Yarrow Stalks, Hexagrams, Lines and Spirit
1. The Master said: The Changes, what do they do? The Changes disclose things, complete affairs, and encompass all ways on earth – this and nothing else. For this reason the holy sages used them to penetrate all wills on earth and to determine all fields of action on earth, and to settle all doubts on earth.
The Changes, what do they do?
The changes above are the heavenly lights in the zodiac and in the year.
The changes below are the lines on the earth, in the day, in the houses.
The changes in between are the moving lights, the sun, moon and planets.
The three levels of change in the hexagrams,
what do they do? What are they good for?
The Changes disclose things,
The changes reveal things that are hidden, like the ways or cycles of the heaven, earth and the moving lights
and their effects in life on man.
complete affairs,
They reveal the complete sequence of cycles,
from beginning to end
and thereby reveal the unique circumstances of any moment in each cycle.
They reveal what the prerequisites are to complete each cycle.
As man lives between heaven and earth,
he improves his circumstances and character
by emulating the nature of the changes
and can even assist the gods, or planets, themselves.
and encompass all ways on earth
They reveal the influence of the heavenly lights and the moving lights
and their effects on the receptive earth.
They explain the year with its seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn.
They explain the day with its four quarters: midnight to sunrise,
sunrise to noon, noon to sunset and sunset to midnight.
They explain the phases of the moon and planetary cycles.
They include all the factors that influence man
from the great beginning at birth
to the end of things at death.
Thus they truly do encompass all ways on earth.
-this and nothing else.
Having included every way of life, nothing else remains to be considered.
Understanding is thus complete and wholesome.
There is nothing left to consider or worry about.
For this reason the holy sages used them to penetrate all wills on earth
The changes present all these things and that is all they do.
The old ways accessed this information through natural experience and astrology.
The yarrow stalk oracle was presented as the new way to access this information.
Through the horoscope the old priests could penetrate all wills on earth.
They could see each person’s destiny as revealed in the horoscope.
What is implied here is that using the yarrow stalks
would similarly allow them to penetrate the astrological advice, valid for all people.
and to determine all fields of action on earth,
The zodiac signs, astrological houses and moving lights
have long been used to determine all possible fields of action on earth.
Here the implication is that the yarrow stalk oracle will do the same thing.
This is, of course, an assumption and part of how the yarrow stalks were promoted.
It was supposed that the yarrow stalks would be as valid as the sun, moon and planets in determining the course of people’s lives.
and to settle all doubts on earth.
From the use of astrology all doubts on earth were always settled.
The use of the yarrow stalk oracle and its numerical associations
were now presented as a replacement for, and equally valid to, the old ways
to settle all doubts.
2. Therefore the nature of the yarrow stalks is round and spiritual. The nature of the hexagrams is square and wise. The meaning of the six lines changes, in order to furnish information.
In this way the holy sages purified their hearts, withdrew, and hid themselves in the secret. They concerned themselves with good fortune and misfortune in common with other men. They were divine, hence they knew the future; they were wise, hence they stored up the past. Who is it that can do all this? Only the reason and clear-mindedness of the ancients, their knowledge and wisdom, their unremitting divine power.
Therefore the nature of the yarrow stalks is round and spiritual.
This is a seeming justification for the use of the yarrow stalks,
because they are round they represent all the cycles of life
and therefore are spiritual.
This is a random and loose logic.
It gives seeming credibility to the use of the yarrow stalks
as a replacement for the cycles of the zodiac or year,
the moving lights , moon phases or month,
and the cycles of the day or astrological houses.
It suggests that by using the yarrow stalks
you will be able to access the changes
and receive answers divine, or celestial and worldly and spiritual.
It does represent a new mathematical way
to access the changes and the wisdom of life.
If it can do this,
what need is there to understand the astrological ways?
The nature of the hexagrams is square and wise.
This is an apparent association of squares to wisdom.
This was a new mathematical concept
that came with the belief in magic squares,
including the elements (planets), the trigrams, seasons, the directions and numbers.
These were presented in the Yellow River map and the Lo River map.
It may also refer to the numerological arrangement of the hexagrams
in a square or chess board like appearance.
The square in the circle.
The meaning of the six lines changes, in order to furnish information.
Each line is in one of the six places
which each have a different meaning.
This is similar to each line is in a different degree
and has a unique place in the sequence of things
and can thus provide information.
The lines in the hexagrams are consistent and stay where they are.
They are in a fixed place in the hexagrams and in each cycle.
It is the numbers,
when used to determine the hexagrams and their lines
that differ and change,
not the lines in the hexagrams.
What is referred to as a changing line
is actually a change of emphasis
or changing numbers
that allow a second hexagram to be determined.
This has become a significant function in the use of the changes
in the era of mathematical belief and association.
Changes in numbers appeared to mean changes in life!
This belief was accepted and propagated.
If the places of the lines within each cycle were set
and actually represented the degrees of the zodiac
then the movements of the heavenly lights
would stimulate the lines of the hexagrams in sequence
and reveal the meaning of its position or phase
as well as what would be required to move toward
the completion of the circle,
or to move towards peace and stillness.
In this way the holy sages purified their hearts,
To purify the heart one must remove impurities
like thoughts or attachments.
When one gets beyond thoughts and attachments
one experiences love, peace and stillness.
One cannot take the kingdom of heaven by storm or by force.
It must come from receptive openness.
Receptive openness includes everything.
This is the way of the mother and of love.
they withdrew,
To withdraw is the necessary means of detaching
from human society and its functions
and its reasons or worries.
They withdrew into silence and stillness
where there would be no thinking and no movements.
In such circumstances
they would emulate or become receptive
and open to all things.
and hid themselves in the secret.
Most people go out becoming more and more active in the wheel of life or change.
In so doing they go through the cycles of change, development and growth.
The holy sages used the changes
to go inward into the essence of things in the centre of the wheel
where there is no change.
It is here that they hid themselves.
The secret could be understood
as the unfathomable nature of silence and love.
The secret could also be understood as the essence of change
and as the wisdom of understanding
and putting into perspective
all ways in life ……. the zodiac, the houses and the moving lights.
If something or someone is moving,
they are on the wheel of life
and going through changes.
If something or someone is still and silent
they are in the centre or essence of change
and capable of seeing all movements
with openness, receptivity and love.
The secret is simply that the hexagrams or changes
are astrological in nature.
They concerned themselves with good fortune and misfortune in common with other men.
To be so concerned would pull their attention
out of receptive openness or silent detachment.
They had withdrawn themselves from this.
However, they could, from a centered silent position,
observe the astrological nature of the universe
and its effects on man.
By observing through the use of the changes or astrology
one can clearly witness what brings gain or loss,
good fortune or misfortune to a person.
Through observing the moving lights in the zodiac
and in the houses,
and by the relationships, aspects, or phases they have with each other;
one can clearly see good fortune (gain) and misfortune (loss).
We gain light as the light increases,
We lose light as the darkness increases,
until we come to stillness and silence
until we come to the essence, or seeds.
They were divine, hence they knew the future;
The holy sages were astrologers
who could understand the ways of heaven,
the ways of the earth, the ways of the moving lights
and the ways of man.
Because of this they were able to divine
or know the future and its implications.
This was incomprehensible to the uneducated man,
hence the astrologers were divine.
They were also shamans and healers.
They were wise
and they were considered as
representatives of divine or divinatory knowledge.
They were priests and people would go to them for guidance.
they were wise, hence they stored up the past.
By observing the cycles of the moving lights
and knowing how they took effect in the past,
the wise one could predict the challenges
and likelihood of future experience and events.
They knew the great beginning … the horoscope at birth!
They also knew the beginning of the year, the month and the day cycles.
They observed what had already happened.
They could see where, in the midst of cycles,
one stood at the present moment.
They knew how long, and what would be required to complete the cycles.
By knowing the past they could see the weakness and errors of man.
By considering the vulnerabilities,
they were able to advise people how to avoid errors,
and how to elevate their natures
and improve the opportunity for success.
Who is it that can do all this?
Who is it who can know these things
and is capable of divination?
Only the reason and clear-mindedness of the ancients, their knowledge and wisdom, their unremitting divine power.
This is indeed the realm and providence of astrologers,
the wise ones of old who knew the ways of life
and the implications of the future.
Who else could know these things?
Only those who have withdrawn,
hiding in the secret,
and observing relationships.
They observed before they spoke.
3. Therefore they fathomed the Tao of heaven and understood the situations of men. Thus they invented these divine things in order to meet the need of men. The holy sages fasted for this reason, in order to make their natures divinely clear.
Therefore they fathomed the Tao of heaven
They knew the essence of the zodiac and heavenly lights.
and understood the situations of men.
They knew the circumstances or effects of the light on earth
and therefore the uniqueness of the hours of the day or astrological houses.
In this way they knew the situations of men.
Thus they invented these divine things in order to meet the need of men.
Here the focus is taken away from the astrological divination
and placed on the yarrow stalks themselves as being divine.
The stalks were used for divination
and they did provide a new way into the wisdom of the changes.
One could now access the wisdom of the changes
without having to know the zodiac, the moving planets,
and the astrological houses or lines on the earth.
The mathematics of the yarrow stalks
would become the standard
for accessing the ancient wisdom.
One no longer needed to know the astrological nature of things,
or the experiential connection with nature,
to become apparently wise.
The holy sages fasted for this reason, in order to make their natures divinely clear.
Here the emphasis is put on the ritual of fasting
in order to make one worthy of using the yarrow stalks,
in order for one to understand.
This is very different from withdrawing,
hiding oneself in the secret,
and observing the celestial process
as it affected earth and man.
To be divinely clear
implies the mastery of astrology
and its lucid application.
The true wisdom of the stars.
Here it took on the appearance of meaning
one had to be clear and open
to use the yarrow stalks properly.
This could be considered the beginning of a new belief system and its dogma!
4. Therefore they called the closing of the gate the Receptive, and the opening of the gate the Creative. The alternation between closing and opening they called change. The going forward and backward without ceasing they called penetration. What manifests itself visibly they called an image; what has bodily form they called a tool. What is established in usage they called a pattern. That which furthers on going out and coming in, that which all men live by, they called the divine.
Therefore they called the closing of the gate the Receptive,
By closing the gate one stops things from passing through.
This stops activity and allows for peace and quiet.
The gate was usually closed at night
so that one could sleep in peace.
This was movement towards the darkness.
This was movement towards the mother and home.
Hence this was movement towards the receptive.
and the opening of the gate the Creative.
By opening the gate one lets things pass through.
One can go out and others can come in.
Opening the gate was associated to action.
The gate was usually opened in the morning
so that activity could increase.
This was movement towards the light.
This was movement towards the father and the outer world.
This was movement towards creative activity.
The alternation between closing and opening they called change.
When the gate was closed it was night
and one was at home and receptive to mother.
When the gate was open
one was out and active and creative in the world.
The closing of the gate refers to the increasing darkness
in the year (summer-winter),
in the month (waning moon phase),
in the day (afternoon and evening).
This is the way of increasing receptivity.
The opening of the gate refers to the increasing light
in the year (winter-spring)
in the month (waxing moon phase)
in the day (morning).
This is the way of increasing creativity.
The movement from being closed and receptive
to going out and being creative
and coming back to receptivity
was called change.
One had to be strong like the father to go out.
One had to be receptive like the mother to stay in.
This leads to a further association to the gates
which are often mentioned as plural.
The gates became the apertures or holes in the body:
eyes, ears, nose, mouth, anus, and sexual organs.
It refers to the opening and closing of the five senses
and of the mind
which can be opened or closed in the process of change.
Hence our activities and attachments in the world
with all the thoughts and words associated to them.
It also refers to our receptiveness and stillness
or detachment from the world
and its activities….
peace of mind and tranquility.
The going forward and backward without ceasing they called penetration.
Knowing the complete cycles in all things,
seeing the way of the creative and the way of the receptive
in their distinctive movements
and in their harmony as a whole.
Understanding the cycles of nature,
the lights above (zodiac)
the darkness below (earth and houses)
and the moving lights (sun, moon and planets)
is called penetration to the essence.
What manifests itself visibly they called an image;
This refers to the lights in the heavens,
the zodiac and the moving lights.
This is the creative heaven.
what has bodily form they called a tool.
This refers to the darkness of the earth,
the astrological houses or lines on the earth (the movements and rotations of the earth).
Because it has form it can be used.
This is the receptive earth.
What is established in usage they called a pattern.
The moon, sun and planets move through the heavens
and have their effect on the forms of the earth.
Man, by emulating the gods or moving lights
elevates his nature.
By observing these heavenly movements
patterns of behaviour can be seen.
The horoscope represents the patterns of the heavens
as they apply to earth
and as such it serves as a tool
for guiding one’s behaviour and actions.
Wise men follow the stars!
That which furthers on going out and coming in,
That which benefits from the movements of heaven and earth,
from the changing seasons,
from the hours of the day,
and from the phases of the moon and planetary aspects.
Here there is the statement
that there is something to be gained from the experience of life.
By understanding these cycles and their implications,
By understanding the zodiac, the houses and the moving lights,
one has much to gain.
One can elevate one’s nature
and even assist the gods themselves.
that which all men live by,
We live according to our relationship to heaven and earth,
according to our horoscope and our destiny.
We all live under the stars and are guided accordingly
whether we are aware of it or not.
This is a challenge to live and learn
by the changes in heaven and earth
and by understanding and following your horoscope.
they called the divine.
It was from understanding the horoscope
that one could divine one’s purpose
and correct the course of action in life.
Understanding the horoscope and its changes
was the way of the divine.
5. Therefore there is in the Changes the Great Primal Beginning. This generates the two primary forces. The two primary forces generate the four images. The four images generate the eight trigrams.
Therefore there is in the Changes the Great Primal Beginning.
The Great Primal Beginning is the moment of birth or first breath.
It represents the beginning of each individual life.
Before this moment, one is in the mother.
Receptive until the first breath,
one has not begun one’s life.
The separation from the mother is the Great Beginning.
The separation or birth of the light out of darkness is the Great Beginning.
This also refers to the winter solstice in the zodiac or year cycle,
midnight in the day cycle (or the IC in the houses),
and to the new moon in the moon or month cycle.
This generates the two primary forces.
This refers to the increasing light half of a cycle
and the increasing darkness half of a cycle.
From the Great Beginning light will first increase
and then it will decrease!
The two primary forces generate the four images.
Once the two primary forces of increasing light and darkness are determined,
The four divisions of a cycle can be determined.
Light is increasing but darkness is greater.
1. In the year cycle this is winter.
In the zodiac this includes Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
2. In the day cycle this is midnight to sunrise.
This is the dark half of morning.
Houses 3, 2 and 1 in the horoscope.
3. In the month or moon cycles this is the first quarter phase.
From the new moon to the waxing half moon.
From the conjunction to the waxing square.
Light is increasing and daylight is greater.
1. In the year cycle this is spring.
In the zodiac this includes Aries, Taurus and Gemini.
2. In the day cycle this is sunrise to noon.
This is the light half of morning.
Houses 12, 11 and 10 in the horoscope.
3. In the month or moon cycles this is the second quarter phase.
From the waxing half moon to the full moon.
From the waxing square to the opposition.
Darkness is increasing and daylight is greater.
1. In the year cycle this is summer.
In the zodiac this includes Cancer, Leo and Virgo.
2. In the day cycle this is noon to sunset.
This is the light half of the afternoon.
Houses 9, 8 and 7 in the horoscope.
3. In the month or moon cycles this is the third quarter phase.
From the full moon to the waning half moon.
From the opposition to the waning square.
Darkness is increasing and darkness is greater.
1. In the year cycle this is autumn.
In the zodiac this includes Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius.
2. In the day cycle this is sunset to midnight.
This is the dark half of the afternoon.
Houses 6, 5 and 4 in the horoscope.
3. In the month or moon cycles this is the fourth quarter phase.
From the waning half moon to the new moon.
From the waning square to the conjunction.
The four images generate the eight trigrams.
Once the four images or divisions of a cycle are determined
a light and a dark half of each division can be seen.
This reveals the eight fold nature of any cycle.
Year Cycle Moon Cycle Day Cycle
This reveals the eight-fold nature of any cycle.
The Trigram of The Arousing Force, Thunder
In the year cycle or zodiac:
This is the dark half of winter.
It includes Capricorn and the first half of Aquarius.
In the month or moon cycle:
This is the dark half of the first quarter moon.
The first three and one half days after the new moon.
In the day cycle:
This is the dark half of the dark half of morning.
The first three hours after midnight.
The Trigram of The Clinging, Fire
In the year cycle or zodiac:
This is the light half of winter.
It includes the last half of Aquarius and all of Pisces.
In the month or moon cycle:
This is the light half of the first quarter moon.
Three and one half days after the new moon to seven days at the waxing half moon
In the day cycle:
This is the light half of the dark half of morning.
The first three hours before sunrise.
The Trigram of The Joyous, Lake
In the year cycle or zodiac:
This is the dark half of spring.
It includes Aries and the first half of Taurus.
In the month or moon cycle:
This is the dark half of the second quarter moon.
From seven days after the new moon to ten and one half days.
In the day cycle:
This is the dark half of the light half of morning.
The first three hours after sunrise.
The Trigram of The Creative, Heaven
In the year cycle or zodiac:
This is the light half of spring.
It includes the last half of Taurus and all of Gemini.
In the month or moon cycle:
This is the light half of the second quarter moon.
From ten and one half days after the new moon to the full moon.
In the day cycle:
This is the light half of the light half of morning.
The three hours before noon.
The Trigram of The Gentle Penetrating, Wind and Wood
In the year cycle or zodiac:
This is the light half of summer.
It includes Cancer and the first half of Leo.
In the month or moon cycle:
This is the light half of the third quarter moon.
The first three and one half days after the full moon.
In the day cycle:
This is the light half of the light half of the afternoon.
The first three hours after noon.
The Trigram of The Abysmal, Danger
In the year cycle or zodiac:
This is the dark half of summer.
It includes the last half of Leo and all of Virgo.
In the month or moon cycle:
This is the dark half of the third quarter moon.
From three and one half days after the full moon to the seventh day.
In the day cycle:
This is the dark half of the light half of the afternoon.
The three hours before sunset.
The Trigram of Keeping Still, Mountain
In the year cycle or zodiac:
This is the light half of autumn.
It includes Libra and the first half of Scorpio.
In the month or moon cycle:
This is the light half of the fourth quarter moon.
From seven days after the full moon to three and one half days later.
In the day cycle:
This is the light half of the dark half of the afternoon.
The first three hours after sunset.
The Trigram of The Receptive, Earth
In the year cycle or zodiac:
This is the dark half of autumn.
It includes the last half of Scorpio and all of Sagittarius.
In the month or moon cycle:
This is the dark half of the fourth quarter moon.
From ten and one half days after the full moon to the new moon.
In the day cycle:
This is the dark half of the dark half of the afternoon.
The three hours before midnight.
6. The eight trigrams determine good fortune and misfortune. Good fortune and misfortune create the great field of action.
The eight trigrams determine good fortune and misfortune.
They reveal whether light is increasing or decreasing.
The increase of light refers to gain, gain of activity.
The decrease of light refers to loss, loss of activity.
One can find the good fortune and misfortune implied
from a study of the horoscope
and therefore also from the eight trigrams.
Good fortune and misfortune create the great field of action.
The increasing and decreasing of light
create the great field of action.
Action is caused by light.
In every cycle the light increases and decreases.
This is true in the lights in the heavens or the zodiac, or the cycle of the year.
This is also true in the lines on the earth, the astrological houses, or the hours of the day.
This is also true in the phases of the moon,,
weeks of the month, and aspect phases of the moving lights.
This is truly the great field of action
Action above, action below and action in between.
7. Therefore: There are no greater primal images than heaven and earth. There is nothing that has more movement or greater cohesion than the four seasons. Of the images suspended in the heavens, there is none more light-giving than the sun and the moon. Of the honored and highly placed, there is none greater than he who possesses wealth and rank. With respect to creating things for use and making tools helpful to the whole world, there is no one greater than the holy sages. For comprehending the chaotic diversity of things and exploring what is hidden, for penetrating the depths and extending influence afar, thereby determining good fortune and misfortune on earth and consummating all efforts on earth, there is nothing greater than the oracle.
There are no greater primal images than heaven and earth.
The heavenly lights and the earthly darkness
represent the primal duality.
What can hold more understanding and insight
than the zodiac and the astrological houses?
Over everyone’s head is a different star.
Underneath everyone’s feet is the same earth.
There is nothing that has more movement or greater cohesion than the four seasons.
The basis of the zodiac is the four seasons,
and the changing ratio of light and darkness within each day.
In winter daylight is increasing but there is more darkness than daylight.
In spring daylight is increasing and there is more daylight than darkness.
In summer darkness is increasing but there is more daylight than darkness.
In autumn darkness is increasing and there is more darkness than daylight.
Every day there is a different momentum of light and darkness.
The sequence of this daily alternation of light and darkness
has great cohesion.
It is this sequence that reveals the nature of daily changes within each season,
and within each zodiac sign.
It is this sequence that reveals true understanding
of the prerequisites of life,
of what brings good fortune and misfortune.
Of the images suspended in the heavens, there is none more light-giving than the sun and the moon.
This confirms the use of the sun and moon
in determining the nature of light in the changes.
It also confirms the use of moon phases
in comprehending the changes.
Of the honored and highly placed, there is none greater than he who possesses wealth and rank.
This is a reference to the circumstances of man on earth
and a direct reference to the astrological houses (lines on the earth).
The houses each represent two hours of the day
or the cycle of the earth or of worldly experience.
The tenth house is the highest house.
It reaches closest to heaven.
It represents the two hours leading up to noon.
The essential meaning of the tenth house is honour, status and authority.
If someone has their sun in the tenth house
they will be a prominent person.
When the sun is highly placed in the tenth house
before it begins to descend,
it is at the place of greatest prominence.
The twelve houses represent the changes in the cycle of the earth
as it turns around in twenty-four hours or one day,
and the proper sequence of the changes of light and darkness within this cycle.
This is the basis for understanding the astrological houses.
The First Quadrant is rising but beneath the earth.
From the IC to the Asc
From the deepest point beneath the earth, to the eastern horizon.
The sun is in this quadrant between midnight and sunrise.
Light is increasing but darkness is greater.
The Second Quadrant is rising but above the earth.
From the Asc to the MC.
From the eastern horizon to the highest point above the earth.
The sun is in this quadrant between sunrise and noon.
Light is increasing and light is greater than darkness.
The Third Quadrant is setting but above the earth.
From the MC to the Desc.
From the highest point above the earth to the western horizon.
The sun is in this quadrant between noon and sunset.
Darkness is increasing but light is greater than darkness.
The Fourth Quadrant is setting and beneath the earth.
From the Desc to the IC.
From the western horizon to the deepest point below the earth.
The sun is in this quadrant between sunset and midnight.
Darkness is increasing and darkness is greater than light.
By mentioning the place of honour and status
the position of the creative or greatest light in the day is confirmed.
With respect to creating things for use and making tools helpful to the whole world, there is no one greater than the holy sages.
The holy sage here is the superior man, or wise individual
who has studied and knows
the changes in the heavenly lights or zodiac above,
and the changes in the dark earthly circumstances or houses below,
and one who has observed the images suspended and moving in the heavens,
the moving lights or the sun, moon and planets.
One who understands these images and emulates them
is a superior creative being.
Such a one’s being, because it elevates his or her nature
and activity to the nature of the gods or moving lights,
will be able to create things and make tools useful to the whole world.
By knowing one’s horoscope, and understanding its changes,
and taking guidance from it,
one’s actions will become divined or sanctified.
They will be aligned to the way of the universe
and will allow for a superior or elevated way of creative action.
Thus by embracing this way
one will be able to rise above one’s lower nature
and act to help the world.
This is the way of the creative, of making things and tools
to help the receptive world of darkness and ignorance.
The creative gives to the receptive.
The heavenly lights shine on the earth.
The receptive takes from the creative.
The earth reacts or receives the heavenly light.
For comprehending the chaotic diversity of things
For understanding (standing under) the heavenly lights (the stars and the zodiac)
as well as the moving lights (sun, moon and planets),
and their effect on the changes in the darkness (earth and its houses) …..
One who understands the horoscope
will understand the seeming chaotic diversity of things and their order.
The chaotic diversity here represents the zodiac and the moving lights.
and exploring what is hidden,
What is hidden is the reason for the changes in the darkness or in the world.
By understanding the ways of the world (the houses)
one can see the effects of the changing heavenly lights (sun, moon and planets in the zodiac)
for penetrating the depths
For understanding the depths of receptive earth darkness.
One can easily see the sun at its zenith, on the midheaven at noon,
but by knowing the horoscope and the houses,
one can penetrate and perceive the nature of the moving lights
at the nadir, on the IC at midnight.
This is the hidden depths of the houses and of the ways on earth.
In the horoscope, this reveals the hidden or inner motives of people,
That which makes them do the things they do!
and extending influence afar,
For seeing and understanding
the influence of the heavenly lights on the moving lights
and on the dark receptive houses of the earth.
By acting out of awareness of these vast circumstances,
one is in effect extending one’s influence afar.
One elevates one’s nature
and is able to creatively assist the gods themselves.
thereby determining good fortune and misfortune on earth
In understanding these changes or one’s horoscope
one can see what elevates a persons nature and what does not,
and thus can determine what brings good fortune or misfortune on earth.
When one can see the good and bad influences
of the zodiac and the moving lights in the houses,
it becomes apparent
what will bring gain
and what will bring loss.
The earth gains light, and there is abundant growth.
Plants will grow. Everyone will thrive. Life is abundant.
The earth loses light, and there is abundant death.
Plants wither and die. Life becomes difficult.
The increasing of light and darkness
determine the changes and the prerequisites
for living a successful or superior life.
Is this not divine guidance?
and consummating all efforts on earth,
By knowing the cycles, one knows the ways of heaven and earth.
One will know the great beginning
where light is born,
or begins to shine and increase.
One will also know the ending of cycles
where light dies and does not shine or increase.
One knows the beginning of the year at the winter solstice or longest night
and one also knows the end of the year at the winter solstice.
One knows the beginning of the day at midnight or greatest darkness
and one also knows the end of the day at midnight.
One knows the beginning of the moon phases at the new moon or greatest darkness
and one knows the end of the moon phases at the new moon or greatest darkness.
In this way one comes to know and understand
the ways of increasing and decreasing light.
One sees the great beginning of life
from stillness and darkness in the womb
into increasing activity
and then into decreasing activity
until life comes to an end.
One understands the cycles and changes of life and death.
One can see what is required
to complete all efforts and affairs in life
in an exalted or divine manner.
there is nothing greater than the oracle.
The oracle here represents the way of astrology,
and also the ways that numerological randomness
or yarrow stalk divination
can help one to access this wisdom.
Through the use of the yarrow stalks
one comes to the shores of wisdom
and can find guidance.
Through the use of astrology
one comes to the essence and foundation of understanding
and can find lucidity.
8. Therefore: Heaven creates divine things; the holy sage takes them as models. Heaven and earth change and transform; the holy sage imitates them. In the heavens hang images that reveal good fortune and misfortune; the holy sage reproduces these. The Yellow River brought forth a map and the Lo River brought forth a writing; the holy men took these as models.
Heaven creates divine things;
The divine things are the stars, the zodiac and the moving lights;
the sources of light and creativity
the holy sage takes them as models.
The zodiac sets a heavenly example for man
and tells us how we should live.
Heaven and earth change and transform;
Heaven, or the seasons and zodiac signs change across the year.
Earth or the hours of the day and the astrological houses change within each day.
The earth is rotating while at the same time moving around its orbit.
Every day the sun and the zodiac signs rise and set
and complete the cycle of twenty-four hours
during which they travel through all of the twelve houses.
Every day as the earth moves around its orbit
or the sun moves through the zodiac
there is a different balance of light and darkness.
The earth rotates and is receptive to the light.
This is the way of the mother or life.
The seasons or zodiac present the earth with
changes in the amount of light across each year.
The light waxes and wanes.
It increases and decreases.
The relationship of the orbital heavenly light
to the daily rotation of the earth
is the essence of life.
The signs of the zodiac (heaven) as they move through the astrological houses (earth)
represent the changes and transformations that happen in life
and they set the guidelines for living a more complete, elevated and fulfilled life.
the holy sage imitates them.
The wise person will live according to their horoscope,
or according to the relationship of the heavenly signs to the worldly houses.
This is similar to the relationship of attitudes (zodiac signs)
to experiential circumstances (houses).
Attitudes have a powerful effect on our lives.
They can make the difference between success and failure.
So the wise person is very concerned with the attitude (zodiac signs)
which he or she expresses in the course of daily life (houses)
In the heavens hang images that reveal good fortune and misfortune;
The images hanging in the heavens are the moving lights: the sun, moon and planets.
It is these moving lights that reveal good fortune or misfortune
as they travel or wander through the zodiac signs of heaven
and the astrological houses of earth;
the divisions of the year
and the divisions of the day.
the holy sage reproduces these.
The wise person will imitate these moving lights
and reproduce similar effects in their lives.
They apply the astrological knowledge to their worldly circumstances
and in so doing they become successful
and can be prepared for periods of good fortune (gain) and misfortune (loss).
They live according to the increasing gain of light
and the decrease or loss of light.
In this way they become the representatives of heaven on earth
The Yellow River brought forth a map
This is a reference to the mathematical (magical) square of numbers in relationship to the five elements.
The five elements represent the five planets.
Water Ball is Mercury – the waters of the mind.
Metal Ball is Venus – material values like gold.
Fire Ball is Mars – fiery activity, power and force.
Wood Ball is Jupiter – the planet of abundance, growth and good fortune.
Earth Ball is Saturn – the planet of hard work and discipline.
The Yellow River map marks the beginning of the era of mathematical or numerological association and logic. The numbers became the representatives of the elements.
The functional nature of the moving lights became obscured, forgotten or misused.
The essential and lucid teachings of the images hanging in the heavens,
the moving lights and the zodiac signs,
became hidden or unknown factors.
and the Lo River brought forth a writing;
This refers to a second map, Lo Shu, writing from the River Lo,
in which the mathematical (magical) square of numbers to the five elements
were further associated to the four directions, the four seasons
and to the eight trigrams.
This map marks the beginning of a mathematical arrangement of the trigrams
which no longer followed the naturally observed changes in the light and the dark.
The light and the dark were no longer balanced in this map, or system of interpretation.
This system became the Sequence of Later Heaven,
which began to predominate the interpretation of the changes
by King Wan and the Duke of Chou.
They wrote down their interpretations in writing
and this system of mathematical (magical) deduction has prevailed since then (1200 BC).
the holy men took these as models.
Since 1200 BC the map of Later Heaven
was used as the standard for understanding the changes.
It became an era of mathematical, numerological, magical (abstract) contemplation.
The old ways of natural perception of the changes in the light and the dark
became obscured, minimized and hidden.
That the changes were originally and primarily
a lucid system of astrological insight
became a great secret!
It was the numbers that now predominated
and the natural sequence was no longer used,
or at least became infrequently referred to.
The magic of mathematical randomness
and its oracular process ascended.
The natural ways and sequence of the changes receded
and became secret,
and not mentioned or talked about.
The truly ancient sages hid themselves in the secret
to make their natures divinely clear.
This was the old natural way
when people lived in touch with nature and its ways.
9. In the Changes there are images, in order to reveal; there are judgements appended, in order to interpret; good fortune and misfortune are determined, in order to decide.
In the Changes there are images, in order to reveal;
The images refer to the images in the heavens,
the signs of the zodiac, the moving lights, and the trigrams with their images,
which reveal the sequence and circumstances of the light.
In the written text of the hexagrams
there is also a section called the images
where the trigrams are shown in their relationship to each other.
there are judgements appended, in order to interpret;
In the written text of the hexagrams
there is a section called the judgements,
where an interpretation of the implications of the trigrams
and their characteristics is given.
good fortune and misfortune are determined, in order to decide.
This refers to whether there will be gain or loss
accordingly decisions can be made.
This also refers to the sequence of change.
As the light increases, we gain.
As the darkness increases, we lose.
This is a fundamental concept within the changes and astrology.
The sequence of light increasing and decreasing
is the essential way of the zodiac, houses, moving lights, moon phases,
and of the trigrams or hexagrams.