by
192 pages paperback
B&W illustrations
217 x 135mm
November 2002
Rider Books
Traditionally devised more than 5,000 years ago, the Early Heaven teachings are as fresh and meaningful today as they were in antiquity.
The Chinese, like people in almost all societies, are keenly interested in foretelling the future and learning about the hidden complexities of any situation. They have kept alive the tradition of the Yi Jing (I Ching), which is now one of the most famous divination systems in the West, for some three thousand years. Yet the Yi Jing actually belongs to the Later Heaven school of thought.
The Early Heaven Oracle is a self-contained system of divination based on Early Heaven lore, but it also tells the story of the Early / Later Heaven split, and is an introduction to the Early Heaven system itself. Inevitably, The Early Heaven Oracle challenges the validity of the Later Heaven system, and proposes a rethink of the standing of both the Yi Jing and the Western brand of Later Heaven Feng Shui.
Despite the great differences between Early Heaven and Later Heaven (the Feng Shui that recently swept through the Western world is, for instance, a Later Heaven brand), I am keen to avoid any sectarian division, and point out that the two systems have managed to co-exist in China for millennia. Far from trying to replace Later Heaven with its precursor, I am seeking to bring a balance to Western perceptions of oriental beliefs. If, along the way, I can encourage due respect for Fu Xi, the legendary founder of the Early Heaven system, so much the better.
The text, illustrated with line drawings, introduces Western readers to this ancient yet eternally fresh oriental teaching, and describes how to use it as a practical and versatile oracle.
The material in this book has been extrapolated from the fragments of Early Heaven lore that have survived the passage of five millennia, but this reconstruction of a viable method of divination has been undertaken with scrupulous reference to and regard for the original legacy. Fortunately, Early Heaven is a logical as well as a poetic system and I have been able to interpolate many ideas and practices only hinted at by surviving Chinese sources.
The Oracle provides a means of arriving at one of 32 basic answers or meanings, plus an automatic possibility of a further exploration of your question. Although this Oracle looks similar to the Yi Jing the resemblance is purely superficial: the Yi Jing is a creation of the Later Heaven system, which completely overturned the natural simplicity of its forebear.
The Early Heaven Oracle provides a valuable and effective alternative for people who have tried Later Heaven divination yet been disappointed with the results. The Early Heaven system is also simpler to use and easier to understand.
Early Heaven seeks to promote harmony with nature, serenity, stability, and inner strength by working with life's fundamental forces (symbolised by Yin and Yang) that, while constantly changing, are always balanced in the grand scheme of things. It has much to offer us, particularly when we suffer fatigue and anxiety, or feel alienated from nature and divorced from the real meaning of life.
The Early Heaven Oracle offers profound insights into destiny and fortune, and helps us all to explore the mysteries of fate and the secret of living life to the full.
"Deeply impressive,
for both the scholarship and the author's obvious wisdom
and deep understanding of the spiritual."
Bob Mann
Click image
for further Early Heaven information.
Introduction - A brief overview of what the Oracle can offer, and how the book is organised.
The Yin of History - The story of how the Early Heaven system was discovered and developed, and how the Later Heaven system came to be dominant. Discursive exploration of yin and yang, showing how this simple binary formula can unlock the complexities of modern life.
The Yang of Preparation - A detailed assessment of the Oracle including how it can become your personal counsellor, and how it can help you explore your subconscious and develop true clairvoyance. Information on the theoretical mechanisms governing divination (including C G Jung's milestone investigation into synchronicity) is also provided.
The Tao of Divining - Details of the best techniques for preparing your surroundings and yourself for the act of consulting the Oracle. Includes complete instructions on how to use this sophisticated yet straightforward system of divination.
Interpretations - Comprehensive divinatory meanings.
The Power of the Oracle - Topics covered here include problem solving, guided visualisation, tapping into your subconscious, magic, and Feng Shui. By gaining an advanced understanding of the way the Oracle works, you can discover how it can be used to bring the course of destiny closer to the heart's desire.
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Text & design © 2002 - 2007 Ken Taylor
Book illustrations courtesy of Rider Books
