Okay, so today I’m gonna talk about this little experiment I did with the I Ching. You know, the ancient Chinese divination thing? Yeah, that one. I’ve always been kinda curious about it, seemed like a fun way to mess around with randomness and maybe get some questionable life advice. So, here’s how it went down.
First things first, I needed to actually get the I Ching. I wasn’t about to drop serious cash on some fancy, ancient-looking book. Nope. I just Googled “I Ching online” and found a free website that does the coin toss thing for you. Boom. Resourcefulness, level 100.
Next, I had to figure out what the heck I was even doing. The website had instructions, thankfully. You basically think about a question, toss the coins (virtually, in my case), and the website spits out a hexagram. Each hexagram has a meaning, which you then…interpret. This is where it gets kinda subjective, and where I probably butchered the whole process.
My first question was super profound: “Should I order pizza tonight?”. Okay, maybe not profound, but important. I tossed the virtual coins six times, diligently clicking the button each time. The website gave me Hexagram 52: Keeping Still, Mountain. Okay…what?
So, I looked up the meaning. Apparently, it’s about stillness, contemplation, and knowing when to hold back. The commentary talked about mountains and not moving. I’m thinking, “Dude, I just want pizza! What’s the mountain got to do with this?”
Here’s where the “interpretation” part comes in. I took it to mean, “Think carefully about your hunger, young padawan. Maybe you’re not really hungry. Maybe you just need to chill.” Okay, fair enough. I decided to wait an hour and see if the pizza craving subsided.
An hour later? Still wanted pizza. Badly. So, I tossed the coins AGAIN, same question. This time, I got Hexagram 34: The Power of the Great. It’s about strength, forward movement, and taking action. Talk about mixed signals!
This time, I wasn’t gonna overthink it. “Power of the Great” clearly meant “Unleash your inner pizza desire and order that pie!”. So I did. Pepperoni and mushroom. No regrets.
Here’s the thing I learned: the I Ching is probably best used for, like, actual life decisions, not pizza cravings. And even then, it’s all about how you interpret the results. It’s more of a Rorschach test than a fortune-telling device, if you ask me.
But hey, it was a fun way to spend an afternoon. Would I use it again? Maybe, if I’m really stuck on a decision. But I’m definitely not quitting my day job to become an I Ching consultant anytime soon.
- What I used: Free online I Ching website.
- What I learned: The I Ching is vague and open to interpretation.
- Was it helpful? Kinda. More entertaining than helpful.
Final Verdict
The I Ching: good for a laugh, questionable life advice, and maybe a push in a direction you were already leaning. Don’t bet your life savings on it, but give it a try if you’re bored. Just don’t blame me if you end up contemplating mountains instead of eating pizza.
