The I Ching is an ancient book of wisdom in the form of an oracle that has inspired religious and ethical thought for over 3000 years. Especially in China, where it is the source of both Taoism and Confucianism. The Oracle is often used to shed light upon Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. The I Ching is not some new-age ideology, but a serious ancient source of metaphysical symbolism and thought which allows one to get in touch the wisdom of one's soul.
When you meditate on a question the I Ching opens a portal to the spiritual forces attached to your soul. For me this totem, or overself, is my Wolf. My Wolf is a spirit who, having died in a past life, retains lucidity and communicates knowledge about life I have learned across the span of many birth-life-death cycles. Thus, the answers one finds in the I Ching oracle originate within one's own being… one's own life essence.
Originally the oracle was cast using tortoise shells, then the yarrow stalk became a popular way, and then finally the three coin oracle appeared. It is the latter method I've implemented here. Most online oracles have you state your question and then click a button, allowing the computer to randomly generate results. I believe this is fraud, I believe there are energies surrounding us, energies of our soul, which manipulate the spirit of the coins and tailor the answer to our very specific soul-vibration. The computer does not have insight into our souls, but the interaction of the spirit energies of mind and matter do.
Using the I Ching to speak to your Wolf/Totem requires practice and a sincere meditation on both question and answer. The I Ching does best when questions involve life issues and how to deal with them. The oracle is not suited to answering specific questions like "What color is…" or "What are the winning…" The I Ching is effective with questions such as: "Should I…" or "How can I…" Only the first answer is valid, however if there are points to an answer you are struggling to understand, you can ask follow-up questions like: "What is meant by…"
A simple yes/no question may be asked with a single three coin toss. You should be very in tune with your Wolf/Totem for this to return accurate results, therefore a long walk or meditation on the question you wish to ask is required before casting the coins. Coin-toss results: 3 heads = likely no, 2 heads = yes, 2 tails = no, 3 tails = likely yes.
I have reproduced the text of the I Ching from one of my favorite translations and written brief comments for each, which I hope will help seekers find their path (You may peruse the full text here). If you have any questions about this JavaScript program or Wolfsoul, please send enquiries to ebon@wolfsoul.org. More information about the I Ching may be obtained from translations and in books specifically written about this subject. I recommend "The I Ching or Book of Changes" by Wilhelm/Baynes, ISBN 0-691-09750-X
Lines
The I Ching oracle is based upon two states; yin and yang. Yin is considered the dark, female principle of devotion to a leader and yielding to his strength. The Yin is represented by a broken line 
and may be thought of as penetrated, which is the role of the female during mating. Yang is considered the light, male principle of a creative leader who provides for all who reside under his command. The Yang is represented by a strong solid line 
having the strength and power to penetrate, which is the role of the male during mating.
In their static, fixed forms, the Yin and Yang lines are called "Young." In this state they are attributes of fate which may be observed and understood but not directly acted upon. The interaction between Yin and Yang within the construct they build define the symbolism of the construct itself (see Elements, Trigrams, and hexagrams for examples of this). While a Yin or Yang line is changing, or in motion, it is called "Old." An "Old Yang" line is represented as a Yang line starting to break; a solid line with a circle drawn through its center 
. An "Old Yin" line is represented as a Yin line on the mend; a broken line with an x-mark covering the fracture 
. Moving lines define symbolism in flux or situations where fate may be intervened upon by certain acts and attitudes. In hexagrams that contain moving lines, these lines alter the symbolism at this point and incorporate the meaning of a hexagram that would result were the line changed. Thus the forces and meanings of both hexagrams come into play through a moving line.
Lines have the following values and meanings
| Symbol |
Name |
On Coins |
Gender/Relationship |
Value |
Answer Is... |
Color |
|
Old Yin |
3 tails |
Female principle submitting to the strength of the male |
6 |
likely no |
Yellow |
|
Young Yang |
2 tails |
Resolute strength of the male |
7 |
yes |
Red |
|
Young Yin |
2 heads |
Resolute devotion of the female |
8 |
no |
Black |
|
Old Yang |
3 heads |
Male principle submitting to the devotion of the female |
9 |
likely yes |
White |
The Elements may be represented by two
paired lines as follows
| Symbol |
Relationship |
Element |
Basic Meaning |
|
Yang on Yang |
Air |
Intellect/Knowledge |
|
Yang on Yin |
Fire |
Ambition/Desire |
|
Yin on Yang |
Water |
Passion/Emotion |
|
Yin on Yin |
Earth |
Materialism/Wealth |
Trigrams
Three lines, or two Elements, together in construct are called a Trigram. The three combinations of lines derive eight trigrams whose symbolism and meanings I've outlined in the below chart.
When considering the energy moving through a trigram, remember that the first line is on the bottom and that the vibration moves from low to high; like the natural flow of heat rising. Thus the Element on top is the active force at the moment within the trigram and the Element below will eventually influence it to create a change. It is this influence that the lower element has upon the upper element, or the upper has over the lower, that determines the image or meaning of the trigram as a whole.
Example: Fire 
under Air 
: Fire means Ambition and Desire, while Air means Intellect and Knowledge. What the Gentle 
means then, can be derived from Ambitions being acted upon by intellect: We are trying to learn something and we are gathering information about it. As we learn we gain insight into how the thing works; this can be a cause for enthusiasm... or enlightnement... which is why it is bright; we have cast light upon it. The symbolism is like wind (the intellect) gently blowing over the matter at hand… or penetrating it like the tap-roots of wood, working their way deeper and deeper into what we wish to embrace. Relationships are often like this as well; it takes time to get to know someone, and this may only be achived through a gentle attitude, thus this hexagram often deals with personal relationships as well as logical ones.
This is the way to think on these symbols at every level so you may gain insight into their meaning. Thinking like this is called meditation, and it is a state of mind that helps you to understand your Wolf and the universe around you. It is through subtle intuition and instinctual feelings… sometimes called common sense… we develop our soul and grow wiser.
The I Ching Trigrams and Their Symbolism
| Symbol |
Elements |
Name |
Image |
Basic Meaning |
Direction |
Season |
Relationship |
Animal |
Color |
|
|
The Receptive |
Earth |
Yielding/Devotion |
Southwest |
Late Summer |
Mother |
Cow |
Black |
|
|
The Arousing |
Thunder |
Fear/Motion |
East |
Spring |
Eldest Son |
Dragon |
Deep Yellow |
|
|
The Abysmal |
Water |
Toil/Danger |
North |
Winter |
Middle Son |
Pig |
Red/Orange |
|
|
The Joyous |
Lake |
Pleasure/Negligence |
West |
Autumn |
Youngest Daughter |
Sheep |
Blue/Violet |
|
|
Keeping Still |
Mountain |
Reserve/Stillness |
Northeast |
Late Winter |
Youngest Son |
Wolf |
Gray/Brown |
|
|
The Clinging |
Flame |
Faith/Hope |
South |
Summer |
Middle Daughter |
Pheasant |
Yellow/Green |
|
|
The Gentle |
Wind/Wood |
Insight/Enthusiasm |
Southeast |
Late Spring |
Eldest Daughter |
Cock |
White |
|
|
The Creative |
Heaven |
Strength/Power |
Northwest |
Late Autumn |
Father |
Horse |
Deep Red |
I Ching Excerpts on the Trigrams |
|
"The Receptive brings about shelter." • "The Receptive means earth. It takes care that all creatures are nourished. Therefore it is said: 'He [God] causes them to serve one another in the sign of the Receptive.'" • "The Receptive is yielding." • "The Receptive [acts] in the cow." • "The Receptive [manifests itself] in the belly." • "The Receptive is the earth, therefore it is called the mother." • "The Receptive is the earth, the mother. It is cloth, a kettle, frugality, it is level, it is a cow with a calf, a large wagon, form, the multitude, a shaft. Among the various kinds of soil, it is black." |
|
"Thunder brings about movement." • "God comes forth in the sign on the Arousing." • "All living things come forth in the sign of the arousing. The arousing stands in the east." • "Of all the forces that move things, there is none swifter than thunder." • "The Arousing means movement." • "The Arousing [acts] in the dragon." • "The Arousing [manifests itself] in the foot." • "In the trigram of the arousing she [the mother] seeks for the first time the power of the male and receives a son. Therefore the Arousing is called the eldest son." • "The Arousing is thunder, the dragon. It is dark yellow, it is a spreading out, a great road, the eldest son. It is decisive and vehement; it is bamboo that is green and young, it is reed and rush. Among horses it signifies those which can neigh well, those with white hind legs, those which gallop, those with a star on the forehead. Among useful plants it is the pod bearing ones. Finally, it is the strong, that which grows luxuriantly." |
|
"The rain brings about moisture." • "The abysmal means water. It is the trigram is due north, the trigram of toil to which all creatures are subject. Therefore it is said: 'He [God] toils in the sign of the abysmal.'" • "The Abysmal is dangerous." • "The Abysmal [acts] in the pig." • "The Abysmal [manifests itself] in the ear." • "In The Abysmal she [the mother] seeks for a second time and receives a son. Therefore it is called the middle son." • "The abysmal is water, ditches, ambush, bending and straightening out, bow and wheel. Among men it means the melancholy, those with sick hearts, those with earache. It is the blood sign; it is red. Among horses it means those with beautiful backs, those with wild courage, those which let their heads hang, those with thin hooves, those which stumble. Among chariots it means those with many defects. It is penetration, the moon. It means thieves. Among varieties of wood it means those which are firm and have much pith." |
|
"The Joyous brings about pleasure." • "The Joyous is midautumn, which rejoices all creatures. Therefore it is said: 'He [God] gives them joy in the sign of the Joyous.'" • "Of all the forces that give joy to things, there is none more gladdening than the lake." • "The Joyous [acts] in the sheep." • "The Joyous [manifests itself] in the mouth." • "In the Joyous he [the father] seeks for a third time and receives a daughter. Therefore it is called the third daughter." • "The Joyous is the lake, the youngest daughter; it is a sorceress; it is mouth and tongue. It means smashing and breaking appart; it means dropping off and bursting open. Among the kinds of soil it is the hard and salty. It is the concubine. It is the sheep." |
|
"Keeping Still brings about stillness." • "Keeping Still is the trigram of the northeast, where beginning and end of all creatures are completed. Therefore it is said: "He [God] brings them to perfection in the sign of keeping still." • "If all the forces that end and begin things, there is none more glorious than Keeping Still." • "Keeping still means standstill." • "Keeping still [acts] in the dog. • "Keeping still [manifests itself] in the hand." • "In Keeping Still she [the mother] seeks for a third time and receives a son. Therefore it is called the youngest son." • "Keeping Still is the mountain; it is a bypath; it means little stones, doors and openings, fruits and seeds, eunuchs and watchmen, the fingers; it is the dog, the rat, and the various kinds of black-billed birds. Among trees is signifies the firm and gnarled." |
|
"The sun brings about warmth." • "He [God] causes creatures to perceive one another in the sign of the clinging (light)." • "The Clinging is the brightness in which all creatures perceive one another. It is the trigram of the south. That the holy sages turned their faces to the south while they gave ear to the meaning of the universe means that in ruling they turned toward what is light. This they evidently took from this trigram." • "The Clinging means dependance." • "The Clinging [acts] in the pheasant." • "The Clinging (brightness) [manifests itself] in the eye." • "In the Clinging he [the father] seeks for a second time and receives a daughter. Therefore it is called the middle daughter." • "The clinging is fire, the sun, lightning, the middle daughter. It means coats of mail and helmets; it means lances and weapons. Among men it means the big-bellied. It is the sign of dryness. It is the tortoise, the crab, the snale, the mussel, the hawkbill tortoise. Among trees it means those which dry out in the upper part of the trunk." |
|
"[The] wind brings about dispersion." • "He [God] brings all things to completion in the sign of the Gentle." • "They [all living things] come to completion in the sign of the Gentle. The Gentle stands in the southeast. Completion means that all creatures become pure and perfect." • "The Gentle is penetrating." • "The Gentle [acts] in the cock." • "In the trigram of the Gentle the male seeks for the first time the power of the female and receives a dauhgter. Therefore the Gentle is called the eldest daughter." • "The Gentle is wood, wind, the eldest daughter, the guideline, work; it is the white, the long. the high, it is advance and retreat, the undecided odor. Among men it means the gray-haired; it means those with broad foreheads; it means those with much white in their eyes; it means those close to gain, so that in the market they get threefold value. Finally, it is the sign of vehemance." |
|
"The Creative brings about rulership." • "'He [God] battles in the sign of the creative.' The Creative is the trigram of the northwest. It means that here the dark and the light arouse each other." • "The Creative is strong." • "The Creative acts like a horse." • "The Creative manifests itself in the head." • "The Creative is heaven, therefore it is called the father." • "The Creative is heaven. It is round, it is the prince, the father, jade, metal, cold, ice; it is deep red, a good horse, an old horse, a lean horse, a wild horse, tree fruit." |
Hexagrams
Hexagrams are composed of six lines, comprising an upper and a lower trigram. When an oracle has been cast some of the lines may be moving, or changing, as explained above under lines. Like elements and trigrams, the flow of energy moves through a hexagram from bottom to top. The upper trigram has the dominant influence presently, and the lower trigram acts to alter that influence though a co-mingling of forces.
Beginners need not concern themselves with intricate details of nuclear lines, trigrams, hexagrams, and line place, but if one wants to meditate on a specific hexagram or oracle, considering these things can be an asset in prospering ones complete understanding… and it also forces one to think: Thinking is good.
Each hexagram is also composed of six elements; five inner elements within, and one outer element without made from the top and bottom lines. This flowing of elements cycling through the hexagram gives the symbol a character similar to that of the yin-yang diagram. The three nuclear elements compose two nuclear trigrams, which can be expanded to show the nuclear hexagram. This nuclear hexagram acts within the symbolism of the hexagram, along with the outer element to show the source from which the developed symbols flow. There are sixteen core, or nuclear, hexagrams, and sometimes considering their meaning helps to resolve an issue.
The individual lines of the hexagram also have their place, and place has it's own symbolic nature. Lines, especially changing lines, in certain places may show one where a life act might best be served in order to make the change, or prevent it. Elements resting across two places can be used to show the elemental influence acting upon the places, and can often act as an additional clue to delineating the meaning of that part of the hexagram.
Line 6 - Effect; completion (conclusion)
Line 5 - Merit; the ruler (oneself)
Line 4 - Warning; the minister (one's advisor)
Line 3 - Misfortune; property (one's family)
Line 2 - Praise; the official (one's helper)
Line 1 - Cause; progress (development)
In the hexagram, Darkening of the Light, a complete synopsis of the symbolism could be derived as follows: The first line is Yang; meaning one must act a certain way for progress. In this case it's a matter of behaving a certain way for it is under water… emotion… and one's emotional response may be to show off… but you must restrain yourself from making a show. Sometimes it takes strength NOT to act; and this inaction becomes the act itself. The second line is Yin; and means that yielding and being receptive to officials, friends, and helpers will not set them against you. In this case you will not intimidate them with your knowledge (evoke an emotional response); and be thought of as a know it all or braggart. Line three is Yang and means that misfortune may result if one acts… you may bring disgrace upon yourself and/or your family. A Yang line in this position means beware acting, where a Yin line would mean beware inaction. The forth line is Yin and means that one is advised to remain still and not act. In the fifth place the Yin line indicates that the self remain still and does not act. And the sixth line, or top line, means that the effect or outcome of the hexagram is that nothing is actually affected, which in the context of this hexagram is the desired goal, for no harm is done.
Lines should always be considered in conjunction to the elements, trigrams, and the hexagram itself... consider lines details for understanding key points of the symbol.
