Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

  Zhèn-Lí, Thunder-Fire

    

The great image says: Thunder and lightning arrive together: abundance. The noble one decides lawsuits and carries out punishments.

  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?
  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?
  Zhèn with Lí brings much insight and order. Ideas change from hunches to viable projects. When the sun warms the air, the thunder hands its power over to the sun. Fire consumes Thunder's energy and tames its initiative and decisiveness, which increases perseverance to do what one must do, even when everyone disagrees, and even when it is very difficult. It is the way to live a life which reflects one's insight, skills, experiences and courage. To go on against all odds while pulling along all those who are part of that life. Part of humanity's history.

  Zhèn and Lí are the 'origin' of hexagram 55. 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.

  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 (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 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 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: Li, Fire, with her power to discern and create order.
  Helper for the subject: Kun, Earth, with her ability to nurture and concretize, is lacking here or not needed. Yang remains Yang.
  Helper for the outcome: Dui, Lake, with her ability to resonate and persuade, is lacking here or not needed. Yin remains Yin.

  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