Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

  Kăn-Qián, Water-Heaven

    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
   Kăn, the pit. His image is Water. It is the dark place where things are born, the roots of a tree, the seeds of inspiration, the basis, the bottom of a well or pit, a depression or sunken place, a covered trap in the ground. Kăn is dark and deep. He cannot rise up but has great endurance and depth. Meeting Kăn can be extremely dangerous - or open up refreshing new perspectives. He is memory, he can rescue or destroy, keep or dissolve.
  Kăn 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 overcoming obstacles by collecting itself and relentlessly following its Dao, which also makes it available for all creatures.

  What is the subject, intention or hope of your question? And what is your power in this?
  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 do you want or need to do, what can you truly do, or what will fate unfold in this situation?
  When Kan activates Qián, heavy clouds pass overhead. The Heavens might open and bring the rain – or not... Nature will not answer demands, only intentions - if they are performed with total dedication. Wanting is not enough, and expecting anything will only be frustrating. Make certain you are in a good place now, what happens tomorrow is not yet part of life, but what you do from moment to moment is the road toward it. Don’t underestimate the spirits that live in your soul, concentration can open up fate or redirect it.

  Kăn and Qián are the 'origin' of hexagram 05. 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.
变上为巽,水气乘风,飘逸高远,类多润泽。
When the top line changes, trigram Water activates Wind.
The Qi of water penetrates the high blowing wind and makes it moist.

  When the yin top line of Water activates yang, it activates Xun, the Wind or Wood. The trees spread their roots down to the water, and move it up through their trunks. They spread it towards their leaves where it evaporates after feeding them.
  Work like Water and Wind. Bring a bucket and get down to the roots, bring it up and spread the water over your field or drink it and don't forget to share or inspire others to do the same or to dig a well.
  When work is done the way nature does, it loses its heaviness and becomes the foundation of living your life with pride and love.
  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")
   秋为湛露. 凋零万物. 施毒害人, 而人多怨谤；
  冬为霜露, 主人艰辛劳苦者也。
  In spring and summer this means dew, nourishing and nurturing.
  In autumn the dew is thick, everything alive diminishes in strength. There will be defiance and reproach.
  In winter, the dew is frozen. There will be hardship and hard labor.

The subject

    
The bottom line (Earth-line) shows the change of the field or subject.
变初爻为兑, 水入泽中, 内塞不流, 终难远大,
  When the first line changes, Kan actives Dui. Water enters the Lake which it fills. Contained it cannot flow on; completion is difficult and takes long.

  When Kan's yin bottom line activates yang, Kan activates Dui, the Lake or Marsh. As long as yin reigns, thirst won't be a problem, but yang is as dry as can be. With this change, Water and Lake prove their worth when people and animals are thirsty. But first Duì must collect enough water and often there are dry times. But even when full, Dui's supply is not endless, the water can run out, so use it wisely. The way a community manages its water supply is significant for its level of culture. It is a never ending work.
  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")
  春夏则为霜为泽, 自盈自满, 横流充溢, 四海有利, 必成败是非, 或先难后易, 先忧后喜。
  三秋冬不利,
  In spring and summer incessant rain (favors). All creatures thrive and abundant flooding benefits the whole land. There will be success and failure, good things and bad things, or things are first difficult and later easy, first worry and later joy.
  In autumn and winter not favorable.

The outcome

    
The middle line (human or self-line) shows 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 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 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: Xun, Wind, with her power to choose and influence, is lacking here or not needed. Yin remains Yin.
  Helper for the subject: Dui, Lake, with her ability to resonate and persuade, is lacking here or not needed. Yin remains Yin.
  Helper for the outcome: Kun, Earth, with her ability to nurture and concretize, 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