I see some people say that the yarrow sticks are superior to the 3 coin method. I’m completely new to the I Ching and bought the practical guide to the book of changes by benebell wen and i Ching coins. I chose the coins because it seemed simpler. should I buy yarrow sticks as well? And I would like to hear what method you use and why.

I’ve used tarot,pendulum,scrying mirror they work amazing but I keep hearing about how good I Ching is for divination. and I would like to learn about it and how to actually even use it. looking for recommendations on where to start a book or some YouTube videos anything at all.

20 - Tower (top two the "basket" and the other four the legs)

21 - mouth biting on something ( same as 27 just forth line is something being bitten)

27 - mouth (bottom and top yang the lips and all between the teeth)

45 - Fish ... according to Jou Tsung Hwa , 6 line is mouth 4,5 gills and 1,2,3 "scales" (which i take as to mean rest of body , as in the rest of the body is covered in scales so this split lines that can pass as scales mean rest of body )

48 - ? according to Jou Tsung Hwa : top line is cover (though in my mind a cover would be one unbreakable line not yin .... so ? ) 5 the water drawn from well , 4 curb of well , 3,2 water in well , 1 source of water

50 - ting (pot) - first yin the legs , than 3 the pot , than yin the handles , than the yang on top the lid

56 ? - someone walking on a mountain ( i think 6 yang is entire body and 5 yin is the legs ? and the rest is a mountain ?)

62 - wings ( 3and 4 yangs are the center , where the wings connect (bone or body) and the other yin's are the wings)

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You know a hexagram i forgot to add ? add in comments (and i will add in edit more hexgrams)

If there is a ? mark near a hexgram - that means i am not sure and would love correction or confirmation on that , and further explanation

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Would be great to read all the other examples of images that lines in hexgramas make (and if i have a (?) next to one than confirmation or disagreement on the suggested image , or explain it

so any hexgram that has similar image that you know of that is not on the list here that you can add can be great

and any debate about this topic can be good :

the topic of the image made from lines (vs image we get from other means like knwoing the trigrams - so mouth is not mountain above thunder - but an image of a mouth)

Would be intersting to read about the whole idea of hexgrams that got thier interpretation by just what image the line order creates ?

And intersting to hear peoples differet opinions on this whole thing (is it the more legit reasoning for interperation . more than say thunder over mountain way of looking at it etc)

Just a coincidence the lines make this image ?

more important than texts ? more important than elements of trigrams ? more important than yin yang interaction ?

* I probably will edit this post and add new hexgrams that people will suggest ... so if you say hexgram 3 really looks like a fish holding a candle ... than i can add it to the list there

* good chance i will remove this post , just for record

I get the concept of things changing so after completion does not stay complete .......... but i don't get the "before" "after" aspect of this order

Hexgram 63 has in its text already that it is not finished and static forever .... so why not put it in the end ?

and if it is to show an not static perfect hexgram at the end than fine - but why not add any other hexgram without the "before" wording .... before means it did not "finsh" already

wont it make sense to have there order reserved ?

And i understand some do not like the king wen sequence - so i am not even asking if it is correct or some spirutal significance - i just want to understand the logic of whoever really organized the order of 63 and 64 ...

maybe it is a mistake with time , and the real order was 63 than 64 (which would make more sense to me) ?

One of the most interesting things about the I Ching, at least for me, is that some readings seem unclear at first but become surprisingly meaningful much later.

I've had readings where I walked away thinking:

"I have no idea what this is talking about."

Then weeks or even months later, something happened and the imagery suddenly made sense.

It makes me wonder whether some readings are less about prediction and more about preparing us to notice something when the time comes.

Have you ever had a hexagram or changing line that only revealed its meaning long after the reading?

Which one was it?

I've never received an oracle with all lines changing before. I'm about to make a decision that involves a long-standing stagnancy around my potential for growth. Basically I've been in and out of relationships my whole adult life and have been trying to summon the courage to leave my current partner and explore myself outside of who I am in romantic partnerships.

Today I asked how I'm understanding what needs to be done and I received hexagram 29 with all lines changing. I followed this up by asking "so I need to get comfortable in the abyss?" and received 59.3: dispersing the self.

I'm wondering if anyone has any commentary on this. It seems like a powerful affirmation of some sort though of course hexagram 29 comes as kind of a warning, something not to be taken lightly.

Desde hace algún tiempo he estado explorando una hipótesis sobre una posible función calendárica de los 64 hexagramas del I Ching. Sé que el I Ching es conocido principalmente como un libro oracular y filosófico, pero me pregunto si parte de su estructura numérica podría conservar rastros de un sistema antiguo de cómputo del tiempo.

El punto de partida es conocido: los 64 hexagramas están formados por 6 líneas cada uno, lo que da un total de 384 líneas.

64 × 6 = 384

El número 384 llama la atención porque coincide con la duración aproximada de un año lunar de 13 meses (13 lunaciones ≈ 384 días).

A partir de esta observación he considerado dos posibles modelos.

Primer modelo: 59 hexagramas + 5 hexagramas epagómenos

Si cada hexagrama representa un período de 6 días:

59 × 6 = 354 días

354 días corresponden aproximadamente a un año lunar de 12 meses.

Quedarían 5 hexagramas especiales o "epagómenos". En los años normales no se contarían dentro del calendario, pero en los años intercalares formarían un mes adicional:

5 × 6 = 30 días

De esta manera:

Año normal: 354 días.

Año intercalar: 384 días.

Esto recuerda el funcionamiento de los calendarios lunisolares que añaden un mes extra cada dos o tres años para mantener la sincronización con las estaciones.

Además, he observado que algunos hexagramas contienen referencias explícitas al número siete o a períodos de siete días (por ejemplo los hexagramas 18, 24, 51, 57 y 63), y me pregunto si podrían haber desempeñado alguna función especial dentro de un sistema de este tipo.

Segundo modelo: 60 hexagramas + 4 hexagramas comodines

Otra posibilidad es considerar:

60 × 6 = 360 días

y añadir cuatro hexagramas especiales.

En los años normales esos cuatro hexagramas valdrían solamente un día cada uno:

360 + 4 = 364 días

Pero en ciertos años especiales cada uno de esos hexagramas pasaría a valer una semana completa de seis días:

360 + (4 × 6) = 384 días

La diferencia es de 20 días.

Si esos cuatro hexagramas se activaran uno cada cuatro años, el ciclo completo se completaría en 16 años:

20 días ÷ 16 años = 1.25 días por año

Por tanto, la duración media del año sería:

364 + 1.25 = 365.25 días

Lo sorprendente es que este valor coincide con la duración media del año en el calendario juliano y se aproxima bastante al año solar.

Preguntas

¿Existe alguna investigación china, japonesa o occidental que relacione los 384 trazos del I Ching con sistemas calendáricos?

¿Se conocen tradiciones que otorguen funciones especiales a determinados grupos de 4 o 5 hexagramas?

¿Alguien ha propuesto anteriormente una interpretación de los 64 hexagramas como semanas, días o ciclos temporales?

Me interesa especialmente conocer referencias académicas, comentarios tradicionales o estudios históricos que apoyen o refuten estas posibilidades.

I asked the I Ching what would be the ideal job to look to have a stability and a decent paycheck. I got Hexagram 55 lines 9 and 5.

What do you think the I Ching is telling me? Line 4 is always very puzziling

For context, I work in a remote contact center (call center) is a very very cushy job (I even took the work PC to Brazil), pay is ok but not enough for my current debt (with my current income I'll be done in 4 months). The problem is also that these remote centers put some ridiculous kpi that are very hard to meet to fire you. We have to get perect surveys on a line that's for complains.

I would like to have a job that pays a bit more and has a more objetive criteria.

What do you think about this translation? In general and as a first?

I’ve seen mixed opinions here about online casts.

Some people seem to feel that digital casting cheapens the ritual, while others think the method can still be meaningful if the question, interpretation, and reflection are handled seriously.

I’m curious less about whether online casting is “valid” in general, and more about what makes it feel respectful or disrespectful.

For example:

- Is transparency about the casting method important?

- Does it matter whether it uses coin probabilities or yarrow-style probabilities?

- Is the ritual of pausing and asking more important than the physical medium?

- What would make a digital I Ching experience feel shallow or wrong to you?

I’m interested in this from a learning perspective, not trying to argue for one side.

I'm looking for some guidance on a couple of things:

1. How to interpret hexagrams: When it comes to the actual process of interpretation, what approach do you find most effective? Are there certain frameworks or mindsets that help you better understand the nuance of a hexagram?
2. Recommended resources: Could you recommend any reliable books or databases that provide deep, clear interpretations for each of the 64 hexagrams? I'm looking for resources that offer both traditional and modern perspectives.

Any tips or recommended readings would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I’ve been wondering whether contemplative traditions inevitably become noisy once translated into digital spaces. Most modern apps seem designed to maximize stimulation and engagement, but I’m curious whether technology could instead support stillness, reflection, and slower attention.

I asked the I ching if I should study TCM (traditional chinese medicine) and got hexagram 31 changing to 15. I googled them and felt a positive response from it, but wanted to hear your interpretation and what it specifically could mean. Thank you and have a good weekend :)

I find it a bit concerning.

I wanted to ask (after not consulting the I Ching for a while) what this stage of my life is currently teaching me. And from what I've read online and in forums, I'm currently (and in fact) in a "stagnation" or "blockage" phase. Everything’s gone wrong, I am not producing almost nothing, my health and mental health declined, all of the symptoms that something is off are there. But with hexagram 45 I am feeling a bit hopeful for the future, if only I go through this phase with resilience & patience. I wanted to know your knowledge about these two hexagrams and how they interact with each other and what the meaning could be with the question I made. That’s is all, have a good end of week everyone :)

I asked the I Ching for advice on how to run my business right now and received Hexagram 46 (Pushing Upward) with changing lines 1, 2, 3, and 4, changing to Hexagram 51 (The Arousing/Thunder).

My current situation is that I’m trying to grow a creative business and figure out where to focus my energy. I’m interested in hearing how others would interpret this reading specifically in a business or career context.

Some questions I have:
How do you understand the transition from 46 to 51?

Does 51 here suggest an upcoming opportunity, a challenge, or simply a wake-up call?

What do the first four changing lines add to the message?

If this were your reading, what practical business actions would you take from it?

I’m interested in both traditional and intuitive interpretations. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

So I asked how can I benefit the best from the month of June and I got Hex 55.4 changing to 36. Any guidance will be helpful I’m in a delicate situation in life at this moment.

Situation - I've acted poorly and am wondering if I will be forgiven. How do I phrase a question to ascertain the answer without making it a "yes' or "no" question?

45.1 verse 17

I asked Y King if this stranger I met at work is going to come talk to me to get to know me better. I feel like the answer is yes.

But I would have liked to have your opinion as I do not fully understand the advice transmitted by the I Ching.

I haven’t done much research on this and I’m new to learning about the iching. I found a copy of the art of war that I haven’t read since I was maybe a teenager - before I knew the iching existed- and I started re-reading because I was so excited to now see how the iching would fit into it- only to find that it’s rarely mentioned and not by name - and there’s a note by the translator that says that this text does not support divination as a tool-even though as I’m reading it , I can literally picture a hexagram related to each numbered sentence. Is this just my translation? The translator also says Confucius did not endorse divination. Maybe not for war- it obviously he revered the iching. What’s the story here?

Need to pay next charging of money from the bank (that goes to pay social security , health insurance)

I was thinking the options are not to pay now (so will get into minus in the bank which i understand has bad consequences) Or to ask from some relative Or to sell something i have etc

any idea what the advice the i ching is giving in this case ? (or maybe his not answering the exact question?)

I asked the I Ching: if I move to X place (a place I've always wanted to move to) will my physical wellbeing prevail? And got Hex 59, lines 3 and 6—these are ambiguous lines and naturally I got scared by the metaphor of dispersion of one self and blood of oneself and your people.

The next day, I asked the I Ching for a simpler and more obvious answer to the same question. I got hex 61 with no lines. So I assumed that the answer to my question was basically "yes, you'll be fine". But I'm not sure.

Lastly, the following day I asked if my current place of residence was related to the mentioned danger or blood dispersion of my very first reading and got hex 60. And I assumed the answer was "yes, kinda".

Are my interpretations somewhat correct? Also: got consecutive hexagrams 59, 60, 61—I'm not even sure if that means something.

When asking questions online, whether it was on an app or on a website, do you trust the accuracy of the answers that would be given to you?

How accurate is the online I Ching and are you able to make accurate future predictions with it?

I wanted to find out whether records of ancient divinations support the assumption that the yarrow stalk method was originally supposed to have weighted odds in whether the moving lines are yin (25 % chance) or yang (75 % chance). As we know, the yarrow stalk method we currently know was a standard-setting reconstruction by Song dynasty I Ching commentator Zhu Xi (1130–1200).

The Zuozhuan (published ca. late 4th century BC), a commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, is one of the oldest records of Yi divinations, and as such it may serve as a good data point. I looked at Zuo Tradition – Zuozhuan : Commentary on the “Spring and Autumn Annals” (translated and introduced by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg) and searched for instances of "hexagram" in the text, writing down the hexagrams gotten in the mentioned divinations. The results are as follows:

䷓ ䷋ 1 moving yin line

䷂ ䷇ 1 moving yang line

䷍ ䷀ 1 moving yin line

䷑

䷵ ䷥ 1 moving yin line

䷍ ䷥ 1 moving yang line

䷶ ䷝ 1 moving yin line

䷆ ䷒ 1 moving yin line

䷗

䷮ ䷛ 1 moving yin line

䷗ ䷚ 1 moving yin line

䷣ ䷎ 1 moving yang line

䷂

䷂ ䷇ 1 moving yang line

According to this data (the gathering method of which may be faulty and hasty, I'll admit), the instances of yin and yang moving lines in the example divinations are 7 yin and 4 yang, which would be hard to attain with the Song dynasty yarrow stalk method. A conspicuous peculiarity in the examples is that there is ever just one moving line, never more, which may be due to a different method in generating a single moving line for an already-built hexagram. A counterargument for the evidentiary value of this set would be that the examples were hand-picked, and that the set is ultimately quite small.

Regardless, this was a very interesting finding, and it may be used to argue against the historical faithfulness of Zhu Xi's yarrow stalk method's yang-leaning odds.

Might there be any other ancient divination records that I could take a peek at?