Hello Reddit!
I’m currently helping develop an I Ching related app to help educate others on the practice. I was wondering what you all would like to see from an I Ching app. I want this app to be enjoyed by both beginners and experienced readers, so any insights would be greatly appreciated!
As the title says. I'm curious to learn about the different approaches everyone has to using the I Ching :)
I recently received Hexagram 26 – Great Taming (大畜) changing to Hexagram 11 – Peace (泰) and have been sitting with it for a while.
My initial impression is that this feels less like a reading about immediate action and more about the value of restraint, preparation, and gradually accumulating strength. Instead of pushing forward, 26 seems to encourage developing the inner and outer resources needed before moving ahead.
The transition to 11 – Peace feels significant. It almost reads like the discipline and patience of 26 naturally create the conditions for harmony, smoother progress, and a more stable path. In other words, peace isn't something that simply appears—it's something that grows out of careful cultivation.
That's my current understanding, but I'm curious how others read this sequence.
I'd love to hear different perspectives, especially from people who work closely with the text or traditional commentaries.
As the title says. Please ask me any open ended questions relating to love. Please leave your question in the comments or send me a DM (but please if you do send me a DM leave a comments regardless).
Thank you in advance for trusting me to guide you :)
Hexagram 16 — Enthusiasm (豫)
Changing to Hexagram 40 — Deliverance (解)
Theme:
Today's energy points to Enthusiasm, but with a caution: the path forward isn't fully defined yet. There may be momentum or excitement, but the situation lacks enough specificity to support a clear decision.
As the reading changes into Deliverance, it suggests that once the focus becomes clearer, confusion begins to lift. Direction becomes easier, pressure eases, and what feels uncertain now can resolve naturally.
Interpretation:
The message isn't that something is blocking you—it's that the question itself may be too broad. Before taking action, define exactly what you're deciding, who or what it's about, and the time frame. Clarity creates movement.
Guidance for Today:
Reflection Prompt:
What is the one decision I actually need to make today?
Once that answer is specific, the way forward is likely to feel much lighter.
For months, I’ve felt disconnected from a friend group I’ve been part of for years. Nothing dramatic happened. There wasn’t one huge argument or betrayal. It was just this slow feeling that I didn’t really belong anymore. I started noticing that I was becoming a smaller version of myself around them. I would leave hangouts feeling drained, and I kept making excuses for why I felt disconnected. The difficult part was that these people had been important to me. Walking away felt like admitting that something I valued was no longer good for me.
I decided to ask the I Ching for guidance. I received Hexagram 12, Standstill (否), changing to Hexagram 33, Retreat (遯). The reading felt strangely accurate. Hexagram 12 talks about a period where things become blocked and communication or harmony starts to break down. Hexagram 33 talks about knowing when to step back from a situation that is no longer allowing you to grow.
What stood out to me was that the message wasn’t “these people are bad” or “cut everyone off.” It was more about recognizing when you’re holding onto something because of history rather than because it still fits your life. The hardest part was realizing I think I already knew the answer. The I Ching didn’t tell me what to do. It just gave me a way to look at something I had been avoiding. Sometimes leaving a situation isn’t about anger or resentment. Sometimes it’s just accepting that you’re moving in a different direction.
Has anyone else used the I Ching or another reflective practice to help you make a difficult decision?
EDIT: CLOSED
As the title says, I am offering free I Ching readings! Please ask me a simple open-ended question, and I will do my best to answer it.
Either leave your question in the comments, or send me a DM, but please make sure you leave a comment letting me know you sent me a message, as it can be hard to get back to you without it.
The question can be related to anything you would need guidance with! Whether its about yourself, a friend, a romantic partner, family member, job opportunity, etc.
Each week I cast the I Ching with a single question:
"What is the collective energy for the coming week?"
For the week of July 20, I received:
Primary Hexagram: 14 — Da You / Great Possession (䷍)
Resulting Hexagram: 1 — Qian / The Creative (䷀)
My initial impression is that Hexagram 14 points to a period of available resources, collective strength, and the ability to accomplish something meaningful. Great Possession is not only about having more, but about recognizing what is already present and using it with responsibility.
The challenge with this hexagram is that abundance can create its own difficulties. When there is momentum, opportunity, or access to resources, it can become easy to overextend, take on too much, or lose focus by trying to pursue too many directions at once.
The movement to Hexagram 1, The Creative, suggests a shift toward self-directed action, clarity, and disciplined growth. Rather than relying only on external circumstances, the energy moves toward cultivating inner strength, consistent effort, and clear principles.
As a collective reading, this combination feels like a reminder that potential alone is not enough. The coming week may favor initiative, collaboration, and visible progress, but the results depend on maintaining focus and using energy wisely.
It may be a good time to ask:
The movement from Great Possession to The Creative suggests that collective power becomes strongest when it is guided by responsibility, discipline, and a clear sense of purpose.
I'd love to hear how others read this combination. If you work with the I Ching or approach it through a Taoist perspective, what does the movement from Great Possession to The Creative suggest to you for the collective during the week of July 20?
(I'm focusing on the relationship between the primary and resulting hexagrams here rather than a line-specific interpretation.)
I've been spending some time with Hexagram 24 (Return), and I keep feeling like most interpretations stop at "you'll return to where you came from." The more I sit with it, the less I think it's about repeating the past.
To me, it feels more like returning to your center after you've drifted. Not necessarily changing your external circumstances, but recognizing that somewhere along the way you started making decisions from fear, ego, exhaustion, or momentum instead of your authentic self.
What really stands out is that Return comes after a period of decline. The turning point isn't dramatic, it's almost invisible. There's no lightning bolt or sudden enlightenment. It's simply the first genuine step back in the right direction. That seems surprisingly realistic.
I've also been wondering if Hexagram 24 is less about "doing" and more about noticing. The moment you recognize you're off course, you're already beginning to return. In that sense, the hexagram feels incredibly compassionate. It doesn't judge how far you've wandered; it just points toward the path home.
Has anyone had this hexagram appear repeatedly during a major life transition? Did it end up representing an actual return to something from your past, or was it more of an internal shift in perspective?
I'd love to hear how others have experienced it, especially if your interpretation changed over time.
Hello Reddit!
I would like to practice doing I Ching readings on other people, so I'm offering free readings!
Please ask me one open ended question relating to love (keep it to one question only). You can either leave your question in the comments, or you can DM me privately (just make sure to leave a comment letting me know that you sent me a DM, as it can be hard to keep track sometimes).
Thanks in advice for letting me practice <3
Each week I cast the Yi Jing with a single question: "What is the collective energy for the coming week?"
For the week of July 13, I received:
Primary Hexagram: 23 — Pi / Splitting Apart (䷖)
Resulting Hexagram: 27 — Yi / Nourishment (䷚)
My initial impression is that Hexagram 23 points to a process of reduction rather than expansion. It's a time when old structures, unnecessary burdens, or worn-out patterns naturally begin to fall away. Rather than trying to preserve everything, the hexagram seems to encourage allowing what has reached its end to be released.
The movement to Hexagram 27, Nourishment, feels like a natural continuation of that process. Once the excess has been stripped away, attention turns to what truly sustains us. It raises questions about what we're feeding ourselves, not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and whether those influences genuinely support growth.
As a collective reading, it seems to suggest a week of simplifying rather than accumulating. It may be a good time to reassess draining commitments, information overload, uneven responsibilities, or relationships that have become exhausting. By letting go of what no longer supports the whole, there's an opportunity to rebuild on a healthier foundation.
I'd love to hear how others read this combination. If you work with the Yi Jing or approach it through a Taoist perspective, what does the movement from Splitting Apart to Nourishment suggest to you for the collective during the week of July 13?
(I'm focusing on the relationship between the primary and resulting hexagrams here rather than a line-specific interpretation.)
Have you ever consulted the I Ching before making a big choice, such as changing careers, ending or beginning a relationship, moving, or taking a major risk, and found that the reading genuinely influenced what you did?
What was your question? Which hexagram (and changing lines, if any) did you receive? Did the meaning make sense right away, or only in hindsight?
I'm interested in hearing stories from both long-time practitioners and newcomers. Whether the reading gave you clarity, challenged your assumptions, or surprised you with how events unfolded, I'd love to hear about your experience.
Each week I cast the Yi Jing with a single question: "What is the collective energy for the coming week?"
For the week of July 13, I received:
Primary Hexagram: 23 — Pi / Splitting Apart (䷖)
Resulting Hexagram: 27 — Yi / Nourishment (䷚)
My initial impression is that Hexagram 23 points to a process of reduction rather than expansion. It's a time when old structures, unnecessary burdens, or worn-out patterns naturally begin to fall away. Rather than trying to preserve everything, the hexagram seems to encourage allowing what has reached its end to be released.
The movement to Hexagram 27, Nourishment, feels like a natural continuation of that process. Once the excess has been stripped away, attention turns to what truly sustains us. It raises questions about what we're feeding ourselves, not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and whether those influences genuinely support growth.
As a collective reading, it seems to suggest a week of simplifying rather than accumulating. It may be a good time to reassess draining commitments, information overload, uneven responsibilities, or relationships that have become exhausting. By letting go of what no longer supports the whole, there's an opportunity to rebuild on a healthier foundation.
I'd love to hear how others read this combination. If you work with the Yi Jing or approach it through a Taoist perspective, what does the movement from Splitting Apart to Nourishment suggest to you for the collective during the week of July 13?
(I'm focusing on the relationship between the primary and resulting hexagrams here rather than a line-specific interpretation.)
Hello Reddit!
I'm offering free I Ching readings! I offered these on this sub last week and I thought I would do it again!
Ask me any open ended question you need answered (keep it at just one question please). It can be related to your self, a friendship, family member, a romantic relationship, or anything that you feel like you need guidance with!
You can either leave your question in the comments or send it to me via DM (just make sure you leave a comment letting me know).
I've always been fascinated by the I Ching because its answers can feel strangely precise (or completely unexpected).
So I'm curious: What's the most surprising, uncanny, or even frustrating answer the I Ching has ever given you?
Was there a reading that didn't make sense at first but clicked later? Did it completely challenge what you wanted to hear? Or has it ever predicted a turn of events you never saw coming?
Feel free to share the question you asked (if you're comfortable), the hexagram you received, how you interpreted it, and what actually happened afterward. I'm especially interested in stories where the reading only made sense in hindsight. Those are always the most intriguing.
Looking forward to hearing your experiences :)
One thing I've noticed is that people often react with dread when they receive Hexagram 29 (The Abyss / The Repeated Pit). It's easy to see why. The imagery of water, danger, and repeated chasms doesn't exactly sound encouraging.
But the more I've studied the I Ching, the less I think Hexagram 29 is predicting misfortune.
To me, it's describing the reality of moving through difficulty.
Water doesn't fight the canyon. It flows through it. It adapts without losing its nature. That's the quality I think this hexagram points toward.
The Judgment doesn't promise that the danger disappears. Instead, it emphasizes sincerity, constancy, and continuing forward. The challenge isn't to avoid the abyss altogether; it's to cross it without losing your center.
I've also noticed that 29 tends to appear during periods when life requires resilience rather than dramatic action. Sometimes the "right" response isn't to escape the situation immediately but to navigate it carefully, one step at a time.
In hindsight, some of my most meaningful readings involving Hexagram 29 weren't warnings that something terrible was about to happen. They were reminders to stay grounded, be consistent, and trust that difficult terrain can still be traversed.
I'm curious how others see it.
I'd love to hear how others interpret one of the most misunderstood hexagrams in the I Ching.
I've been thinking about how differently the I Ching and Tarot approach guidance.
My impression is that Tarot often feels like a snapshot of the present moment. The imagery can be very immediate and psychological, helping me understand what's happening internally or around me.
The I Ching, on the other hand, feels more like a conversation about change. Rather than simply describing a situation, it often points toward how it's evolving and suggests an attitude or course of action that aligns with that movement.
Of course, that's just my experience, and I know many people use both systems in very different ways.
For those who work with both:
I'm especially interested in hearing from people who've practiced with both for several years. Has your preference changed over time?