Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Lí-Duì, Fire-Marsh/Lake
    

  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?
  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 LI activates Duì, differences come to light and it is important to clear up misunderstandings. Lake is both the joy of companionship and the fear of what people might do to each other. Or even what inner discord does. Li brings fences that keep safe or divide. Be careful with actions and enthusiasm, show only the ideas that suit the situation, then they will bring clarity and understanding.
  Duì is the trigram of exchange and empathy, but also of fights and enmity. A society of people will always contain both, so behave in a careful way, reckoning with the rules of relations. Secure your position, but without boasting. Bring in your ideas, but without compulsion.

  Lí and Duì are the 'origin' of hexagram 38. 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.
  变九二为离为火。 离为火为日, 吐焰发耀, 光照天下, 太阳之三三 象，
长育之君, 万象贤明, 百物附丽。
  The change of the middle yang line activates Li, which is fire and the sun, spewing flames and brightly radiant; its rays illuminate everything under the sky, its image is repeated eminent yang.
  It is the ruler who brings greatness. The source of life and clarity for everything on Earth, all beings bind themselves to it.

   When Heaven enters a time or situation of Fire, it supports and contains the fire: it will not go too high. This indicates a gifted character. The change is from yīn, doing the work, to yáng, 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.
This is the mandate or Dao of Fire: living 'now', and thus to live and bring warmth and joy, clarity and prosperity.
  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 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.
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 activated 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.

    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.
  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