How The I Ching Saved My Life

The I Ching (pronounced E-Jing) is an historic Chinese oracle popularized in the West by Carl Jung. It makes it possible for us to ask immediate issues, and read through the answers in print. When I teach I Ching courses I usually explain to students about the working day it saved my everyday living.

I experienced been in silent non secular retreat in a cabin large in the Rocky Mountains, (ca. 1985). Immediately after 9 days with no human get in touch with, I felt refreshed and all set to return to “civilization.” It really is really a changeover and I desired to talk to the I Ching for steerage on the journey.

I solid the cash and bought an respond to I am going to by no means forget about: line 4 in the Hexagram “Waiting around.” It reads “Ready in Blood, Get Out of the Pit”. The Wilhelm translation carries on:

“The circumstance is particularly dangerous. It is of the utmost gravity now, a matter of everyday living and demise. Bloodshed would seem immanent. You can find no likely ahead or backward. We’re slash off as in a pit. Now we will have to basically stand rapidly and allow fate acquire its training course. This composure, which keeps us from aggravating the difficulties by just about anything we may do is the only way of obtaining out of the dangerous pit.”

I was fewer than thrilled with the forecast but knew I experienced improved pay out interest to it. So, possessing no strategy what to be expecting, I departed in my minimal yellow Toyota Starlet. An hour later on I was cruising as a result of the mountains ascending Kenosha Move, when I discovered myself guiding a VW Rabbit pouring diesel fumes.

For some explanation, he was driving 15 mph less than the pace restrict. In these Colorado mountains there was no position to go so I followed dutifully for miles and miles. Quickly, dozens of vehicles ended up backed up driving me and this Rabbit… who would have lost to any turtle that day.

Possessing raced cars for a 10 years, I was very frustrated adhering to this sluggish-poke up the mountain. Following several miles I realized we had been nearing the transient passing lane at the peak of Kenosha Pass. Approaching that change I thought “I am eventually going to get totally free of this dawdler now!” Rounding the curve I can see the passing lane, my slim window of possibility.

I stepped on the gasoline and commenced to pull out all around this motor vehicle–when the thought hit me: “Hold out! This is the pit! I won’t be able to go forward or backwards. It truly is like I’ve fallen in a pit in the floor. This is the situation I was warned about!”

With automobiles in advance and driving I am trapped in a shifting pit. And what am I about to do? I am about to make an effort and hard work to solve the circumstance by means of my have endeavours: the just one thing I was warned not to do!

Due to the fact of that awareness, I swerved again into line… just as the Rabbit driver “put his foot in it”! Why right after all individuals miles, I never know: maybe his carburetor cleared, probably he awoke from a trance. Whatsoever occurred, he was instantly accelerating suitable at the instant I would have been beside him! To my left was a wall of Rocky Mountain granite. And coming all over the switch at 70 mph, heading appropriate where by I would have been was… a 16-wheel Mack truck.

His front bumper would have been my the very last sight. There was nowhere to go to the remaining, the Volkswagon was on the appropriate and I would surely have died on that curve. I experienced been sure I understood ample about racing autos and passing safely… but I did not know all the related variables in the universe. My higher self, all those cash I threw, the Sage of the I Ching, somehow understood what I did not. The I Ching stopped remaining a concept that working day.

As I am even now driving the Rabbit who is accelerating wildly, however not as quickly as my pounding heart, I know: “Oh my God, I practically died. Without the I Ching’s assistance, I would be useless.” In just a mile or so, the Rabbit turned off on to a tiny grime road. And, right in front of me, from that very same street, pulled a pickup truck with the license plate: “SA-1144.” And now I burst out laughing, due to the fact 11:44 is the minute of my birth.

This birth, this new daily life, I owe to the I Ching due to the fact my best cleverness and life encounter would have gotten me killed. I have paid out much far better focus to my each day I Ching readings at any time since.