Your Divination Diary - The Why and How of I Ching Journaling

Beyond the immediate act of casting and interpreting an I Ching reading, one of the most powerful practices for deepening your understanding and relationship with the oracle is keeping an I Ching journal or divination diary. This dedicated record becomes more than just a logbook; it evolves into a personal testament to your journey with the Book of Changes, a space for reflection, and a rich resource for uncovering patterns and insights over time.

Why Keep an I Ching Journal? The Profound Benefits

The commitment to journaling your I Ching consultations can yield significant rewards:

• Deeper Learning and Retention: Writing down your question, the cast, key texts, and your initial interpretations helps to solidify the information in your mind. The act of articulating your thoughts clarifies them and aids in remembering the nuances of each reading.

• Pattern Recognition: This is one of the most valuable aspects. Over months and years, your journal will reveal:

  • Recurring Hexagrams/Lines: You might notice specific hexagrams or lines appearing repeatedly in response to certain types of questions, situations, or internal states. This can highlight core themes or challenges in your life.
  • Your Interpretive Biases or Strengths: You may see how your interpretations evolve or where you tend to focus.

• Tracking Personal Growth and Unfolding Events: By recording your questions and the I Ching’s responses alongside notes about subsequent events or decisions, your journal becomes a chronicle of your personal journey. You can see how guidance played out, how your understanding shifted, and how you navigated various challenges.

• Developing a Personal Relationship with the I Ching: The I Ching is often described as a wise friend or mentor. A journal fosters this relationship, allowing you to see how its “voice” speaks specifically to you and your unique circumstances. You’ll begin to recognize its particular way of guiding you.

• A Resource for Future Reference: If a similar situation arises in the future, you can look back at past readings for relevant guidance or to see how you navigated similar energies before.

• Objective Review: Emotions can color our perception in the moment of a reading. Reviewing a reading later, with some detachment, can often reveal insights that weren’t apparent initially.

Essential Elements to Record for Each Reading

To make your I Ching journal as effective as possible, aim to include the following for each consultation:

• Date and Exact Time of Casting: Essential for context, especially if you later explore correlations with other cyclical systems (like astrology or personal energy rhythms).

• The Specific Question Asked: Write it down verbatim if possible. The precise wording of your query is crucial.

• Your Emotional and Mental State: Briefly note how you were feeling before and during the casting (e.g., anxious, calm, confused, hopeful). Also, include any significant external circumstances or context surrounding the question.

• The Casting Method Used: Specify which technique you employed (e.g., three-coin, yarrow stalk standard method, Plum Blossom numerical calculation, etc.).

• The Lines Cast:

  • Clearly draw the Primary Hexagram from bottom to top.
  • Accurately notate each line (stable Yang, stable Yin, changing Yang, changing Yin), using consistent symbols (e.g., ---------, --- ---, ----o----, --- X ---).

• Primary Hexagram Identification: Note its number and name (e.g., Hexagram 1, Qian, The Creative).

• Changing Lines (if any): List the numbers of the changing lines (e.g., “Changing lines in 2nd and 5th positions”).

• Secondary (Transformed) Hexagram (if applicable): Draw the Secondary Hexagram and note its number and name.

• Key Phrases/Sentences from the I Ching Text:

  • Write down or summarize the most resonant parts of the Judgment and Image for the Primary Hexagram.
  • If there are changing lines, record the text for each specific changing line.
  • If applicable, record the Judgment/Image for the Secondary Hexagram.

• Your Immediate Thoughts, Feelings, and Interpretations:

  • What was your initial gut reaction to the hexagram(s) and lines?
  • What connections did you make to your question?
  • What did the guidance seem to suggest to you at that moment?

• Actions Taken or Decisions Made (Optional Follow-up): You can leave space to return to the entry later and note any actions you took based on the reading.

• Observed Outcome (Optional Follow-up): Later still, you can record how the situation actually unfolded. This is invaluable for learning how the I Ching’s guidance corresponds to real-world events.

Choosing Your Journal Format

This is a personal choice:

• Physical Notebook: Many prefer the tactile experience of a dedicated notebook and pen.
• Digital Document/App: Others opt for a digital journal using word processors, specialized journaling apps, or note-taking software, which can offer searchability.

Whichever format you choose, the key is to make it a consistent practice. Your I Ching journal will become a deeply personal and insightful companion on your path of self-discovery and engagement with this ancient wisdom.

In our final article of this section, we will explore “Article 9: Learning from Hindsight - Reviewing and Reflecting on Your I Ching Journal.”