I Ching                                                 ICHING03.TXT
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        Interpreted by wu wei

        Frequently Asked Questions about the I Ching
 
        Question: In the second hexagram, that one that is produced by the 
        changing lines of the first hexagram, are we supposed to read the same 
        changing line(s) that were in the first hesagram as part of our answer?
 
        Answer: No. Only the changing line(s) of the first hexagram are part of
        your answer. 

        Question: What do the sixty foru hexagrams represent? 

        Answer: They represent all possible situations or conditions. Our 
        answer tells us what the condition or situation is that surrounds our
        question. 

        Question: When there is more than one moving line in an answer, why 
        does the counsel in the lines sometimes conflict? 

        Answer: The lines also represent time. The bottom line is first in 
        time, meaning what is just about to occur in th situation. Subsequent
        moving lines tell us what actions to take or avoid at successively 
        later points in time as the situation or condition mnoves thorugh the
        six stages of change that all situations or conditions go through 
        before changing into the next condition or situation. 

        Question: Why does the answer sometimes not make sense? 

        Answer: There are several possible answers. 
        Suppose that you rarely use the I Ching as an oracle. Suppose that you 
        ask a question of little importance and the Universe wants to 
        communicate something to you of great importance. It will use the 
        opportunity to do so. If your answer does not make sense look around to
        see if there is another area of your life to which the answer applies. 

        If your find such and area , ask other questions to get additional 
        information. 

        A scecond possibility is that you may have phrased your question
        improperly phrased your question such as, 
        "What can I do to achieve happiness and wealth?" 
        Those are two questions in one. 
        The acton  you should take to obtain happiness may differ from the
        action you should take to obtain wealth. 

        A third possibility is that you have used the I Ching too much and 
        have become dependent upon it. 

        The Universe will not allow you to give up your own decision making
        capability. 
       
       Lastly, you may not have interpreted the answer correctly., Wait a bit, 
       then read your answer again. 

        Question: Are the answers I get using coins reliable? 

        Answer: Sometimes, but not always. The three coins, having only a total
        of three heads and three tails, do not possess the numerical potential 
        necessary to display the unfolding Universe. Using yarrow stalks will 
        always produce reliable answers provided you phrase your questions with
        reverence and sincerity. There is a full discussion of coins and yarrow
        stalks in this book. 

        Question: How is it possible that the I Ching works? 

        Answer: The Universe is alive, aware, and contains total information.
        We are the Universe, a part of it, and so we can know what the Universe
        knows. The I Ching is one of the keys that unlocks that information. 

        Question: When I ask the same question twice, why do I sometimes get 
        different answers? 

        Answer: If you ask the same question after enough time has passed, a 
        different answer may be appropriate. 
        If you ask the same question twice just to test the I Ching, your
        question implies doubt and your doubt will only be confirmed.