Casting a six-line reading online

Traditional six-line reading shakes three coins six times to build the hexagram from the bottom up. Casting online simply hands the random process to the system, and the core is still the same thing: using the six lines to receive one specific question.

It is best to quiet your mind before casting and write the question clearly. The more focused the question, the more easily the hexagram shows a direction.

A consultation depends far more on whether the question is clear and on whether you go on to read the hexagram by the six-line method than on whether you used coins or a screen.

The primary hexagram shows the current structure of the matter, the moving lines show the position that is changing, and the changed hexagram points to where the matter is heading.

With no moving line, the state of the matter is relatively stable. With many moving lines, there is a great deal of change, and you have to be clearer about what leads when you judge.

To start, read the primary hexagram for the situation, the moving lines for the point of change and the changed hexagram for the direction — then gradually learn to dress the hexagram and find the significant star.

A real six-line reading also dresses the hexagram: fixing the world and response lines, assigning the six relatives, finding the significant star, and then reading the strength, the producing and overcoming, the combining and clashing, the void, and the month and the day.

Reading only the hexagram name or text suits an introduction. To judge a specific success and a timing, you need the fuller six-line system.

The world and response lines fix the relation between the two sides, the six relatives fix the category of people and matters, and the significant star fixes the focus. With all three in place, the hexagram moves from shape into matter.

The thing six-line reading online fears most is a question that is too broad. Rather than asking “how is my fortune”, ask “can this project be signed this week” or “what should I watch out for in the communication ahead”.

A good question states the object, the time range and the choice you actually want judged. If the significant star cannot be fixed, the reading of strength and overcoming easily goes off track.

If you have not yet decided whether to do it, the consultation will usually only reflect the hesitation itself and cannot give a crisp judgement about advancing or holding back.

It suits questions that are specific, immediate and have a clear object — whether this partnership can move ahead, whether an opportunity is worth pursuing, what to watch out for in the communication ahead.

It does not suit a single huge question such as “what will my whole life be like”. Long-term themes suit BaZi better.

Asking about love, about money and about an exam are all fine, but cast on one thing at a time so that the conclusion can actually be acted on.

Once the hexagram is cast, first record the primary hexagram, the moving lines and the changed hexagram, then read the texts against the type of your question; when you need more detail, dress the world and response lines, the six relatives and take the significant star.

If the conclusion sits badly apart from what is actually happening, first check whether the question was too broad or whether you have been casting repeatedly in a short space, and then decide whether to cast again.

The value of a consultation is in seeing the advance and the retreat and the timing. Turning the hexagram into one small action is more useful than memorising a line about good or bad.