An I Ching reading interprets a question through the hexagrams and associated texts of the I Ching, also called the Yijing or Book of Changes. At I Ching Tree, it is offered as a traditional practice for personal reflection and cultural interest. You bring one situation; a human reader prepares an interpretation to help you consider it.
You do not need to know the symbols or study the book before submitting a question. Understanding a few basics can, however, make the process easier to follow.
What is the I Ching?
The I Ching is a Chinese classic with both divinatory and philosophical traditions. Its core includes 64 hexagrams, with statements associated with each figure and its individual lines. Different readers and traditions approach these texts in different ways. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy’s introduction to the Yijing explains that background in more depth.
Our service draws on this tradition to discuss the situation you describe. It does not predict future events or provide a guaranteed answer about what another person will do.
What is a hexagram?
A hexagram is a figure made of six horizontal lines. Each line is either solid, associated with yang, or broken, associated with yin. The six lines can also be viewed as two groups of three, called trigrams. Their combinations form the 64 hexagrams. Columbia University’s Yijing teaching guide provides an introduction to these symbols.
A hexagram gives the interpretation a symbolic reference point. Its name alone is not a verdict on your situation. Reading it involves considering the associated text and how its themes relate to the question, rather than treating a single word as a promise.
How does I Ching Tree use two numbers?
I Ching Tree uses Plum Blossom Numerology, also known as Meihua Yishu, to form a hexagram from the two numbers you submit. The interpretation also draws on broader principles of the I Ching. This describes our method; two numbers are not a requirement for every I Ching tradition.
Choose the first two numbers that come to mind. There is no set range or maximum, and you do not need to select numbers from a list of hexagrams. Our guide to why I Ching Tree asks for two numbers explains what to enter and what the numbers contribute.
What happens when you request a reading?
- Write one short, specific question about a situation you want to understand.
- Enter your two numbers and complete the account steps needed to submit it.
- After successful submission, receive your personal reading privately by email within 48 hours.
Each personal reading is prepared individually by a real person. No AI model is used to calculate, interpret, draft, translate, or rewrite the personal reading or its email response. The FAQ explains account requirements, availability, and privacy.
What makes a useful first question?
Choose something specific enough to describe in a few sentences. A conversation you are avoiding, a change in a relationship, or a decision about your approach to work gives the reading a clearer focus than “Tell me my future.”
For example, “What should I consider before discussing my responsibilities with my manager?” identifies a situation and a decision within your control. It does not ask for a prediction of the manager’s response.
For relationship questions, our practical guide to writing a clear question includes examples you can adapt. Keep only the details needed to understand the situation; you do not need to share someone else’s private correspondence.
What should you expect from the answer?
Use the interpretation as material to think with. Compare it with what you have observed, notice where it raises a useful question, and decide whether any suggested reflection fits your circumstances. You do not have to force a connection where there is none.
A reading cannot verify someone’s private thoughts or actions, guarantee an outcome, or replace professional advice. The Reading Boundaries explain the service’s scope. For a practical follow-through, see how to reflect on your I Ching love reading.
When you have one situation in mind, you can submit your first question.
