The i-ching is cast using either three coins or fifty yarrow sticks. Each coin has a yin side and a yang side, rather like heads and tails.
Before asking the i-ching for guidance the querant should sit quietly holding the coins and contemplating their question for a few moments.
The YANG side of the coin (left) has a value of 3 Yang is represented by a single unbroken line like so ________
The YIN side of the coin has a value of 2. Yin is represented by a broken line like this ____ ____
The coins are thrown by the querant a total of six times thus generating the six lines of the hexagram.
Each time the value of the three coins in total will be 6, 7, 8 or 9. Make a note of each result and keep them in the correct order.
6 Represents Old Yin........ An Old Yin line changes to a Young Yang Line
When constructing a hexagram you always start from the bottom, this is because all organic life starts on the ground and grows upwards.
7 Represents Young Yang...........This line remains the same.
8 Represents Young Yin.............This line remains the same.
9 Represents Old Yang............This line changes to Young Yin.
The significance of the old lines is the underlying philosophy of the Tai Chi or Yin/Yang symbol which says that when a force reaches the height of its potential it becomes 'old' and is then reborn as its opposite which is young. Hence 6 and 9 which are 'old' numbers (or lines) change to their exact opposite, old to young, yin to yang.
After throwing the coins six times you would have something like this: 9, 6, 7, 8, 7, 6 Which would then create two hexagrams, an original and a changed version.
6 Old Yin ___ ___ Changes to Young Yang _______
7 Young Yang _______ Stays the same ___ ___
8 Young Yin ___ ___ Stays the same ___ ___
7 Young Yang _______ Stays the same ___ ___
6 Old Yin ___ ___ Changes to Young Yang _______
9 Old Yang _______ Changes to Young Yin ___ ___
Look up the meaning of the first hexagram (most books will provide a reference table for this purpose) In this case The first hexagram created is Hexagram 63 Chi Chi meaning 'After Completion'.
For greater insight now read the corresponding text for any changing lines, in this case we would read the text for hexagram 63 and then the text for the changed lines which will be found in the commentary for Hexagram 63. Finally for further illumination we would look up the second hexagram which in this case is Hexagram number 4 Meng - 'Youthful Folly' and read the commentary from that, thus the i-ching is consulted to its fullest extent.
Remember it is perfectly acceptable to work solely with the guidance derived from the first hexagram that was thrown, the changed lines and resulting second hexagram serve only to expand upon the commentary of the first in relation to your situation.
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