Philosophy of the I Ching

Can any reasonable man suppose this universe to be mere chaos? The correspondences between the behavior of all things great and small - from the celestial bodies rolling in space to the minute constituent parts of atoms - seem rather to point to a universal pattern of movement, governed by an Immutable Law of Change. Indeed, there is much reason to assume this Law to be eternal, to suppose that universes may take form and dissolve, aeon upon aeon, without deflecting its action any more than the birth and death of the mayflies. From this it is clear that, could we but analyze the pattern of changes governed by the Law and could we but relate our affairs to the right point point in the everlasting process of ebb and flow, increase and decrease, rising and falling, we should be able to determine the best action to be taken in each case. Then, by peacefully according with the necessity to advance, remain stationary awhile or retreat, by cheerfully accepting the promise of gain and loss when each is due, we could come close to being masters of our lives! This is precisely what the ancient Chinese Cook of Change purports to teach us how to do. Its authors believed that they had succeeded in analyzing Change itself into sixty-four constituent processes, each sub-divided into six stages and all interacting upon one another. They invented a method for relating individual affairs to the stages and processes most closely affecting them, thus fashioning a key whereby future generations could unlock the secrets of the future and determine the surest way to live in harmony with the circumstances prevailing. For more than two thousand years, those who have learned to use it have testified to the marvelous results obtained. That key could be in your hands - use it well and you will not be disappointed.