Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Kăn-Lí, Water-Fire

    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
   Kăn, the pit. His image is Water. It is the dark place where things are born, the roots of a tree, the seeds of inspiration, the basis, the bottom of a well or pit, a depression or sunken place, a covered trap in the ground. Kăn is dark and deep. He cannot rise up but has great endurance and depth. Meeting Kăn can be extremely dangerous - or open up refreshing new perspectives. He is memory, he can rescue or destroy, keep or dissolve.
  Kăn follows his own road, even though he is easily influenced for a short time. He is uncertain and doubts himself, yet takes risks and does not shy away from danger. His endurance makes him extraordinarily strong, but his insecurity can cause fears, depression or instability.
  Harness Kăn's strength in a fluent and easy way, circumventing opposition rather than fighting it. Kan is streetwise, knowing nothing and yet knowing all one needs to survive. The way of water is overcoming obstacles by collecting itself and relentlessly following its Dao, which also makes it available for all creatures.

  What is the subject, intention or hope of your question? And what is your power in this?
  Lí, separate, image of an Oriole with its golden color of the sun. Her attribute is Fire. She is the trigram of discernment and order, of searching for truth and meaning - or bringing the lack thereof to light. Lí is separating or leaving, but also clinging, holding on to things. It is what the light of fire does: separating the light and dark, seeing their differences and similarities, distinguishing things by the shadows they cast.
  Fire can easily be extinguished, buried under earth or water. To spread light and warmth it needs to be nourished. Attention, inspiration, order and truth will make it shine wide and spread its warmth, like the sun emerging from the clouds.
  Li's mandate is to show the 'now', the border between past and future. The moments of 'now' fly past like birds. To turn them into reality, you will have to catch them right now, to enjoy something when it happens, to seize an opportunity, to realize a flash of insight.

  What do you want or need to do, what can you truly do, or what will fate unfold in this situation?
  When Kăn meets Lí, the days follow one another, the moon rises and sets, the endless cycle of life repeats itself over and over. Lí, the sun, brings life energy and makes beings conscious, Kăn brings the rain and teaches beings to survive.
  When things seem fixed but also keep changing, beings learn to adapt and take advantage of it. Not to despair when it's down, not to get complacent when it's up. To hope, but also to make an effort to make their hopes come true. This makes the water healthy and all beings that it supports. A strong river causes the pebbles in its bedding to light up in the dark.
  This is life, with its struggles and joys, hopes and fears, success and misfortune.

  Kăn and Kăn are the 'origin' of hexagram 29. First trigram is the upper trigram (called '悔 huǐ, regret' or 'consult': the problem that makes you consult the oracle). Second trigram is the lower or inner trigram (called '真 zhēn, true': the answer of the oracle for this situation: the advice how to deal with it).

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.
变上为巽,水气乘风,飘逸高远,类多润泽。
When the top line changes, trigram Water activates Wind.
The Qi of water penetrates the high blowing wind and makes it moist.

  When the yin top line of Water activates yang, it activates Xun, the Wind or Wood. The trees spread their roots down to the water, and move it up through their trunks. They spread it towards their leaves where it evaporates after feeding them.
  Work like Water and Wind. Bring a bucket and get down to the roots, bring it up and spread the water over your field or drink it and don't forget to share or inspire others to do the same or to dig a well.
  When work is done the way nature does, it loses its heaviness and becomes the foundation of living your life with pride and love.
  General: when a yang initiative joins the yin potential of surroundings or a time, its clear and strong ideas will stand out by their own merit. Yang can initiate the change that ensures that ideas and the work that has been done so far gain clarity and structure. This is a good time to develop visions and plans with creativity and enthusiasm. To put energy into your projects and to show them. Now you have the power to ward off evil or insecurity, a power that is part of yang.
  Yang brings inspiration and joy, but yang also means that you have to put in effort or money in what you aim for. It can drain your resources, but decisions can be made; progress or new ideas can be shown.

  The timing of this initiative: (Time can refer to the seasons of the year, the hours of a day, the progress of an undertaking, a state of mind - anything that has a beginning, a peak, a decline, and an end. See "Timing")
   秋为湛露. 凋零万物. 施毒害人, 而人多怨谤；
  冬为霜露, 主人艰辛劳苦者也。
  In spring and summer this means dew, nourishing and nurturing.
  In autumn the dew is thick, everything alive diminishes in strength. There will be defiance and reproach.
  In winter, the dew is frozen. There will be hardship and hard labor.

The subject

    
The bottom line (Earth-line) shows the change of the field or subject.
变初爻为兑, 水入泽中, 内塞不流, 终难远大,
  When the first line changes, Kan actives Dui. Water enters the Lake which it fills. Contained it cannot flow on; completion is difficult and takes long.

  When Kan's yin bottom line activates yang, Kan activates Dui, the Lake or Marsh. As long as yin reigns, thirst won't be a problem, but yang is as dry as can be. With this change, Water and Lake prove their worth when people and animals are thirsty. But first Duì must collect enough water and often there are dry times. But even when full, Dui's supply is not endless, the water can run out, so use it wisely. The way a community manages its water supply is significant for its level of culture. It is a never ending work.
  General: The bottom line is the subject, the 'field' where you find the cause and in which you pour the resources for your initiative: space, material, problems or opportunities, helpers and other people or food for thought. But here you also meet your problems, fears, hopes and expectations.
  The subject is yang, but your question means you are entering a situation of yin potential. After collecting the material for concrete results, it is now the task or time to display them and then prosperity will gather. The subject will reveal itself, it will grow brighter and give joy.
  If things don't meet expectations, this is the right time to get new inspiration. Usually, yang at the bottom is positive, you find a balance between yang and yin that will help your efforts, or pave the way to finish your work, making it visible.

    The timing of this change of the subject. (Time can refer to the seasons of the year, the hours of a day, the progress of an undertaking, a state of mind - anything that has a beginning, a peak, a decline, and an end. See "Timing")
  春夏则为霜为泽, 自盈自满, 横流充溢, 四海有利, 必成败是非, 或先难后易, 先忧后喜。
  三秋冬不利,
  In spring and summer incessant rain (favors). All creatures thrive and abundant flooding benefits the whole land. There will be success and failure, good things and bad things, or things are first difficult and later easy, first worry and later joy.
  In autumn and winter not favorable.

The outcome

    
The middle line (human or self-line) shows the outcome.
  变中为坤, 水人地中, 防浸渗之乖・ 有壅塞不通之兆・ 万事有始无终, 而无快变顺适之利。
   When the middle line changes Kan activates Kun. Water penetrates the earth which prevents it from seeping away. It is an omen of accumulation and obstruction; everything has a beginning but no end, there is no effortless and easy gain.

  When the yang middle line of Water activates yin, it activates the Earth. When Kan meets Kun, water follows the relief of the land; it flows downhill without retreating, moving around or over every resistance. The water is not free, the Earth decides where it will flow. The place of birth, mental or physical, influences people more than they realize.
  General: When yang meets yin, the shine will decrease, but now things will proceed in a more tangible way. Resources will be used to create concrete results. Things change from giving to absorbing, from ideas and inspiration to processing, from overviewing to being part of the work. And if there are problems, a decrease can be what you need.
  Maybe it is time to pass the reins to your guts and intuition instead of your head.

    The timing of this outcome: (Time can refer to the seasons of the year, the hours of a day, the progress of an undertaking, a state of mind - anything that has a beginning, a peak, a decline, and an end. See "Timing")
  夏暄干不利, 水人得此, 多夭折, 秋冬合理。
  变上为巽, 水气乘风, 飘逸高远, 类多润泽。 春夏为露, 滋助长养。
  秋为湛露. 凋零万物. 施毒害人, 而人多怨谤； 冬为霜露, 主人艰辛劳苦者也。
  In spring and summer it is hot and dry; this is unfavorable.
  If a Water person gets this then it means that many things (for him) come to a premature end.
  In autumn and winter it is appropriate, because the earth prevents the water from seeping away.

Overview of the lines.
Activated (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, for structure, but don’t expect solid results.
  An activated Yin line generally does the work. Yin's creativity absorbs and converts resources into tangible results. It brings peace, beauty, 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 activated 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 activated Yang: the subject is clear and generous and responds to the initiative. Usually yang at the bottom is positive, there is balance between yang and yin.

  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 or 'not yet'. Both can be good or bad, depending on the question.
  In this answer the line is activated Yin: good for concrete results. More work is needed, but your dedication is not in vain. For now, it will reduce the 'shine' because it focuses on creating, on growing something of quality, not on how it will look.

    About the 3 lines of the trigrams and the spirit 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 or what is lacking at the moment. They reinforce the overall power of a reading.
  Helper for the initiative: Xun, Wind, with her power to choose and influence.
  Helper for the subject: Dui, Lake, with her ability to resonate and persuade.
  Helper for the outcome: Kun, Earth, with her ability to nurture and concretize.
  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. But 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.
  See also "Yijing astrologie" by Harmen Mesker (Dutch). The guide to calculating your birth hexagram.
  For divining with trigrams, see the video by Tin Yat Dragon