The I Ching does not offer itself with proofs and results; it does not vaunt itself, nor is it easy to approach. Like a part of nature, it waits until it is discovered. It offers neither facts nor power, but for lovers of self-knowledge, of wisdom—if there be such—it seems to be the right book. …Let it go forth into the world for the benefit of those who can discern its meaning.
– Carl Jung, 1949
In two weeks, on Sunday, December 29th,
and I will gather with our paid subscribers for an end-of-year ritual with the guidance of The I Ching. Join us from 10am-12pm PST | 1-3pm EST | 6-8pm GMT for our last workshop of the year, a special two-hour session.We’ll reflect on the lessons of 2024 and inquire about what’s coming in 2025.
If you are new to this divination practice, you can watch the one-hour instruction from a class I taught earlier this year on how to consult The I Ching and pick up a translation or two.
This year, I won’t be teaching The I Ching during our New Year’s gathering, simply leading a reflection ritual together. If you don’t have time to learn the technique, come anyway! We’ll have resources for everyone.
The link to register is down below.
To consult the I Ching, you’ll also want to have the following materials:
A notebook and something to write with.
Three pennies or other coins of equal value.
A candle or other ritual elements, if it speaks to you.
A copy of The I Ching, if you have one! I’ll provide some online resources during the event for those who don’t have a book. Here are some of my favorite translations if you want to order one or two.
If you do not yet have a copy of the I Ching and cannot easily download an e-book version, there are various translations online that you can consult, such as this one. (I can’t guarantee that they’re accurate!)
For a little more background on The I Ching, you can also read Elise’s interview with me for her newsletter in 2023. To register for our end-of-2024 ritual on December 29th, scroll all the way down.
ELISE: How did you start working with the I Ching? And what is the thread between Jung and the I Ching?
SATYA: My mother sent me away to college with a copy of the I Ching and a note about how it has supported her. After college, when I was in crisis, she also introduced me to Jungian psychology through Jung's memoir, Memories, Dreams, Reflections. Both books have been hugely influential on me, but their historical connection is also very significant! Jung was instrumental in the introduction of the I Ching to the Western world, and he used this ancient Taoist divination tool regularly in his own life. He found tremendous comfort in the parallels between his burgeoning (at the time) understanding of psychology as a dance between the masculine and feminine, and the Taoist pursuit of balance between the yin and the yang.
But what is the I Ching? The easiest parallel might be to the Tarot, though they’re completely different. I say this to quickly express that the I Ching is a method of divination in which the rational mind is set aside for a moment to invite in the “irrational” or yin wisdom. No one can quite say how it works, but once you’re in relationship with a tool like this, you experience undeniable insight; I think of it a bit like adjusting an antenna to pick up radio signals we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to hear.
The I Ching is a book comprised of 64 distinct responses that each then interact with one another; the 64 responses are known as Hexagrams and are each a distinct combination of six lines, comprised of yin and yang lines. Each consultation invites a response.
“The I Ching insists upon self-knowledge throughout. …Probably in no other field do we have to reckon with so many unknown quantities, and nowhere else do we become more accustomed to adopting methods that work even though for a long time we may not know why they work.”
-Carl Jung,
ELISE: Are there any specific rituals involving the I Ching that you find particularly helpful? Do you use it in your therapy practice?
SATYA: The ritual around using the I Ching is pretty straightforward—and of course can be enhanced in any way that is of value to each person. I sit with my journal typically and write for a while about whatever it is that I’m wrestling with or wondering about. Then I ask the I Ching a non-binary (not “yes” or “no”) question by writing that question in my journal. I am quite specific about my questions at this point. Just like in an interview or relationship, the question itself should be as clear as possible. Then, to receive the response, I throw three coins together six times; with each throw of the coins, I record the response based on how they land a bit like writing out Morse code. I end up with a single hexagram, or two, depending on the way the coins fall, and then read those responses from the book. I often consult two or three translations at a time. The entire ritual involves the preparation to ask, the asking, and the contemplation of the nuanced response.
I don’t use the I Ching with all of my clients. In fact, I’ve probably only introduced it to a handful of clients for whom I thought it might be of value. When I do share it with clients, though, we often ask a question together initially and discuss the response that we receive. If the technique feels valuable to them, I may teach them to use it at home and suggest a few translations that I most appreciate. I’ve also shared this with many friends and students over the years and love hearing from people how it’s been of value to them.
This divination tool has been a genuine companion for over two decades now and has been of incalculable value. It has offered me tremendous support in decision-making and sorting out life’s twists and turns, and I’m always delighted to share it with others. I think it provides a uniquely accessible way to engage with the unconscious and irrational self without tossing out rational thinking. It invites the whole person into contemplation.
ELISE: You know Jung’s theory of synchronicity better than anyone—that coincidences are meaningful. Is the foundation of this in the I Ching?
SATYA: Yes! Jung’s understanding of synchronicity was formed through his encounter with Chinese and Taoist thinking and (to Western science) the inexplicable wisdom that he experienced consulting the I Ching.
Synchronicity is the currency of divination tools in general. There’s no linear explanation of cause and effect; no way to rationally explain how they work. And yet, the experience of meaning can be overwhelming when we receive extremely nuanced guidance on a complex issue from what is, to an outside observer, an inert object and a simple ritual.
I think of this experience a bit like the difference between observing animals from a distance versus having a deep relationship with an animal. You learn over time just how sensitive and individual each creature is through the relationship with them. You learn how smart they are and how funny, and how specific their wants and desires are. Without a relationship, it’s easy to discard their behavior as mechanical or collective, and lacking individual personality. It’s the same with the I Ching. What looks like an inert book and some coins will open up through a committed relationship. And once you’re in relationship with it, it’s hard to ever go back to seeing it as inert again.
Synchronicity brings the entire world to life, but it’s always an individual encounter. A true synchronistic experience is numinous, feels alive and magical, and enhances the meaning of life for whoever witnesses it. I have been lucky to witness those moments over and over with clients, friends, and students who seek guidance from the I Ching. They have moved me to tears and laughter countless times.
Learn to Consult The I Ching:
Paid subscribers* can watch the video above as well as register for our end-of-year gathering. Free subscribers can upgrade anytime to see the full video, join us on 12/29, and have access to my live events and videos next year (to be announced soon).
*If finances prohibit a paid subscription, please reply to this email or send me a note at satyadoylebyock[@]substack.com. I don’t ask for any explanation, just your honesty. All emails go directly to me, no middle person.
