| 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 |
| 1 | 46 | 93 | 139 | 185 |
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cloth and kept above shoulder level. (2)
Just as with geomantic operation, one of the essential requisites is to frame the enquiry in such a way
that there is no possibility for ambiguity of answer. Thus an either/or type of question should be
avoided just as a general 'what should I do?' type of question is inadvisable. Also, as the I Ching
seldom gives an indication of time it is advisable to incorporate this factor in the question. For
example one might ask what is likely to happen to this project or person during such and such a month
or year, etc.
The Actual Enquiry
1
. The Book of Change, the 7 Ching, (3) is laid upon the altar along with the divining sticks in their
lidded box. Also place on the altar an incense burner, two sheets of white card (or two small trays)
and a book to write out the result of the divination. (4)
2
. The nature of the enquiry worded as specifically as possible to avoid any ambiguity, should now be
written at the head of the page in the book.
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[
[
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2] A traditional Chinese mark of respect towards this ancient oracle.
3] Perhaps the most suggestive translation of the I Ching is Legges' translation, but the easiest to
work from initially is Aleister Crowley's version of the text, if one overlooks the doggerel rhymes.
[
4] The results should be written up with the relevant hexagram in your Magical Diary.
---
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3
. The magician now performs the Qabalistic Cross, and the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
also if he desires.
4
. He moves to the South and faces the North. The stick of incense is lit and the fifty yarrow stalks,
the divining sticks, are consecrated with Fire, by taking them in the right hand and passing them three
times through the incense smoke in a clockwise circular movement, whilst at the same time
concentrating with an absolute one-pointedness on the question written in the Book of Divination on
the altar.
5
. Replace one of the fifty sticks in its box, and lay the remaining forty-nine on the right-hand sheet of
cardboard. Then still using the right hand, divide the sticks into two roughly equal heaps.
6
. At this stage is performed a process which is performed six times, to establish on each occasion,
one of the lines of the hexagram. When drawing the hexagram one line at a time in the Book of
Divination be careful to draw the lines from the lowest one, upwards.
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