Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Qián-Kan, Heaven-Water

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
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 is the subject, intent or hope of your question?
  Kan. It is the dark place where things are born, the roots of a tree, the seeds of inspiration, but also of death, ends and hiding. It is the basis, the bottom of a well or pit, a depression or sunken place, a covered trap in the ground. Kan cannot rise up but has great endurance and depth. Kan represents the Earth.
  Kan 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 the way to overcome obstacles and relentlessly follow one's Dao.

  What do you want or need to do, or what will fate cause to happen in this situation?
  When Qián meets Kan, things go well or not depending on the way you move. Do you think before you take a step, and do you also think after you did? Is it your own step or did someone make you? If you don't really look at how things start and develop, you might get into problems you didn't expect, but they are the result of your own moves.
  Usually there is another chance, a way out. Before it all gets fixed beyond repair, then find the way in this new situation while looking at every single step. Water is undefined, nothing is certain. It is difficult to decide what to do but you cannot blindly follow your own heart, you have to comply with Heaven, high above your own beliefs about right or wrong or with a world too big to change, that imposes its laws on you.

The initiative

When Dui finds itself in a 'Qian' situation, Lake's responsive yin initiative enters a very yang, cold and strict environment. Before each step, you have to hold back and evaluate the situation. Any wrong or careless action can have serious consequences. With humility, prudence and politeness you can still achieve concrete results, but it is not a good time to start larger ventures or to show any accomplishment to the world. xxx
  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:
  春泽有滋息之甘,
  夏泽有长育之利,
  秋泽有西成之望,
  冬泽有寒凝之苦。
  The spring Marsh has the sweetness of growing sprouts,
  The summer Marsh has the profit of steadily raising,
  The autumn Marsh has the hope of harvest,
  The winter Marsh has the suffering of freezing cold.

The subject

  When Xun enters the world of Qian, Wind and Heaven bring changes, but these forces are often too large and intangible for man. The only real change can be in the subject you focus on. With every change of interest, every choice or insight, fate will change its course. Sometimes in big ways, sometimes hardly noticeable.
  When you bring a creation into the world, it needs your love and dedication to grow and thrive, but also your severity and strength because the world can be hostile and dangerous. Heaven gives the strong background in which Wind can play around. Wind is indecisive, but this is the only way to choose, to create. The balance between Qián and Xùn is subtle but rewarding, it is creating your own life or something new unknown.
  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:
  春风融和利物，
  夏风散雨收云，
  秋风物物收敛，
  冬风寒水成冰。
  The spring wind is pleasantly warm and good for all Iiving things. (But can be compliant and indecisive.)
  The summer wind dispells the rain and gathers the clouds. (Crops or relations may suffer from dryness.)
  The autumn wind shepherds and gathers the proceeds of work. (It brings happiness.)
  The winter wind turns the cold water into ice. (But it stimulates the necessary growth force for the coming spring.)

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 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 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: Dui, Lake, with her ability to resonate and persuade
  Advice or help for the subject: Xun, Wind, with her power to choose and influence
  Advice or help for the outcome: Li, Fire, with her power to discern and create order
  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