Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Qián-Duì, Heaven-Lake
    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
   Qián. His image is Heaven, his ideogram is sunrise, his Qi is powerful and energetic. Qián refers to wealth and glory, leadership and taking charge. His laws give life its power, endurance and creativity. Qián provides the substrate that gives all things structure and meaning - or simply the structure they follow, from the laws of 'All that is' right down to the daily groove. Qián deals with the mental or intangible, regulates the time and following it gives you the right timing. Look up at the Pole Star and you will see the entire cosmos turning around it, everything moves according to Heaven's law. A person, team or venture with Heaven can reason and judge well and they are known for their strong, powerful appearance. As long as they don't get stuck in mindless habits or rigid beliefs.
天命 tiānmìng, mandate of heaven; destiny; fate; one's life span.
乾元 qiányuán beginning of creation.

  What is the subject, intention or hope of your question? And what is your power in this?
  Duì, 'cheerful talk' or 'barter'. Its attribute is the marsh or Lake. It is the source of the flow of water and the flow of persuasive words. Duì is social, she 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.
  The old character 'Dui' is a picture of a person with wide open mouth: 'open', 'to open' or 'to loosen'. 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 do you want or need to do, what can you truly do, or what will fate unfold in this situation?
  When Qián activates Duì, Dui brings exchange. Heaven's severity shows the hard result of Lake’s interactions, her clashes with the laws of survival, that will only accept those who act with respect for laws and timing. Dui has to restrain herself, and the most important skills are finding the balance between speaking and silence, between persuading and letting go and between courage and cautiousness. Don't reach beyond your capabilities and play it safe. The big world is merciless and punishes every transgression.
(The 'Lake' is rather a marsh, any wet place where animals and plants gather and grow.)

  Qián and Duì are the 'origin' of hexagram 10. 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).

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.
  General: yin initiative in yang times will need perseverance. Everything around seems too bright, too overbearing, too strict. 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 rain: blessings, results, pride and joy.

  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")
  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

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

  The bottom line is stationary yang. This line is the subject, the line of the earth 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 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.
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 Yin: this is a good time to work on ideas. Usually, yin at the top is very positive and creative, there is balance between yang and yin, ideas and their possibilities can 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 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 or 'not yet'. 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. Often not of the concrete kind, but joy, satisfaction and structure have their own value.

    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: Dui, Lake, with her ability to resonate and persuade
  Helper for the subject: Xun, Wind, with her power to choose and influence, is lacking here or not needed. Yang remains Yang.
  Helper for the outcome: Li, Fire, with her power to discern and create order, is lacking here or not needed. Yang remains Yang.
  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