WHAT IS I CHING DIVINATION
From ancient times until today, the art of divination has been practiced by cultures around the world. Divination can take a variety of forms in attempting to predict future events, from rainfall to the potential success of a marriage, to possible catastrophes.
What is the I Ching?
One of the earliest texts of divination are found in the “I Ching” otherwise known as the Book Of Changes, one of the oldest methodologies of divination practiced in the world. Its history dates back more than 3,000 years to ancient China. The origin and author of the I Ching is not known, though the ancient book has been used by professional diviners and novices for centuries to provide a sense of direction and understanding to their lives.
At its most basic description, the I Ching is an in-depth guide or system that seeks to explore and expand knowledge of the universal aspects of life in regard to principles and philosophies and guidelines to living and ethical life. It’s been used as a manual of sorts for rulers for millennia. The I Ching has been studied in Western cultures for the past 300 years and still has the reputation of being one of the most acknowledged and recognized books in Asian cultures.
The book itself is filled with interpretations, practices, writings, and applications in regard to aspects of the universe from the movement of clouds, the patterns of the constellations, and about nature and the earth itself. Aspects of the I Ching seek to interpret the concepts of Yin and Yang, or opposing duality that is found throughout the universe and in human behaviors and actions.
The elements of nature (wind, water, fire, thunder) and the more ethereal concepts of heaven and the universe are found within its pages. Aspects of civilization include relationships, marriage, and even agriculture and concepts such as quantum mechanics are found within its pages.
How does I Ching work?
Today, the ancient Chinese form of divination is founded from the I Ching. Practitioners over the centuries have utilized a number of methods to consult the mysteries of the human existence, from the earlier used yarrow sticks to the Chinese coins more commonly used today. However, finding enlightenment does not rely as heavily on the method as it does on the mindset.
When practicing I Ching, the primary focus is on a specific question asked by a person seeking greater wisdom or understanding. The Book of Changes is broken down into hexagrams (64) of yin (female) and yang (male) combinations of complementary forces. Each hexagram contains six lines. In the book, the Yin is defined as a broken line, while the Yang is denoted as a solid line – the Yin indicating a more nurturing, or yielding force, while the Yang or solid line denotes a more active or aggressive force. Each of the yin-yang combinations is representative of specific situations or characteristics that often plague or confuse humanity. The book contains over 300,000 possible variations of answers found in the hexagrams.
Each hexagram is neutral and balanced in nature. While neither good nor bad is to be found within them, they contain concepts that can lead to either favorable or unfavorable possibilities. Interpretations may offer suggestions on how to prepare for or deal with imminent or future situations in order to avoid poor outcomes while at the same time “hoping for the best”.
The overall concept of the book and its contents is to seek a deeper understanding through the subconscious mind to focus on one’s intuition to find the answers to questions that common sense or logic cannot solve. Many of them delve into aspects of human psychology and individual behavior and/or personality characteristics. It is also important for the practitioner to be aware of the concept that everything is connected, not only in time, but in space as well.
In the past, a practitioner used bones known as oracle bones, while in modern times, diviners use yarrow sticks or three coins. Coin-casting involves tossing the coins a certain number of times. Answers were divulged by the way the bones, the yarrow sticks, or the coins fall based on numeric values.
As a form of divination, I Ching focuses on symbolization of eight primeval forces of nature, which are common to all humans. It is believed that all aspects of life as well as phenomena can be grouped under one or more of the eight primeval forces of nature. As an example, the symbol that defines heaven not only denotes the aspects of an afterlife or universal force, but can also imply wealth and prosperity, a ruler, or even a father.
At the time the I Ching was written, life was much simpler and less complicated and complex, although many of its principles still remain true to this day. Practicing I Ching is not simply meant to provide easy answers to life’s questions, but to reach far into the unconscious mind to reach deeper levels of knowledge and intuition.