By Josslyn Streett, Reiki Master/Teacher for Rain Shadow Reiki in Sequim, WA
I recently hosted an evening where a spiritual friend of mine who is well-practiced and acquainted with the I Ching (pronounced E Ching) , came over and taught a small spiritual group of people about the I Ching. Charlie Comstock was one of my first spiritual friends here on the peninsula when I moved here six and a half years ago. He did an I Ching reading for me and I gave him a Reiki session. I remember getting information from the reading that helped and made sense but I didn’t get the profound awakening to the I Ching until this evening with Charlie and our group a week ago.
Maybe this evening was so profound because of the group energy, or the introduction and stories that Charlie told about his life and his path to find the I Ching, or just because the Universe was manifesting the perfect time and opportunity for those who were meant to be touched by it, to be truly touched by it. But, for whatever reason or all the reasons, on this magical night Charlie and the I Ching graced our souls with profound and deep insight into our questions about life. It was a truly beautiful evening where not only I felt touched by the Divine Wisdom but the entire group. (Read each persons praises of the I Ching below)
CHARLIE & THE I CHING
On this evening Charlie told us stories about his past and how his whole life had led him to the I Ching and how important aspects of his childhood, young adult years and beyond had been important in making the I Ching prominent in his life. He was a fabulous storyteller and we were all completely enthralled with him and his presentation.
Then he talked about the I Ching and how to pose a question to get a true answer, how to translate the answer and then he guided us through the process to truly amazing results. It is really an amazingly simple process to receive such important wisdom from the Universe. I believe we were all quite in awe of the accuracy of the answers we got. Not just because they were answers we expected but because they spoke to us in the depths of our souls with words we couldn’t say but when we read them, they resonated with us, each of us reading for ourselves or each other. We all understood them to be true.
WHAT IS THE I CHING?
The I Ching is an ancient Chinese text of divination also called the Book of Changes, over three thousand years old.
The I Ching uses a type of divination called cleromancy, which produces apparently random numbers (through the Law of Attraction).
One uses three coins of any kind to ‘throw’, then decipher from an I Ching workbooks which of 64 hexagrams to read. The interpretation of the readings found in the I Ching is a matter of centuries of debate, and many commentators have used the book symbolically, often to provide guidance for moral decision-making. The I Ching wisdom follows the natural rhythm and patterns of our natural world in order to bring us intuitive wisdom about our own natural rhythms and how they relate to our lives.
The I Ching is easy to learn and anyone can ‘play’ with it for answering questions about their daily life, much like divining cards, pendulum, divining games or other divining tools.
POSING AN I CHING QUESTION
Like any divining tool, posing a good question is the key to getting a good answer. Charlie gave us some tips to come up with questions that were important and significant in our lives, and not frivolous. It is good to be emotionally involved but not attached to the outcome or we might influence the outcome by our desire. This can happen if we are not grounded and careful.
He recommends starting the questions with statements that encourage an answer with flow rather than a yes or no answer, such as:
- What are the benefits of …….?
- What are the effects of …………?
- What are the dynamics of…….?
- Why is ………….happening to me?
- What draws me to …………….?
More detailed question examples:
- What are the benefits of me taking this Reiki class in June?
- What are the effects of me taking a break from work and focusing on my family and myself this summer?
- What are the dynamics involved in me creating and posting my own website for my spiritual abilities?
- Why do I have to start a new career at this time in my life?
- What draws me to the South West part of the country to live?
Then you look up the symbols you got from your throws and this chart tells you which hexigrams pertain to your throws. It’s easier than it sounds. One time through and you get the hang of it. Then you read the pages that pertain to the numbers on the chart.
NOTE: Once you have a question you feel good about, you can get started. Don’t forget, for the best possible outcome to bring in your Reiki to help you with the process. When I forget this step (Yes I do forget now and then) I notice the answers I get are not as clear or maybe don’t relate to my question at all. Give it a try both ways and see what you feel.
REIKI & THE I CHING
You know me, I’m a Reiki Gal, everything I do, I combine it with Reiki and I feel and know I get more accurate results. The Reiki helps me to be more centered and grounded, in the here and now. That way I am devoted to my questions but not attached to the outcome. The Reiki helps me to bless the process with spiritual power, protection of the highest and most divine order as well as bringing in my Reiki Guides for spiritual information and intuition. This time when I asked for my Reiki Guides, I saw a new I Ching Guide come in to help too. This was a pleasant surprise. I believe he came in to help the whole group.
THE HOW: Before you ask your I Ching question:
- Gassho – prayer position -(hands in prayer position in front of your heart) ask Divine to bring in your Reiki through you.
- Ask Divine for (hands in prayer position in front of your third eye) the Highest and most Sacred Order of Reiki Guides for the greatest good of all involved.
- Hold the coins you choose to use in the I Ching and bless them with intention or the Power Symbol.
- Still holding the coins, cleanse them with intention or the Mental/Emotional Symbol.
- Still holding the coins, energize the coins to the perfect vibration for you and your questions answer with intention or again, the Power Symbol.
COMMENTS FROM THE GROUP
Each person who attended this workshop felt very profound results. Each one was happy to write down their thoughts about the evening with Charlie and the I Ching. I hope you enjoy reading them.
Reiki Blessings to you all, thanks for reading,
Josslyn
“This I-Ching stuff was a lot more profound than I expected. Not that I doubted that the power of synchronicity could influence coins as well as it does anything else, but I didn’t expect it to be quite so relevant, eerily relevant. The words in the book were direct echoes of what my own Guides have been telling me. I suspect that Charlie might have had as much to do with that as the process itself? I will need to play with it myself and see what I get. But there was something about him that impressed me as much as “the results.” I’m glad I decided to come and have the opportunity to be introduced to both Charlie and I-Ching! Thank you!” Amber
“Charlie is an excellent storyteller and I enjoyed hearing his life’s journeys that led him to the I Ching. He has a great energy and is a good mix of East and West. the readings were right on the money and made perfect sense. By interpreting the changes and then reading the evolving answer was very cool. I would like to do more and would enjoy hearing Charlie again.” Robert
“Charlie presented a fascinating story of his involvement with the I Ching and using it in his daily life. Having a chance to pose my own question, then casting my hexagram and having it read & interpreted was a profound experience. The descriptions of where I am at in my spirituality, mental & emotional state were ‘spot on’, and helped me understand the more complex nuances of the interpersonal relationships involved in answering my question. As a result of this evening workshop, I have already ordered my own copy of the I Ching Workbook.” Penny
“This (I Ching reading) changed what I thought I wanted to focus on (in life). I now have a new passion to discover.” Lisa
“The I Ching reading has been with me throughout this week. My static “just chill” and “just be “words echoed in my head and helped calm me. The I Ching experience was right on target!! Charlie was extremely interesting and I’d love to hear him talk again on any subject. He should do a day work shop. I always have fun at your house and get very energized. Thanks again for all the blessings. Hugs, Sharon”
“WOW, is all I can say. Working with the I Ching in a group setting was extremely profound. All six of us got answers that resonated with us on a deeper level than we had anticipated. The ancient texts go into such detail about what is happening or going to happen, much deeper than any other divining took I’ve worked with. Having Charlie to read the text to us helped me to be able to listen from a place of higher knowing and interpret how the text related to my specific situation intuitively. I asked a question about a class I was considering taking and got a very obvious “NO” answer. Not the right time. With much detail as to what would happen if I choose to take the class anyway. After the reading I got, all seven of us voted that I NOT TAKE THE CLASS at this time. And, the answer from the I Ching was consistent with what my guides had been telling me.
The other questions I’ve asked in the week since the class have been just as profound and in-depth. For example, I asked, what are the dynamics of me going to Sedona this July with my soul sister for her 40th Birthday celebration? and I got; Although your position has been less than ideal, you will finally meet with the right elements to help you achieve your aim. Enthusiasm coupled with wise decisions lead to good fortune. There was more, much more, but that was my favorite part. The text gives you five or six paragraphs of information about your question, it’s very thorough and for us so far, quite accurate.” Josslyn
For sessions with Josslyn in person, on the phone, email or Skype contact me via phone or email
rainshadowreiki@gmail.com or 360-460-7829
