Ancestral Communication and Yarrow Sticks or I Ching

Yarrow Sticks

The idea of counting Yarrow Sticks is viewed as meditative, and as a way to connect with Spirit (whether you view Spirit as your Ancestors, Inner Self, or the Divine).

Traditionally 50 Yarrow Stalks are used, of those 49 are needed to build the I Ching Hexagrams. To start counting Yarrow Sticks, a notebook & pen will be helpful to write the hexagrams down. 

Step One: Place one Yarrow Stick in front of you to help keep track of your counting; this Stick is referred to as the “Observer.”

Step Two: Divide the 49 remaining Sticks randomly into two piles. Then it is traditional to hold one stick from the pile on your right between the ring finger and little finger on your left hand. 

Step Three: Place the Sticks on your left into your left hand, and begin setting aside by bundles of four with your right hand the sticks you hold. You will be doing so until there are four or fewer sticks remaining. These sticks are then placed between the ring and middle fingers of the left hand. 

Step Four: You then repeat Step Three with the pile on the right. These remaining sticks will be held between the middle and forefinger of the left hand.

• Note 1: The sum of the sticks held should be  either 9 or 5. 

• Note 2: In counting, the first stick that was held is ignored, leaving either 8 or 4.

• Note 3: The number 4 is regarded as “complete” and assigned the value of 3.

The number 8 is regarded as “double” and is assigned the value of 2.

Step Five: Once values are assigned the sticks are placed aside.

Step Six: The remaining sticks are now counted following the same directions, and assigned values in the same manner.

Step Seven: This counting is repeated a third time. 

Step Eight: The numerical values of these three countings are now added together to form a line.

Step Nine: The entire practice is repeated Steps 1-8 six times to form the hexagram.

• Note 4: A sum of 5 = 4, Value 3 + 5 = 4, 3 + 5 = 4, 3 would be 9, referred to as “old yang” seen as a positive line, and designated with the symbol “0,” drawn as a solid long line with the symbol in the center.

• Note 5: The sum of 9 = 8, Value 2 + 9 = 8, 2 + 9 = 8, 2 would be 6, referred to as “old yin” seen as a negative line, and designated by a broken line with and “x” in the center.

• Note 6: These combinations equal value 7, 9 (2)+ 8 (2) + 4 (3) or 5 (3)+ 8 (2) + 8 (2) =7 or 9 (2)+ 4 (3) +8 (2) and are referred to as “young yang” drawn with a solid long line.

• Note 7: These combinations equal value 8 9(2)+ 4(3) + 4(3) or 5(3)+ 4(3) + 8(2) =8 or 5(3) +8(2) + 4(3) referred to as “young yin” and drawn as a broken line.

Step Ten: The hexagram can now be looked up by its moving and non-moving lines in the I Ching. 

• Note 8: Moving lines are marked with “x.” 

• Once you have your lines built, an I Ching text may be consulted...

• Try: https://www.iching-online.com/hexagrams/

• This may also be achieve by flipping coins.