The Horary Method - Astrology Meets the I Ching

The Plum Blossom (Mei Hua Yi) school of I Ching divination is notable for its integration of various systems of knowledge. One powerful application is its unique form of horary astrology, where the principles of the I Ching are combined with astrological calculations based on the precise moment a question is asked or an event occurs. This method uses the temporal signature of an inquiry to construct a hexagram, offering insights deeply rooted in the specific cosmic energies at play.

The Principle: The Moment Holds the Key

Horary astrology, in general, operates on the principle that the astrological chart cast for the exact time and location a question is sincerely asked holds the answer to that question. The Plum Blossom horary method adapts this by using the temporal data not to cast a Western astrological chart, but to derive an I Ching hexagram through numerological calculations.

The core idea is that the specific configuration of cosmic energies at the moment of inquiry is not accidental but is synchronistically aligned with the nature of the question itself. The hexagram becomes a snapshot of these energies, reflecting the situation and its potential unfolding.

Key Components of the Plum Blossom Horary Method:

The Precise Moment of Inquiry:

• The Question: As with all divination, a clearly formulated and sincerely asked question is crucial.
• Time and Location: The exact date, time (as precisely as possible), and location where the question is presented or arises in the diviner's mind are recorded. The location can be important for more advanced calculations involving directions or local energetic influences, though the primary focus is often on the temporal data.

Lunisolar Calendar Conversion:

As detailed in Article 3, the Gregorian date and time are converted into their equivalents in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This provides the year, lunar month, day of the lunar month, and the two-hour period (shichen 時辰) in terms of their Heavenly Stems (天干 Tiāngān) and Earthly Branches (地支 Dìzhī), or their numerical equivalents.

Deriving Trigrams and Changing Lines from Temporal Data:

This is where the numerology of Plum Blossom comes into play. While specific formulas can vary slightly between different practitioners or texts, a common approach involves:

• Upper Trigram:
  • Sum the numerical values associated with the Year's Earthly Branch, the Lunar Month number, and the Day of the Lunar Month.
  • (Example: If the Year Branch is Chou (Ox, #2), the Lunar Month is the 5th month, and the Day is the 12th, the sum might be 2 + 5 + 12 = 19).
  • Divide this sum by 8. The remainder gives the upper trigram (using the Early Heaven Ba Gua sequence: 1=Qian, ..., 0/8=Kun).
• Lower Trigram:
  • Take the sum obtained above (Year Branch # + Lunar Month # + Day #).
  • Add to this sum the numerical value of the Hour's Earthly Branch (e.g., Zi/Rat=1, Chou/Ox=2, ..., Hai/Pig=12).
  • (Continuing example: If the sum was 19, and the Hour Branch is Wu (Horse, #7), the new sum is 19 + 7 = 26).
  • Divide this new total sum by 8. The remainder gives the lower trigram.
• Changing Line:
  • Take the total sum used to derive the lower trigram (Year Branch # + Lunar Month # + Day # + Hour Branch #).
  • (In our example, this was 26).
  • Divide this total sum by 6. The remainder indicates the changing line (1=first line, ..., 0/6=sixth line).

Example (Conceptual Flow):

Let's say a question is asked on:

• Year: A year whose Earthly Branch is Yin (Tiger), which is the 3rd Branch. (Year Value = 3)
• Month: The 8th Lunar Month. (Month Value = 8)
• Day: The 21st day of the Lunar Month. (Day Value = 21)
• Hour: The shichen of Shen (Monkey), which is the 9th Earthly Branch. (Hour Value = 9)

For the Upper Trigram:

• Sum (Year + Month + Day) = 3 + 8 + 21 = 32.
• Divide by 8: 32 ÷ 8 = 4 with a remainder of 0 (or 8).
• Upper Trigram = ☷ Kun (Earth).

For the Lower Trigram:

• Take the previous sum (32) and add the Hour value: 32 + 9 = 41.
• Divide by 8: 41 ÷ 8 = 5 with a remainder of 1.
• Lower Trigram = ☰ Qian (Heaven).

The Primary Hexagram is Kun (Earth) over Qian (Heaven) – Hexagram 12, Pi / Standstill.

For the Changing Line:

• Take the total sum used for the lower trigram (41).
• Divide by 6: 41 ÷ 6 = 6 with a remainder of 5.
• The 5th line is the changing line.

The Power of the Moment's Numerology

The Plum Blossom horary method beautifully illustrates the belief that time is not just a passive backdrop but an active, shaping force. By converting the unique temporal signature of an inquiry into the symbolic language of the I Ching, the diviner accesses insights that are specifically attuned to that moment's cosmic tide. This technique requires careful attention to calendrical details and precise calculation, but it offers a potent way to receive guidance directly reflecting the energies present when a question takes form.

Next, we will explore a very different, highly intuitive approach in "Article 8: The Channeled Method - Receiving the Hexagram from Within."