[Mermaid]

As many people here know, the psychologist Carl Jung held that ML was part natural development and the key to individuation.

What people may not know is that he was very spiritual, religious, and he also used the I Ching to help him find the answers that he needed. This ancient Chinese oracle works on the basis of synchronity (meaningful coincidences) in psychic treatment.

The I Ching, or book or changes, consists of 64 texts representing the stages of life, each with advice on how a wise person would negotiate the challenges of each stage. A text is chosen by 3 throwing coins together, or yarrow stalks, and the combination of Heads and tails builds up male, female or changing lines. For example, heads, heads, tails is an unbroken, male line = _______ . Tails, tails heads is a broken (female) line: ____  _____. 3 heads or 3 tails are changing lines. The coins are thrown 6 times, while asking a question ("What is the best attitude to take to my situation") and a set of 6 lines, or a hexagram, is built. (Alternatively, this can be done online, for example at http://www.ichingonline.net/)

We gain insight by reading the text indicated by the hexagram, and looking in at ourselves to see the truth of our situation. I have found it to be invaluable over the years, especially at points of change in my life.  (see also http://www.carl-jung.net/iching.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching)

Today I asked: How can I deal with my current situation with H: I gotthe answer Hexagram 21: biting through /reform" The merciless, searing judgement of Lightning fulfils the warning prophecies of distant Thunder. Sage rulers preserved Justice by clearly defining the laws, and by delivering the penalties decreed. Though unpleasant, it is best to let justice have its due. SITUATION ANALYSIS: A terrible reckoning is due. A wrong will be righted -- and even if it has been you who has been wronged, you will tremble at the terrible power of Justice untempered by Mercy. Pray for your oppressor, that his punishment will fit his crime."
So this is about justice, standing up for oneself, overcoming an injustice that forms a barrier between individuals.

From my Iching workbook, it suggests a further interpretation. "There could not be a more appropriate time to examine your character and to determine the extent to which any delusions, rationalizations, or habits have usurped control of your judgement. Know what you want, know what makes you feel good about yourself, an what brings you into harmony with others."
Good advice.

[LifeGoesOn]

Thanks for posting this M!

[Voyager]

Hi Mermaid
I used I Ching in the past, but I haven't used it for a long time, so your post may be a timely prompt for me to use it again. I found when using it that specific questions were better than very vague or long term ones. Would you agree?xx

[Mermaid]

Exactly. Our questions should be as immediate and as specific as possible. It works better if we ask questions about the best attitude to take or best thing to do for specific situations.

I often do this daily, and look for the truth if what it says within myself, rather than treating this as a game or a horoscope. The interesting thing is how very wise it seems.

[MarkedandHealed]

The problem I have with the Iching and tarot is that it changes each time you do it. In other words, if you draw a card or do the geometry twice in a row, you get different results. I know it's supporters have an answer for this and that they say fate changes from moment to moment, yet how can it be so radically different in just a moment?

I strongly believe in intuition and psychic abilities, I have always had them myself to some degree or other, more strongly as a child than now. However, these two methods just seem unreliable to me.

[Mermaid]

It's not really about fate. It's about synchronicity, meaningful coincidences.  If we play with it, we get nonsensical answers. Most importantly, it's about the way we read into the texts, how we reflect on ourselves and our behaviour.

The Iching gives sage advice about all the stages of life, like seasons of a year. The answers we get are different ways of looking at the same thing from different angles (in time/space). We know the truth of these answers from looking inside ourselves. The symbolism of the Iching can draw insights from our unconscious mind; if we reflect on these symbols, ideas float to the surface and we become aware of aspects that we may not have considered, or not to give more importance too.

[Rollercoasterider]

The problem I have with the Iching and tarot is that it changes each   time you do it.

Given your intuitive experience, perhaps this is not the stumbling block but as a student of Science are you trying to apply Scientific method in which something must be testable, repeatable, observable and falsifiable?I understand your issue, but it seems that it is only a problem when those tools are used in certain ways. I feel they are beneficial tools for breaking through analysis paralysis and thus tapping into one's own intuition. In that way different cards will give me different ways of thinking the same situation and thus have the benefit of broadening my perspective. As Mermaid said...

It's about the way we read into the texts, how we reflect on ourselves   and our behaviour.

[MarkedandHealed]

Hmm, interesting perceptions. I'll have to play around with that some more.

[Mermaid]

I asked the oracle today what attitude I should take to H and his refusal to give up OW at the moment. This is the answer that I got, which I think is important for us all at the moment:

61 - Sixty-One Chung Fu / Inner Truth
The gentle Wind ripples the Lake's surface:
The Superior Person finds common ground between points of contention, wearing away rigid perspectives that would lead to fatal error. Pigs and fishes. You may cross to the far shore. Great fortune if you stay on course.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
The subject of this hexagram discovers a key to Tranquillity by first gaining insight into his own nature, then turning that vision outward. By resolving inner conflicts and being at peace with himself, he learns to gain insight into others. In effect, he enters another, sees with the other's eyes, listens with the other's ears, feels with the other's heart.
He then returns to his own centre, with new perspective and understanding.

[Trustandlove]

That's interesting -- I may have to investigate this...

So it says that empathy is the thing to do, if I read it correctly?