses his strength in the service of others, and without bragging or making much of it, helps quickly where help is needed. But the man in a superior position who is thus aided must weigh carefully how much he can accept without doing the helpful servant or friend real harm. Only where such delicacy of feeling exists can one give oneself unconditionally and without hesitation.

Line 6

Nine at the top means: If one is increased without depriving other, There is no blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something. One obtains servants But no longer has a separate home. There are people who dispense blessings to the whole world. Every increase in power that comes to them benefits the whole of mankind and therefore does not bring decrease to others. Through perseverance and zealous work a man wins success and finds helpers as they are needed.

"But what he accomplishes is not a limited private advantage; it is a public good and available to everyone."



:-o

Don't mean to tread on any toes.... or even the tail of the tiger

I'm genuinely interested in how one feels about these ideas as I'm now aware of the ownership of a group of 'private advantage'.

Do you agree with this 'ancient wisdom' ?
 

Trojina

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i don't think an i ching wiki seems to work. as far as yours goes as far as i can see its like you have an empty basket saying 'here you are fill it for me' ? i think the 41 answer is very fitting but i can't articulate exactly why. An empty basket and someone says 'put your stuff in here please', well it doesn't work the spirit is all wrong. People just create an I Ching resource it isn't something one can own (41.6) if the spirit is right somehow people do put all their stuff in but never because someone suggested it. Look at the hexagram index here, best wiki type thing I've seen so far, good 41.6 ing.
 
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hilary

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I think it's early days yet for the WikiWing here (which is actually steadily gathering contributions), and even earlier for Joolz' one - which looks from here to be a sturdy and well-woven basket.

A couple of thoughts for the mix...

I'd rather co-operate than compete, wouldn't you? I don't know how that would work, but I'd like to pass some ideas around and see what we can come up with to enrich one another's projects somehow.

About providing an online place to consult and store readings - ah, sounds familiar! I started on that years ago, but the project derailed as the programmer and I had different ideas - not actually about the workings of the project, but about the need for him to make a long term commitment to tech support.

So here are the ideas I came up with for that, for whatever they're worth:

When people store readings in any kind of computer program, the computer should 'add value' by helping them see patterns in their readings. Eg 'You keep getting this nuclear hexagram when you ask about Tom' or 'that's the third time in a row you got the fifth line changing'.

If people are to store readings online, there needs to be more 'added value' to make that worth their while. Otherwise, why not just use I Ching software on your own computer?

You could provide something extra and unique to an online service by allowing people the option of sharing the readings they store. So eventually, from the reading interface, people would be able to access related readings for a particular hexagram and line.

If, of course, anyone wanted to fill the basket enough to click the 'share this reading' box when they stored their notes. (If they did, you could talk nicely to the creators of popular Yijing software, see if they would add an 'upload and share' and 'download related readings' option to their program...)

After Ewald created the hexagram index here, that was another reason for me to let this project go. It may not provide everything I had in mind, but it does about 60% of it, and without the epic investment of time and money that would be required to create the whole thing (probably for about three interested people...).

Anyway... hope there are ideas here you can use.
 

justjoolz

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Baskets, Weaving, Threads and Yarn

I get the feeling that as the site is hosted on the only domain I own (justjoolz.com) it's creating all these energies of competition and ownership.

The site has not been 'launched' as such. I just thought it would be good to get some feedback and insight from those who are interested in the I Ching before launching it. Fine tuning, beta testing what ever you want to call it.

As far as my idea ideas for the wiki stretch, my main motivation is to aid in comparing and contrasting various different translations. Sometimes I read one book and I can't relate to the answer, other times that same translation gives me a real sense of understanding.

We have the original Chinese text and Legge translation/interpretation available at yellow bridge (which I think is a fantastic resource) The Wilheim version is also available many places online. As are many more less famous translations.

I thought a central open source index to the changes would be of benefit to all the community. Especially as more and more modern scientists are using this resource in their studies. And I also believe different people and even types of questions from the same person resonate better with different translations.

A long time ago I made myself a program for researching, browsing and consulting the I Ching. Mainly to allow me to investigate the '64bit' or loop arrangement of the hexagrams as I'd not seen this elsewhere at all. Later I added saving and searching capabilities to the program.

I agree with you Hilary that adding 'value' and using the speed and power available to computers to find patterns within the 'chaos' is the most appealing reason to use a computer.

The main advantage of having an online server would be that one could access it from any computer with access to the internet, whilst traveling for example.

I also think that the option to make a reading public, private or anonymous would be a good idea. As the questions are often of a very personal nature. Maybe just public or anonymous would be enough? As anonymous posting would ensure privacy.

I also think it would be interesting to collate a large database of readings from people all over the world and to be able to use the statistical powers of computing to see global patterns among the inquiries.

After all, It's all about energies and generating meaning.

As far as cooperating goes, I just had the idea of making it possible to add to the database by email. You could put the 'coin values' in the subject and the notes in the body of the email. This way anyone could post to the database from any mailing list, forum or even from a mobile phone somewhere :)

The mathematics behind the I Ching has always been a draw for me, I especially fascinated by the circular 64bit 'encoded' arrangement. I have a feeling that it's beauty is significant and often overlooked.

Again a reading to reflect my thoughts and feelings:

Hexagram: 17 - Sui / Following
changes to
Hexagram: 16 - Y / Enthusiasm

Line 1
Nine at the beginning means: The standard is changing. Perseverance brings good fortune. To go out of the door in company Produces deeds. There are exceptional conditions in which the relation between leader and followers changes. It is implicit in the idea of following and adaptation that if one wants to lead others, one must remain accessible and responsive to the views of those under him. At the same time, however, he must have firm principles, so that he does not vacillate where there is only a question of current opinion. Once we are ready to listen to the opinions of others, we must not associate exclusively with people who share our views or with members of our own party; instead, we must go out and mingle freely with all sorts of people, friends or foes. That is the only way to achieve something.

Line 5
Nine in the fifth place means: Sincere in the good. Good fortune. Every man must have something he follows--something that serves him as a lodestar. He who follows with conviction the beautiful and the good may feel himself strengthened by this saying.
 

hilary

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I really like the idea of being able to add readings just by sending an email. I think simplicity and convenience is absolutely key if you're to get anyone to use what you offer, and I can't imagine anything much simpler than that.

17.1 makes me reflect on the question of how to share Yi things with people who are looking for what it offers, but don't know its name. But that's a whole other kettle of fish...

As far as my idea ideas for the wiki stretch, my main motivation is to aid in comparing and contrasting various different translations.
Ah, that's different from WikiWing here, which is more to do with gathering people's interpretations - a kind of distillation of divination experience. That has much more in common with your readings database, I think.

You've come to a good place to meet translators :)

The main advantage of having an online server would be that one could access it from any computer with access to the internet, whilst traveling for example.
Yes... and also, back when I was thinking about this, most people were still using dial-up. With the shift to broadband, online apps of all descriptions are getting a lot more accessible and popular. It could be that accessibility alone is enough incentive to store readings online. (Especially if you can provide features on a par with the custom Yijing programs.)

I also think that the option to make a reading public, private or anonymous would be a good idea. As the questions are often of a very personal nature. Maybe just public or anonymous would be enough? As anonymous posting would ensure privacy.
In theory, yes. In practice I would imagine people would also want the option of complete privacy. You'd be surprised how many emails I get from people who've used a pseudonym here, but still panic when they see their post show up in Google. (Maybe the person they're asking about will see the post and guess it's about them!) So you might save yourself time in the long run by providing all three options.
I also think it would be interesting to collate a large database of readings from people all over the world and to be able to use the statistical powers of computing to see global patterns among the inquiries.
Do you mean looking for patterns that relate to global events?

I imagine users would mostly be interested in answering the question,
'When someone in a similar situation got this answer, what did it turn out to mean for them?'
Which could be a useful thing to know... at least if you can somehow encourage people to be moved by their own reading before looking at other people's. (Yes, I know this encouragement isn't exactly built into the hexagram index here.)

Anyway... what kind of feedback would you like on your work so far? Any particular questions?
 

Sparhawk

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Do you mean looking for patterns that relate to global events?

Don't know about our friend here but, personally, I strongly believe so. On Sept/25/2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, I posted this to Midaughter's:

As I write this, and after years of using the I Ching, whereby I should not be
surprised by "coincidences," I feel bumps rising in my skin...

I was following a trail of messages related to current events and my wandering
took me here:

http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=817
http://www.boundaryinstitute.org/randomness.htm
http://noosphere.princeton.edu/

I thought it might interest you.

Cheers,

Luis

If that wasn't enough, here is what LiSe posted, that same day, Sept/11/2001, "before" the attacks. At that time, LiSe was doing daily readings for the list.
 

Trojina

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Lises link just goes to Yahoo page. so does your first link.
 

Sparhawk

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Lises link just goes to Yahoo page. so does your first link.

Hmmm..., What about my link? I'm signed in Yahoo Groups and perhaps the cookie in my browser let me see it with no problems. In any case, here is the text of LiSe's message:

September 11-12
September 10 15.27 GMT until September 11 16.07 GMT: hex.51.3
September 11 16.07 GMT until September 12 16.46
GMT: hex.52.3
Hex.52.3 Stabilize one's limits. Arrange one's ambitions. Danger of poisoning the heart.
A life with too many rules, limits, dogma’s and fixed values is not alive. Tao is not written down anywhere, your heart is the only one who knows – if your heart has enough freedom.
Sabian Symbol:An automobile caravan
All going the same road, all poisoning each other​
°
Changing to 23.3 Stripping it. Without fault.
To be yourself, live your life, make your decisions, you have to break away from all those people who tell you how to live, or even without saying anything, expecting you to live according to their views. Even if you choose an absurd life - so what? It is your life.
Sabian Symbol: Chickens intoxicated
Every day a glass is good for heart and veins.
(Time is given for Greenwich Main Time. For USA subtract appr. 6 hours (11 AM will be 5 AM), for China add appr. 8 hours, for Australia add appr. 9 hours (the difference between your local clock-time and GMT). Given times are fairly exact, they may err a little in either direction. I do not know if the most important hexagram for the day is the one of midnight, or the one of sunrise, or two hexagrams: before and after the given time)


LiSe
YiJing, Book of the Moon
www.aheyboer.com

Nothing bad - nothing good
Find your original face
NOW
 

Trojina

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Thanks.:confused: well in hindsight a great number of readings could be said to apply to events of 9/11 couldn't they ? Maybe i missed your point.
 
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Sparhawk

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well in hindsight a great number of readings could be said to apply to events of 9/11 couldn't they ? Maybe i missed your point.

About hindsight, it isn't like we are discussing Nostradamus' quatrains, for all the accuracy many peg to them... No, my point is that people is not paying attention whilst the clues are all around. Of course, I doubt anybody would connect the dots of such a "casual" reading--something LiSe had been doing for weeks, before and after--with events happening just a few hours later. Not with any specificity, anyway. But, take the "Global Consciousness Project" I linked to, back in Sep/2001 and now (that they used "noosphere" at Princeton University for the name of the link wasn't haphazardness). A large number of computers taking clues from the environment and discerning patterns. The site has changed quite a bit since then but the data is there for the patterns found, before and after the attacks. The thing is that the data was predicting, about a day or two earlier, that something BIG was about to happen in the world.

Over the years, it has been mentioned, here and elsewhere, that many times the Yi gives away answers unrelated to the questions posed to it but whose importance should NOT be disregarded. IMO, there's no idle chatting with the Yi. Amazing how many are "supersticious" enough to ask advise from an oracle but not remotely enough to be a little concerned with what they may find, if paying attention, while "idly chatting" with it.
 

justjoolz

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17.1 makes me reflect on the question of how to share Yi things with people who are looking for what it offers, but don't know its name. But that's a whole other kettle of fish...

Hmmmmmm.... a basket AND a kettle of fish to contemplate :)
Seriously I agree with you, it would open up a much larger user base, I think that 'demystifying' the Yi would aid in making it more accessible to the general public.
Hexagram: 21 - Shih Ho / Biting Through
changes to
Hexagram: 27 - I / Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment)
Line:4


(Especially if you can provide features on a par with the custom Yijing programs.)

Anyway... what kind of feedback would you like on your work so far? Any particular questions?
[/QUOTE]

What features would you consider to be useful/essential to be on a par with current Yijing programs?

(I think I should start this as another thread) My own offline program I wrote many years ago had just about every mathematical based transformation and analysis thrown in that I could think of. Far more than an average user would require I think. This is something that I am interested in.

What analysis functions are of use to you personally?

What features would you think are required for:
1) a Basic user (no/little previous experience with the Yi)
2) an Intermediate user (already familiar with the Yi)
3) an Advanced user (interested in the internal arrangement and relation of the Yi's lines and meaning)

Thanks in advance,

JustJoolz
 

justjoolz

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Thanks for the information about the Global Consciousness Project - Noosphere.
Fascinating stuff :)

I wonder if/how the 'random' data (more accurately 'Quantum uncertain' data) could be some how fed through to the Yi.
Maybe to be used instead of a random number generator for generating lines? Or perhaps as an interpretive display tool of some kind?

Again I asked for the Yi's opinion on this :

Hexagram: 30 - Li / The Clinging, Fire

To me this suggests the planet communicating to us, no questions asked!
Also gives me thoughts relating to the sun and light, maybe pooling data from the noosphere server, perhaps once a day at sunrise for each particular time zone? Or during daylight hours.... just brainstorming here, I've yet to really dig into the Global Consciousness Project but it absolutely fascinates me.

Thanks again :)
 

hilary

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Over the years, it has been mentioned, here and elsewhere, that many times the Yi gives away answers unrelated to the questions posed to it but whose importance should NOT be disregarded. IMO, there's no idle chatting with the Yi. Amazing how many are "supersticious" enough to ask advise from an oracle but not remotely enough to be a little concerned with what they may find, if paying attention, while "idly chatting" with it.

Mm. I think there can be idle chatting, just for the sake of learning the language and getting a better sense of how the conversation works. However, I do agree that Yi has more to say than we're likely to think of asking about. Hence my ongoing interest in 'open' questions alongside focussed ones. 'What do I need to be aware of now?' is a good one.

And if it did turn out that there was a rise in (for instance) people receiving 51 around the world before (for instance) a stock market crash, that would be very, very interesting. Over the past 10 days I seem to be interpreting more of 51 and 57 than anything else - but that's just a personal impression. Some noosphere-scale statistics would be fascinating.

What features would you consider to be useful/essential to be on a par with current Yijing programs?

(I think I should start this as another thread) My own offline program I wrote many years ago had just about every mathematical based transformation and analysis thrown in that I could think of. Far more than an average user would require I think. This is something that I am interested in.

What analysis functions are of use to you personally?

What features would you think are required for:
1) a Basic user (no/little previous experience with the Yi)
2) an Intermediate user (already familiar with the Yi)
3) an Advanced user (interested in the internal arrangement and relation of the Yi's lines and meaning)

Thanks in advance,

JustJoolz

I'd suggest you pick up some copies of Yijing programs (most have a free trial, though you should also definitely get Ewald's even though it doesn't) and see what they offer. Some to look at:

I think the basics are

  • cast reading (maybe with a choice of coin/yarrow odds)
  • enter reading manually
  • store reading and notes in journal
  • search journal
And by 'reading' I simply mean hexagrams and lines.

Beyond that you might include more information in the reading interface: link to pair, make trigrams clickable, and you could go on to provide links to complement, nuclear hexagram, and any other transformation you like. And steps of change/ zhi gua for each moving line, and, and, and...

On the one hand I can imagine an 'advanced' interface where almost everything is clickable and nuclear hexagrams etc fade in using ajax over the page. Very elegant. On the other hand, I'm not sure how many people would really care. (I wouldn't actually want this particularly, as I tend to remember these things.)

More interesting, for me, is the ability to search the journal for patterns. That needs to be as flexible as possible: full text search of the journal, maybe tags or categories as well (I like the idea of tags), full search of the oracle text, and the ability to search on all kinds of structural patterns. As well as the basics, like 'when did I last get this one as primary hexagram? or as primary or relating?', there is scope for 'readings with same nuclear hexagram' or 'readings with same pattern of changing lines' or 'readings that included line 2 changing'... and how about 'readings on this subject in the last 6 months that mentioned crossing rivers'?

And as well as inviting me to initiate all these searches, wouldn't it be great if some ran in the background and list of 'related readings' showed up automatically - so I didn't have to work out which patterns to look for?

By the way, the other day I did a second reading for someone on a related subject. The primary and relating hexagram of the second reading were the nuclear hexagram of the primary and relating in the first reading: not a pattern I've ever noticed before. I'd love to see the program that could recognise that for me.

But would anyone else in the world want all this? Or is it just me?
 

Sparhawk

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Mm. I think there can be idle chatting, just for the sake of learning the language and getting a better sense of how the conversation works. However, I do agree that Yi has more to say than we're likely to think of asking about. Hence my ongoing interest in 'open' questions alongside focussed ones. 'What do I need to be aware of now?' is a good one.

IMO, there's "idle listening," much the same way a small child can sit and watch a Socratic Dialog in a philosophy class or listen a theoretical physicist talk about higher dimensions... I mean, that we are "listening" does not default in that we'll understand what's being said or even that we are really paying attention. The fact that the querent initiates the query does not default in preparedness to digest the answer. After many years, it is possible the child will begin to comprehend some of it and even he/she will become a philosopher or a theoretical physicist, however, as it happens in the real world with those careers, not all, but a very small minority, will ever be prepared to absorb the knowledge being offered. Is just the way it is with every pursuit.

There was a call the other day in the Reading Circle--a general call at that but prompted by something I said--for people to really speak their minds. Well, it isn't like someone else has been using my hands to type over 3000 posts over the years. Still, every time I bring up the point of--basically this, really-- be-mindful-of-what-you-wish-for, others get on the defensive and believe that I'm trying to take their toy away and spoil their querying party. Heck no! It is first a journey of self-discovery and second of discovering the inner works of the cosmos (of which we are a part of, in case there's a temptation to separate the two). As far as "inner works" go, my warning has been that--and I've be consistent about this--, the same way that an experienced mechanic keeps his fingers away from the fan belt of a running car engine, a querent should be mindful of what to "touch" while contemplating a much bigger "engine." But, everyone is responsible for his/her own body parts and future, tangible and otherwise.

Over the years the words and metaphors may have been different but the message has been the same. Not that it means squat for the "veterans" but new people flock to the Yijing in a constant flow. What they won't hear from me is "hey, since there isn't any tangible harm, barring you choke on your coins or stab an eye with your yarrow stalks, ask away as much as you want..." Chances are that I'll repeat myself-- and be rebucked, of course--periodically. :D
 

Tohpol

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IMO, there's "idle listening," much the same way a small child can sit and watch a Socratic Dialog in a philosophy class or listen a theoretical physicist talk about higher dimensions... I mean, that we are "listening" does not default in that we'll understand what's being said or even that we are really paying attention. The fact that the querent initiates the query does not default in preparedness to digest the answer. After many years, it is possible the child will begin to comprehend some of it and even he/she will become a philosopher or a theoretical physicist, however, as it happens in the real world with those careers, not all, but a very small minority, will ever be prepared to absorb the knowledge being offered. Is just the way it is with every pursuit.

I suppose this is why the most so called enlightened person can actually be super-intelligent with a storehouse of theory but not much else.

There was a call the other day in the Reading Circle--a general call at that but prompted by something I said--for people to really speak their minds. Well, it isn't like someone else has been using my hands to type over 3000 posts over the years. Still, every time I bring up the point of--basically this, really-- be-mindful-of-what-you-wish-for, others get on the defensive and believe that I'm trying to take their toy away and spoil their querying party. Heck no! It is first a journey of self-discovery and second of discovering the inner works of the cosmos (of which we are a part of, in case there's a temptation to separate the two). As far as "inner works" go, my warning has been that--and I've be consistent about this--, the same way that an experienced mechanic keeps his fingers away from the fan belt of a running car engine, a querent should be mindful of what to "touch" while contemplating a much bigger "engine." But, everyone is responsible for his/her own body parts and future, tangible and otherwise.

So, if I understand correctly you're saying be very aware of how far you want to go with this self-knowledge / self-development thing because the Yi will do what it is meant to do and take you deeper and deeper if that is what is sought. That has consequences. Is that the sense you mean be careful what you ask for?

If so, that depends on the prepardness, effort made to understand the deeper meaning / symbology, nuances etc.) humility and willingness to apply what is received. If that is not applied and /not understood then be prepared to have more chaos introduced into your life instead of stability. Which in turn, will reflect the initial intention of the querant in the first place.

Following this a bit further....Therefore, a second choice is presented from lack of application / refusal to see the signs clues / lack of effort to understand. Namely, a choice to make the effort and to actually seek something more than just what is essentially a fulfilment of our own transitory desires which in effect amount to an escape of what the Yi is actually saying in the first place: "Know thyself." So, we come to the Yi to change our life based on lack of inner understand and a refusal to see the inner and thus the outer world clues OR we come to the Yi to begin to see?

Over the years the words and metaphors may have been different but the message has been the same. Not that it means squat for the "veterans" but new people flock to the Yijing in a constant flow. What they won't hear from me is "hey, since there isn't any tangible harm, barring you choke on your coins or stab an eye with your yarrow stalks, ask away as much as you want..." Chances are that I'll repeat myself-- and be rebucked, of course--periodically. :D

I think I understand what you mean... You're talking about the dilettante at the gates of any esoteric endeavour? It can be treated for what it truly is or as a quick-fix tool. The latter has consequences usually negative due to lack of awareness of what one is dealing with or have I misunderstood?

Topal
 
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Trojina

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There was a call the other day in the Reading Circle--a general call at that but prompted by something I said--for people to really speak their minds. Well, it isn't like someone else has been using my hands to type over 3000 posts over the years. Still, every time I bring up the point of--basically this, really-- be-mindful-of-what-you-wish-for, others get on the defensive and believe that I'm trying to take their toy away and spoil their querying party. Heck no! It is first a journey of self-discovery and second of discovering the inner works of the cosmos (of which we are a part of, in case there's a temptation to separate the two). As far as "inner works" go, my warning has been that--and I've be consistent about this--, the same way that an experienced mechanic keeps his fingers away from the fan belt of a running car engine, a querent should be mindful of what to "touch" while contemplating a much bigger "engine." But, everyone is responsible for his/her own body parts and future, tangible and otherwise.

Over the years the words and metaphors may have been different but the message has been the same. Not that it means squat for the "veterans" but new people flock to the Yijing in a constant flow. What they won't hear from me is "hey, since there isn't any tangible harm, barring you choke on your coins or stab an eye with your yarrow stalks, ask away as much as you want..." Chances are that I'll repeat myself-- and be rebucked, of course--periodically. :D

Would you care to elaborate about your warning, underlined. I'm intrigued. I'm not exactly sure what it is you think the querant "..should be mindful of what to 'touch..". Do you think the consultation of the Yi is an act that changes the development of the things asked about, simply throught he process of consultation, similar to what Twilight said a few weeks back or am i off track there ?
I'm not heading rebukewards BTW I'm really interested in your 'real' opinion ;)
 

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I never heard you say anything like this Luis, even tho yousay you have said it consistently...gee, it kinda makes the yi sound like the oiuja board.......:confused:
 

Sparhawk

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I suppose this is why the most so called enlightened person can actually be super-intelligent with a storehouse of theory but not much else.

IMO, there's usefulness in all knowledge. Your opening thought, however, begs the question: "What's the practical, day-to-day value to society, down at the street level, of a philosopher, or, for that matter, of a theoretical physicist?" Of course, here is where quality vs quantity vs usefulness, blur the lines... Everything has its own niche place. When you say "but no much else" I can't but wonder how would anybody manage to quantify or qualify the "much" or the "else," of anybody in particular, but even more so of those that are perceived by others as "super-intelligent."


So, if I understand correctly you're saying be very aware of how far you want to go with this self-knowledge / self-development thing because the Yi will do what it is meant to do and take you deeper and deeper if that is what is sought. That has consequences. Is that the sense you mean be careful what you ask for?
Not completely. The Yijing is both, a tool for us to use and an entity on its own. Now, using the "tool" metaphor (I hope you have used a wrench before so you can relate...), think of holding a wrench and tightening a an hex-nut with it. If you exert too much leverage and over tighten the nut, you will overrun the threads and ruin it. (It happens more often that you'd think, believe me...) The querent is the "mechanic" trying to fix something. Self-knowledge, by the hand of the Yijing, is akin to reach the expertice necessary to "know" which amount of pressure will fully tighten the hex-nut without overrunning the threads. The lesson of this is that, unfortunately, there are a lot of botched fixes by inexpert mechanics.

If so, that depends on the prepardness, effort made to understand the deeper meaning / symbology, nuances etc.) humility and willingness to apply what is received. If that is not applied and /not understood then be prepared to have more chaos introduced into your life instead of stability. Which in turn, will reflect the initial intention of the querant in the first place.
Not sure if that's an assertion or a question. I've no argument against it other than to say that the querent never returns to the initial place. He/She WILL be changed, counsciously or not.

escape of what the Yi is actually saying in the first place: "Know thyself." So, we come to the Yi to change our life based on lack of inner understand and a refusal to see the inner and thus the outer world clues OR we come to the Yi to begin to see?
Denial, that's what abounds... But the Yijing, even though it is a tool of self-discovery, as I mentioned above, it is also its own entity, over and above the querent. It will show more than we can see. We think we can take from it only what we need but the reality is that the flow is incessant. So, one of the warnings is that, even you may only want a glass of water, you are filling it with a firehose. There are ways to do it but it can also go very wrong.


I understand what you mean. You're talking about the dilettante at the gates of any esoteric endeavour? It can be treated for what it truly is or as a quick-fix tool. The latter has consequences usually negative due to lack of awareness of what one is dealing with or have I misunderstood?
I think is very close. Inexperience can get one's fingers caught in the fan belt... :D
 

Sparhawk

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Would you care to elaborate about your warning, underlined. I'm intrigued. I'm not exactly sure what it is you think the querant "..should be mindful of what to 'touch..". Do you think the consultation of the Yi is an act that changes the development of the things asked about, simply throught he process of consultation, similar to what Twilight said a few weeks back or am i off track there ?
I'm not heading rebukewards BTW I'm really interested in your 'real' opinion ;)

A few weeks ago, in another thread, I told Twilight something along the lines of "I agree with much of what you say, sans the sanctimonious barbs that come with it"... :D So yes, I believe the mere act of consultation influences the outcome of the background question. Furthermore, I also believe that we receive more that we ask for.

I have a funny example and comparison from recent U.S. politics. This happens with all the budgets, mind you, but the recent bailout is fresh in our memories. When it was passed, the congressmen had added so much "pork-barrel" that the final amount was inflated by quite a few billions of dollars. So, an "X" amount was asked but an inflated "Y" was received. In the case of the Yijing, I would bet you've never thought there was some extra information coming with the answers. The information isn't negative (or positive, for that matter) but is there and is like a time-stamp of what's developing and put in motion by the question. Mind you, I'm not saying I'm able to elucidate what's being said, or that I'm even close at that, but I'm well aware it is there. Working on it though... :D
 

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I never heard you say anything like this Luis, even tho yousay you have said it consistently...gee, it kinda makes the yi sound like the oiuja board.......:confused:

Now, Bamboo, that's your weekend project: search my posts... :rofl: Now, are you an old timer here writing under the new name of Bamboo (at one point I thought you were a new incarnation of "LIstener")?? Yes, I have, over the years, perhaps using different words and allegories, mentioned my views about haphazard consultation of the Yijing. I have also mentioned that I only consult the Yijing sparely. I have done so for over two decades, after previously consulting it endlessly for the most trivial AND important things you can imagine. At the end of my "play" period, I came to understand a fundamental nature of "change": There is no casual and impune observation of it.

Nothing to do with ouija boards though. That's another story... :D
 

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Not completely. The Yijing is both, a tool for us to use and an entity on its own. Now, using the "tool" metaphor (I hope you have used a wrench before so you can relate...), think of holding a wrench and tightening a an hex-nut with it. If you exert too much leverage and over tighten the nut, you will overrun the threads and ruin it. (It happens more often that you'd think, believe me...) The querent is the "mechanic" trying to fix something. Self-knowledge, by the hand of the Yijing, is akin to reach the expertice necessary to "know" which amount of pressure will fully tighten the hex-nut without overrunning the threads. The lesson of this is that, unfortunately, there are a lot of botched fixes by inexpert mechanics.



Denial, that's what abounds... But the Yijing, even though it is a tool of self-discovery, as I mentioned above, it is also its own entity, over and above the querent. It will show more than we can see. We think we can take from it only what we need but the reality is that the flow is incessant. So, one of the warnings is that, even you may only want a glass of water, you are filling it with a firehose. There are ways to do it but it can also go very wrong.


I think is very close. Inexperience can get one's fingers caught in the fan belt... :D

I find that a really fascinating viewpoint hitherto not really very much present on this forum at all I don't think. I'm still not sure how these "botched fixes by inexpert mechanics" actually manifest ? I assume you mean more than simple misunderstanding/misapplication of the answer ? I assume you mean tampering with or calling upon the Yi as an entity, when you don't really know what you're doing, may be a danger in itself because you're messing blindly with a being who may give you way more than you bargain for. So do you think then, that having been given more than you bargain for, which you don't understand, you can't simply dismiss/ignore the information given without it having an impact or effect of some kind ? I think thats what your're saying ? If thats the case then the thousands who trundle through here and myself and all of us who consult quite often are really getting in over our heads in some way ?
 

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I have a funny example and comparison from recent U.S. politics. This happens with all the budgets, mind you, but the recent bailout is fresh in our memories. When it was passed, the congressmen had added so much "pork-barrel" that the final amount was inflated by quite a few billions of dollars. So, an "X" amount was asked but an inflated "Y" was received. In the case of the Yijing, I would bet you've never thought there was some extra information coming with the answers. The information isn't negative (or positive, for that matter) but is there and is like a time-stamp of what's developing and put in motion by the question. Mind you, I'm not saying I'm able to elucidate what's being said, or that I'm even close at that, but I'm well aware it is there. Working on it though... :D

Well theres so much happening in the world at any one time for the sake of sanity i have to think an answer from the Yi broadly fits around a personal concern of mine, since thats all i ever ask about. I don't see why the Yi would inform me of a world event I've no direct personal involvement or interest in, or one that i could do anything about. However I can see it might give it me whether i asked for it or not because as you say its its own entity. It can say what it likes ! :D
 

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I find that a really fascinating viewpoint hitherto not really very much present on this forum at all I don't think. I'm still not sure how these "botched fixes by inexpert mechanics" actually manifest ? I assume you mean more than simple misunderstanding/misapplication of the answer ? I assume you mean tampering with or calling upon the Yi as an entity, when you don't really know what you're doing, may be a danger in itself because you're messing blindly with a being who may give you way more than you bargain for. So do you think then, that having been given more than you bargain for, which you don't understand, you can't simply dismiss/ignore the information given without it having an impact or effect of some kind ? I think thats what your're saying ? If thats the case then the thousands who trundle through here and myself and all of us who consult quite often are really getting in over our heads in some way ?

Well, I'll jump in here if I may :D

I think the "getting in over our heads" bit isn't really the Yi giving us a slap around the chops...but stemming more from our own subjectivity about an interpretation. What we don't perceive may either be picked up unconsciously and thus acts as stored data that will, in some way change things. Sure, you can deny it but it will work it's way out in an easy way or a super-painful way.

If I've got it right from Luis' thoughts... it's a matter of cause and effect. If I get Hex 31 and a line that is ambiguous concerning a possible relationship and on the rebound and hence vulnerable and prone to fulfilling a need I'm going to subvert the reading no matter what. If that desire is strong enough anything can be tailored to that personal reality: the Yi, voting for McCain /Obama as the New saviour; seeing the new woman / man in your life as one's soul mate, etc. It can be anything that acts as a buffer to SEEING. So, in that sense the Yi represents the potential for either propping up one's own needs or offering a way to disengage from those needs that cause so much suffering in life just like anything else can.

I've did precisely that about two years ago with the Yi which was exactly why I found myself here. Sheer desperation and pretty horrible emotional pain. It was only when life lessons threw a big cream pie into my self-satisfied face it was THEN that I was prepared to do the work to understand. And the Yi was waiting for me. I found that my understand had progressed ten fold in a short time due to this 23 process. My cup was no longer full. It was a emptied ready for something new to be placed in it. A 50.1 moment I suppose.

So, I knew that the Yi as a guide had certainly worked. And there's the danger. It worked just enough to supply enough energy to continue my subjective evaluation of certain specific patterns. My subjectivity and bias used the advice to create a half truth - just like disinformation works - in order to cling to my needs. That's why I think sharing readings sometimes can be very useful if you are in an emotional spin and not able to be objective. It counters the partial evaluation and pushing the information one way or another.

Topal
 

Tohpol

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IMO, there's usefulness in all knowledge. Your opening thought, however, begs the question: "What's the practical, day-to-day value to society, down at the street level, of a philosopher, or, for that matter, of a theoretical physicist?" Of course, here is where quality vs quantity vs usefulness, blur the lines... Everything has its own niche place. When you say "but no much else" I can't but wonder how would anybody manage to quantify or qualify the "much" or the "else," of anybody in particular, but even more so of those that are perceived by others as "super-intelligent." - said Luis

Yes I see. I suppose what I was trying to say is that there are those for whom knowledge is power or rather knowledge remains very high-grade information without ever passing through the emotional centre. It remains charged with intellectual daring but never connects to real wisdom or knowledge that has been applied. So, I agree, Knowledge for me is the key to all spiritual endeavour but that's not what many of those who claim enlightenment have - they just have information and are very clever. The quantitative processes are at work rather than anything creative. THEY wouldn't be able to quantify it as they'd be encased in their own self-reflection. So, the discerning of someone who is truly enlightened imo is way beyond mere intellectual acrobatics but something that is felt as well as understood and seen through their embodiment of certain principles of Knowledge that have clearly been applied. Thus it's self evident and very obvious. No?

Topal
 

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Well, I'll jump in here if I may :D

I think the "getting in over our heads" bit isn't really the Yi giving us a slap around the chops...but stemming more from our own subjectivity about an interpretation. What we don't perceive may either be picked up unconsciously and thus acts as stored data that will, in some way change things. Sure, you can deny it but it will work it's way out in an easy way or a super-painful way.

If I've got it right from Luis' thoughts... it's a matter of cause and effect. If I get Hex 31 and a line that is ambiguous concerning a possible relationship and on the rebound and hence vulnerable and prone to fulfilling a need I'm going to subvert the reading no matter what. If that desire is strong enough anything can be tailored to that personal reality: the Yi, voting for McCain /Obama as the New saviour; seeing the new woman / man in your life as one's soul mate, etc. It can be anything that acts as a buffer to SEEING. So, in that sense the Yi represents the potential for either propping up one's own needs or offering a way to disengage from those needs that cause so much suffering in life just like anything else can.

I've did precisely that about two years ago with the Yi which was exactly why I found myself here. Sheer desperation and pretty horrible emotional pain. It was only when life lessons threw a big cream pie into my self-satisfied face it was THEN that I was prepared to do the work to understand. And the Yi was waiting for me. I found that my understand had progressed ten fold in a short time due to this 23 process. My cup was no longer full. It was a emptied ready for something new to be placed in it. A 50.1 moment I suppose.

So, I knew that the Yi as a guide had certainly worked. And there's the danger. It worked just enough to supply enough energy to continue my subjective evaluation of certain specific patterns. My subjectivity and bias used the advice to create a half truth - just like disinformation works - in order to cling to my needs. That's why I think sharing readings sometimes can be very useful if you are in an emotional spin and not able to be objective. It counters the partial evaluation and pushing the information one way or another.

Topal

All that may be true but I thought Luis was referring to dangers beyond these. I can't say what exactly. I didn't think it had anything to do with Yi 'giving us a slap around the chops' as you put it, rather a consequence of being caught up in energies you've set in motion in your consulting spinning you round a bit out of the orbit you would have been if you hadn't consulted. And when i say 'energies',( not a good word but the only one i have), I don't think he was referring only to the psychological factors you discuss above, nor did i think Twilight was a few weeks back.

In the end it return to what or who we really think the Yi is. If it were an individualised entity we may feel differently than if we perceive it as the amorphous, universal consciousness, 'out there' but also 'in here' type thingy. I mean in the end we might all be part of the universal consciousness etc but our experience now is as seperate beings with different capacities and motivations, so what if the Yi were too only on a way vaster scale than what we would normally think of as an individualised entity, infact likley way beyond our capacity to even perceive.
 
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Tohpol

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All that may be true but I thought Luis was referring to dangers beyond these. I can't say what exactly. I didn't think it had anything to do with Yi 'giving us a slap around the chops' as you put it, rather a consequence of being caught up in energies you've set in motion in your consulting spinning you round a bit out of the orbit you would have been if you hadn't consulted. And when i say 'energies',( not a good word but the only one i have), I don't think he was referring only to the psychological factors you discuss above, nor did i think Twilight was a few weeks back.

In the end it return to what or who we really think the Yi is. If it were an individualised entity we may feel differently than if we perceive it as the amorphous, universal consciousness, 'out there' but also 'in here' type thingy. I mean in the end we might all be part of the universal consciousness etc but our experience now is as seperate beings with different capacities and motivations, so what if the Yi were too only on a way vaster scale than what we would normally think of as an individualised entity, infact likley way beyond our capacity to even perceive.

Yes, I see. The slap around the chops I meant was a consequence of going deeper but not inevitable. I think the psychological factors are all part of the same process. Knowing yourself. If you don't know you're own psychology then you don't know your own actions. Hence, the dangers. My point was that the dangers stem directly from that lack of knowledge of self. We can get ourselves into a real pickle. Perhaps it's not important what the Yi is rather how we process the teachings that are contained within it, be it an individual entity or Universal consciousness. (I think it's both just like we are separate yet possibly multi-dimensional too).

Maybe the Yi has a "connector" to a cosmic perception or Oversoul but how relevant is that to our level of perception? Not very I suspect beyond a conceptual ideal. Nevertheless, I think the Yi can help us to get to certain steps along the staircase.

But referring to the wider context as in world events, I think the Yi certainly does tell you about things that are of big enough significance i.e a "disturbance in the force" type scenario such as the financial crisis which I see as a definite precursor to other major events. The Yi signalled this to me three times when asked for a general summary of September. Each time it was the same: 49. So, ignoring such things in favour of our own little world could I suppose, be a dangerous thing to do.

Topal
 
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