The I- ching does not give you specific answers to your questions but rather reveals patterns which helps you arrive at the answer you seek. Answers are given in 64 hexagrams of solid lines (yang) and broken lines (yin). These represent a state of being. The most common method used to determine hexagrams is to toss three coins three times. The traditional method is to toss a set of 50 yarrow sticks.

The I- ching dates back to around 2852 B.C. The Chinese emperor Fu-hsi developed a set of trigrams. Later on around 1143 B.C. the trigrams were doubled to hexagrams. The I- ching found its way to western culture in the 19th century.

To generate a hexagram you must form a clear question for the oracle.

Think carefully and write the question down. Take any three identical coins and shake them in your cupped hand, then toss them onto a flat surface.

Each throw creates one line of the hexagram. It starts from the bottom and works its way up to the top. Keep going till you have six lines stacking one on top of the other. Some lines are so charged with positive or negative energy they can move or change into their opposite. The line positions are the fundamental building blocks of the I- ching. They are distinguished by their quality, yin or yang, as well as position. Each line has a specific significance. The first line indicates a fundamental problem or change. The changing second line shows instability.

The third line shows changes due to unforeseen timing shifts. The fourth line indicates changes due to the involvement of others. The fifth line may point to changes because of unforeseen circumstances. The sixth line shows a situation that is overbalanced.

Chien: Heaven, creative force in action.

Keywords: dynamic, enduring, moving.

The great force of heaven is the beginning of all.

This power is now available to you.

Persistence is the key.

Remain true to your vision.

The Ch`ien brings harmony to all situations.

K`un: Earth, nurturing and receptivity.

Keywords: serving, receptive, power, nourish.

Your path is to support.

Be of service in all ways possible.

Bring things to balance.

Yield gracefully to the plans of others.

Chun: Water, Thunder.

Keywords : difficult, beginning, planting, accumulating.

Dont expect things to proceed easily.

Give things space to grow.

Once things start going, the situation will prove to be abundant.

Meng: Mountain, water, and inexperience.

Keywords: young, closed, unaware.

Your inexperience clouds your judgement.

Stay to the sidelines and gather your information.

Learn from others.

Increase your knowledge and increase your chance for success.

Hsu: Water, heaven.

Keywords: patience, hesitate, stopped by rain.

Patience, now is the time to wait.

Carefully observe the situation.

Timing is utmost important.

Just be patient and wait.

Sung: heaven, water.

Keywords: controversy, quarrels, seek justice.

Confrontation surrounds you.

Dont arouse more conflict.

Carefully clarify your position.

Remain neutral if able.

The conflict may be inside yourself.

Shih: earth, water.

Keywords: organization, discipline.

Everything is confused at moment.

You need to take the lead.

Concentrate on detail.

Pay attention.

Delegate to trustworthy people.

Offer support and encouragement.

Pi: water, earth.

Keywords: unite, create, and harmonize.

Look at the underlying reasons for a current situation.

Address the fundamental principles of your life.

Reorganize your affairs.

You may have outgrown your current situation.

Hsiao: wind, heaven.

Keywords: tolerate, take in, tame, and train.

You are surrounded by unrelated details.

Store information for the future.

Use this time to improve your experience.

Lu: heaven, lake.

Keywords: practicing, walking, following tracks.

Tread very carefully.

Take one step at a time.

The path is difficult.

Pause after each step to check your position.

Make changes to your position when needed.

T`AI: earth, water.

Keywords: fertile, great, and prosperous.

You are flowing with the spirit.

Send peace to all.

Enjoy this blessed time.

P`I: heaven, earth.

Keywords: obstacle, keep quite, disapproval.

You are being blocked at every turn.

Do not attempt to impose your will.

You must try to look for a quite way out.

Wait with patience to find a new direction.

T`UNG

T`UNG: heaven, fire.

Keywords: sharing, agreement, and community.

Join with those who share your vision.

Develop friendship.

Nurture common bonds of understanding.

Unite everyone.

Bring warmth to your close friendships.

TA YU: fire, heaven.

Keywords: nobility, possessions, and goal orientation.

Commit to your goals.

You now have the ability to gain financially, spiritually.

Be generous.

Develop your flow by sharing with others.

YU: thunder, earth.

Keywords: rejoicing, contentment, precautions.

You are in a holding pattern.

Take time now to prepare for the future.

Accumulate resources.

Think things through several times in detail.

SUI: lake, thunder.

Keywords: inevitable, on path, sequence.

The Universe is preparing a path for you.

Follow this path.

Flow in the direction your heading.

Take the path of least resistance.

KU: mountain, wind.

Keywords: evil, poisoning, and seduction.

You have built on a corrupt foundation.

You must stop for repairs.

Clean up confusion and error.

Wait patiently for a new path to emerge.

LIN: earth, lake.

Keywords: inspect, approve, and honor.

You are on the verge of attaining a higher level.

Be patient.

Keep expectations humble.

KUAN: wind, earth.

Keywords: instruction, examination, and observatory.

You have lost sight of the big picture.

Take a step back and observe.

Take time to contemplate.

Direct your attention to areas of need.

SHIH HO: fire, thunder.

Keywords: bite, crush, and arrive at truth.

Keep working to overcome obstacles.

If necessary, instigate legal action to protect yourself.

PO: mountain, earth.

Keywords: remove, uncover, and cut away.

You are overloaded.

Remove useless parts of an endeavor.

Get down to the essentials.

FU: earth, thunder.

Keywords: retrace, renew, and rebirth.

You have lost contact with your original inspiration.

Go back to your origins.

Returning to your origins will reconnect to the universal stream of energy.

WU WANG: heaven, thunder.

Keywords: reckless, rash, and enmeshed.

In order to advance you must look into your motives.

Release pride, greed, vanity and revenge.

If you do not let go of negative emotion you will lose your chance of success.

TA CH`U: mountain, heaven.

Keywords: leadership, control, and ability.

Focus on a central idea and determine what has value.

Test your ideas in the world.

This is the right time to initiate plans.

YI: mountain, thunder.

Keywords: eat, take in, and provide necessities.

Assess the way your actions are feeding you mentally, emotionally, physically and mentally.

Are you giving yourself what you need in food, friends, work and spiritually.

This is your chance to shine under pressure.

Re-establish your grounding.

Act swiftly and with confidence.

Be open to new information in rebuilding your future

K`AN: water, water.

Keywords: repetition, coaching, and skill.

You need to crash through a situation that is holding you back.

You will gain practice at dealing with obstacles.

You will gain strength from your actions in overcoming obstacles.

HSIEN: lake, mountain.

Keywords: contact, mobilization, and wholeness.

Your focus and energy is scattered.

Bring together that which belongs together.

Reach out and join others.

Someone or something has the vital piece of the puzzle.

HENG: thunder, wind.

Keywords: enduring, habitual, cycles of the moon.

Persistence, a constant effort towards a goal.

Persevere in spite of heavy obstacles.

Your steps can be small and comfortable, just be consistent.

TUN: heaven, mountain.

Keywords: obscurity, seclusion, and trickster.

Time to withdraw from the present situation.

Its time to rest.

Use your period of rest to rebuild.

Avoid difficult people.

TA CHUANG: thunder, heaven.

Keywords: inspiration, nobility, and maturity.

Your personal power is at its peak.

Use this power to protect and lead others.

Act firmly and decisively but take care for the good of all around you.

CHIN: fire, earth.

Keywords: rise, permeate promotion.

Finally the Sun is coming out from behind the clouds.

Step into the light and enjoy.

Share what you have and encourage others to relax too.

MING YI: earth, fire.

Keywords: awareness, consciousness.

You are venturing in uncertain waters.

Conceal your strengths.

Draw no attention to yourself.

Assess the dangers that lie ahead and put them to rest.

CHIA JEN: wind, fire.

Keywords: relations, community, and mastery of skill.

Your strength comes from the friends around you.

Focus on improving the relationship with others around you.

Support others with enthusiasm.

Focus your energies on bringing out the best in people.

K`UEI: fire, lake.

Keywords: contrary, creative tension, odd perspective.

You are separated from your desired result.

Clarify what is working against you.

Adjust details so as to work with the power of the opposition.

Use the power of the opposite as your own.

HSIEH: thunder, water.

Keywords: discharge, server, free from constraint.

Take action to dispel tensions.

Untie yourself from troubling situations.

This will bring support from the universe.

SUN: mountain, lake.

Keywords: lessen, give away, and sacrifice.

Clean out your closets.

Get rid of anything or anyone who is holding you back.

Ask yourself, "What am I doing?"

Make room for new things in your life.

KUAI: lake, heaven.

Keywords: resolution, settlement.

Misperceptions and errors are building around you.

State your purpose in clear and certain terms.

Confront difficulties in a calm approach.

Stand firm in the face of opposition

KOU: heaven, wind.

Keywords: magnetism, primal forces.

Be open to the unknown.

A brief meeting may lead to great possibilitys.

Respond with truth to what you find.

This period of change will not last.

Use this time to replenish yourself.

TS`UI: lake, earth.

Keywords: unity, concentration.

Your leadership powers are strong now.

Inspire others with your vision.

A time for organization.

Seek out and learn from powerful people.

SHENG: earth, wind.

Keywords: promotion, effort, fulfilled potential.

It is time to grow upward and seek the Sun.

Set your sights on ascending.

Gather your resources around you.

This path requires careful timing and preparation.

CHING: water, wind.

Keywords: nucleus, well, resources.

The source of truth lies beneath you like a deep well.

You must dig deep into your nature to find it.

Once connected, maintain your access by sometimes dipping into the well.

KO: lake, fire.

Keywords: change, elimination.

Express yourself in a new way.

Remove old patterns.

Step forward as the self you want to be.

Put aside old regrets.

Trust your instincts.

TING: fire, wind.

Keywords: magic vessel, transmutation.

Focus is the key to positive change.

What your mind can contain in its magic cauldron, you can recreate in life.

CHEN: thunder, thunder.

Keywords: awakening, breakthrough, and earthquake.

This is the time of the judgement call.

This is a period of major changes.

Remain calm, for when the shock passes, you will find treasure.

KEN: mountain, mountain.

Keywords: boundary, standstill, and completion.

You have reached the limit of a situation.

You must be still to perceive the true nature of your condition.

Look beyond your current desires to the big picture.

Refrain from compulsive action.

KUEI MEI: thunder, lake.

Keywords: belonging, changing form.

You are being led by a great force into a new situation.

Accept what fate has delivered to you.

Let go of present attachments and prepare yourself for the enormous change that fate has planned for you.

FENG: thunder, fire.

Keywords: abundant, exuberant, and luxurious.

This is your time to shine.

Your energy radiates to all those around you.

Share with others.

Put arguments behind you.

TUI: lake, lake.

Keywords: exchange, delight, and persuasion.

Time to socialize, party, and gather friends together.

Get involved in creative activities.

Its time to play and enjoy.

HUAN: wind, water.

Keywords: wash away, disperse.

Clear up any misunderstandings.

Shine the light on all your efforts.

Take the lead and be flexible in your path.

Your actions will clear the energy block.

CHIEH: water, lake.

Keywords: sections, economy, and limits.

Its time to reorganize and take care of unfinished business.

Manage your time more effectively.

Use the power of this hexagram to reorganize your affairs.

CHUNG FU: wind, lake.

Keywords: reliability, sincerity, and stability.

The key to your questions lies in your ability to make your actions fit your words and ideas.

Practice what you preach.

If you show you are trustworthy you will move forward faster.

HSIAO KUO: thunder, mountain.

Keywords: lessen, unimportant, getting clear of.

A pile of red tape is on the horizon.

Dont get overwhelmed.

Take care of one thing at a time.

Keep focused firmly on your goal.

CHI CHI: water, fire.

Keywords: overcoming, cross a river.

Youre on your way to completion now.

Resist the temptation to become complacent.

Continue to put energy into your project.

WEI CHI: fire, water.

Keywords: overcoming, beginning.

You have lots of energy and are ready to act on possibilities.

Make sure of your chosen path.

Once you are sure, set off on your new journey.