Free I Ching Reading

What is the I Ching?

The I Ching, (also known as the Yi Jing) is an ancient Chinese oracle. It is based on a 3000 year old manuscript of Chinese wisdom called "The Book of Changes".

Throughout history, the Book of Changes has been used principally as a divinatory text. It provides deeply insightful spiritual guidance and accurately answers questions about life, love, business, health, self realization and personal issues. The I Ching, or the ancient Chinese Book of Changes is the oldest divination oracle still in use today.

The core of the I Ching are its 64 hexagrams, each composed of six lines. Each horizontal line has either a broken and unbroken state, allowing for a total of 64 possible combinations.

- Eight I Ching hexagrams shown. There are 64 in total. -

These hexagrams which reflect both ancient Confucianist and Taoist philosophy each carry a primary divinatory meaning which serves as the "answer" to a querent's question. Many students of Western divination systems from tarot cards to astrology enjoy the I Ching's very different, Eastern philosophical perspective.

In addition to the primary meaning of each hexagram, each I Ching reading also provides more subtle secondary reading pertaining to "changing lines". (Keep reading and we'll discuss the changing lines in more detail below).

How to perform an I Ching reading

What kind of questions work best with the I-Ching?

First and foremost -- it is traditional in China to say "please" as part of your question when you consult the I-Ching.

This is an ancient custom dating back to the misty origins of Chinese divination over 4000 years ago. Today, many people tend to ignore this tradition but it's still considered the "correct" way to begin an I Ching reading. The word "please" can be placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the question.

Asking the I Ching general vs. specific questions

Many people find their readings are most successful when they ask general questions like: "Please tell me about the forces affecting my relationship", or "What are the issues surrounding my job, please".

Experts often approach the I-Ching with an even more general strategy - asking simple questions like: "Tell me about my current situation in life, please". This approach to readings reflects the tendency of the oracle to offer insight into a wide variety of related, and sometimes unexpected topics. Many related topics may not be anticipated by the asker.

While many people tend to ask very specific questions like "Will I get married?", "Will I find true love this weekend?", "Is my relationship really over?" - one must remember that the I-Ching often speaks about the background of a situation — or about related issues, or psychological states that affect the outcome of that question.

Consulting the I Ching for Love and Relationships

For centuries, the I Ching has been used to answer questions about love, romantic relationships and relationship issues. While the classic I Ching can be used for relationship questions, a better option for questions of the heart is iFate's popular Love I Ching.

This special, modern I Ching translation which preserves the spiritual and conceptual meanings of each I Ching hexagram, tailors the interpretations specifically to relationship issues, dating and marriage. If you're looking to the I Ching for relationship advice, this special translation may be worth a try.

The I Ching is a framework for knowledge

Think in terms of the greater philosophical or spiritual backdrop to a situation, and your readings will be much more effective. While the I-Ching may respond with very direct answers when the future is clear, more often than not, the I-Ching will provide a philosophical framework for you to better understand the situation and predict its outcome.

No one can tell you exactly how to phrase your question. The best approach is to try several kinds of questions and see which I Ching readings yield the best results for you.

iFate uses a custom, modern translation of the I-Ching: Book of Changes which is much easier to understand than older translations found elsewhere.

Can you ask the I Ching the same question twice?

As long as you are not misuing the Oracle, it's possible to ask many different questions about a topic or situation. It is recommended that you ask for insight about multiple aspects or facets of a situation when asking repeat questions.

It is not recommended to ask the same 'exact' question over and over again hoping to get the answer you want. This is considered a misuse of the I Ching, and will yield ineffective, useless and misleading answers.

However, if some time has passed, and you want to ask the I Ching the same question because your situation may have changed slightly -- this is perfectly acceptable and encouraged.

A traditional "Do not"

It's traditional belief to never ask the I Ching questions about the I Ching itself. While this isn't written anywhere, this belief is widely held among practitioners in Asia. We think it's a good rule to follow.

About the Book of Changes

The origins of the I Ching oracle are shrouded in mystery, and probably pre-date the written text. Scholars believe the original ancient Chinese text was first penned some time betwen the 10th and 4th century BC. It is the oldest of the ancient Chinese classics which survives today.

Edward Shaughnessy American scholar of Chinese history and Chinese philosophy, dates the origin of the I Ching to the twilight of the 9th century BC, during the early reign of King Xuan of the Zhou dynasty.

The first English translation of the I Ching was penned by Thomas McClatchie an Anglican missionary in Hong Kong who became fascinated with the seasoned wisdom of the ancient texts.

NOTE: There are many translations of the Book of Changes available today. These include the popular Baynes translation or the classic Richard Wilhelm / James Legge translation. (Both of which are excellent). These translations can be difficult to understand. They make references to historic events, include political interpretations and references to ancient Chinese culture during the time of the Zhou and Shang dynasty. iFate uses its own modern translation. Our I Ching translation has been specially written for today's readers while keeping the spirit of the original Book of Changes alive. iFate also has a secondary set of "Love I Ching" readings, which use a special modern translation which has been adapted to questions about romance and relationships.

The I Ching or Book of Changes (which has also been known by the names the "Zhou Yi" or the "Changes of Zhou" over the centuries) is at its heart, a divination text. It's purpose it to provide insight and guidance into current and future events.

As stated above, the core of the text are the 64 hexagrams of the Zhou Yi which are each composed of six horizontal lines, stacked on top of each other. Each line has two possible states: Broken and unbroken.

The beauty of the ancient Book of Changes comes from its depth and its versatility. As a Chinese philosophy text, it has formed close relationships over the centuries with Taoism, Confuscianism and other Chinese philosophical schools.

The richness of its divinations come from the multiple ways in which each hexagram can be understood. On a simple level, each hexagram can be divided into an upper trigram and a lower trigram, each consisting of three broken or unbroken lines.

The Trigrams of the I Ching

The 6 trigrams of the I Ching are:

• Heaven: The trigram of heaven is possibly the most important of the trigrams. It consists of 3 unbroken lines, and represents the ultimate creative force in the universe. When appearing in certain circumstances it can also represent masculinity and fatherhood.
• Earth: The I Ching trigram of earth is the counterbalance to the trigram of heaven. Its three broken lines represent receptivity, feminine energy and motherhood.
• Wind: The trigram of wind represents of a soft, perpetual and gentle pressure. What it lacks in power, it makes up for in consistency and persistence. This trigram may represent the oldest daughter in a family in some circumstances.
• Water: Water is dark, foreboding and mysterious. It is ever-changing and shifting. In Chinese philosophy, as with astrology, water is associated with the moon. In the I Ching it is frequently representative of shifts in the status quo.
• Thunder: The powerful force of thunder is filled with awesome energy and an element of mystery. It often indicates a movement of power, changing dynamics and the powerful energy behind new plans and initiatives.
• Fire: Fire in Chinese philosophy is seen as a force for positive, life-giving energy. It is the ultimate in usefulness and reliability. In certain circumstances, the trigram of fire may also represent a second-born daughter.
• Mountain: Standing tall and eternal overhead, the mountain trigram represents the ancient, unmovable force. It is fixed and unmovable. In some circumstances, the trigram of mountain may also represent a third-born son.
• Lake: Nothing is more serene and peaceful than the trigram of the lake. Its presence evokes feelings of calmness, serenity and peace. This happy trigram may also represent a third-born daughter in some circumstances.

Changing Lines

Adding complexity and a third dimension to I Ching readings are the concept of changing lines. Each of the 64 hexagrams comes with an additional six meanings -- one for each broken or unbroken line in the hexagram. While there is debate among both scholars and users of the I Ching as to the reason why changing lines were included in the ancient text of the Book of Changes, the belief among many is that these changing lines represent shifts in the meaning of each hexagram, and point to a potential future state.

It is through the changing lines, that the true divinatory power of the I Ching becomes apparent. A hexagram with one changing line, not only carries the meaning of the original I Ching and it's associated changing line meaning -- but a second or "future" hexagram which points to future events, circumstances or possibilities.

In the event that there are no changing lines in your primary hexagram, this "unchanging hexagram" means that the situation is unchanging, and stable for the time being.

Translations of the I Ching

While there have been dozens of translations of the I Ching written over the centuries, the best known contemporary translation was written in German by Richard Wilhelm, whose work was introduced by psychologist Carl Jung.

While Wilhelm's translation of the I Ching is accurate to the original text, the text contains many historic and archaic references which may be difficult for lay readers in the twenty-first century. iFate's own modern translation of the I Ching is influenced by the Wilhelm text, but written in a plain, non-historic voice for modern readers.

iFate's Online I Ching

The free online I Ching divination tool on this page is based on a virtualized three coin system to build each hexagram, but a a manual system is included for users who wish to flip their own I Ching coins. Traditionally, one consults the I Ching by one of two different methods. The first is the previously mentioned system of tossing three coins. The other is a ancient method of drawing marked yarrow stalks. (We may at a later date create a virtual yarrow stalk system if there is interest. Let us know in the contact form below).

Virtual Coins or Real Coins?

You can use the "fast and easy" virtual coins, or you can use your own coins and enter the results. One important thing to note: If you use your own coins, be sure to use 3 identical coins, preferably Chinese coins if you have them available.

By tallying the results of the coin tosses, an I Ching hexagram can be be built using the following rules.

Tossing the I Ching Coins

Every line in the six line hexagrams is based on the concept of yin and yang. In Chinese philosophy, the yin yang is a balance of dark and light, negative and positive, fire and water, hot and cold, up and down, and expanding and contracting. In I Ching hexagrams, broken lines represent "yin", and solid lines represent "yang".

To apply this to a divinatory example: A hexagram composed of 6 Old Yang lines would represent "Creativity". But since every Old Yang line is "changing", this transitory hexagram would point to a future hexagram of "The Receptive" or a hexagram with 6 broken lines.

In such a case, the reading would consist of the original hexagram of Creativity, all changing lines (which is unlikely in any realistic scenario), and the future hexagram of The Receptive

I Ching for Love and Romance

Can the I Ching answer questions about relationships and your love-life?

Yes! The I Ching is an excellent tool for asking questions specific to dating and relationships. While the traditional I Ching isn't strictly for dating questions or dating advice, it's applicable to just about every area of human existence.

When asking for relationship advice, it can be beneficial to ask the I Ching very open-ended, loose questions — rather than specific questions about dating, potential soulmates or current partners.

As the I Ching is primarily a tool for personal insight, a productive approach to asking questions about love or relationship is to ask about yourself in the context of a current relationship, or in your search for a soulmate.

If you're looking for more specific relationship advice or answers which are specific to dating or soulmates, try iFate's special Love I Ching. iFate's Love I Ching is a special modern translation of the ancient I Ching, which respects the ancient meanings, but applies them to to topics of dating, romance, long-term relationships and marriages.

Many experieced students of the I Ching prefer to ask all questions, including questions about dating, relationships, or finding one's soulmate, of the traditional I Ching. While the traditional I Ching may be slightly more difficult to interpret in the context of dating questions and relationship advice, many feel it gives more nuanced and interpretable answers.

The choice of which version of the I Ching to use yours.

Beginner I Ching

Many beginning readers ignore the changing lines and interpret just a single hexagram during the reading. If you're just starting out, this is an acceptable way to start learning the I Ching. (If you've ever studied the tarot deck, you can think of this like a simplified one card reading.) Once you're ready for deeper insight, we suggest complete I Ching readings which include an analysis of the changes.

Interested in looking up a hexagram? Use iFate's I Ching hexagram meanings to look up any hexagram by number.