Hsiang: The Yarrow Oracle Depicted Graphically

The yarrow oracle method as related through Ta Chuan (the Great Treatise) is attributed to Kung-fu Tze. The querent begins with 50 (fifty) yarrow stalks and manipulates them in a prescribed and probabilistic manner until few remain.  This remainder may take on one of exactly four possible symbolic values, though the actual number of stalks may vary according the the precise form of the ritual.  The symbolic values are sometimes referred to as 'hsiang.'  Each manipulation of the stalks produces one line of a six-line figure commonly known as an hexagram.  Thus, six "randomly-generated" hsiang produce an hexagram.  Once generated, the querent references the scripture according to that hexagram.

In recent years, capable persons have employed mathematics to reduce the yarrow-stalk oracle to the raw probabilities it produces for each of the four types of lines that may obtain from a divination operation.  The following table is a description of those lines and their relative probability of occurrence in divination:

dynamic yin,   represented by '6' and symbol ⚏ ( 4 in 64 = 0.0625)

dynamic yang, represented by '9' and symbol ⚌ (12 in 64 = 0.1875)

static yang,     represented by '7' and symbol ⚎ (20 in 64 = 0.3125)

static yin,       represented by '8' and symbol ⚍ (28 in 64 = 0.4375)

The graphic depicted here shows the FuXi arrangement overlaid on a tableau of concentric squares, each discretely colored. This presentation is remarkable in that it explicitly encodes the yarrow oracle probabilities; i.e.  each ring comprises a specific proportion of the hexagrams as shown in the table above.

Xiang: Relating Pranayama (breathing meditation) to I Ching

Pranayama (Main article: Pranayama)

Pranayama is made out of two Sanskrit words (prana = life energy; yama = control or modification). Breathing is the medium used to achieve this goal. The mind and life force are correlated to the breath. Through regulating the breathing and practicing awareness on it, one learns to control prana.

According to Raja Yoga, there are three main types of pranayama:
purak (inhalation), rechak (exhalation), and kumbhak (holding the breath); which is further divided into:
antara kumbhak (withholding the breath after inhalation)
bahar kumbhak (withholding the breath after exhalation)
keval kumbhak (spontaneous withholding of the breath)

The four expressions below relate to the xiang of the I Ching/Taoist cultural tradition. The meanings and breath counts are presented. Circular breathing technique -- in through nose, out through mouth, or conversely -- is recommended. The circular breathing and varying counts are presumed to assist in bridling mental activity by fixing it to the breath. This exercise mimics the expansion/contraction cycle of the Universe at large as professed by the Vedic tradition.

The traditional associations of the first Two Powers are here presented
YIN: capaciousness, struction, form
YANG: creativity, action, function

(6) INHALATION -- DYNAMIC YIN
(8) (Hold to Fullness) -- STATIC YIN
(9) EXHALATION -- DYNAMIC YANG
(7) (Hold to Emptiness) -- STATIC YANG

The complete cycle is 30 counts, such that one may easily time or measure the duration of a meditation session using the fingers. A complete minute of 60 seconds could consist of one cycle of circular breathing by inhaling through the nose and out through the mouth, and a reciprocal cycle of inhalation through the mouth and exhaling through the nose. One may additionally employ mudra, asana, or mantra along with the breath meditation, thus making it a fully-fledged tantric exercise.