Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

Duì-Xùn, Lake-Wind
    

  What are the potential and qualities of this situation?
  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 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 Dui activates your Xùn, your position in relation to others will change. Move with it, don't resist it, but find a way to adapt your life to this new space. Some things will be lost, but every change also brings unexpected opportunities and joys. There is no point in regretting, as time changes, you discover new ways. Use them as best you can.
  Every time and every phase of life has its own problems and joys. Appreciate the problems, without them life becomes dull. You will disover that you are who you are and dealing with changes empowers being true to yourself. Giving the phases in your life their true acknowledgment is part of your mandate.

  Duì and Xùn are the 'origin' of hexagram 28. 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.
六三变为乾・ 乾为天, 名谓雨收泽竭, 天籁清虚, 人物从容, 众情多悦。
When the top line changes, Duì activates Qián. Qian is the sky, and this change describes rain gathering in a parched lake. The sounds of nature are refined and peaceful, all beings are calm and at rest, the feelings of the masses know many joys.

  Lake attracts rain when it activates Heaven: blessings. One can gain fame and fortune, but blessings don't come free, one has to make an effort. It starts off as a satisfying creative time, but in the autumn everything depends on the work done in the spring.
  This bodes very well for inspiration and creation: acting on a hunch or vision, the decision to pursue or implement an idea or to start a relation or a business. But always: think before you do!
  It's not yet a good time to show plans. Later, honesty and openness are crucial, but for the time being you must follow your own path. It is the age-old story of the hero, who risks his/her life for the sake of others and despite their scorn. It is the mandate of Lake, her 'Heaven's Highway', her Dao (Tao).
  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")
  春得熙和, 物物欣荣巧丽, 人多繁饰, 杰出群伦,自然称意。
  夏秋得此象者, 上仰青天, 雨泽不施, 水干流竭, 无丰多歉, 饥便怨望, 自多伤折。
  冬得此象, 寒凝少作, 岁内丰稔, 人亦富饶, 自然亨泰也。
  In the spring obtained this means happiness and harmony; everything thrives. The people are beautifully and exuberantly decorated. An equal group of exceptional people who spontaneously esteem each other.
  A person who gets this image in summer or autumn lifts his head to the blue sky, no rain in the swamps, the water stream in the treetrunks has dried up. There is no abundance and much regret; there is hunger causing resentment, which creates envy and certainly distress or loss of money.
  When winter takes on this image, the cold is freezing and little can be done. The year has provided a good harvest and the people have plenty, the natural world is favorable and at peace.

The subject

    
The bottom line (Earth-line) shows the change of the field or subject.
初九变为坎, 坎为三三水, 名谓积水而成, 坎陷天泽, 交施于坎水, 川流盈溢, 所至俱宜, 物物得利。
  When the bottom line of Dui changes it activates Kan, a pit that collects water. It is called accumulated water and also achievement. Kan is a hole that catches the rainwater (also the emperor's favor) and together with the moving water of Kan the flow of rivers is abundant. The result is as it should be, everything benefits.

  When Dui changes to Kan, yang's stubbornness dissolves and its insecurity and its tendancy to depression take over. Now the benefit of Water's intuition and relentlessness becomes clear. Even in dire situations, Water never stops searching for a way out. He is an excellent fighter, fast and cunning. He needs to be free, he is the protector of all living creatures.
    General: What you can do, or what will happen in this situation, is yin. It aligns with the Earth-line, but the potential in these surroundings or this time is yang. You want (or will) come closer to concrete realizations, but problems also become real. All this is not really easy amidst yang. Yang can be overbearing, through influence or force, so you need to hold on to what you really want, and yet not to force anything.
  Examine when the work can proceed and when it must be held back. Who can participate in your project and who would hinder it. Your project absorbs more energy and resources, and these should be used wisely. Listen to the Earth, she is creativity. You can hear her voice when you open yourself by just being you.

    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")
  春得此象,雨泽霏霏,万物滋荣,富贵可期,人多拔萃。
  夏得此象, 长养有功, 荣舒万汇, 人生多遇, 不苛不贪, 富则金帛盈室, 贵则宗庙之卫。
  秋得此象, 水泽交加, 禾穗双成, 人生值此, 得民之情, 庆流后裔。
  冬得此象, 水泽相交, 民物空虚, 兹非广惠。
  When spring receives this image the rain falls lavishly, everything grows abundantly; fame and wealth can be expected. This person stands out above the crowd.
  If summer gets this image it means merit through nurturing, raising. His fame reaches the whole world. He achieves much in his life, is meticulous and not greedy; his wealth fills the whole room, his prestige protects the government.
  When autumn takes on this image water and rain act together; the ears of grains grow in double quantity. This person will experience this in his life; he receives the affection of the people and can rejoice in a long line of offspring.
  When winter receives this image, water and rain mingle; the people and things are unreal. At this time one does not spread benevolence.

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.
   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.
  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 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:Qian, Heaven, with his severe structure and his timing.
  Helper for the subject: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. Yang remains Yang.
  Helper for the outcome: Zhen, Thunder with his energy and stimulation and quick actions.

  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