The I Ching, the ancient Chinese oracle, or Book of changes
postulates that everything is in constant flux, moving from
state to another. Whilst being proven as a working oracle
for more than 3000 years, it is not the work of a single
author but the accumulated wisdom of many generations.
'The ancient chinese sages realised that change
itself gives meaning to life and contains an element of
stability, an inherent law or eternal principle, which
people tried to find outside the world in a realm of
transcendental reality' John Blofeld in the
Foreword to his book.
I have used the I Ching for more than 25 years and found it
an invaluable and infallible guide to life. In particular
it has proved useful facing difficult life dilemmas. If
treated seriously and with due reverence, it will
unfailingly guide you to find clarity from your own
confusion. It is however a book demanding serious
reflection and meditation and not for foolish questions or
play.
There are many interpretations available. The Classic one
is that by Richard Wilhelm with a foreword by Jung and has
an ancient and symbolic feel to the text which takes
getting used to. This is ISBN 07100 1581 X
The John Blofeld translation is cheaper and simpler, but I
have always found it useful. ISBN 0 040181026 0
The more recent Element book by Rudolf Ritsema and Stephen
Karcher is very good for symbols, but can be complex. ISBN
1 85230 526 3
However the most useful and understandable modern
translation is by Carol K. Anthony called A Guide to the I
Ching. This is in paperback ISBN 0 9603832 4 7