The Great Vessel Blog : Readings Panel

Where Does the Yi Come From?

wandering.sages@greatvessel.com — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:49:00 GMT

We have just posted Stephen’s 11th Reading.

Soshin Dreschler sent us the results to his question “Where do you come from?”, which he addressed to the Yijing. His question was prompted by his reading about the Mawangdui Silk Texts The cast oracle is both subtle and eloquent and Stephen deals with it in depth.

He begins with a brilliant excursis on the ‘Trikster’, who appears in every major divinatory system. In it explores some of the ways in which we can approach ‘Depth Divination’ and some of the pitfalls which can mislead us. He describes the metic approach and explains why it is so important in this type of reading.

He then gives the Yijing a voice, summarising its reply in a chillingly beautiful paragraph which reaches across time and space. This message is one to put on the wall, it contains both hopes and warnings.

Before going on to deal with the reading in more detail he gives us another excursis. This time on myths and the difference between Western and ancient Chinese myths. The two approaches work in different ways and this brief piece opens a door of understanding the processes involved for those working with the imagery of the Yijing.

When dealing with the transforming lines Stephen uses his Voices of the Lines approach. This dissolves those issues of how to deal with multiple moving lines which can often seem to contradict one another.

Like myself many Yijing diviners have pondered the different rules for dealing with multiple moving lines. This is much like a scientist trying to work out if the oboe or the cello should be listened to in an orchestral work! Obviously all of the instruments are contributing to the whole and it is only by listening to the sound they make together and the way they move one to the other, that the piece can be appreciated. This is what the 'Voices of the Lines' approach achieves for the reader. Stephen has written another article which goes into this in more depth. See the new article Voices of the Lines II.

He has also introduced short semantic explanations of some of the key words used in the text of the changing lines. These show how these words ‘key in’ to the meanings the text promotes giving resonance to the lines.

Before closing Stephen adds one final excursis on the term Junzi more often known as the ‘Noble One’. This small semantic piece clears up some of the confusion about the term and its use in the Yijing in different periods.

Kevin

The ‘unpublishable’ reading on Osama bin Laden

wandering.sages@greatvessel.com — Tue, 23 May 2006 21:18:00 GMT

The idea of publishing a series of readings by Stephen Karcher was to use them as a vehicle to illustrate his approach. Those who have been following this blog will be aware that we got a reading about Osama bin Laden which we felt was unpublishable. Following a number of requests we changed our minds and it can be found here.

I was quite shocked when the Yijing gave us this result. It has caused me to reflect on the way I perceived him and the dynamics which are now playing out in the world.

This reading also has a good illustration of the use of Karmic nodes. Also of interest is the fact that Stephen identifies the predictive element as being sited in the Time cycle part of the reading in this instance.

"The Time Cycle links four hexagrams through the images of the Four Seasons to place your situation in the oldest description of divinatory time. Use the Time Cycle to relate your situation to one of these seasons and look backwards and forwards to see where it came from and how it can be developed. A Time Cycle is made up of four hexagrams that share the same four inner lines, lines that represent a Core Theme of Change. The different top and bottom lines attached to this Nuclear or Core represent the Four Seasons and their themes.

Spring (yang below, yin above): rousing new growth.
Summer (yang below, yang above): ripening the fruits.
Fall (yin below, yang above): harvesting the crop and gathering the insights.
Winter (yin below, yin above): finding the seed of the new by grinding away the old."

I would be interested to hear folks views on the Readings Forum

Reading No. 5 – Powerfully Illustrative

wandering.sages@greatvessel.com — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 20:54:00 GMT

Reading No.5 in our series has been posted here.

In this reading Stephen shows how a personal reading can say so much more than merely explaining a situation and the possible ways through it. He shows how the person’s issue can be opened up into its different parts, or dimensions, using different methods. He demonstrates how we can find that beautiful simplicity which so often emerges in counselling. Not a complicated maze but that, ‘Oh its that simple?!’ moment which is the hallmark of real insight. I would like to thank the person for whom this was originally done for giving their permission to share it.

This reading demonstrates a number of interesting things. Firstly the way that a reading really only comes alive in that kairos or moment where it is created with that person. It is as if it is born out of the moment that exists between the diviner and the seeker. This is not to say that long distance advice can never be given about the meaning of a reading, but without entering into the kairos from whence it emerged its deeper meanings and subtleties will be unclear and choices of meaning will become ambiguities.

It is a great demonstration of the way different techniques each uncover different dimensions of the situation being examined. For those unfamiliar with the language used here, ‘Core Theme’ is the same as 'Nuclear Hexagram’. This and other terms and methods, are explained here.

The Karmic Nodes show those aspects which the seeker carries within themselves and which point to themes we carry within ourselves. Sometimes, as in this case, these are problems which block up our energies until we resolve them. Just as with dreams and their interpretation only the seeker or recipient of the reading can really sense the degree to which these are important. I have posted a short paper explaining Karmic Nodes for those who want to explore them further.

The reading goes on to explore the use of Time Cycles which often yield a different time dimension to that of the immediate oracle often represented in the changing line. This reading is centred on hexagram 21, Biting through. It is all too easy to draw on the familiar imagery of ‘biting through an obstacle’. However here we are given the components that make up the Chinese glyph as well as some of the rituals to which this hexagram refers. On this level it takes on a deeper, more subtle, cluster on meanings and actions.

Particularly interesting is where the emphasis has been placed in the reading. In this case the seeker was stuck because of their issues and history which they carried within themselves. So it is little wonder that the Karmic Nodes became one of the main dimensions to the resolution. Were the problem to be caused more by an external forces then we might expect another dimension to be more central. For me this is the art of divination. Like the psychotherapist the diviner must peer deeply into the kairos and draw out the most relevant parts, those which most clearly reveal the issue and which point to the way forward. If you are interested in discussing any of these views or have any questions someone has already started a thread here.

Quite clearly I am a little slow with the blog!

The Yijing speaks quiet wisdom amidst the furore of looming war

wandering.sages@greatvessel.com — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 23:00:00 GMT

These days I watch the news with increasing consternation. The melting ice caps seem to be enjoying peek time entertainment viewing whilst the UK parliament seems more concerned with throwing metaphorical tomatoes across the House at each other. The US, with UK support, appear intent on cleaning up terrorism even if it does end up with the Middle East unifying in a great Jihad. Time and again I ask myself, ‘What can, and should, I do about this?” So Stephen’s 4th Great Vessel Reading came as a timely surprise.

Shortly after 911 he was leading a group of therapists and activists in a workshop at the Jungian Centre in Los Angeles (USA). They were discussing 911 and what they should do. It became heated with calls for patriotism and counter demands for activism. Amidst this charged polarisation it was agreed that Stephen would ask the Yijing. The result is our current reading. For me this is a thought provoking response, Yijing wisdom at its best. I have started a thread here (Readings Panel Reading 4) and would encourage folk to respond. Why? Well, we did another more up to date reading. At the time we were all sitting together in a small flat in London (UK). Stephen had completed the casting to shocked silence. Eventually someone said, “We can’t publish that… we just can’t.” So please read this one first, give us your thoughts and tell us whether you want to hear more.