The Standard Yarrow Stalk Count - Part 2: Second & Third Operations, and Determining the Line
Welcome back to our detailed guide on the standard yarrow stalk counting method. In Article 4, we covered the initial setup and the first of three crucial operations required to determine a single line of an I Ching hexagram. You should have completed the first operation, resulting in a remainder pile of either 5 or 9 stalks, and a larger pile of 44 or 40 stalks, respectively, which will be used for the second operation.
Let's continue the process to complete the determination of this one hexagram line.
You will now use the stalks gathered at the end of the first operation (either 44 or 40 stalks).
- Take the pile of 44 or 40 stalks.
- Just as before, use your right hand to randomly divide this pile into two smaller portions (left and right).
- From the right-hand pile, take one single stalk.
- Place this stalk between the little finger and ring finger of your left hand (this is the same procedure as in the first operation, but you are now adding to the stalks already held or starting afresh if you set them down; traditionally, one might keep the remainders from previous operations separate but visible).
Step 3: Count the Left-Hand Pile by Fours
- Turn your attention to the left-hand pile.
- Count out the stalks from this pile in groups of four, setting aside the remainder (1, 2, 3, or 4 stalks).
- Place this remainder between the ring finger and middle finger of your left hand.
Step 4: Count the Right-Hand Pile by Fours
- Turn to the right-hand pile (from which you removed one stalk in Step 2 of this second operation).
- Count out these stalks in groups of four, setting aside the remainder (1, 2, 3, or 4 stalks).
- Place this remainder between the middle finger and index finger of your left hand.
Step 5: Collect the Second Remainder Pile
- Gather the three groups of stalks now held between the fingers of your left hand (the single stalk from Step 2 of this operation, plus the remainders from the left and right piles from Steps 3 and 4 of this operation).
- This combined group forms your second remainder pile.
- For this second operation, the total number of stalks in this remainder pile will always be either 4 or 8.
- Set this second remainder pile (of 4 or 8 stalks) aside, keeping it distinct from the first remainder pile.
2. Gather Remaining Stalks for the Third Operation
The stalks that were counted out in groups of four during this second operation (those not included in the second remainder pile) are now gathered together.
The number of stalks remaining will be 40, 36, or 32, depending on the outcomes of the first and second operations. These will be used for the third and final operation for this line.
You will now use the stalks gathered at the end of the second operation.
- Take the current pile of stalks (40, 36, or 32 stalks).
- Divide this pile randomly into two smaller portions (left and right).
- From the right-hand pile, take one single stalk.
- Place this stalk between the little finger and ring finger of your left hand.
Step 3: Count the Left-Hand Pile by Fours
- Count the left-hand pile by fours, setting aside the remainder (1, 2, 3, or 4 stalks).
- Place this remainder between the ring finger and middle finger of your left hand.
Step 4: Count the Right-Hand Pile by Fours
- Count the right-hand pile (minus the one stalk already taken) by fours, setting aside the remainder (1, 2, 3, or 4 stalks).
- Place this remainder between the middle finger and index finger of your left hand.
Step 5: Collect the Third Remainder Pile
- Gather the three groups of stalks now held between the fingers of your left hand.
- This combined group forms your third remainder pile.
- For this third operation, the total number of stalks in this remainder pile will also always be either 4 or 8.
- Set this third remainder pile (of 4 or 8 stalks) aside, keeping it distinct from the first and second remainder piles.
You have now completed the three necessary operations. You should have three small piles of remainder stalks set aside:
- First Remainder Pile: Will contain either 5 or 9 stalks.
- Second Remainder Pile: Will contain either 4 or 8 stalks.
- Third Remainder Pile: Will contain either 4 or 8 stalks.
4. Determining the Line Value from the Three Remainder Piles
The nature of the hexagram line (Yin or Yang, changing or stable) is determined by the number of stalks in these three remainder piles. A specific numerical value is assigned to the size of each pile, and these assigned values are then summed.
Assigning Values to Remainder Pile Sizes:
- If a remainder pile contains 9 stalks or 8 stalks, it is assigned a value of 2 (Two).
- If a remainder pile contains 5 stalks or 4 stalks, it is assigned a value of 3 (Three).
Look at your three remainder piles:
- Determine the assigned value (2 or 3) for your first remainder pile (which has 5 or 9 stalks).
- Determine the assigned value (2 or 3) for your second remainder pile (which has 4 or 8 stalks).
- Determine the assigned value (2 or 3) for your third remainder pile (which has 4 or 8 stalks).
- Add these three assigned values together. The total sum will be 6, 7, 8, or 9.
- Sum of 6: Changing Yin line (Old Yin). Draw as --- X --- or --- o ---.
- Sum of 7: Unchanging Yang line (Young Yang). Draw as ---------.
- Sum of 8: Unchanging Yin line (Young Yin). Draw as --- ---.
- Sum of 9: Changing Yang line (Old Yang). Draw as ----X---- or ----o----.
5. Recording the Line and Repeating for the Hexagram
- Record the Line: Draw the line you have just determined. If it's the first line you've cast for this hexagram, it will be the bottom-most line.
- Gather All Stalks: Collect all 49 yarrow stalks together again (the three remainder piles plus all the stalks counted out by fours). The single 50th stalk remains set aside.
- Repeat Six Times: You will now repeat this entire three-operation process five more times, using all 49 stalks each time, to generate the second, third, fourth, fifth, and finally the sixth (top) line of your hexagram, building it from the bottom up.
This meticulous process, rich in symbolism and meditative potential, allows the subtle patterns of chance to reveal the I Ching's wisdom. Once all six lines are cast, you will have your primary hexagram and can identify any secondary hexagram if changing lines are present.
In the next article, "Article 6: Alternative Yarrow Stalk Methods - Short Form & Trigram Casting," we will explore some variations on this traditional counting procedure.