Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Kun-Kan, Earth-Water

    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation? Kūn. She is the embracing mother and the place one calls home, one's territory, family or friends, anyone who acts her way. She is nurturing, receiving, and focused on results. One obtains good fortune. The Earth trigram is like a womb, rich in possibilities, she can nurture things into concrete existence, like a crop, creatures, money, tangible resources, return on investment, but also love and trust.
  She accepts everything, organic or inorganic, and works with it. Proceeds it, nourishes it, and arranges all creatures and objects around each other.
  Many of her creations will perish, many will thrive, but the earth goes on. She has no empty spaces, no end or start, no goal or limit. She is strict and that way creates a balance which restores itself over and over. Things which strive to be perfect. Living creatures seeking health, water free to run, and sunshine free to enter. But even the darkest places she fills with organic and inorganic creations. She traps the water and makes it available for her creations.
  土命 Tǔ Mìng, earth name/destiny: born in an earth year or having a local or popular name - a lasting link to Earth.

  What is the subject, intent or hope of your question?
  Kan. It is the dark place where things are born, the roots of a tree, the seeds of inspiration, but also of death, ends and hiding. It is the basis, the bottom of a well or pit, a depression or sunken place, a covered trap in the ground. Kan cannot rise up but has great endurance and depth. Kan represents the Earth.
  Kan follows his own road, even though he is easily influenced for a short time. He is uncertain and doubts himself yet takes risks and does not shy away from danger. His endurance makes him extraordinarily strong, but his insecurity can cause fears, depression or instability.
  Harness Kăn's strength in a fluent and easy way, circumventing opposition rather than fighting it. Kan is streetwise, knowing nothing and yet knowing all one needs to survive. The way of water is the way to overcome obstacles and relentlessly follow one's Dao.

  What do you want or need to do, or what will fate cause to happen in this situation?
  When Kun changes to Kan, Water imbues everything it encounters and applies its patterns to it. It makes sharp edges smooth, it enters the cracks in rocks and widens them, it makes the earth moist and undulating or soaked and unreliable. It lends its movement and patterns to the organs in living creatures. Water shapes everything in which it enters, for better or for worse.
  Kun builds and Kan shapes, Kun is battle, Kan is labor. They are the designers of life. Kun meeting Kan is about acting according to "the Way of Water".
  When Kun changes to Kan, Kun builds and Kan shapes, they are the designers of life. The result will be shining and giving joy, but the roots are showing, it is also a time of hidden danger. This is not an easy line and rules or past experience will not apply. You need your intuition, you will have to lead, give direction and flow with opportunities. In risky situations all depends on you.

General info about the trigram oracle: the lines, the origin, and more

The initiative

    
The top line (Heaven-line) shows the change of the focus or initiative.

  The top line is generally where the initiative comes from, but here it is yin, both in- and outside. It might be that you asked about a matter where the initiative or action doesn’t come from you. Yin is compliant and absorbing and occasionally accepts too easily, but it keeps the excess of dominance and lack of empathy of the Heaven-line in balance. A yin Heaven-line may bring rain: blessings – concrete sustainable solutions.
  Yin will reinforce you to process ideas and projects and to continue working on them. Yin is not aiming for success but for a job well done. It is nurturing and attractive, but there will be no output yet, for the time being your plans ask input, like ideas, energy, maybe money, and keep doing so for the time being.

When plans include the work, they will thrive.

The subject

    
The bottom line (Earth-line) shows the change of the field or subject.

  The Earth-line is unchanging yin. 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, resources and realization, even food for thought. It is a 'receiving' line, the earth needs input and resources to make things grow and bring concrete results.
  Your subject or project will stay attractive, but it will continue to absorb and process and use it to continue the work. It will not shine on its own or show increase to the outside, the work of building up happens in the background.

Beauty comes from the space within.

The outcome

    
The middle line (Man-line) shows the outcome.
  变六二为坎, 为水, 夫坤为致役,变坎为劳, 是地本平宁, 而忽为崎岖险峻, 任重不堪, 安中伏危之象。
下怀万邦, 上承天宠。
When the second six changes it activates Kan, the water. It begins with Kun, which activates battle (strategy and fight), and it changes into Kan which activates labor (work and input). It is the earth, by nature flat, which suddenly becomes rough and steep, as if it carries a heavy load that it cannot hold. It is the image of danger, hidden in the midst of calm.
  Down below he grants favors to all feudal states, up above he is granted the favor of heaven.

  When you have the drive to show, but you are in yin surroundings, it will bring visible increase but also insecurity and danger. Don't forget the background or the inside of what looks so perfect. Yin is the foundation, without its support, yang has no substance. Like Water, you have to navigate through rough terrain, fill in what seems impossible, rise above and over obstacles, while also inspiring everyone who has anything to do with your venture. Then they will follow your courage and trust your judgment.
  General: When yin meets yang, it is time to follow up on your inspirations, to give a structure to visions or to share them. Performing the work turns into providing leadership. Others ask your advice or expect direction. The focus is on moving forward, showing results, enjoying what has been accomplished. You can energize and initiate, reconcile ideas and reality.
  The outcome changes from absorbing efforts or resources to giving back. You will need focus for what you do and the freedom to see chances and flow along with them. Use intuition and quick reactions; strict rules close off many opportunities.

  The timing of this change of the outcome:
  春夏之时, 土被阳气而内攻, 浮虚陷害而怨生, 恩中必有崩毁之乖。
  秋得水而退, 土气不浮, 可谓少亨, 疑非大安, 尤防不测之咎, 惟不致伤耳。
  冬得水干, 培植焦熬, 终多费力, 不若无之, 终为美也。
  冬至以后, 是谓化工, 主劳役凋败之余, 有偶然横发之机。
  Spring and Summer: At the time of spring and summer, the earth is attacked from within by Yang Qi, it is eroded into emptiness and slandered, and so injustice arises, goodness collapses.
  Autumn: In autumn the water recedes, the Qi of the earth is no longer eroded, this can be called a small improvement. Probably no great peace, protect yourself above all from misfortune caused by unexpected events, only then will you remain free from injury.
  In the Winter the water dries up and the drought grows; at the end much effort will have to be made, but if that effort is there, the end will definitely be beautiful.
  After the winter solstice it is called Hua Gong. Water is at home in this season, the last vestiges of necessary labor disappear, and there is the spontaneity and freedom of nature.

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 stationary 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 Yin: it is too early for clear results; more work is needed. This line is the most difficult to influence, she is careful and follows her own decisions, but she is the one who turns resources into concrete results.

  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 Yang: if you need increase, this is a great line. Your efforts will show results. Occasionally not of the concrete kind, but joy and satisfaction are valuable as well.

  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: Gen, Mountain with his constancy, his ability to make things endure, is lacking here or not needed. Yin remains Yin.
  Advice or help for the subject: Zhen, Thunder with his energy and stimulation and quick actions, is lacking here or not needed. Yin remains Yin.
  Advice or help for the outcome: Kan, Water, with his direction and focus, his courage to take risks and his talent to give things shape
  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