Two main ways have survived the test of time for consulting the I Ching: the quick-and-easy coin method and the slow-burning, ritual-rich yarrow-stalk approach.

Coins
• What’s needed: three identical coins (ancient Chinese cash coins if looking for authenticity, but any three similar coins will do).
• How it works: Each toss yields one line. Heads and tails combine into yang (solid) or yin (broken) lines. For example, two heads + one tail = yang; two tails + one head = yin. Toss six times, bottom to top, to build the hexagram.
• Why it sticks: Ideal for modern life—no fuss, no muss. Perfect for a quick check-in before a Zoom call or as a mental “time-out” during a busy day. Apps and TikTok tutorials have popularized it, turning coin-toss divination into something almost as casual as scrolling social media.

Yarrow Stalks
• What’s needed: fifty stalks of dried yarrow. One stalk gets set aside, leaving forty-nine.
• How it works: Through a series of divisions and counts—three piles, regrouping, counting off by fours—each round produces one line. Repeat six times. The arithmetic may sound daunting, but that very ritual slows the mind, creating a meditative space.
• Why it endures: There’s a tangible magic in handling the stalks—fingertips brushing the plant that’s been revered for millennia. It’s a built-in mindfulness practice, grounding the diviner in deep ritual.

Comparing the Two
• Speed vs. Depth: Coins are like ordering takeout—fast and satisfying. Yarrow stalks are more like a slow-cooked stew, rich with layers.
• Accessibility vs. Authenticity: Coins are wallet-friendly and portable. Yarrow requires sourcing and a bit of ceremony.
• Modern Twist: Some practitioners mix both methods—using coins for everyday queries and reserving stalks for life’s big crossroads.

Whether tapping coins on a tabletop or sorting stalks by candlelight, both paths weave intention, chance, and ancient wisdom into a living tradition—proof that sometimes the old ways still know best.