4/12/2023 0 Comments Ask the i chingWhen you engage the I Ching at this level, you can gain a palpable sense that you are indeed conversing with an old Chinese sage. Some of my most meaningful readings turned into “conversations” with the I Ching because the results of each reading would invoke another question. You can, however, ask for clarification on the first reading. If he asks two or three times, it is importunity”.* ![]() You will, probably, get a different answer the second time because you are actually asking a different question: What answer will you give me this time? There is even a judgment in the I Ching that speaks to this practice of “testing” the I Ching: “It is not I who seek the young fool The young fool seeks me. (Of course, you could ask this question if, say, you are recovering from a gastro-intestinal illness and are not sure if eating that delicious-looking fried chicken would be a good idea.) Also, don’t try to test the I Ching or goad it into giving you a “better” response by asking the same question again during the same session. Don’t pose questions that you already consider trivial, like what to have for lunch. Have a question in mind for which you sincerely seek an answer. How can I increase my chances of attaining meaningful answers from the I Ching?įor best results, approach the I Ching with respect. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Should that occur, you can ask the I Ching how to avoid or mitigate the unfortunate situation. So, to sum up, be prepared to receive any kind of response to your question, including a negative one. When you consult the I Ching, you sometimes are literally told: “Go ahead.” Or “Stop.” Or “Watch out for hidden forces.” Or ”This isn’t the right time.” Unlike other oracles, the I Ching can be very focused you won’t be presented with a vague set of archetypal images that seem only tangentially related to your situation, and from which multiple, even conflicting, meanings can be derived. And it is this specificity that sets this oracle apart. There are literally thousands of different readings contained in the I Ching, and they address every area of human life, from love to war, birth to decay, sublime success to abject failure. For ten years it will not be possible to attack again”* Of course there are also sublime judgments: “He is blessed by heaven. If armies are set marching in this way, One will in the end suffer a great defeat, Disastrous for the ruler of the country. In fact, the I Ching has many negative judgments, including a few that are downright catastrophic: “Missing the return. It won’t always support your ego’s desire or your opinion about a decision, circumstance, activity, or relationship. ![]() What do I need to know before consulting the I Ching? Mary Kay Landon, PhD, and a client discussing a reading.
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