Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Lí-Kūn, Fire-Earth

    
彖曰:晉,進也。 明出地上, 順而麗乎大明, 柔進而上行。
Brightness rises from the earth, subdued and majestic, that is great brightness; the yielding proceeds to move up high.

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
  Lí. It is the trigram of discernment and order, of searching for truth and meaning. Lí is separating or leaving, but also clinging, holding on to things. It is what light does: discerning things, seeing their differences and similarities. Both by recognizing and acknowledging them.
  Fire can easily be extinguished, buried under earth or water. To spread light and warmth it needs to be nourished itself. Attention, inspiration, order and truth will make it shine wide and spread its warmth, like the sun emerging from the clouds.
  Moments fly past like birds. You will have to catch them right now, to enjoy something when it happens, to seize an opportunity, to realize a flash of insight.
  But reckon with its timing, don't try to push two days into the space of one or it will burn you to ashes.

  What is the subject, intent or hope of your question?
  Kūn. She is the embracing mother and the place one calls home, one's territory, family or friends, anyone who acts her way. She is nurturing, receiving, and focused on results. One obtains good fortune. The Earth trigram is like a womb, rich in possibilities, she can nurture things into concrete existence, like a crop, creatures, money, tangible resources, return on investment, but also love and trust.
  She accepts everything, organic or inorganic, and works with it. Proceeds it, nourishes it, and arranges all creatures and objects around each other.
  Many of her creations will perish, many will thrive, but the earth goes on. She has no empty spaces, no end or start, no goal or limit. She is strict and that way creates a balance which restores itself over and over. Things which strive to be perfect. Living creatures seeking health, water free to run, and sunshine free to enter. But even the darkest places she fills with organic and inorganic creations. She traps the water and makes it available for her creations.
  土命 Tǔ Mìng, earth name/destiny: born in an earth year or having a local or popular name - a lasting link to Earth.

  What do you want or need to do, or what will fate cause to happen in this situation?
  When Fire rises from the Earth a new day begins, everything is fresh and undefined. Fire has a strong desire to make things clear, to bring order and beauty and knowledge. Being also the sun, it knows the secret of light and dark - of using the time of rest to brighten the day even more.
  Fire needs to be nourished in order to stay alive and spread light and warmth. Earth supports Fire with her endless resources and her solid presence. They need each other to fill the world with an abundance of creatures and lush vegetation. On and on in cycles, renewing itself.

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.
变上爻为震为雷, 云翳光明, 掩火不炎。
When the upper line changes it activates Zhen, the thunder. The clouds radiate light, like shielded fire which cannot burn anything.

  Li changes to Zhèn. The fire burns hot. Thunder symbolizes an intense but short-lived energy. It can fuel fire to great heights, but can only do so for a short time. It is a good time to make decisions which don't ask for long deliberation or for starting something which is not complicated. But don't let impulsiveness overrule attention, Thunder can act in destructive ways as well, but Yin at the Heaven-line can bring rain, blessings. When a clear idea is acted on, it benefits everyone involved. It is a time in which big things can be accomplished.
  General: yin initiative in yang potential will need perseverance. Everything around seems too bright, too overbearing. Don't try to compete, but make use of what presents itself to you. When the time is yang, it offers many opportunities and resources, brilliant ideas, but few concrete results. Yin's power is to absorb and then to create from what she gathered.
  You are a good organizer, you oversee the work and inspire others while working hard yourself. You can turn visionary ideas into viable plans.
  Yin at the top line brings the rain: blessings.

    The timing of this change of the initiative:
  春天得之, 雷雹并行, 震动发生。
  夏秋雷施物利,
  冬则非宜。
  In the spring, this means that thunder and hail occur simultaneously; shocks will take place.
  In summer and autumn, thunder is beneficial to all beings.
  In winter thunder is not appropriate.

The subject

    
The bottom line (Earth-line) shows the change of the field or subject.
变初爻为艮, 日入于山, 光辉晚照, 早年蹇剥, 老景亨泰。
When the first line changes, it activates Gen. The sun sets on the mountains, its rays become those of the evening sun. During youth one suffers difficulties and misfortune; in old age everything goes easily and there is peace.

  When Li activates Gen, it is difficult to find nourishment. The Mountain, with its barren rocks, can be dangerous for Fire, but it is also Mountain that can lift it up high so it shines wide and far. Then it spreads light and warmth and benefits its wide surroundings.
  Mountain can give the elusive and occasionally superficial Fire endurance, extending its life beyond the moment. Fire gives back its light, showing the beauty of the surrounding world and its inherent order.
  Fire and Mountain together have to take care not to favor themselves at the expense of others. Sometimes one is too cold or strict and the other too hot or fickle. Find the right balance.
  General: What you ask about is yin. It aligns with the Earth-line, but the potential in these surroundings or this time is yang. You want (or will) come closer to concrete realizations, but problems also become real. All this is not really easy amidst yang. Yang can be overbearing, through influence or force, so you need to hold on to what you really want, and yet not to force anything.
  Examine when the work can proceed and when it must be held back. Who can participate in your project and who would hinder it. Your project absorbs more energy and resources, and these should be used wisely. Listen to the Earth.

    The timing of this change of the subject:
  春日明暗相攻, 喜怒多顿。
  夏日人山, 草木成林, 遮阴有赖, 不致酷热。
  秋日入山, 焦燥亢厉, 万象易于枯槁。
  冬日入山, 煎逼愁颜, 万事阑珊, 不能长久
  In spring light and shadow compete with each other; joy and anger struggle constantly.
  When in summer the sun sets in the mountains, all vegetation matures into forests. The shadows are beneficial and prevent extreme heat.
  When in autumn the sun sets in the mountains, everything dries up very much, and everything on earth withers easily.
  When in winter the sun sets in the mountains, everything is suffering and pressed down by the cold and distress. Everything comes to an end and cannot act for a long time.

The outcome

    
The middle line (Man-line) shows the outcome.

   The middle line indicates the result. It is unchanging yin, this project will stay attractive, but also continue to absorb efforts, knowledge or resources, because its developing stage is not finished and not all possibilities have been explored. It still needs input and keeps doing so for the time being. It is too early to decide about a final direction, there will be no output yet.
  But yin is the one who can bring about concrete results. Yin stays in the background and does the work. It is nurturing, defusing crises, monitoring the process, building up and rounding out.
  This is the 'man' line, it can also be about you yourself, not only what you do.

Love for the work dissolves the effort.

Overview of the lines.
Activating (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, but don’t expect solid results.
  An activated Yin line generally does the work. Yin absorbs and converts resources into tangible results. It brings peace 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 Yin: this is a good time to work on ideas. Usually, yin at the top is very positive, there is balance between yang and yin, ideas and their possibilities to become reality.

  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 Yin: it is too early for clear results; more work is needed. This line is the most difficult to influence, she is careful and follows her own decisions, but she is the one who turns resources into concrete results.

  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. Both can be good or bad, depending on the question.
  In this answer the line is stationary Yin: a good line if you need decrease or concreteness, but not for shining results. More work is needed, but your dedication will not be wasted.

  The three 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. They reinforce the overall power of a reading.

  Advice or help for the initiative: Zhen, Thunder with his energy and stimulation and quick actions.
  Advice or help for the subject: Gen, Mountain with his constancy, his ability to make things endure.
  Advice or help for the outcome: Qian, Heaven, with his severe structure and his timing, is lacking here or not needed. Yin remains Yin.
  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. 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.
  Many translations from "Yijing astrologie" by Harmen Mesker (Dutch).
  For divining with trigrams, see the video by Tin Yat Dragon