Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Kūn-Lí, Earth-Fire
    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
   Kūn, Space. Her image is Earth. Kūn is the embracing mother. She is nurturing, receiving, and focused on results. She is the place one calls home, one's territory. 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, tangible resources like money, return on investment, but also dreams and visions that seem unattainable.
  She accepts everything, organic or inorganic, and works with it. Proceeds it, nourishes it, 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 that restores itself over and over. Things that strive to be perfect. Living creatures seeking health, water free to run, and sunshine free to enter. She fills even the darkest places with organic and inorganic 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 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 Kun activates Li, the sun descends into the earth, it becomes dark. But Fire and Earth also mutually support each other, their relationship is harmonious, and the darkness will not last. Great difficulties will bring happiness if one can cope with this succession of dark and light, if one knows how to use both darkness and brightness, each in its own time.
  Use your intuition, it tells you when to show yourself, and when to hide your intentions or actions. If you doubt, then lean to the careful side. Showing can have dire consequences, hiding may be safer now. Just don't make it your standard reaction, stay flexible.
  Without moments of rest and quiet, life would exhaust itself.

  Kūn and Lí are the 'origin' of hexagram 36. 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.
变上为艮也, 地起于山自下而上, 有积小成高之势。
无伐善,无施劳,万民服而事业盛也。
  When the top line changes it activates Gen: the mountain. The earth rises at the mountain from below to above; it is the power of height (attainment) by accumulating small successes.
No boasting of good qualities, no boasting of merits; all people obey and enterprises flourish.

  The upper line of Earth activates Gen the mountain. Like the mountain, one can rise from below and become visible through the creativity of Earth. The mountain brings steadfastness. Visionary ideas can now become viable plans with a lasting character. Everything that grows from the earth inherits her powerful care for its survival. The mountain represents this indestructible power, built from the earth as it is. Make use of it!
  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")
   春生夏长, 畅茂条达, 富有之象也。
  秋得则万物告成, 升虽不足, 而内实有余。
  冬得之则草木凋零, 随毁随誉, 骤落骤荣, 旋消旋长, 而聚散无常。
  Spring begins and summer grows, lush and unfettered, rich indeed is its sight.
  When autumn is reached things are completed. Though from the outside not enough, (there is) within however certainly enough.
  When winter is reached the crop withers. Slander and praise follow one another, time after time degradation is followed by fame, and increase and decrease turn their circle. Meeting and parting are irregular.

The subject

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

变初六为震, 为雷, 雷出地中, 奋达疾速, 威声
三三远赫, 有寒木生春之意, 万汇咸亨, 品物流行, 发荣茂盛, 无适不宜。
 When the bottom line changes, Kun activates Zhen, thunder comes from the earth. It comes energetically and quickly. Its prestige extends far and wide.
  Earth with Thunder is a great tree that benefits others. It can grow by depleting the Earth, but by growing, everything else can benefit from it. The yang energy is reborn, signifying the beginning of progress with correct principles, the expulsion of regret and remorse, and the gathering of auspiciousness.
  Everything on earth is effortless, all living beings spread out, fame abounds. There is nothing that would not be appropriate.
復生 ¹fùshēng, come to life again, regenerate. It is like resistant trees, cold and bare in winter but announcing spring early: metaphor for high moral integrity.

  This line activates Thunder's yang in you, while surrounded by Earth's yin. Yin absorbs material, efforts and resources to make things grow. With Thunder's energy and stimulation, everything will start to shine, to give back, but yang can also deplete itself. Like the tree in autumn you need to save your strength or refuel now and then and return in a new spring.
  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")
  春分以后, 夏至以前, 得之尤佳, 或为宰辅, 或为宪台, 名位禄寿之兼隆。
  冬而得此,遇而不遇,举动必乖,恐成灾管,盖雷行失令违时,则不利矣。
  Spring-summer: For those who get this after the vernal equinox (21/3) but before the Summer Solstice (21/6), this is especially good. He may become prime minister or imperial censor. His position and fame know luck, a doubly long and prosperous life.
  Summer-autumn: after the solstice opportunities diminish steadily. Take care not to give up, small steps are still possible. Outside, there may not be much luck, inside it is important to stay true to your principles. Don’t allow others to use you against your own wellbeing.
  In winter, when not getting the opportunities you need, your activities are in danger of being different from what is appropriate; fear leads to disasters. Retreat from action, because this is the movement of Thunder that loses its power by going against the season, which is unfavorable.

The outcome

    
The middle line (human or self-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 its presence will be solid.
  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 (not 'male' but human), it can also be about you yourself, not only what you do.

Love for the work dissolves the effort.

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 stationary 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: Gen, Mountain with his constancy, his ability to make things endure
  Helper for the subject: Zhen, Thunder with his energy and stimulation and quick actions
  Helper for the outcome: Kan, Water, with his direction and focus, his courage to take risks and his talent to give things shape, 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. 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