Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Qián-Zhèn, Heaven-Thunder
    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation? Qián. Its Qi is powerful and energetic; it refers to wealth and glory, leadership and taking charge. The laws of Heaven give life its power, endurance and creativity. Qián provides the substrate that gives all things structure and meaning. Qian deals with the mental or intangible.
  Heaven regulates the time and following it gives you the right timing. Look up at the North pole and you will see the entire cosmos turning around it, everything moves according to Heaven's law. Heaven brings the seasonal rains, which benefit all. A person, team or venture with Heaven can reason and judge well and they are known for their strong, powerful appearance.
  天命 tiānmìng, mandate of heaven; destiny; fate; one's life span.
  乾元 qiányuán beginning of creation.

  What is the subject, intent or hope of your question?
  Zhèn. It is the plow, its power is to refreshen fields or minds, it brings wrong actions or decay to the surface and dissolves fears and doubts. Its image is Thunder, it wakes up seeds and cleans the air with its electricity. It is impulsive and can be insensitive and destructive, but those qualities also help to loosen suffocating ties or views. Zhèn cuts away the old and opens the space for the new.
  Zhèn focuses on the short term and sets things in motion. It is the most energetic trigram, it knows no limits and knows no detours. It has difficulty in reaching a conclusion, it is the trigram of the beginning, the first action, the first spark and quick results – for better or for worse, lighting an insight - or a raging forest fire.

   What do you want or need to do, or what will fate cause to happen in this situation?
  Perseverance and belief in your ideal can turn this into a new beginning or a new life. Seeds become flowers that will create fruit and new seeds. Do not try to force their growth and do not regret their loss. Try not to harvest in the spring or sow in the fall. Moving with things as they are, and also finding or creating the time and place where things move with you, gives power to your actions. The universe assists those who listen to its movements.
  Don't underestimate the power of numbers. Show or tell others what you aim for. Together the influence of your intentions will be amplified.

The initiative

  When Dui finds itself in a 'Qian' situation, Lake's responsive yin initiative enters a very yang, cold and strict environment. Before each step, you have to hold back and evaluate the situation. Any wrong or careless action can have serious consequences. With humility, prudence and politeness you can still achieve concrete results, but it is not a good time to start larger ventures or to show any accomplishment to the world.
  General: yin initiative in yang potential will need perseverance. Everything around seems too bright, too overbearing. Don't try to compete, but make use of what presents itself to you. When the time is yang, it offers many opportunities and resources, brilliant ideas, but few concrete results. Yin's power is to absorb and then to create from what she gathered.
  You are a good organizer, you oversee the work and inspire others while working hard yourself. You can turn visionary ideas into viable plans.
  Yin at the top line brings the rain: blessings.

    The timing of this change of the initiative:
  春泽有滋息之甘,
  夏泽有长育之利,
  秋泽有西成之望,
  冬泽有寒凝之苦。
  The spring Marsh has the sweetness of growing sprouts,
  The summer Marsh has the profit of steadily raising,
  The autumn Marsh has the hope of harvest,
  The winter Marsh has the suffering of freezing cold.

The subject

The bottom line is stationary yang. This line is the subject, or the ‘field’ where you pour in or find both the cause and the means for your initiative: space, material, helpers or other people, even food for thought. It is the line of the earth, of resources and realization. It is a 'receiving' line, the earth needs food to develop things.
  Here she is yang, she does not absorb or concretize, she is giving. Things look interesting and bright and give back. What you want to achieve inspires you, but take care not to deplete resources. Things will gain clarity but it is not yet a time of concrete results.
  Yang at the bottom line brings balance between yin and yang. Its light penetrates the undefined power of the earth-line, it inspires yin to make its imaginings grow, and it gives each creature or plan or venture its rightful structure.

Enjoy the now and its possibilities.

The outcome

  When Li enters a time of Qian, the outcome will need more work before you can show anything. Fire brings light, but she is the messenger for Heaven's laws and structures. Heaven is severe and Fire demands that everything is organized and clear and concrete, reflecting the light. Rightly so, without order the world would turn into chaos. Creatures need to recognize each other, friend or enemy, kin or stranger, hunter or prey.
  General: When yang meets yin, its shine will decrease, but now things will proceed in a more tangible way. Resources will be used to create concrete results. Things change from giving to absorbing, from ideas and inspiration to processing, from overviewing to being part of the work. And if there are problems, a decrease can be what you need.
  It can also mean that it is time to pass the reins to your guts and intuition instead of your head.

  The timing of this change of the outcome:
  春天无日, 阴雨连绵, 物难发生, 荣中有辱。
  夏天无日, 暗晦阴暝, 火势消灭, 物难长养, 一暴十寒, 凶荒必致。
  秋冬遇此, 愈加速遭, 雨雪连连, 类多愁嗟。
  When there is no sun in the spring, there is a lot of rain and it is difficult for life to manifest itself. In the midst of fame is shame.
  When there is no sun in summer, it is dark as night; the fire dies out and what lives can hardly be nourished and grow large, it goes in fits and starts. There will be lean years.
  If this happens in the fall or winter, progress is even more difficult; rain and snow fall continuously. The people sigh and are worried.

Overview of the lines.
Activating (when the second is different) or stationary (when they are similar)

  An activated Yang line is generally bright and giving.Yang is great for enthusiasm and spreading joy or success, but don’t expect solid results.
  An activated Yin line generally does the work. Yin absorbs and converts resources into tangible results. It brings peace and a sense of security.

  The initiative (top line or Heaven line) is the intention or focus. Your ideas, plans, or what you want, or something that happens and you want to influence it or use its possibilities.
  In this answer the line is activated Yin: this is a good time to work on ideas. Usually, yin at the top is very positive, there is balance between yang and yin, ideas and their possibilities to become reality.

  The subject (bottom line or Earth line) is the 'reality' of your question or the ‘field’ of action. A situation or person, resources, materials, facts.
  In this answer the line is stationary Yang: the subject is clear and generous and responds to the initiative. Usually yang at the bottom is positive, there is balance between yang and yin.

  The outcome (middle line or Man Line) is what you or others or fate cause to happen 'between Heaven and Earth'. It is the outcome of this question. It can be physical or mental or both. If this is a yes/no question, then yang means yes, yin means no. Both can be good or bad, depending on the question.
In this answer the line is activated Yin: a good line if you need decrease or concreteness, but not for shining results. More work is needed, but your dedication will not be wasted.

  The three helpers
  Each line, active or at rest, summons one of the 8 trigrams as a Helper.

  For an activated line: telling you what you need - or about a problem area or something to avoid.
  For a stationary line: this is what you already have or do or what you don't need. Often we just need a reminder of our abilities. Or it could be what you wish or fear - but will not happen.
  Active lines are the helpers to change things, they listen to intentions, which can come from you, surroundings, or fate. Stationary helpers are part of the core meaning, they are your soul talking, but they also see the impossibilities. They reinforce the overall power of a reading.

  Advice or help for the initiative: Dui, Lake, with her ability to resonate and persuade
  Advice or help for the subject: Xun, Wind, with her power to choose and influence
  Advice or help for the outcome: Li, Fire, with her power to discern and create order
  But when things are not satisfying, it might be that one or more helpers don't help enough - or try too hard. Or maybe you don't listen carefully enough.

  This oracle is NOT according to the Neigua Chuwaili, a chapter of the Heluo Lishu, which is meant to be read and used in Chinese astrology. I found beautiful texts about the trigrams in the Neigua Chuwaili and borrowed them for this trigram oracle. For those who are interested in the Heluo Lishu see the course by Harmen Mesker.
  Many translations from "Yijing astrologie" by Harmen Mesker (Dutch).
  For divining with trigrams, see the video by Tin Yat Dragon