Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Xùn-Gěn, Wind-Mountain
    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
   Xùn, 'Choosing', the character xun is a table with tokens or seals and a pair of hands. Her attribute is Wind. She is the master of inspiration. She is good at communicating and spreading rumors, news, ideas, orders or goods. The officer who spreads the wishes of the sovereign. She is patient and precise, good at detailed work. She can penetrate and influence physically and mentally. Wind can bring a mood or atmosphere which is clearly felt. Wind can also spread disease, but her absence can cause decay.
  'Xùn' means counting, choosing or being chosen. It is giving or having a direction, a purpose, a 'seal' or mandate. It can be in the way fate does, a path that can hardly be avoided: "your number is up". Being chosen is stronger than the freedom of choosing. It also works in physical ways, defining 'what you are' and the urge to grow into it and live and multiply it.
  Like water always follows gravity, the wind follows air pressure, answering the 'atmosphere', which makes her stronger and more persistent than moving toward a goal.
  Your intuition will have a stronger influence on your road than your mind, even though Wind also relates to thoughts. Thoughts follow the decisions of the heart. Wind follows the voice of the Earth, the voice of life.

  What is the subject, intention or hope of your question? And what is your power in this?
  Gěn, 'ward off'. His image is 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 be easier. 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, what can you truly do, or what will fate unfold in this situation?
  When Xùn meets Gěn, the elusiveness of Wind acquires reality and permanence. Wind gives direction and fills the sails, but with Mountain’s support it becomes durable. Gěn has a solid presence and a connection with Earth and her seasons, which contributes the power to complete lasting results. The strength to climb high and attain goals, but thanks to Wind also to relax and enjoy the view.
  Xùn and Gěn together from an unstoppable power, they move on and on, like the wind over the mountains. It is the flow of life itself, of creatures following their destiny. The flow from the source of creation through the challenges of life.
  When your goals flow along with whatever is 'out there', you will fly higher than just your own imagination. The spirits are with you.

  Xùn and Gěn are the 'origin' of hexagram 53. First trigram is the upper trigram (called '悔 huǐ, regret' or 'consult': the problem that makes you consult the oracle). Second trigram is the lower or inner trigram (called '真 zhēn, true': the answer of the oracle for this situation: the advice how to deal with it).

The initiative

   The top line is stationary yang. A yang initiative, entering a yang world, fits right in. Both are clear and inspiring, full of plans. Even when other things change, you will remain giving, pouring ideas, efforts or money into this situation. Yang brings and spreads ideas with a good basic structure, It is the master of good timing and planning, but not of finding a final solution or concrete results.
  Stay within limits, Yang is also prone to deplete itself. It is relentless, and it can focus so intensely on mental images that they can turn into air castles or delusions. Yin is necessary for concrete results but not before the planning is right, too early can be disastrous, no matter the quality of your ideas or how determined you are.

Yang has the talent to enjoy the road
before reaching any destination.

The subject

  The Earth-line is stationary 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, making your vision concrete, or whatever comes your way.

Beauty comes from the space within.

The outcome

  变中爻为艮, 风势入山. 动摇山岳. 令命上行, 人多敬畏。
When Xùn's middle line changes it activates Gěn. The wind penetrates the mountains and agitates their lofty heights; the destiny of life goes up, this person gets a lot of awe.

   If you listen to your intuition, you will find your destiny. Fate can bring you luck or disaster, and often it's not your fault, but a part of it is what you do yourself.
  Heaven and Earth will not move from their place. You are the one who decides where you go. Flying up to heaven, higher than you ever imagined, or staying down on the earth, where the space is unending. Heaven beckons, but you will always end up on the earth, because that is where you live your life. Never forget about her, every voyage into space has to start and end in her arms. She gives it reality and meaning.
   If you keep finding your origin, you will go where you belong. Dare to conquer the world or be crushed by it, but deep in your heart is the peace of living the path that Earth opens for you.
  General: When yang meets yin, the 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.
  Maybe it is time to pass the reins to your guts and intuition instead of your head.

    The timing of this outcome: (Time can refer to the seasons of the year, the hours of a day, the progress of an undertaking, a state of mind - anything that has a beginning, a peak, a decline, and an end. See "Timing")
  春风入山. 草木荣茂, 人多贤豪, 人则可以把麾扬节。
  夏风入山, 巽木成林, 峰峦蓊郁, 贵显非常。
  秋风入山, 风藏山谷. 草木渐凋, 有始无终. 先达后穷. 人难久耐。
  冬风最冷, 果落枝枯. 萧索憔卷一・ 悴, 先困后达, 难中获易。
  When the spring wind enters the mountains, vegetation grows abundantly. The people are wise and unconstrained, and they can take on the command to raise the festival (take charge of important matters).
   When the summer wind enters the mountains, the pliant trees grow into a forest. From their very high position the mountain tops long for this dense vegetation.
  When the autumn wind enters the mountains, the wind conceals the mountain-valleys; the vegetation gradually withers, there is a beginning but no end. First understanding, later unreasonableness. One has to endure difficulties for a long time.
  The winter wind is the coldest; fruits fall and branches dry out. Despondent and barren. First obstruction, later passage. In the midst of difficulties one obtains ease.

Overview of the lines.
Activated (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, for structure, but don’t expect solid results.
  An activated Yin line generally does the work. Yin's creativity absorbs and converts resources into tangible results. It brings peace, beauty, 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 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: She is the most difficult to influence, she is careful and follows her own creativity and 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 or 'not yet'. Both can be good or bad, depending on the question.
In this answer the line is activated Yin: good for concrete results. More work is needed, but your dedication is not in vain. For now, it will reduce the 'shine' because it focuses on creating, on growing something of quality, not on how it will look.

    About the 3 lines of the trigrams and the spirit 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 or what is lacking at the moment. They reinforce the overall power of a reading.
  Helper for the initiative: 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. Yang remains Yang.
  Helper for the subject: Xun, Wind, with her power to choose and influence, is lacking here or not needed. Yin remains Yin.
  Helper for the outcome: Gen, Mountain with his constancy, his ability to make things endure
  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. But 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.
  See also "Yijing astrologie" by Harmen Mesker (Dutch). The guide to calculating your birth hexagram.
  For divining with trigrams, see the video by Tin Yat Dragon