The Magical I Ching [Paperback]

How can something that's thousands of years old be effective in a contemporary world? It's based on the principle of synchronicity and the knowledge that everything is in some way connected. I Ching works "because it senses the hidden linkages" in situations.

Like computers, I Ching is a binary system. It uses a broken line and a solid line. These lines are grouped into hexagrams--each hexagram contains a unique arrangement of six lines. There are a total of 64 hexagrams. Each hexagram is generated line-by-line.

Hexagrams may be generated in several ways, some of them quite simple. Brennan discusses the various methods fully, presenting complete details and illustrations. Once the lines of the hexagram has been determined, it must then be interpreted. Once again, Brennan comes to the reader's aid--he includes a complete and contemporary translation of every hexagram.

Those consulting the I Ching may use it for advice in everyday decisions, but it can also be used for pathworking, rituals, opening astral doorways, and spiritual guidance. Brennan weaves instructions for these activities in with the fascinating history of I Ching and his personal experiences.

Brennan has authored more than 70 books and lectures frequently on subjects like metaphysics, spirituality, and psychology. He says "the techniques, tips, and explanations given in [The Magical I Ching] are designed to bring you a new perspective on the I Ching and encourage you to use this ancient system in a magical way." Readers will find that he's provided all the information they need in an easy-to-understand way, and they will be able to generate their first hexagram with the simply process described on page 25. Once that's done, a whole new world opens up.

This symbol, the t'ai chi, like the Tree of Yggdrasil(the World Tree in the runes), was called the "ridgepole of the world." Astrology uses a similar concept with an imaginary line running from Capricorn through Cancer, (the Mid Heaven to the Nadir), dividing the horoscope into two equal but opposing parts.

Each line has a special meaning based on its placement in the hexagram, which is read from the bottom up. Interestingly enough, it is based on the binary system of 0's and 1's, the same as our modern binary computer languages. The patterns, or oracles, reveal the answer to a psychological, business, social or romantic problem. Coins, sticks, cards, stones can be used, but always in threes. They are tossed into the air and the numerological total determines the type of line in the hexagram, which is built from the base upwards. Your question is best phrased in a "yes-no" form, although it need not be spoken nor written. This process is repeated until the six lines are built. Carl Jung, the psychologist, who called it "synchronicity," formulated the rationality of the answer. This simply means that there is a principle that two separate events will occur at the same time, neither one connected to the other nor having an effect on the other, yet meaningfully related when consciously or subconsciously willed.

Today, there are extensive interpretations: Confucian, Taoist, feminist Goddess, and many other points of view; and since Chinese is an ambiguous language, many authors have claimed a 'newer, more accurate' translation every five months. Whatever works for you, go for it.

Here, however, Brennan has proposed that since the I Ching only hints at the future, and does not actually delineate it because of your free will, there is an important magical use.

He says, "The words 'Know Thyself' were written over the portals of the Greek Mysteries as a reminder that the only real magic works from the inside out, and self-knowledge is an absolute necessity to avoid falling into the snares of self-deception and illusion. If you use the oracle first of all to learn about yourself, then to change yourself, you will find very quickly that you have set yourself on the road to becoming a superior man or woman and the conditions in your external environment will begin to improve accordingly. You will have begun consciously to cooperate with your own evolutionary process, consciously to discharge your accumulated karma. In short, with the aid of the oracle, you will begin to lead a truly magical life."

Brennan has chosen a more dynamic, active astral doorway to pathworking rituals, linking the archetypal symbols in your deep mind with the relevant area of the Astral Plane, and reworded the oracle for the new millennium. For his originality and historical emphasis, I rate this enchanting and immensely readable book, four and a half stars.