Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Duì-Qián, Lake-Heaven
    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation? Duì. Its image is the marsh, it is the source of the flow of water and the flow of persuasive words. It is the trigram of gaining fame and fortune, but only when ambition has no hold. One needs balance between one’s own wishes and the rules of right conduct.
  Dui means 'open' or 'to open'. The words of Duì are compelling, persuasive, they open the minds of others.
  Duì is the spirit of pure autumn, which is a good time for results but not for the start of something new. Like the autumn harvest time, Dui is contained within borders, it has limits. It has variable beginnings but a definite end. If you need to finish something, then do it now.

  What is the subject, intent or hope of your question?
 Qián. Its Qi is powerful and energetic; it refers to wealth and glory, leadership and taking charge. The laws of Heaven give life its power, endurance and creativity. Qián provides the substrate that gives all things structure and meaning. Qian deals with the mental or intangible.
  Heaven regulates the time and following it gives you the right timing. Look up at the North pole and you will see the entire cosmos turning around it, everything moves according to Heaven's law. Heaven brings the seasonal rains, which benefit all. A person, team or venture with Heaven can reason and judge well and they are known for their strong, powerful appearance.
  天命 tiānmìng, mandate of heaven; destiny; fate; one's life span.
  乾元 qiányuán beginning of creation.

  What do you want or need to do, or what will fate cause to happen in this situation?
  When Duì meets Qián, it gathers the rain and reflects Heaven. It is a time of clear visions and the strength to pursue them against all opposition and adversity. Don't accept limits for now. Once you have an overview, everything superfluous can be thrown away, but first your ideas must be allowed to grow freely.

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.
六三变为乾, 乾为天, 名谓雨收泽竭, 天籁清虚, 人物从容, 众情多悦。
When the top line changes, Duì activates Qián. Qian is the sky, and this change describes rain gathering in a parched lake. The sounds of nature are refined and peaceful, all beings are calm and at rest, the feelings of the masses know many joys.

  Lake becomes the rain when it enters Heaven: blessings. One can gain fame and fortune, but blessings don't come free, one has to make an effort. It starts off as a satisfying creative time, but in the autumn everything depends on the work done in the spring.
  This bodes very well for inspiration and creation: acting on a hunch or vision, the decision to pursue or implement an idea or to start a business. It's also a good time to show results of what's been done so far, but no longer for work in between or for collecting resources.
  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 which 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 change of the initiative:
  春得熙和, 物物欣荣巧丽, 人多繁饰, 杰出群伦,自然称意。
  夏秋得此象者, 上仰青天, 雨泽不施, 水干流竭, 无丰多歉, 饥便怨望, 自多伤折。
  冬得此象, 寒凝少作, 岁内丰稔, 人亦富饶, 自然亨泰也。
  In the spring obtained this means happiness and harmony; everything thrives. The people are beautifully and exuberantly decorated. An equal group of exceptional people who spontaneously esteem each other.
  A person who gets this image in summer or autumn lifts his head to the blue sky, no rain in the swamps, the water stream in the treetrunks has dried up. There is no abundance and much regret; there is hunger causing resentment, which creates envy and certainly distress or loss of money.
  When winter takes on this image, the cold is freezing and little can be done. The year has provided a good harvest and the people have plenty, the natural world is favorable and at peace.

The subject

    
The bottom line (Earth-line) shows the change of the field or subject.

  The bottom line is stationary yang. This line is the subject, or the ‘field’ where you pour in or find both the cause and the means for your initiative: space, material, helpers or other people, even food for thought. It is the line of the earth, of resources and realization. It is a 'receiving' line, the earth needs food to develop things.
  Here she is yang, she does not absorb or concretize, she is giving. Things look interesting and bright and give back. What you want to achieve inspires you, but take care not to deplete resources. Things will gain clarity but it is not yet a time of concrete results.
  Yang at the bottom line brings balance between yin and yang. Its light penetrates the undefined power of the earth-line, it inspires yin to make its imaginings grow, and it gives each creature or plan or venture its rightful structure.

Enjoy the now and its possibilities.

The Outcome

    

  The middle line shows the result. It is stationary yang, there will not be any increase or decrease, but still action and output. Yang is inspiring, but it is too early to expect concrete results. The middle line is the 'man' line, it can also be about you yourself, not only what you do.
  If this project does not need a concrete solution, yang can be very positive. It will continue to inspire and bring joy and brightness. Even if it stays unsubstantial in a material sense, it can improve the lives of people, like movies, holidays, love or a guiding star. But stay within limits, yang brings increase, but without yin it is prone to deplete itself, it is relentless and tends to be too cold or to strive too much. Plans may be too theoretical or even illusionary. If you are aware of this and rein it in, yang brings the joy of inspiration, plans, and visions.

Inspire yourself and your surroundings.

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 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 stationary 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. Both can be good or bad, depending on the question.
   In this answer the line is stationary Yang: if you need increase, this is a great line. Your efforts will show results. Occasionally not of the concrete kind, but joy and satisfaction are valuable as well.

  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: Qian, Heaven, with his severe structure and his timing.
   Advice or help for the subject: Kan, Water, with his direction and focus, his courage to take risks and his talent to give things shape
   Advice or help for the outcome: Zhen, Thunder with his energy and stimulation and quick actions

  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