Alright, let me walk you through what I did when I got Hexagram 11, Tai, the other day. It’s all about peace and flow, and honestly, it came at a time when I really needed that perspective.
Getting Started
So, first thing, I felt a bit muddled about a project I was working on. Things weren’t quite clicking, felt like I was pushing against a wall. I decided it was a good time to consult the I Ching, see if it offered any clarity. I always find it helps center me.
I went to my usual quiet spot, just a corner in my study. Nothing fancy. Cleared my head for a few minutes, tried to let go of the frustration. Just focused breathing, you know?
Then I formulated my question. It wasn’t super specific, more like, “What’s the best approach to take with this project right now for a smooth outcome?” I find broader questions often yield more useful insights.
The Casting Process
I use the coin method. Simple, gets the job done. Grabbed my three trusty coins. Held them in my hands, thought about my question again, really focused on it for a moment.
Then, the throws. Six times, one for each line, bottom to top.
- Throw 1: Shook the coins, tossed them gently. Recorded the line.
- Throw 2: Did it again. Recorded the second line.
- Throw 3: Same process.
- Throw 4: And again.
- Throw 5: Almost there.
- Throw 6: Final throw, recorded the top line.
I just jot these down on a notepad, noting whether they are yin or yang, and if they are changing lines (got a couple of those this time).
Looking at the Result: Hexagram 11 – Tai
Once I had the six lines, I looked up the pattern. It formed Hexagram 11, Tai. The name itself, often translated as ‘Peace’ or ‘Harmony’, immediately felt… well, peaceful. A sense of relief washed over me.
The structure is Heaven (three solid lines) below Earth (three broken lines). My first thought was, “Okay, that’s interesting.” Usually, you think of heaven being above earth. But here, the creative energy (Heaven) is rising up, supporting and interacting with the receptive (Earth). It felt like a symbol of things working together properly, energy flowing upwards, connection happening.
Digging into the Meaning
I pulled out one of my go-to I Ching books – nothing too academic, just one that speaks plainly. It described Tai as a time of prosperity, good fortune, and balance. When the high and low, the strong and gentle, communicate and cooperate. Small things depart, great things arrive.
It talked about spring, growth, things moving smoothly. This really resonated with what I hoped for with my project. The message seemed to be that the underlying energy was actually very positive, very conducive to success, even if I wasn’t feeling it right then.
The changing lines I got pointed towards maintaining this balance, being mindful not to become complacent, and sharing the good fortune or flow with others involved.
Applying it to My Situation
Thinking back to my project, this hexagram suggested I should stop pushing so hard. Instead of forcing things, maybe I needed to foster better communication (Heaven reaching Earth) between the different parts of the project, or maybe even between the people involved. It encouraged a lighter touch, trusting the process, allowing the inherent potential (Heaven) to rise up and meet the practical aspects (Earth).
It shifted my perspective from struggle to flow. Maybe the ‘wall’ I felt was my own resistance or attempt to control things too tightly.
What I Did Next
So, based on this, I consciously decided to ease off the pressure. I scheduled a brief, informal chat with a couple of colleagues involved, just to sync up, share where I was at, and listen to their perspectives – fostering that Heaven-Earth connection, you could say. I focused on smoothing out the existing processes rather than trying to implement something drastically new right away.
It wasn’t a magic fix overnight, but the energy definitely shifted. Things started moving a bit more easily, communication improved. It felt less like pushing that wall and more like guiding a flowing stream. Consulting the I Ching and getting Tai helped me adjust my approach and mindset, which made a tangible difference.
