Tossing Coins to Build Your I Ching Hexagram
1. Choose 3 coins that have a head and tail side (pennies are fine).
2. Write down the question you’d like to ask the I Ching and contemplate it while
holding your coins in your hands.
3. When you’re ready, toss the 3 coins and draw the line associated with the
heads/tails count. Make a mark next to any 3 heads or 3 tails lines you receive, as they
direct you to read specific passages within your hexagram.
4. Toss your coins 6 times, drawing the line associated with your toss each time,
building 2 trigrams from the bottom, up, to complete your hexagram.
3 heads = an unbroken Yang line that directs you to read a passage in the I Ching book
2 heads and 1 tail = an unbroken Yang line
3 tails = a broken Yin line that directs you to read a passage in the I Ching book
2 tails and 1 head = a broken Yin line
5. Remain introspective as you toss the coins and record your lines.
EXAMPLE:
This hexagram is built from the trigrams Chen on the bottom and K’an on top, creating
Hexagram #3, Making a New Beginning (there is a graph for looking up the trigrams that
form each hexagram at the back of the book).
6th toss
5th toss
4th toss
3rd toss
2nd toss
1st toss
___ ___
________
___ ___<
___ ___
___ ___
________<
=
=
=
=
=
=
2 tails and 1 head
2 heads and 1 tail
3 tails = read “Line #4” in Hexagram #3
2 tails and 1 head
2 tails and 1 head
3 heads = read “Line #1” in Hexagram #3
Hexagram #3, “Making a New Beginning”
Read the first segment of your hexagram as well as the passages associated with your
3 heads or 3 tails lines. Muse upon the message of your hexagram and note how it
applies to your question.
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