Alternative Yarrow Stalk Methods - Short Form & Trigram Casting

While the standard yarrow stalk method detailed in the previous articles is the most comprehensive and widely recognized, variations have also been developed or recorded over time. These alternative methods can offer slightly different approaches, perhaps suiting different temperaments or specific divinatory aims. This article explores two such variations: a "Short Form" method for casting a full hexagram and a method for casting a three-line trigram.

1. The "Short Form" Yarrow Stalk Method

Your source material mentions a "short form" method that also uses 50 yarrow stalks. This version simplifies the process of determining each line of the hexagram by directly interpreting the remainder piles from three counts, rather than assigning values to the pile sizes and summing them.

Initial Setup:

• Begin with 50 yarrow stalks.
• Set one stalk aside (the Taiji), leaving 49 for the manipulation.
• The process described involves "setting down a vertical stalk, dividing the bundle in two, taking one stalk from below, and counting the bundles in fours." This general description mirrors the core actions of the standard method's operations (dividing, taking one symbolic stalk, and counting by fours).

Determining Each Line (Repeated Six Times for a Hexagram):

For each of the six lines of the hexagram, you would perform three "counts" or operations, similar in mechanical action to the standard method. However, the interpretation of the final remainder pile from each count directly gives the line quality, rather than summing values derived from the size of those piles.

First Count/Operation:

• Perform the division and counting process with the initial 49 stalks (or the relevant number if it's a subsequent line and stalks are re-gathered).
• The total number of stalks in the final remainder pile from this first count will be either 5 or 9 stalks.
• If the remainder pile has 5 stalks, it indicates a Yin line.
• If the remainder pile has 9 stalks, it indicates a Yang line.
• (Note: This directly assigns Yin/Yang based on the remainder of the first operation, unlike the standard method where this first remainder contributes to a later sum.)

Second Count/Operation:

• Gather the stalks not in the first remainder pile and perform the division and counting process again.
• The total number of stalks in the final remainder pile from this second count will be either 4 or 8 stalks.
• If the remainder pile has 4 stalks, it indicates a Yin line.
• If the remainder pile has 8 stalks, it indicates a Yang line.

Third Count/Operation:

• Gather the stalks not in the second remainder pile and perform the division and counting process a final time for this line.
• The total number of stalks in the final remainder pile from this third count will also be either 4 or 8 stalks.
• If the remainder pile has 4 stalks, it indicates a Yin line.
• If the remainder pile has 8 stalks, it indicates a Yang line.

Forming the Hexagram:

This entire three-count process (yielding three direct Yin/Yang determinations) would be repeated six times to build the hexagram from the bottom up.

Interpreting Changing Lines:

The source material for this short form doesn't explicitly state how changing lines (6 or 9) are derived, as it directly assigns Yin or Yang. It's possible this "short form" primarily focuses on stable lines, or there's an unstated convention for determining changes. If strictly following the provided description, it seems to yield only stable Yin or Yang lines. Further research into specific traditions using this short form would be needed to clarify the handling of changing lines. The standard method (yielding 6, 7, 8, 9) is explicit about changes.

2. The Trigram Form Yarrow Stalk Method

Another variation uses the yarrow stalk method to cast a three-line trigram (Ba Gua / 八卦) rather than a full six-line hexagram. Trigrams are fundamental building blocks of hexagrams and carry potent symbolism in their own right.

Initial Setup:

• This method also uses 50 yarrow stalks.
• Set one stalk aside, leaving 49 for manipulation.

Casting Each Line of the Trigram (Repeated Three Times):

To determine each of the three lines of the trigram, you perform the full three counting operations as described in the standard yarrow stalk method (Articles 4 and 5).

This means for each line of the trigram, you will:

• Perform the first operation, yielding a remainder pile of 5 or 9 stalks.
• Perform the second operation, yielding a remainder pile of 4 or 8 stalks.
• Perform the third operation, yielding a remainder pile of 4 or 8 stalks.
• Assign values to these pile sizes (9/8 = value 2; 5/4 = value 3).
• Sum these three assigned values to get a result of 6 (Changing Yin), 7 (Stable Yang), 8 (Stable Yin), or 9 (Changing Yang).

Building the Trigram:

• You stop after generating three lines using this process.
• The trigram is built from the bottom up, using the results (6, 7, 8, or 9) of these three lines.

Transformed Trigram:

If any of the lines in your resulting trigram are changing lines (a 6 or a 9), a transformed trigram can also be cast.

• A line of 6 (Changing Yin) transforms into a Yang line.
• A line of 9 (Changing Yang) transforms into a Yin line.
• Stable lines (7 or 8) remain the same.

This provides a primary trigram and a secondary (transformed) trigram, offering insights into the situation and its potential development, much like with full hexagrams.

This method allows for a focused consultation on the energies represented by a single trigram, which can be useful for specific types of inquiry or when seeking to understand a core energetic pattern.

These alternative methods demonstrate the flexibility within the yarrow stalk tradition. While the standard long-form method is the most detailed and often considered the most potent, these variations provide other avenues for engaging with the I Ching through the venerable yarrow stalks.

Next, we will explore "Article 7: Interpreting Yarrow Stalk Results - Probabilities, Symbolism, and Depth."