Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Kūn-Gěn, Earth-Mountain
    

  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?
  Gěn or Mountain. He is high but does not boast, is strong but does not force anyone. Gen may be grumpy or a recluse but has a good heart and cares. Gěn is about individuality, staying true to yourself even when it is difficult and giving in would solve problems. Gěn stands high above the valley below and seems aloof, but the mountain shelters and feeds the valley, makes the clouds release their water and sends it down to the vegetation and all creatures at its foot.

  What do you want or need to do, or what will fate cause to happen in this situation?
  Kūn and Gěn: the earth becoming an elevated mountain is a positive image of goodness that rises and becomes visible. The grounded determination of earth and the grace, charisma and strength of Mountain have a great ability to express beauty.
  Both Kun and Gěn are what they are and do what they do, they never change, never think about it, never boast, but they are the two huge forces which give life its endurance. Both relentless in their own way.
  Mountain brings constancy. Visionary ideas can become viable plans now with a sustainable character.
  When the initiative changes from yin to yang, it ensures that plans, and also the work which has been done so far, gain clarity and structure. Things change from absorbing resources or efforts to output. Decisions can be made, progress or results can be shown.

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.
变上为艮也, 地起于山自下而上, 有积小成高之势。
无伐善,无施劳,万民服而事业盛也。
  When the top line changes it activates Gen: the mountain. The earth rises at the mountain from below to above; it is the power of height (attainment) by accumulating small successes.
No boasting of good qualities, no boasting of merits; all people obey and enterprises flourish.

  When the top line of Earth changes, it activates Gěn. The earth becoming an elevated mountain is a positive image of goodness rising and becoming visible. Both Kun and Gěn are what they are and do what they do, they never think about change, but they are the two huge forces that give life its beginning, its space and its endurance. Both relentless in their own way.
  General: when a yang initiative joins the yin potential of surroundings or a time, its clear and strong ideas will stand out by their own merit. Yang can initiate the change that ensures that ideas and the work which has been done so far gain clarity and structure. This is a good time to develop visions and plans with creativity and enthusiasm. To put energy into your projects and to show them. Now you have the power to ward off evil or insecurity, a power that is part of yang.
  Yang brings inspiration and joy, but yang also means that you have to put in effort or money in what you aim for, it can drain your resources, but decisions can be made; progress or new ideas can be shown.

    The timing of this change of the initiative:
   春生夏长, 畅茂条达, 富有之象也。
  秋得则万物告成, 升虽不足, 而内实有余。
  冬得之则草木凋零, 随毁随誉, 骤落骤荣, 旋消旋长, 而聚散无常。
  Spring begins and summer grows, lush and unfettered, rich indeed is its sight.
  When autumn is reached things are completed. Though from the outside not enough, (there is) within however certainly enough.
  When winter is reached the crop withers. Slander and praise follow one another, time after time degradation is followed by fame, and increase and decrease turn their circle. Meeting and parting are irregular.

The subject

    
The middle line (Man-line) shows the outcome.

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

  The middle line indicates the result. It is unchanging yin, this project will stay attractive, but also continue to absorb efforts, knowledge or resources, because its developing stage is not finished and not all possibilities have been explored. It still needs input and keeps doing so for the time being. It is too early to decide about a final direction, there will be no output yet.
  But yin is the one who can bring about concrete results. Yin stays in the background and does the work. It is nurturing, defusing crises, monitoring the process, building up and rounding out.
  This is the 'man' line, it can also be about you yourself, not only what you do.

Love for the work dissolves the effort.

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 Yang: the initiative is clear and strong, this is a good time to develop visions and plans, pouring in creativity, efforts and enthusiasm.

  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 stationary 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: Gen, Mountain with his constancy, his ability to make things endure
  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, is lacking here or not needed. Yin remains Yin.
  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