Your Journey Starts Here
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient text that offers wisdom and helps with self-reflection. It works like a mirror for your soul, not just a fortune-telling tool.
Among the different ways to use it, the three-coin method is the easiest to learn. This approach is simple enough for anyone just starting out with this ancient oracle.
This guide will walk you through each step of the process. You'll learn everything from getting your mind ready to creating and understanding your first hexagram.
By the time you finish reading, you will know:
- What you need to get started
- How to cast the coins correctly
- How to record results and identify changing lines
- How to construct your unique hexagram
Step 1: Preparation
Gathering Your Tools
To begin your practice, you only need a few basic items. First, find three coins that are the same size and weight.
While traditional Chinese coins with square holes look nice, any modern coins will work just fine. The important thing is that all three coins match.
Next, give each side of the coin a number value. Most people use Heads = 3 and Tails = 2. This numbering system is the foundation for all your calculations.
You will also need something to write with and paper to record your results. A simple notebook works well, but you can make a worksheet if you prefer.
Finally, find a quiet place where you can focus. Look for a clean area where no one will bother you for about fifteen minutes.
Cultivating the Mindset
How well your reading goes depends a lot on your state of mind. What you do before tossing the coins matters as much as the toss itself.
We start by getting centered. Put away your phone, close your computer, and quiet all outside noise.
Take a few deep breaths. Feel yourself becoming calm and your thoughts getting clearer. You want to approach the I Ching with a real question and an open heart.
How to Formulate a Question
The I Ching works best with open-ended questions that ask for guidance or understanding. It's not meant for simple yes/no answers like a magic 8-ball.
A good question invites wisdom. A poor question just asks for a prediction. Good questions give you power, while bad ones often lead to disappointment.
Here are some examples to show the difference:
| Effective Questions (Open-ended) | Less Effective Questions (Closed/Demanding) |
|---|---|
| "What is the best approach for me to take regarding this situation?" | "Will I get the job?" |
| "What do I need to understand about my relationship with this person?" | "Does he love me?" |
| "Show me the underlying dynamics of this challenge." | "When will I be rich?" |
Start your questions with "What?" or "How?" to get the most helpful guidance.
Step 2: The Casting Process
The Six Throws
A hexagram is made up of six lines stacked on top of each other. You build this symbol one line at a time by tossing your three coins six times.
You need to start from the bottom and work your way up. Your first toss makes the bottom line, and your last toss creates the top line.
This bottom-to-top order shows growth and development, which is an important idea in I Ching philosophy.
How to Toss and Calculate
The actual casting is a simple process that helps you focus. Follow these steps for each of the six lines:
- Hold the three coins gently in your hands.
- Think about your question with a calm and clear mind.
- Shake the coins briefly, then drop them onto a flat surface.
- Look at how they landed and add up the total value. Remember that Heads = 3 and Tails = 2.
- Write down this number. Each line will always be either 6, 7, 8, or 9.
- Pick up the coins and repeat five more times, writing each number in a list from bottom to top.
Understanding the Numbers
Each total you get stands for a specific kind of line: Yin (broken) or Yang (solid). Some lines are stable, while others are "changing."
Changing lines are very important. They show where things are shifting or transforming in your situation.
This table explains what each possible number means:
| Total Coin Value | Line Number | Line Type | Name | How to Draw It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heads (3) + Heads (3) + Heads (3) | 9 | Changing Yang | Old Yang | —O— |
| Heads (3) + Heads (3) + Tails (2) | 8 | Unchanging Yin | Young Yin | — — |
| Heads (3) + Tails (2) + Tails (2) | 7 | Unchanging Yang | Young Yang | ——— |
| Tails (2) + Tails (2) + Tails (2) | 6 | Changing Yin | Old Yin | —X— |
The numbers 6 and 9 show old, unstable energy that's about to change. The numbers 7 and 8 show young, stable energy that will stay the same.
You'll get 7s and 8s more often because there are three coin combinations that can make each of them. You'll get 6s and 9s less often because only one combination makes each of these, which is why they carry special meaning when they appear.
Step 3: From Lines to Hexagrams
Constructing Your Hexagram
Now you'll turn your six numbers into a visual symbol. This is your main hexagram, showing the current state of your question.
Always start drawing from the bottom. The first number you wrote down becomes the bottom line of the hexagram. The second number is the second line from the bottom, and so on, up to the sixth line at the top.
Let's say your six tosses gave you: 8, 7, 6, 9, 7, 8.
You would draw it from bottom to top like this:
* Line 6 (top): 8 (— —)
* Line 5: 7 (———)
* Line 4: 9 (—O—)
* Line 3: 6 (—X—)
* Line 2: 7 (———)
* Line 1 (bottom): 8 (— —)
This complete drawing is your primary hexagram.
The Power of Change
If you got any changing lines—a 6 or a 9—it means the energy of your situation is changing. This movement creates a second hexagram.
To find this second hexagram, you change each changing line into its opposite.
The rule is simple:
* An Old Yang line (9), —O—, becomes a Yin line, — —.
* An Old Yin line (6), —X—, becomes a Yang line, ———.
Using our example, we had a 9 in the fourth position and a 6 in the third position.
The primary hexagram changes. The changing Yang line (9) becomes Yin, and the changing Yin line (6) becomes Yang. The stable lines (7s and 8s) stay the same.
This creates a new, second hexagram that shows where things might be heading. The changing lines themselves hold key advice for handling this shift.
A Complete Walkthrough
The Question
Let's try a common question: "What perspective should I adopt to navigate my current career uncertainty?"
This question works well because it's open-ended and asks for guidance.
The Simulated Cast
We quiet our minds, focus on the question, and toss our coins six times. Let's say we get these results, which we record from bottom to top:
- Throw 1: Heads (3) + Tails (2) + Tails (2) = 7 (Young Yang)
- Throw 2: Heads (3) + Heads (3) + Tails (2) = 8 (Young Yin)
- Throw 3: Tails (2) + Tails (2) + Tails (2) = 6 (Old Yin, a changing line)
- Throw 4: Heads (3) + Heads (3) + Tails (2) = 8 (Young Yin)
- Throw 5: Heads (3) + Tails (2) + Tails (2) = 7 (Young Yang)
- Throw 6: Heads (3) + Heads (3) + Tails (2) = 8 (Young Yin)
Building the Hexagrams
First, we draw the Primary Hexagram based on these numbers, starting from the bottom line. This gives us Hexagram 24, named Fù (Return).
Next, we find the changing line. In this case, it's the third line, the number 6 (Old Yin).
This changing Yin line (—X—) changes into its opposite, a Yang line (———). The other five lines stay the same.
This change creates our Secondary Hexagram. By changing the third line, we now have Hexagram 2, Kūn (The Receptive).
Finding the Meaning
You would now look up these hexagrams and the specific changing line to find your guidance.
Hexagram 24, Return, shows a turning point after things have been getting worse. It's like the moment just before dawn, a time for new beginnings.
The changing line, line 3, often warns against going back and forth or returning to old habits. It talks about a repeated pattern that you need to break.
The second hexagram, Hexagram 2, The Receptive, is all about Yin energy. It suggests being patient and letting things unfold naturally instead of forcing them.
The complete message isn't a simple prediction. The I Ching is giving you a perspective: You're at an important turning point in your career (Hexagram 24). To handle it well, you should be patient and open to what comes (Hexagram 2), while being careful not to fall back into old patterns (Changing Line 3).
After the Cast
How to Look Up Hexagrams
Once you have your hexagram numbers, you need a resource to understand them. There are 64 possible hexagrams in the I Ching, each with its own meaning.
Many good resources exist. Look for respected translations like the classic Wilhelm/Baynes version, which many consider the best.
There are also many free online I Ching resources that provide the text for all 64 hexagrams and their changing lines.
A Mindset of Reflection
Approach the I Ching's answers with a spirit of reflection, not rigid prediction. The text offers wisdom, images, and advice that relate to the patterns in your life.
Think about the words and images you receive. Let them stay with you for a day or two. How do they connect to your situation in ways you hadn't thought about?
We strongly suggest keeping an I Ching journal. Writing down your questions, the hexagrams you get, and your thoughts about them can show you important patterns over time.
Final Encouragement
You have now learned a powerful ancient technique for self-discovery. Congratulations on taking the first step.
With practice and patience, the I Ching coin method can become an intuitive and insightful companion on your journey of personal growth.
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