Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Lí-Kăn, Fire-Water

    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?

Lí. It is the trigram of discernment and order, of searching for truth and meaning. Lí is separating or leaving, but also clinging, holding on to things. It is what light does: discerning things, seeing their differences and similarities. Both by recognizing and acknowleding them.
  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 makes the 'now' visible, the border between past and future. The moments of 'now' fly past like birds. You will have to catch them right now, to enjoy something when it happens, to seize an opportunity, to realize a flash of insight.
  But reckon with its timing, don't try to push two days into the space of one or it will burn you to ashes.

  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 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 nurturing power of Earth.
  He 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 Lí changes into Kăn, things find their right place, but only when they have the freedom to find and follow their own dao, that always redirects them to their destination. The uncertain and unknown are the only future, one’s real destination lies in what ‘could be’, not in anything fixed.
  Fire unveils them, Water sculpts them and carries them along.

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, the thunder. The clouds radiate light, like shielded fire which cannot burn anything.

  Li changes to Zhèn. The fire burns hot. Thunder symbolizes an intense but short-lived energy. It can fuel fire to great heights, but can only do so for a short time. It is a good time to make decisions which don't ask for long deliberation or for starting something which is not complicated. But don't let impulsiveness overrule attention, Thunder can act in destructive ways as well, but Yin at the Heaven-line can bring rain, blessings. When a clear idea is acted on, it benefits everyone involved. It is a time in which big things can be accomplished.
  General: yin initiative in yang potential will need perseverance. Everything around seems too bright, too overbearing. 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 the rain: blessings.

    The timing of this change of the initiative:
  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.
变初爻为艮, 日入于山, 光辉晚照, 早年蹇剥, 老景亨泰。
When the first line changes, it activates Gen. The sun sets on the mountains, its rays become those of the evening sun. During youth one suffers difficulties and misfortune; in old age everything goes easily and there is peace.

  When Li activates Gen, it is difficult to find nourishment. The Mountain, with its barren rocks, can be dangerous for Fire, but it is also Mountain that can lift it up high so it shines wide and far. Then it spreads light and warmth and benefits its wide surroundings.
  Mountain can give the elusive and occasionally superficial Fire endurance, extending its life beyond the moment. Fire gives back its light, showing the beauty of the surrounding world and its inherent order.
  Fire and Mountain together have to take care not to favor themselves at the expense of others. Sometimes one is too cold or strict and the other too hot or fickle. Find the right balance.
  General: What you can do, or what will happen in this situation, is yin. It aligns with the Earth-line, but the potential in these surroundings or this time is yang. You want (or will) come closer to concrete realizations, but problems also become real. All this is not really easy amidst yang. Yang can be overbearing, through influence or force, so you need to hold on to what you really want, and yet not to force anything.
  Examine when the work can proceed and when it must be held back. Who can participate in your project and who would hinder it. Your project absorbs more energy and resources, and these should be used wisely. Listen to the Earth, she is creativity. You can hear her voice when you open yourself by just being you.

    The timing of this change of the subject:
  春日明暗相攻, 喜怒多顿。
  夏日人山, 草木成林, 遮阴有赖, 不致酷热。
  秋日入山, 焦燥亢厉, 万象易于枯槁。
  冬日入山, 煎逼愁颜, 万事阑珊, 不能长久
  In spring light and shadow compete with each other; joy and anger struggle constantly.
  When in summer the sun sets in the mountains, all vegetation matures into forests. The shadows are beneficial and prevent extreme heat.
  When in autumn the sun sets in the mountains, everything dries up very much, and everything on earth withers easily.
  When in winter the sun sets in the mountains, everything is suffering and pressed down by the cold and distress. Everything comes to an end and cannot act for a long time.

The outcome

    
The middle line (Man-line) shows the outcome.
  变中爻为乾, 日落于天, 晚景逼迫, 光华隐藏, 难以超越。
When the middle line changes it activates Qian. Sunset in the sky, the evening landscape contracts, the brilliance of the sun hides and cannot surpass itself.

   When Fire changes to Heaven, Qian supports the fire, it doesn’t go too high. This indicates a gifted character. The change is from yin, doing the work, to yang, where it shines.
  The change from yīn to yáng will be bright and bring joy. Bright sunny days will alternate with showers of nurturing rain, the ruler will be good for the people and they will be happy and proud, the crops will abound.
  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:
  春日无处不蒙和煦,
  夏日万域畏其炎热,
  秋日旱干而万物焦枯,
  冬日可爱而天下皆暴其昭明之德。
  The spring sun is pleasantly warm everywhere,
  The summer sun's scorching heat is feared in all regions.
  The autumn sun is dry, it withers all living things and causes discord.
  The winter sun is amiable, and all under heaven expose themselves to its luminous virtue.

Overview of the lines.
Activating (when the second is different) or stationary (when they are similar)

  A Yang line is generally bright and giving. Yang is great for enthusiasm and spreading joy or success, but don’t expect solid results.
  A 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 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 activated 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 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. 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.

  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.
  Advice for the initiative: Zhen, Thunder with his energy and stimulation and quick actions
  Advice for the subject: Gen, Mountain with his constancy, his ability to make things endure
  Advice for the outcome: Qian, Heaven, with his severe structure and his timing
  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.
  Many translations from "Yijing astrologie" by Harmen Mesker (Dutch).
  For divining with trigrams, see the video by Tin Yat Dragon