There are two main methods of consulting the I Ching, by casting yarrow stalks or by throwing three coins. Each method will yield a set of six lines forming the hexagram which contains the answer of the oracle.

These lines are said to be either stable or moving and are given number values, the purpose of which is to add to the interpretation, based on the basic premise of the book, that of change. The lines are as follows:

9 Greater Yang ----0---- moving

8 Lesser Yin ---- ---- stable

7 Lesser Yang -------- stable

6 Greater Yin ----X---- moving

The lines form the hexagrams from bottom to top, the bottom line is the initial line and the sixth line is the top. When a moving line appears in the hexagram, it is wise to also read the interpretation for the hexagram which will be formed by that line becoming its opposite.

How did the numbers become associated with the lines? The yang element is associated with odd numbers, hence the 9, and refers to that which advances as well as to the male principle. The female yin element refers to that which retreats and is associated with even numbers, the 6 in this case.