I Ching, Yijing or Zhou Yi
"Oracle of the moon": © 2000 LiSe
Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon
Lí-Gěn, Fire-Mountain
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?
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 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, or what will fate cause to happen in this situation?
When Lí activates Gěn, Fire has trouble to find nourishment. The Mountain, with his rocky heights, can be dangerous for fire, but he also lifts her high so that she shines far and wide. Then she spreads light, warmth and insight and benefits her wide environment.
Mountain gives the elusive, ephemeral, and sometimes superficial fire stamina, extending her life beyond the moment. Fire gives back by revealing the stark beauty of Mountain to the outside world. Two lovers of the truth.
The initiative
The top line (Heaven-line) shows the change of the focus or initiative.
The top line is stationary yang. A yang initiative, entering a yang world, fits right in. Both 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 creativity and 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 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.
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)
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 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 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 stationary Yin: Yin: A good line 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 the result itself.
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, is lacking here or not needed. Yang remains Yang.
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, 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.
Many translations from "Yijing astrologie" by Harmen Mesker (Dutch).
For divining with trigrams, see the video by Tin Yat Dragon