Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

  Zhèn-Xùn, Thunder-Wind

    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
   Zhèn, the Plow. His image is Thunder or Earthquake. He refreshens fields or minds, he brings wrong actions or decay to the surface and dissolves fears and doubts. He is the power of generating and growing, waking up seeds and cleaning the air with his electricity. He is impulsive and can be insensitive and destructive, but those qualities also help to loosen suffocating ties or views. Zhèn cuts away the old and opens the space for the new.
  Zhèn focuses on the short term and sets things in motion. It is the most energetic trigram, it knows no limits and knows no detours. It has difficulty in reaching a conclusion, it is the trigram of the beginning, the first action, the first spark and quick results – for better or for worse, lightning with insight - or with a raging forest fire. Or an earthquake: destroying, or plowing up new space or seeds.

  What is the subject, intention or hope of your question? And what is your power in this?
 Xùn, 'Choosing', the character xun is a table with tokens or seals and a pair of hands. Her attribute is Wind. She is the master of inspiration. She is good at communicating and spreading rumors, news, ideas, orders or goods. The officer who spreads the wishes of the sovereign. She is patient and precise, good at detailed work. She can penetrate and influence physically and mentally. Wind can bring a mood or atmosphere which is clearly felt. Wind can also spread disease, but her absence can cause decay.
  'Xùn' means counting, choosing or being chosen. It is giving or having a direction, a purpose, a 'seal' or mandate. It can be in the way fate does, a path that can hardly be avoided: "your number is up". Being chosen is stronger than the freedom of choosing. It also works in physical ways, defining 'what you are' and the urge to grow into it and live and multiply it.
  Like water always follows gravity, the wind follows air pressure, answering the 'atmosphere', which makes her stronger and more persistent than moving toward a goal.
  Your intuition will have a stronger influence on your road than your mind, even though Wind also relates to thoughts. Thoughts follow the decisions of the heart. Wind follows the voice of the Earth, the voice of life.

  What do you want or need to do, what can you truly do, or what will fate unfold in this situation?
  When Zhèn activates Xùn, the trigram of wind and wood, they make the branches sway from the roots, they make all things act from their core. It is the relentless movement that follows fate and finds its destiny. Whenever you stray from your birthright, you have the opportunity to retrace your steps and find the right direction again. Walking your dao means following your essential path without deviating, even if it takes you along winding roads.

  Zhèn and Xùn are the 'origin' of hexagram 32. 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.
变上为离，为火，乃雷散日出，晦极生明，主人三三 器识高迁，鉴察深远。
When the top line changes Thunder activates Li, activates Fire. The thunder dispels and the day begins. When the night has reached its climax, the light is born. The talents and knowledge of this person are (三三 repeatedly) great and intricately linked, his discernment is profound and critical.

  When Thunder meets Fire, he activates her initiative. When the fire of sun warms the air, Thunder hands its power over to the sun. Fire consumes Thunder's energy and tames its initiative and decisiveness. Now the power of insight and making order goes together with the power of decisive change, and it becomes possible to make huge improvements. It increases perseverance to do what one must do, even when everyone disagrees, and to do what one wants to do, even when it is very difficult.
  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.

  春天雷奋口和, 万类发生。
  冬天雷隐日暖, 温饱自足. 凡事称意。
  In spring, the thunder brings out the harmonious (power) of the sun; all things come to life.
  In summer and autumn, thunder makes the sun fierce; things are diminished and much is burned, that which gives pleasure leads to sadness; amidst the good are defects.
  In winter, Thunder shields the sun's heat; satiated and with more than enough, all things are satisfied and fulfilled.

The subject

    
The bottom line (Earth-line) shows the change of the field or subject.
变下为坤, 为地, 雷人地中, 雨泽不施也, 必致饥荒。
主人无识, 萧索乖戾, 中生多阻。
  The bottom (line) activates Kūn, activates earth. Shocks in the earth, no rain will fall in the marsh, it will lead to a poor harvest. There is no hesitation; the determination is reckless. There will be powerful people who are ignorant, indifferent, and non-conforming. One encounters much resistance in one's life.

  Zhèn activates Kūn, it activates Earth's yin in you, in a situation of Thunder's yang. Thunder goes to the Earth; roots grow strong and grounded; they have a firm position. It is the creative movement of body and mind: intuition, anticipation, telling a story or having a vision, playing, dancing, music. Artists call it being in the flow or zone.
  But success does not come quickly. If you hold on to your values and stick to the essence, you can energize and initiate, reconcile ideas and reality. But if you forget the roots, there is no good source. Then you use it selfishly or superficially and it will end in empty promises or boasting.
Thunder' wakes up the seeds with his electric charges or living creatures with his loud voice. But he also plows under what is not viable. He brings everything to germination: seeds, thoughts, wishes, feelings. He connects to the roots of all things tangible and intangible and supports their growth from the beginning.
  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 change of the subject:
  秋冬得宜, 春夏不利。
  In autumn and winter appropriate,
  In spring and summer unfavorable.

The outcome

    
The middle line (human or self-line) shows the outcome.
变中爻为兑,为泽,雷泽交施,
When the middle line changes, it activates Dui, which activates rain. Thunder and rain work together.
  (施 is harmonious cooperation: image of a flag, "following the wind")

  Thunder brings out Lake's feature of beneficial rain and Lake makes Thunder's work bloom. Together they create beauty.
  Zhen can be too energetic and impulsive. It is the trigram of germination and preparations, not of concrete results, and occasionally it may become no more than lush blossoms, beautiful to behold but distracting from the essence. But too much work and duties can cause unhappiness; find the middle way.
  Lake's tender, persuasive care can cause Thunder's seedlings to grow into viable plants and other creatures. Small beginnings growing into generations of life, one after the other in endless scuccession.
  General: When yin meets yang, it is time to follow up on your inspirations, to give a structure to visions or to share them. Performing the work turns into providing leadership. Others ask your advice or expect direction. The focus is on moving forward, showing results, enjoying what has been accomplished. You can energize and initiate, reconcile ideas and reality.
  The outcome changes from absorbing efforts or resources to giving back. You will need focus for what you do and the freedom to see chances and flow along with them. Use intuition and quick reactions; strict rules close off many opportunities.

  春夏振动, 兹息之有赖而万象直遂。
  秋则雷泽以济枯槁, 而秋阳不得暴物。
  冬则雷泽失令, 而万类憔悴。
  In spring and summer, thunder rumbles. Relying on propagation, everything on earth reaches its goal so directly.
  In autumn, thunder and rain become exhausted because they have reached their limit, yet the autumn sun cannot harm the creatures.
  In winter, thunder and rain lose command, and all living things are in decline.

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 Yin: She is the most difficult to influence, she is careful and follows her own creativity and 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 or 'not yet'. Both can be good or bad, depending on the question.
  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.

    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: Li, Fire, with her power to discern and create order
  Helper for the subject: Kun, Earth, with her ability to nurture and concretize
  Helper for the outcome: Dui, Lake, with her ability to resonate and persuade

  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