Main Twelve Branches Three Currents Lunar Hexagrams Tao Time Tao Blog

All content copyright Dale Bruder unless attributed to others ©2012

Introduction
The I Ching originated as an agrarian guide, tied to the lunar months. A sequence of hexagrams spans the solar year beginning with the Chinese New Year; the second new moon of the Gregorian calendar.

Agrarian cycles, defined in the seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter can also be said as begetting, becoming, begoning. This triad is the contextual model for the three currents.

The triad can be said as idea, design, and product; beginning, middle, end; cardinal, fixed, mutable and be, do, and have.

Begetting, becoming and begoning interpretation of an I Ching inquiry is what I call the three currents. Every project, procedure, enterprise and endeavor contains these elements.

Preparing an inquiry
The opportunity of applying the I Ching to an inquiry is done in a question. Preparing the question is done in a two step procedure. The clearer the question and the deeper your perception of the matters at stake, the more profound the answer will be.

Establishing the Field
The first step is to consider the matter. Search out the feelings, images and experiences involved. Articulate what you feel and think what you know and what you do not know. Look for relevant memories and experiences, hopes and fears, dreams and desires. Look to see what is there, no matter how contradictory. This will establish a field of associations that can focus the symbols and relate them to your concerns.

Formulating the Question
The second step is to formulate the question as clearly as possible. Base it on what you want to do. As you contemplate the question find the place where desire melts into uncertainty. As your inquiry deepens search out the level of specifity you need. It doe not matter what you are asking about as long as it is personally important and your motives in asking are sincere.

Yes and no questions are not usually effective. An effective formulation of a specific question might be: what about doing X? or What should my position about X be? If you are confused about the whole situation, you can ask the most basic question of the I Ching oracle: What time is it for me? Please give me an image of my overall situation. You can also ask for a strategy or guide: What is the most effective stance to take towards Y? How can I best achieve X? or How can I help A? If you are truly up against a dilemma, you can ask for an image of each alternative, formulating two questions: What about doing X? What about doing Y?

In formulating the questions, or asking about another person, you should be sure your motives are clear, straight and compassionate. Tradition says that the I Ching oracle will respond clearly to a real need but will not allow itself to be used for greedy or manipulative ends.

Position the Inquirer
Another thing to consider in posing a question is the position of the Inquirer. How is the person asking the question related to the matter at hand? In what way are they involved in the situation and what power do they have over the situation? Define who the Inquirer is by asking on behalf of: him or herself, as head of a family, as a therapist or healer, as manager or spokesperson for the group. The answers the oracle offers will be directly related to this position.

Active Dialogue
Applying the active dialogue form the basic question can be reformulated into an action inquiry. This process applies what the depth psychologist C.G. Jung called active imagination. It can lead to further questions as you explore the matter you are considering in depth. Give the oracle’s first response careful consideration. Where further questions arise, do not hesitate to ask again. The I Ching oracle invites this sort of dialogue.

The basic question you ask can be focused and make better sense by asking a guide. As you contemplate the guide can lead you to connect to the situation, what you can do now. You can then ask a From Now question.

Conducting the Inquiry
Cleanse the coins through a saging method then, with a clear mind, hold the inquiry in your mind and cast the coins six times, counting each throw. This is the begetting of the inquiry.

To obtain the becoming hexagram identify the nuclear hexagram of the casting. If there are changing lines, ignore them.

The evolved hexagram determined from the changing lines is the begoning. Where there are no changing lines repeat the cast hexagram.

Now conduct a dialogue about the inquiry framed in the oracular hexagrams of the three currents.

It is best to have someone to talk to who knows the interpretive qualities of the I Ching to assist you in getting to the depth of the wisdom.