Casting the Coins & Building the Hexagram

With your preparations complete—coins chosen, values assigned, question formulated, and space readied—you are now set to perform the core action of the three-coin method: casting the coins and building your hexagram. This process is repeated six times, once for each line of the hexagram, starting from the bottom.

1. The Tossing Process (For Each Line)

For each of the six lines you will generate:

• Hold the Coins: Gather the three coins in your hands. Cup them gently.
• Focus on Your Question: Bring your formulated question back to the forefront of your mind. Some traditions suggest silently repeating the question or holding the intention clearly as you prepare to toss.
• Shake the Coins: Gently shake the coins in your cupped hands for a moment. This action helps to randomize their fall and is also seen by some as a way of infusing your energy and question into the coins.
• Cast the Coins: Let the coins fall from your hands onto the flat surface you've prepared. Try to let them fall naturally without consciously trying to influence how they land.

2. Determining the Line Value

Once the three coins have settled, observe which sides are facing up (Heads/Yang or Tails/Yin). Based on the values you assigned in Article 2 (Yin side = 2, Yang side = 3), calculate the total sum for this toss:

• Three Yin sides (e.g., 3 Tails): 2 + 2 + 2 = 6
• Two Yin sides, one Yang side (e.g., 2 Tails, 1 Head): 2 + 2 + 3 = 7
• One Yin side, two Yang sides (e.g., 1 Tail, 2 Heads): 2 + 3 + 3 = 8
• Three Yang sides (e.g., 3 Heads): 3 + 3 + 3 = 9

This numerical result (6, 7, 8, or 9) is what determines the type of line you have cast.

3. Drawing the Line and Its Type

Now, you will record this line. It's crucial to remember that hexagrams are built from the bottom up. The first line you cast is the bottom-most line of the hexagram.

Here's how each number corresponds to a line type and how it's typically drawn:

Sum of 6: Old Yin (Changing Yin)

This is a Yin line (broken) that is "old" or "moving," meaning it has inherent energy to change into its opposite (Yang).

How to draw: A broken line with an "X" or a small circle in the middle: --- X --- or --- o ---

This line is significant because it will change to a Yang line in the secondary hexagram (which we'll discuss more in Article 4).

Sum of 7: Young Yang (Stable Yang)

This is a Yang line (solid) that is "young" or "stable," meaning it is not currently in a state of change.

How to draw: A single, unbroken solid line: ---------

Sum of 8: Young Yin (Stable Yin)

This is a Yin line (broken) that is "young" or "stable."

How to draw: A broken line (a line with a gap in the center): --- ---

Sum of 9: Old Yang (Changing Yang)

This is a Yang line (solid) that is "old" or "moving," with energy to change into its opposite (Yin).

How to draw: A solid line with an "X" or a small circle in the middle: ----X---- or ----o----

This line is significant because it will change to a Yin line in the secondary hexagram.

Record your first line at the bottom of your recording space.

4. Building the Hexagram: Repeating the Process

You will now repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 five more times to generate the remaining lines of your hexagram.

• Second Line: Cast the coins again, calculate the sum, and draw the corresponding line above the first line.
• Third Line: Cast, calculate, draw above the second line.
• Fourth Line: Cast, calculate, draw above the third line.
• Fifth Line: Cast, calculate, draw above the fourth line.
• Sixth Line: Cast, calculate, draw this final line at the very top.

You will now have a complete six-line figure – your primary hexagram.

5. Contingency Rules (What If...)

Occasionally, coins might land in unusual ways:

• A Coin Rolls Away: Read the coin where it falls. Don't re-toss unless it's completely out of sight or in an inaccessible place (in which case, you might re-toss all three for that specific line).
• A Coin Lands on its Edge: This is rare. If a coin is leaning against an obstacle and standing on its edge, most practitioners will gently nudge the obstacle to let the coin fall flat. If it truly balances on its edge in an open space (extremely rare), some traditions suggest it's a sign the question should not be asked or the oracle is not responding at this time. Others might simply re-toss all three coins for that line. Use your intuition; consistency in your approach is key. If you decide on a rule for such an event, stick to it.
• Interruption: If your casting process for a single line is significantly interrupted (e.g., phone rings loudly, someone walks in), it's often best to re-gather your focus and re-cast that particular line.

6. The Principle of Meaningful Chance (Synchronicity)

It might seem counterintuitive that a random process like tossing coins can yield profound insight. The underlying principle at work, often referred to as synchronicity (a concept notably explored by Carl Jung, who was himself a student of the I Ching), suggests that the "random" pattern formed by the coins at that specific moment is meaningfully connected to your inquiry and the state of the universe at that time. The I Ching is not seen as being "caused" by the coins, but rather that the pattern of the coins reflects the pattern of the moment, including the querent's question.

With your primary hexagram now recorded, including any changing lines marked, you are ready to learn how to derive the actual hexagrams and understand the significance of these changing lines. We will cover this in Article 4: Understanding Your Result - Lines, Changes, and Hexagrams.