I Ching Plus Questions Method

(Copyright © 2000-2005 C.J.Lofting)

In figuring out how the I Ching 'works' we find correlation with how our brains work as they derive meaning. Thus we move from a 'divination' process that is reactive to one that is more proactive; realising of course that one's proactivity will come up against that of another/others such that what is considered 'inevitable' may not neccessarily be so! The form of consulation focuses on elements of the unconsious being stimulated by the context where context can 'push our buttons' - as such we know what is going on 'vaguely' but need to bring all of that into the light of day; to make it all seem a bit 'clearer' and so giving us choices in actions.

In the below questions, the LEFT three questions deal with LOCAL context, i.e. YOUR perspective or 'THEIR' perspective of a situation etc. The RIGHT three questions reflects the text, what or who is working within the context. As you move up through a hexagram you move from the raw to the refined and as such the 'raw' is the context that, in concert with some text, leads to an expression, in this case the hexagrams of the I Ching. You can thus put yourself as text in a context or as a context interacting with text. Context and Text can be objects, relationships or a mix of the two. From this perspective, this LOCAL perspective, one can derive the stimulus/response of the surrounding environment in general - the dynamic of HEAVEN/EARTH which you are witness to, and a part of. Consider your question and then click on one of the four possible answers in each of the six 'boxes'. Once satisfied with your answers, scroll down and press the "SUBMIT" button at the bottom of the table ( or the "RESET" button to start again.).

Use the supplied emails links to let us know how things went; e.g. was this method useful and how did it compare to the more 'traditional' methods ? Have fun, explore, try out "what ifs?" - through understanding these questions one can focus on eliciting a 'preferred' response in one's daily activity. Note that when presented with a hexagram and its page of information, clicking on the hexagram symbol will take you to another page of detailed information.

Pressing submit will present a page of three frames down the page in a particular form of interpretation - the order being:

• Hexagram that is CAUSING the CHANGE (if any). (the UNIVERSAL context, stimulus). Hexagram of HEAVEN.
• LOCAL Hexagram that is CHANGING; hexagram of MAN. (bottom trigram is LOCAL context).
• Hexagram that is RESPONDING to the CAUSE; hexagram of EARTH (the UNIVERSAL response).

You have three choices in behaviour:

1) The "Causal State" reflects the flow of the context and its 'demand' for a cooperative response to its stimulus. To go with the flow, adopt the characteristics of the associated ' responding' hexagram, or, if there is none, then the response is the characteristics of the cause; cause and effect are 'one'. If you dont like this situation you need to move on, change contexts, find some place to go.

(2) The "Current State" or "Changing State", YOU, reflects tension between text and context. To assert the characteristics of this hexagram as context you need to neutralise the changing lines caused by the context 'pushing'; mediation is required. If there are no changing lines then you are 'in the flow' and need to do nothing other than what you are currently doing. - or else, move on.

(3) The "Future State"or "Becoming State" reflects what will develop if you do nothing in response to any changes etc. IOW this is the 'preferred' response to the stimulus and if you stay around long enough you will turn into it; reflects its characteristics. As such, if you choose to stay around then adopt this behaviour to 'fit in' quickly or else move on.

I HAVE A QUESTION!