i ching
“The I Ching does not offer itself with proofs and results; it does not vaunt itself, nor is it easy to approach. Like a part of nature, it waits until it is discovered. It offers neither facts nor power, but for lovers of self-knowledge, of wisdom — if there be such — it seems to be the right book. To one person its spirit appears as clear as day; to another, shadowy as twilight; to a third, dark as night. He who is not pleased by it does not have to use it, and he who is against it is not obliged to find it true.”
— Carl Jung, ‘Foreword to the I Ching’
The I Ching — also known as the Yijing, or Book of Changes — is a highly concise body of symbols and texts that has been in use for over 2,000 years. Intensely and endlessly scrutinised and debated through the centuries, it has inspired countless philosophers, teachers, academics, writers, poets, and politicians.
In and of itself, the I Ching as we know it today is a compilation of answers of inquiring minds, accumulated across millennia comprising observation, knowledge, and wisdom of the cosmos and humankind’s lived experiences.
In our tea practice, this work has had, and continues to exert, an immeasurable impact.
As its name suggests, the I Ching recognises and addresses the fact that the cosmos, and we who live in it, are in a constant state of flux — the natural order, things, objects, affairs, and people are ever-changing. By its nature, the I Ching is peerless as a work used for divination i.e. obtaining a reading which could then be used, when dealing with an uncertain situation, to determine and arrive at a rational, informed decision.
Indeed, our practice eschews the popular notion of using it as a superstitious, ‘new age’, mystical tool in favour of harnessing its greatest value. In our observance, it is non-religious, it does not involve paganistic rituals nor the veneration of any deity, and it certainly does not concern itself with changing one’s ‘luck’ or fortune-telling.
Put another way, we do not use it to ‘predict/define the future’, for the future is determined by one’s free will. Instead, the I Ching is our tool to realign ourselves with the unchanging pattern that governs the cosmos. It helps us attain self-knowledge, and to scrutinise our own character, attitude, and motives. In so doing, we equip ourselves with the information most crucial and necessary to us at any given point in our lives, so that we can use the data to make informed, sound, grounded decisions as to how we should behave and act, and find the most favourable manner by which we move through the world.
To take our I Ching consultations and readings, our observance typically favours the traditional yarrow stalk method. It is the most time-consuming and laborious of all methods, but the nature and importance of taking proper readings requires no less than this.
If you are facing a challenging situation or have questions and you sincerely believe consulting the I Ching would help in providing insight and a recommended course of action, you are invited to get in touch.