The I-Ching is an ancient Chinese handbook for divination and a source of ancient wisdom,  The I-Ching gives insight into the present situations and offers advice for procuring the best possible outcome in future situations.  The advice is based on detailed observations of nature by ancient sages and their understanding of cause and effect.  The I-Ching was written by four of China’s most honored sages Fu Xi, King Wen, The Duke of Zhou and Confucius.  Two of the ways to consult the I-Ching oracle is the yarrow stalk oracle and the coin oracle.  The yarrow stalk oracle is based on The Great Treatise by Confucius:

The number of the Great Expansion is fifty, of which forty-nine are used.

Divide them into two, symbolizing the two primary forces. Suspend one, symbolizing the three supreme powers.

Manipulate by four, symbolizing the four seasons. Return the remainder, symbolizing the intercalary month.

In five years there is another intercalation. Afterward the process is repeated.

1. The number of the Great Expansion is 50 (hold 50 stalks in the left hand).

2. Of which 49 are used (put one stalk aside it plays no further part and symbolizes Tai Chi from the void).

3. Divide them into two, symbolizing the 2 primary forces (randomly divide the remaining 49 stalks into 2 bunches symbolizing heaven and earth the left representing heaven an the right representing earth).

4. Suspend one, symbolizing the 3 supreme powers (one stalk from the right hand bundle is placed between the ring finger and little finger of the right hand symbolizing humanity heaven earth and humanity being the 3 supreme powers in   the universe).

5. Manipulate by 4 symbolizing the four seasons  (Taking stalks four at a time, place aside until four stalks or fewer remain.  These bundles represent the four seasons).

6. Return the remainders, symbolizing the intercalary month (Place the remaining stalks between the ring finger and the middle finger of your left hand, symbolizing the intercalary month).

7. In five years there is another intercalation (Take four stalks at a time from the remaining bundle and place aside until four or fewer stalks remain. Place remaining stalks between the middle finger and the index finger of the left hand.  Count all the stalks in the left hand, the sum should be five or nine.  Set these stalks aside.

After the four operations (putting one stalk aside, dividing the remaining stalks into two bundles, removing four stalks at a time and placing the remainders between the fingers), the first process of change is completed.  It takes three of these processes of change to produce a yao, or line, so now you must repeat the process two more times.

8. Afterward the process is repeated.

Leaving the results of the first process aside (the five or nine stalks) repeat the four operations as above with the remaining 40 or 44 stalks.  This time the sum of the stalks left in the left hand will be 4 or 8.  Set these aside. This completes the second process of change.

Repeat the four operations once more using the remaining 32, 36 or 40 stalks.  After repeating the four operations again the sum left will be either 4 or 8 again.  Set these aside.

Either 24,28,32 or 36 stalks will remain.  Taking away four at a time, you will be left with either 6,7,8 or 9 groups.  Six and eight indicate yin yao.  Seven and nine indicate yang yao.  In the system of the I-Ching six is symbolic of Greater Yin, eight of Lesser Yin, nine is the symbol of Greater Yang, seven of Lesser Yang.  The resulting yao are interpreted as lines six of which make up a gua or hexagram of which there are 64 possible combinations which correspond to oracular insights found within the I-Ching or Book of Changes.

For more information on the I-Ching consult “The Complete I-Ching by Taoist Master Alfred Huang”.