Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Gěn-Xùn, Mountain-Wind
    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation? 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 solve problems. 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 is the subject, intent or hope of your question?
  Xùn. Wind is good at communicating and spreading rumors, news, ideas, orders or goods. 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.
  One of Xùn's meanings is choosing or being chosen. It is giving or having a direction, a purpose. It can be in the way fate does, a path which can hardly be avoided. Being chosen is stronger than the freedom of choosing. But it also works in physical ways, in creatures the urge to live and multiply. Like water always follows gravity, the wind follows air pressure, 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.
  "Oppose-the-Wind" is rebellious energy, which prevents communication.

  What do you want or need to do, or what will fate cause to happen in this situation?
  When Gěn changes to Xùn, the strong inner core comes out. It can show its beauty or its flaws, its strengths or weaknesses. Gěn is 'character', Xùn is 'fate or destiny'. They both seem immutable, but when they appear together in living beings, they are also their power to make change possible, against all odds. It is the willpower to take your life or everything you do into your own hands, to either return or move forward to your true character and destiny.
  Many things are wrong, whether through actions of yourself or others, or caused by fate. If you can change them, do so. But if not, it is important to accept them. Without lessons from past mistakes, the future won't be bright, so take the opportunity to learn from these hands-on teachers.
  Embrace the past, honor it without judgment of good or bad. 'Now' depends on 'then' and the future depends on both.

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.

   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.

  The Earth-line is unchanging yin. This line is the subject, or the ‘field’ where you pour in or find both the cause and the means for your initiative: space, material, helpers or other people, resources and realization, even food for thought. It is a 'receiving' line, the earth needs input and resources to make things grow and bring concrete results.
  Your subject or project will stay attractive, but it will continue to absorb and process and use it to continue the work. It will not shine on its own or show increase to the outside, the work of building up happens in the background.

Beauty comes from the space within.

The outcome

    
The middle line (Man-line) shows the outcome.
  变中爻为巽, 风生岩谷, 山虚石出, 居高多险, 任重多危・
When the middle line changes it activates Xùn. The wind blows over the rocks and valleys. From mountain hollows rocks tumble out. High residence has many risks, those who hold important positions experience many imminent dangers.

  When the middle line of Mountain changes to yang, he activates Xun, the Wind. The mountain gets his inherently impressive image. Absorbing and processing his surroundings, he is an inspiring and giving leader. His influence will spread and he will earn respect and admiration. It is the power of a strong character, being true to oneself and to others. Able to overcome fear, greed and anything that keeps one from greatness. This is not an easy line and rules or past experience will not apply. It is a time of hidden danger. You will need willpower and persistence.
  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:
  春夏生蠹, 秋冬损物, 不如天风和时为美也。
   Spring and summer bring forth destructive things;
  Autumn and winter bring reduction of things.
  It is not as good as when the wind and time were in harmony.

Overview of the lines.
Activating (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, but don’t expect solid results.
  An activated 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 stationary 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 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.

  The three 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. They reinforce the overall power of a reading.

  Advice or help for the initiative: Kun, Earth, with her ability to nurture and concretize
  Advice or help for the subject: Li, Fire, with her power to discern and create order
  Advice or help for the outcome: Xun, Wind, with her power to choose and influence.
  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. 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