Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Xùn-Duì, Wind-Lake
    

  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?
  Duì, 'cheerful talk' or 'barter'. Its attribute is the marsh or Lake. It is the source of the flow of water and the flow of persuasive words. Duì is social, she is the trigram of gaining fame and fortune, but only when ambition has no hold. One needs balance between one’s own wishes and the rules of right conduct.
  The old character 'Dui' is a picture of a person with wide open mouth: 'open', 'to open' or 'to loosen'. The words of Duì are compelling, persuasive, they open the minds of others.
  Duì is the spirit of pure autumn, which is a good time for results but not for the start of something new. Like the autumn harvest time, Dui is contained within borders, it has limits. It has variable beginnings but a definite end. If you need to finish something, then do it now.

  What do you want or need to do, what can you truly do, or what will fate unfold in this situation?
  When Xùn meets Dui, there is a strong sense of purpose that one shares with others. Together one can fight enemies and protect the members. This is the power of Lake with her high vibration, she can resonate and connect with others. It is a strong instinct and fulfilling it will bring happiness and belonging.
   But there is also a sense of self with the ability to navigate connections without suppressing personal desires or ethics. This is the power of Wind, which is deep, far reaching and influencing. A group is strong when its members are individuals, not when they follow meekly.

  Xùn and Duì are the 'origin' of hexagram 61. 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 Neigua Shuwai Li says: 中孚：上巽下兑， 中存震艮。 风行当发， 雨泽施沛， 天地之 间， 草木皆受其润。 刚得中则止， 柔在内则顺， 悦以巽入, 无乖争 巧竞； 君子得此， 则为中孚之象。
Zhongfu: upper trigram Xùn, lower trigram Duì, with Zhen and Gen in the middle. When the wind blows, the rain falls abundantly, between heaven and earth, all plants and trees benefit from its nourishment. When strength is balanced, it stops; when gentleness resides within, it yields; when joy enters through humility, there is no discord, contention, or cunning competition. When a virtuous person attains this, it is the image of inner sincerity.

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.
变上爻为坎, 风入水面, 为浪为波, 漂泊劳碌,
小 人尤畏, 亦为混浊之乖, 少全清节,
有 岸覆舟之虞。
When the upper line changes, Wind activates Water. The wind penetrates the surface of the water, making waves and swells. Busy activity but drifting aimlessly.
Little people are very fearful and there is also the shrewdness of corruption, few are completely honest.
There is worry, like when a boat is in danger of crashing on the shore.

    When Wind meets Water, you will surpass your personal goals and instead create or help without intentions for yourself. It is also a time when law and order are one-sided and people like you are needed for restoring the balance. Wind entering Water brings danger and risk, so be very careful. When the wind whips the water into high waves, it can cause dams to burst, flooding the wetlands and creating devastation.
  Listen carefully to the first signs, both opportunities and problems give tiny signs before they grow. Kan can make Xun aimless, but also makes it possible to penetrate to the root of things or to unravel overly sensitive or other impenetrable issues. Use the Way of Water! Water and wind bring rain: blessings.
  General: yin initiative in yang times will need perseverance. Everything around seems too bright, too overbearing, too strict. 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 rain: blessings, results, pride and joy.

  The timing of this initiative: (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")
  春风入水, 水毂成纹, 人多奇巧, 繁鲜荣华
  夏风入水, 水渐日干, 人必悭贪悔吝。
  秋风入水, 水浪滔天, 岸摧舟覆, 有不戒之虞, 有不期之祸, 人当思患预防。
  冬风入水, 水竭流迟, 结水成冻, 物象寒苦, 艰辛贫乏, 隐伏阻滞者也。
  When in spring the wind enters the water it starts to spin and make patterns. This person is very ingenious, his life is opulent and knows glory and splendor.
  When in summer the wind penetrates the water, the sun evaporates the water and creates drought. One is stingy and has serious concerns.
  In autumn, when the wind enters the water, waves rise to a great height. Worries arise because no precautions were taken, and one has unexpected misfortune, like a boat overturned and crashing on the shore because it has not been checked for defects to prevent leakage.
  In winter, when the wind penetrates the water, the water dries up and the waterflow slows down. Eventually the water becomes ice, and the landscape is cold and desolate. One endures hardship and is destitute; lives isolated and cannot move on.
  *) Crashing boat: metaphor for being destroyed and defeated, but it also means checking a boat to discover defects.

The subject

    
The bottom line (Earth-line) shows the change of the field or subject.
巽卦。 变初爻为乾, 风收云静, 廖廓一清。
风恬浪静.人物繁华, 风尘不动, 日月昭明, 星辰荣耀, 尊卑永荫, 始终太平。
Xun gua. The change of the bottom line activates Heaven. The wind silently drifts the clouds together, making the far-reaching sky pure and clean.
The wind is a light and agile breeze; man and matter thrive. The wind doesn't stir the dust; sun and moon shine bright; the stars sparkle.
There is no distinction between high and low. From beginning to end there is peace and harmony.

  When Xun around you activates your Qián, Wind blows high in Heaven. One can follow one's conscience and dedicate oneself joyfully to one's duties.
  The wind carries with it your hopes and intentions and Heaven gives them power - this is your 'Heaven's Highway', your Dao (Tao), your mandate, your true destiny, whatever you call it. If you attune yourself to Heaven in the things you do or gather, by copying its persistence and obeying its rules, Heaven will sustain you and your life will be rewarding and true. Reaching goals is temporary, the meaning of life is to live it and make it worthwhile.
  General: The bottom line is the subject, the 'field' where you find the cause and in which you pour the resources for your initiative: space, material, problems or opportunities, helpers and other people or food for thought. But here you also meet your problems, fears, hopes and expectations.
  The subject is yang, but your question means you are entering a situation of yin potential. After collecting the material for concrete results, it is now the task or time to display them and then prosperity will gather. The subject will reveal itself, it will grow brighter and give joy.
  If things don't meet expectations, this is the right time to get new inspiration. Usually, yang at the bottom is positive, you find a balance between yang and yin that will help your efforts, or pave the way to finish your work, making it visible.

    The timing of this change of the subject. (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")
  春暖夏炎，
  三三 秋爽冬温，四时俱美，万物咸亨，吉无不利。
  风恬浪静.人物繁华，风尘不动，日月昭明，星辰荣耀，尊卑永荫，始终太平。
  In spring warm and in summer hot;
  Usually in autumn cool and bright; in winter mild; so it is good in all seasons. Everything goes smoothly for all beings; auspicious without exceptions.

The outcome

    
The middle line (human or self-line) shows the outcome.

   The middle line shows the result. It is stationary yang, there will not be any increase or decrease, but still action and output. Yang is inspiring, but it is too early to expect concrete results. The middle line can also be about you yourself, not only what you do.
  If this project does not need a concrete solution, yang can be very positive. It will continue to inspire and bring joy and brightness. Even if it stays unsubstantial in a material sense, it can improve the lives of people, like movies, holidays, love or a guiding star. But stay within limits, yang brings increase, but without yin it is prone to deplete itself, it is relentless and tends to be too cold or to strive too much. Plans may be too theoretical or even illusionary. If you are aware of this and rein it in, yang brings the joy of inspiration, plans, and visions.

Inspire yourself and your surroundings.

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.
  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 and creative, there is balance between yang and yin, ideas and their possibilities can 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: 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.
  In this answer the line is activated 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 or 'not yet'. Both can be good or bad, depending on the question.
  In this answer the line is stationary Yang: if you need increase, this is a great line. Your efforts will show results. Often not of the concrete kind, but joy, satisfaction and structure have their own value.

  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. Stationary helpers are part of the core meaning, they are your soul talking. They reinforce the overall power of a reading.

    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
  Helper for the subject: Xun, Wind, with her power to choose and influence
  Helper for the outcome: Gen, Mountain with his constancy, his ability to make things endure, is lacking here or not needed. Yang remains Yang.
  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