An I Ching consultation begins with a question and produces a hexagram, a figure made from six solid or broken lines. The figure points to a passage in the Book of Changes. Record the lines carefully, find the matching text and consider what it suggests about the situation.
This guide uses the three-coin convention described by Yijing author Steve Marshall: heads count as 3 and tails as 2. Some guides reverse that assignment. Choose the convention before casting and keep it consistent.
Write a question with some context
A hypothetical neighborhood group is planning its first outdoor event. Its question is, ‘What needs attention as we prepare this event?’ That tells the consultation what is being considered without demanding a promise about turnout.
Keep a short note of the situation beside the question: the date is proposed, the venue is available and volunteers are still being recruited. Later, that context will help explain why a passage seemed relevant.
Build the figure from the bottom
Toss three coins together and add their assigned values. Repeat six times. The first result is line 1 at the bottom; the sixth result is line 6 at the top.
6 means a broken yin line that changes. 7 means a solid yang line that stays. 8 means a broken yin line that stays. 9 means a solid yang line that changes. Keep the numbers as well as the drawing, since an ordinary solid or broken stroke alone does not record whether it changes.
For a simple example, six results of 7 produce six solid lines with no changing lines. That is Hexagram 1. The diagram shows the first cast at the bottom, even though the figure is read on the page from top to bottom.
Find the text for the received figure
Use the chart or lookup supplied with the selected translation. Confirm both the number and the line pattern. Titles differ across translations, so a matching title alone is a weaker check than a matching figure.
Legge calls Hexagram 1 Khien. His description emphasizes originating strength, firmness and correctness. That is the source description; it does not by itself mean the neighborhood event will succeed.
The group might apply that emphasis by asking, ‘Where does the event need sustained effort rather than another announcement?’ Recruiting two volunteer coordinators could be one answer. It follows from the group's circumstances and a proposed reading, rather than an instruction about event management found in the ancient text.
Notice whether any lines change
In this example every result is 7, so there are no changing lines and no second figure. Begin with the hexagram's overall text. There is no need to invent a change to make the reading more elaborate.
When a 6 or 9 appears, record its position and consult the corresponding line passage using the chosen reading method. Changing lines also produce a related hexagram by switching those lines to their opposites. The changing-lines guide works through one exact example.
Carry one question back to the situation
The group can finish with a note: ‘The reading brought our attention to sustained preparation. We will ask two volunteers about coordination before booking extra equipment.’ That step is small enough to check.
Keep any unclear passage in the notes. A first reading does not require an explanation of every sentence. Accurate recording and one carefully tested connection are a sound place to begin.
Sources
Steve Marshall, How to consult the Yijing, for the named three-coin convention. James Legge, Hexagram 1, pp. 57–59, for the figure, numbering and translated text. The event example is an original DuoSages application.
