The I Ching Workbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Learning the Wisdom of the Oracles

As a novice to I Ching studies, this is my favorite of the I Ching handbooks. It is designed so that the learner can become familiar with the energy and tone of each trigram and includes encouraging, simple meditative exercises to draw out the reader's own intuitive wisdom. It begins with a basic introduction to the Oracle, teaches one how to throw coins or sticks & how to ask appropriate questions. Trigrams are the building blocks of hexagrams, and understanding their resonances is invaluable for divination beyond relying on an author's interpretation of a hexagram. This workbook provides detailed and interesting explanations for each. Changing lines are also simply explained and interpreted. There is a handy-to-use hexagram chart on the back of the last page - no hunting around for it. The 'cookbook' pages are also satisfying, again drawing attention to the elemental energy embodied in each hexagram and giving practical advice in plain English. This is not the most academic workbook out there, as it does not include line by line translations of the Oracle and rather focuses on elemental harmony or dissonance. The book itself is refreshingly pleasing aesthetically and easy to use. The folded paperback cover feels good in your hands, pages are a heavy stock and information is attractively laid out. Appropriate to give as a gift.