Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Lí-Zhèn, Fire-Thunder

    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
  Lí, separate, image of an Oriole with its golden color of the sun. Her attribute is Fire. She is the trigram of discernment and order, of searching for truth and meaning - or bringing the lack thereof to light. Lí is separating or leaving, but also clinging, holding on to things. It is what the light of fire does: separating the light and dark, seeing their differences and similarities, distinguishing things by the shadows they cast.
  Fire can easily be extinguished, buried under earth or water. To spread light and warmth it needs to be nourished. Attention, inspiration, order and truth will make it shine wide and spread its warmth, like the sun emerging from the clouds.
  Li's mandate is to show the 'now', the border between past and future. The moments of 'now' fly past like birds. To turn them into reality, you will have to catch them right now, to enjoy something when it happens, to seize an opportunity, to realize a flash of insight.

  What is the subject, intention or hope of your question? And what is your power in this?
  Zhèn, the Plow. His image is Thunder or Earthquake. He refreshens fields or minds, he brings wrong actions or decay to the surface and dissolves fears and doubts. He is the power of generating and growing, waking up seeds and cleaning the air with his electricity. He 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, lightning with insight - or with a raging forest fire. Or an earthquake: destroying, or plowing up new space or seeds.

  What do you want or need to do, what can you truly do, or what will fate unfold in this situation?
  When Lí changes into Zhèn, you need to know and understand what you are dealing with. Not all things show what they are made of. Take a closer look. Open closed jars or doors or minds, dissect situations, relationships and decisions.
  Change or throw away what doesn't fit. Shine light on mysteries or secrets, reveal their core. It is time to put things in order. It won't be appreciated by some, but Zhen will make sure things are done according to Fire's discerning power.

  Lí and Zhèn are the 'origin' of hexagram 21. 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).

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.
变上爻为震为雷, 云翳光明, 掩火不炎。
When the upper line changes it activates Zhen, thunder. The clouds radiate light, like shielded fire that cannot burn anything.

  Li changes to Zhèn. The fire burns hot but will do no harm. Thunder symbolizes an intense but short-lived energy. It can fuel fire to great heights, but can only do so for a short time. Use this time to make decisions that don't require long deliberation or to start something that isn't complicated. But don't let impulsiveness overrule attention. Yin at the Heaven-line can bring rain, blessings. When a clear idea is acted on, it benefits everyone involved. It is a time when great things can be achieved.
  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")
  春天得之, 雷雹并行, 震动发生。
  夏秋雷施物利,
  冬则非宜。
  In the spring, this means that thunder and hail occur simultaneously; shocks will take place.
  In summer and autumn, thunder is beneficial to all beings.
  In winter thunder is not appropriate.

The subject

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

  The bottom line is stationary yang. This line is the subject, the line of the earth 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

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

   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 its presence will be solid.
  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 (not 'male' but human), it can also be about you yourself, not only what you do.

Love for the work dissolves the effort.

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 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 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 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: Zhen, Thunder with his energy and stimulation and quick actions.
  Helper for the subject: Gen, Mountain with his constancy, his ability to make things endure, is lacking here or not needed. Yang remains Yang.
  Helper for the outcome: Qian, Heaven, with his severe structure and his timing, 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. 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