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I Ching -- Coin Method

To: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.divination,alt.philosophy.taoism
From: xiwangmu > ...divinatory hexagram, from bottom line upwards, with the same 
>> chances of obtaining each hexagram as when using the Yarrow 
>> Stalk Method (traditional). this argues its superiority.
 
[X]:
> Not really, since the yarrow stalk method known today is reconstructed
> and it's not certain that it's asymmetric skewing of the probabilities
> were inherent in the original yarrow method, which is quite unknown.

then why are so many authors on the subject convinced of the virtue or
'classic' quality of using Yarrow Stalks? they seem taken by the ceremony
and duration, the adeptness in the case of street diviners, etc. do they
know about the variation between what preceded what they're using and
what you're identifying as the original?

> The 3 coin method is actually the oldest method extant, 

Shao Yen promoted it. did it precede him?

> which has symmetric probabilities. 

of variable value. knowing the character of the classic Judgments and
Commentaries and how these match up with the emphasis of any method
of determination would give one the understanding of symmetry's value.
unless one were to break completely with tradition and write your own
divinatory text as well as create your own method of consultation.

> Personally I believe symmetric probabilities make more sense 
> since there is no reason why yin or yang should have
> differing tendencies towards change since they are polar opposites. 

Master Huang maintains that the Yarrow is itself considered sacred
as a means of conveying information, communicating. are you aware
of this?

> I believe that the assymetric probabilities built into the 
> reconstructed yarrow rite do not necessarily represent the 
> original rite.

what informs this belief. do you have comparisons of the projected
originals with what you're calling the reconstructed yarrow?

> And also that they do not really fit into the conceptual framwork 
> of yin-yang.

but do they fit into the conceptual framework of Chou I?

> Rather than make a coin method that mimicks the yarrow rite 

never my intent, though I enjoyed creating a bibliomantic method
that does so.

> it would be better to create a yarrow method that has the 
> symmetric probabilities of the coin method.

if one wished these probabilities and sought the feel and
substance of Yarrow, agreed. I imagine it would also limber
one up for juggling or typing, musical or other artistry.
 
> Yin is always 2, yang always 3, but this doesn't matter greatly since
> it is the numbers 6, 7, 8, and 9 that determines the hexagram. It
> doesn't matter whether you choose heads or tails to be yang.

thanks.

mu

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