How to make a systematic study to prove if the I Ching really works
Hexagram 39: OBSTRUCTION, LINE 5.
June 17th, 2023 I saw a study by Lance Storm. This attempted to prove whether the I Ching works or not.
I Ching study by Lance Storm.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305354960_Investigations_of_the_I_Ching_II_Reliability_and_validity_studies
In six studies on the I Ching, an ancient Chinese system of divination, successful predictions of first- and second-hexagrams (i.e., hexagram hitting) based on pre-selections of corresponding descriptor pairs have ranged from chance to significantly above chance. No significant effect below chance has ever been found. Hexagram hitting has been predicted by measures such as paranormal belief, time perspective, and meaningfulness. Storm (2008a) found a near-significant aggregate hexagram hit rate of 27%. Though these results are encouraging, there has been no assessment of the reliability and validity of the main test instrument used in the I Ching studies.
As you see it it very complicated and produces no definite results.
I have a test structure in mind that is simpler and I believe, guaranteed to prove whether the I Ching really works or not. For this, I need participants to make predictions and give the outcomes under my direction. I thought Lance might be able to provide me with these test subjects.
He referred me to Vlad, someone else on his team who appeared enthusiastic at first. However, it turned out he knew nothing about Ching and did not really understand my idea at all. He asked a lot of questions that were not really relevant and jumped to conclusions far too hastily. It is not easy to explain the workings of I Ching to people who are unfamiliar with the subject. He would have had to have been a lot more patient if we were to work together successfully. He didn't want to spend the time and dropped the project. Fair enough and this was okay, because if you don't have the right chemistry, you cannot be successful in this type of enterprise.
However, as I was struggling to explain what I was trying to do, I came up with the idea of writing stories of prediction outcomes attached to predictions. I wrote a few for them, but they were not interested. I am very happy with what I wrote, and I am personally convinced this is the right approach to clarifying the question of whether Ching works once and for all.
There are many tales of prediction outcomes on this blog, so you can make your own mind up.
Traditional text
Hexagram 39: Line 5 means: In the midst of the greatest obstructions, friends come.
Here we see a man who is called to help in an emergency. He should not seek to evade the obstructions, no matter how dangerously they pile up before him. But because he is really called to the task, the power of his spirit is strong enough to attract helpers whom he can effectively organize, so that through the well-directed cooperation of all participants, the obstruction is overcome.
I think this text line was quite accurate, but not easy to interpret. I would say the core meaning is that an obstruction cannot be overcome directly. The task is of great importance, so one should not give up. One must look for a new way to progress. Keep trying and look for friends to assist.
I was not surprised by the outcome. I knew the prediction was not so good, but thought it worth investigating.
What is needed is for more outcomes of the same prediction to verify if this works in the same way each time for everybody. My experience is once you know the core meaning of a prediction line the results are very consistent.
If you check THAILAND FOR ME WAS A DANGEROUS WOMAN, hexagram 17 FOLLOWING, line 5
You will see two examples of this prediction line. It also shows that the traditional text is sometimes misleading.
A ROLLER COASTER RIDE TO PRAGUE. STORY BY ANDREW. HEX 11 PEACE, LINE 3.
This post contains three examples of one hexagram. Two by me and one by my good friend Andy.
I only started working on this blog on September 23, and writing good outcome stories takes time.
Although I have used the I Ching all my life and have two books published on the subject, I only began this systematic approach in 2022.
I am not a fortuneteller, and though I have many outcome tales myself, I only have a few from other people. If you would like to help me by making predictions under my direction and letting me know the outcome, that would be a great service. I will do this for free and making a prediction only takes a few minutes. We can use text, email, or video call. I am at your service!
You may contact me: afriendoverseas@protonmail.com.
