In a world of relentless change, the Yi Jing (I Ching), or Book of Changes, remains one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring guides to navigating uncertainty. For over 3,000 years, this ancient Chinese text has served as a mirror for the human condition, offering wisdom that transcends culture and era. Its 64 hexagrams—symbolic combinations of broken and unbroken lines—reflect the dynamic interplay of opposites: light and dark, action and stillness, chaos and order.

This blog series reimagines the Yi Jing for modern life. Each hexagram is unpacked through a dual lens: its traditional roots and its relevance to contemporary challenges, from workplace dynamics to personal growth. Whether you’re new to the Yi Jing or a seasoned practitioner, these posts are designed to be a practical toolkit for self-reflection, decision-making, and finding balance in turbulent times. The Yi Jing is not a fortune-telling device but a framework for understanding patterns. As Carl Jung wrote, it’s a method to “step into the stream of time” and align with the Tao—the natural flow of life. Let’s begin.

---

How to Use This Yi Jing Blog Series

1. For Daily Reflection
   • Meditate on one hexagram each morning. Ask: What energy does this symbolize in my life today?
   • Use the journal prompts to uncover subconscious patterns.
2. For Decision-Making
   • When facing a crossroads, cast a hexagram (see instructions below).
   • Study its changing lines and resulting hexagram for layered insight.
3. For Personal Growth
   • Apply the “Practical Advice” sections to real-life challenges.
   • Track recurring themes (e.g., Hexagram 51’s “shock” or Hexagram 64’s “transition”) to identify growth areas.
4. For Collective Learning
   • Discuss hexagrams in teams or communities to navigate group dynamics.
   • Use modern examples to spark dialogue about ethics, leadership, or societal change.

---

How to Cast a Hexagram

Traditional Three-Coin Method

1. Formulate a Question: Focus on an open-ended query (e.g., “What energy should I lean into this week?” vs. “Will I get the job?”).
2. Assign Values
   • Three identical coins (e.g., pennies).
   • Heads (Yang)=3 Tails (Yin)=2.
3. Cast Six Lines (Bottom to Top)
   • Toss all three coins.
   • Add their values:
     • 6 (Old Yin): –→ (Changing line)
     • 7 (Young Yang): – (Static)
     • 8 (Young Yin): — (Static)
     • 9 (Old Yang): ← (Changing line)
   • Repeat five more times to build the hexagram.
4. Interpret
   • Identify your primary hexagram (e.g., Hexagram 22 – Grace).
   • Note any changing lines (Old Yin/Yang), which create a second “resulting” hexagram.
   • Read both hexagrams for a dynamic interpretation.

---

Hexagram Index

Below is a list of all 64 Hexagrams covered in this series. As posts are released weekly, you’ll be able to click through to each one.

1. Qian / The Creative (乾)
2. Kun / The Receptive (坤)
3. Zhūn / Difficulty at the Beginning (屯)
4. Mèng / Youthful Folly (蒙)
5. Xū / Waiting (需)
6. Sòng / Conflict (訟)
7. Shī / The Army (師)
8. Bǐ / Union (比)
9. Xiǎo Chǔ / Small Restraint (小畜)
10. Lǚ / Treading Carefully (履)
11. Tài / Peace (泰)
12. Pǐ / Stagnation (否)
13. Tóng Rén / Fellowship (同人)
14. Dà You / Great Possession (大有)
15. Qiān / Modesty (謙)
16. Yù / Enthusiasm (豫)
17. Suí / Following (隨)
18. Gǔ / Decay (蠱)
19. Lín / Approach (臨)
20. Guān / Contemplation (觀)
21. Shì Kè / Biting Through (噬嗑)
22. Bì / Grace (賁)
23. Bō / Splitting Apart (剝)
24. Fù / Return (復)
25. Wú Wàng / Innocence (無妄)
26. Dà Chǔ / Great Restraint (大畜)
27. Yí / Nourishment (頤)
28. Dà Guò / Great Exceeding (大過)
29. Kǎn / Abyss (坎)
30. Lí / Radiance (Clinging to Fire) (離)
31. Xián / Influence (咸)
32. Héng / Duration (恆)
33. Dùn / Retreat (遯)
34. Dà Zhuàng / Great Power (大壯)
35. Jin / Progress (晉)
36. Míng Yí / Darkening of the Light (明夷)
37. Jiā Rén / Family (家人)
38. Kuí / Opposition (睽)
39. Jiǎn / Obstruction (蹇)
40. Xiè / Liberation (解)
41. Sǔn / Decrease (損)
42. Yi / Increase (益)
43. Guài / Breakthrough (夬)
44. Gòu / Coming to Meet (姤)
45. Cuì / Gathering (萃)
46. Shēng / Ascending (升)
47. Kùn / Exhaustion (困)
48. Jǐng / The Well (井)
49. Gé / Revolution (革)
50. Dǐng / The Cauldron (鼎)
51. Zhèn / Thunder (Shock) (震)
52. Gèn / Mountain (Stillness) (艮)
53. Jiàn / Gradual Progress (漸)
54. Guī Mèi / The Marrying Maiden (歸妹)
55. Fēng / Abundance (豐)
56. Lǚ / The Wanderer (旅)
57. Xùn / Wind (Gentle Influence) (巽)
58. Duì / Joy (兌)
59. Huàn / Dispersion (渙)
60. Jié / Limitation (節)
61. Zhōng Fú / Inner Truth (中孚)
62. Xiǎo Guò / Small Exceeding (小過)
63. Jì Jì / After Completion (既濟)
64. Wèi Jì / Before Completion (未濟)