The I Ching - Ancient Oracle of the East
Do we live in a universe in which objects and events are individual and disconnected, or one where everything that happens is part of a single, vast, interconnected whole, an awesome stream of meaningful coincidences reaching from first causes into the remote future?
The ancient traditions, mysticism and many
modern theoretical physicists suggest the latter.
Consultations with the I Ching oracle
require us to accept that there is in a real sense no such thing as chance.
Every happening, the turn of a card, or fall of a coin, is caused by a chain of
preceding events, whether these are apparent to the senses or not.
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, one of the
oldest methods of divination known to humankind, connects us to the wonders of
this vast inner universe, the real prime mover of all that is, and reflects the
philosophy of interconnectedness. For, in the last analysis, the cosmos and man
obey the same law - that nothing is permanent.
According to Chinese Philosophy, one can
determine the meaning of a given moment by consulting the oracle. This oracle
has eight basic trigrams which are brought into various passages of the text as
symbols for certain inner processes. From these emerge a total of 64 double
trigrams or hexagrams, depicting basic symbolic life situations.
The I Ching or Book of Changes has been
elaborated into a deep philosophy of existence. Chance, which the eminent
psychologist Dr Jung called "synchronicity", or meaningful
coincidence, is taken into the centre of attention.
The counsel that the I Ching offers involves
adopting an awareness and respect for the fact that we are inwardly as well as
outwardly interwoven with the cosmos, and the ebb and flow of its cycles.
Individual readings can reveal profound
insights into our everyday lives, and invariably bring depth and perspective to
the many situations that challenge us on a daily basis.
Through essentially interactive and
participatory workshops, we can approach an understanding of this ancient
system from the East.
Participants are shown how to consult the I
Ching - from the formulation of the question, the throwing of three coins or
the selection of the yarrow stalks, through the construction of the hexagram,
to the interpretation of the oracle’s response.
By calming the mind, and entering an
attitude of respect, we prepare ourselves to engage the oracle’s help.
Workshops typically run from 10.00am to
4.00pm (with an hour's break for lunch).
No previous experience is necessary. All
sessions are led by Terence Moore (author & workshop leader) and Lynette
Howells (artist, writer & teacher), who have both been involved in the
study and practice of the I Ching for over twenty years.
The workshops utilise the Richard Wilhelm
version of the I Ching, with its introduction by Carl Jung, as the main
(although not exclusive) reference document.
For further information, e-mail info@alphacentre.org.uk