Okay, so today I decided to mess around with the I Ching, specifically hexagram 24, “Fu” (Return). I’ve been feeling a bit stuck lately, like I needed a change of direction, and I figured, why not give this ancient divination thing a shot?
First, I grabbed my three coins. I don’t have any of those fancy Chinese coins with the holes, so I just used some regular quarters. Heads was yang (3), tails was yin (2). Simple enough, right?
I focused on my general feeling of being stuck and needing a fresh start. Then, I started flipping. Six flips in total, building the hexagram from the bottom up. Here’s how it went:
- Flip 1: Tails, Tails, Heads (2+2+3 = 7) – Young Yang
- Flip 2: Heads, Heads, Heads (3+3+3 = 9) – Old Yang (changing line!)
- Flip 3: Tails, Tails, Tails (2+2+2 = 6) – Old Yin (changing line!)
- Flip 4: Tails, Heads, Tails (2+3+2 = 7) – Young Yang
- Flip 5: Tails, Tails, Tails (2+2+2 = 6) – Old Yin (changing line!)
- Flip 6: Tails, Tails, Heads (2+2+3 = 7) – Young Yang
So, that gave me the initial hexagram, 24 (Fu/Return), with changing lines in the second, third, and fifth positions.
The Reading…Kinda
The primary hexagram of Fu is about a new beginning, the return of the light after a dark period. It’s saying it is a good time, It kinda resonated with my current situation, It got me thinking about breaking old habits and making small, positive changes.
The changing lines, they are the point! The 2nd line changing signifies to follow the group to return, it is a good path, the 3rd line is a warning, the 5th line means being sincere with your intention.
Putting It All Together (My Take)
For me, this whole I Ching experience felt like a nudge. A nudge to get back on track. I realized I’ve been neglecting some personal projects and feeling generally blah. So, based on the hexagram and my very amateur interpretation, I decided to:
- Recommit to a small daily goal. Just 30 minutes of focused work on a personal project each day.
- Reach out to some friends. That “return” theme made me think about reconnecting with people I’ve been meaning to catch up with.
- Stop doomscrolling! Seriously, that was a big one. I’m trying to be more mindful of how I spend my time.
It is not like the I Ching gave me a magic solution, but the process of doing it, thinking about the hexagram, and reflecting on what it could mean for me, was surprisingly helpful. It gave me a framework to think about my situation and make some concrete, positive steps. I am feeling optimistic, that’s all.
