How to Interpret I Ching Hexagrams
In recent decades, the I Ching, or the Book of Changes, has become popular in Western culture both as a method of divination and as a sort of self-help manual. One of the important texts of Confucianism, the I Ching is an ancient divinatory text that has gone through many editions and translations. In English, the most faithful translation is the Wilhelm-Baynes translation, which contains all the information relevant to interpretation. Other translations summarize the information, change it into "layman's terms" and even change it significantly to suit various purposes. Although there is a time and place for each of these versions, anyone who is serious about studying the I Ching in English would do well to procure a copy of the Wilhelm-Baynes translation.
Can the I Ching Tell the Future?
Although the I Ching can be used for a wide range of purposes, it is traditional to use it as a source of advice and divination. Those who are new to using the I Ching are often advised to begin by consulting the text with only broad questions in mind, seeking advice for the present rather than information about the future. The I Ching is probably best used this way in general, since divination is, to quote J. K. Rowling, "a very imprecise branch of magic." Thus, the I Ching is a good source of advice for how to proceed in life and how to interpret present events.
How to Consult the I Ching
In order to consult the I Ching according to traditional or revised procedures, consult the instructions in the book. Almost all versions and translations of the I Ching include instructions for arriving at a hexagram using either sticks, coins, or another method. A hexagram is a set of six lines, each of which is either broken or solid and either moving or non-moving. It is important to pay attention to the instructions regarding moving lines, as moving lines are an important part of the overall reading. Many people ignore moving lines because they don't want to add an extra complication, but in the case of the I Ching, no reading as complete without this information.
How to Interpret the I Ching
When you have arrived at a hexagram, it is time to consult the book to learn the meaning of your I Ching reading. The first and most basic step is to consult a chart of I Ching hexagrams (usually located inside the book) to discover the hexagram's number. When you have learned the number, turn to the description of that hexagram in the book. (Hexagram descriptions can also be found online, but be careful to use a reliable source!) In order to get the most out of your reading, interpret the hexagram according to the following step.
Step One: The Overall Reading
First, you should read the overall meaning of the hexagram. In the Wilhelm-Baynes translation, this includes a basic description, a text on "The Judgment" and a text on "The Image". Reading these is crucial to understanding your I Ching consultation. Because they were written long ago and are thought by many to be sacred divinatory images, many of the descriptions and meanings in the I Ching can be difficult to understand at first. However, once you get used to it, you will find that this is part of the beauty of consulting the I Ching. The images should be read and interpreted with a view to the question or situation you had in mind when you created your hexagram. The descriptions can help clarify a confusing situation or be taken as advice for how to proceed.
Step Two: The Moving Lines
After you have read and understood the basic meaning of the hexagram, it is time to focus on the moving lines. A moving line is a line that is moving from its current state (either broken or solid) to the opposite state. These lines are important to the reading because they give it a specific focus in addition to the general interpretation. In any good I Ching translation, there will be a description of the meaning of each individual line. It is important not to read each description! Only read the meanings of the moving lines. This will focus your reading and give it specificity beyond the general reading. The meanings of the moving lines can alter or enhance the overall meaning, adding new advice or different things to consider.
Step Three: The Second Hexagram
The third step is to find the hexagram that compliments your reading. This also involves moving lines. After you have read the descriptions of moving lines, create a second hexagram by changing the moving lines to their opposites. For example, imagine that you have three broken lines on the bottom and three solid lines on the top, and the bottommost and topmost lines are moving lines. Because the bottom line is moving, it changes to a solid line, and because the top line is moving, it changes to a broken line. The resulting, complimentary hexagram has a solid line on the bottom, then two broken lines, then two solid lines, then a broken line on the top.
What Does it Mean?
When you have found the second hexagram, it is important only to read the overall meaning of this hexagram. The meanings of the individual lines do not apply to the second hexagram. Because it introduces a different set of recommendations and descriptions, this second hexagram can be the most difficult part of the reading to interpret. Because the original hexagram is moving toward the second hexagram, the second hexagram is often thought to represent what will come next. However, it can also change the original meaning or provide a warning, depending on the question. Deciding how the second hexagram relates to the first one, or whether it relates at all, is up to you. Whenever you read the I Ching, you must bring your own creative powers to bear on the divination, making the reading unique to you and using it to your benefit in the best way you can.
