by
| Published by: | Rider Books |
| Publication date: | Nov 2002 |
| ISBN 0 7126 5405 4 | 192pp |
| 217 x 135 Paperback | £8.99 |
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. The Yi Jing belongs to the Later Heaven school of thought, and its relationship to Early Heaven lore is the subject of some controversy, with some authorities viewing the terms Early and Later as metaphorical and contemporary with each other, rather than temporal and separated by some two thousand years.
This is a self-contained system of divination inspired by Early Heaven lore. The book also tells the traditional story of the divorce between Early Heaven and Later Heaven, and offers a brief introduction to the Early Heaven system founded, according to legend, by Fu Xi. Although The Early Heaven Oracle challenges the assumed 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, this Oracle was originally intended to be nothing more than an appendix to a book that fully explored the philosophy of Early Heaven and its Feng Shui applications. The publisher Rider Books asked for my project to be split into three books, and they published the Oracle first. Regretably, when the Feng Shui bubble burst, the two other books were dropped from the publication schedule.
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. Although Early Heaven has been largely ignored, and much original material has no doubt been irrecoverably lost, it is a logical as well as a poetic system, and I found myself able to interpolate many ideas and practices only hinted at by surviving Chinese sources.
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, the 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 superficial: the Yi Jing is a creation of the Later Heaven system, which completely overturned the natural simplicity of its forebear. This Oracle provides a valuable and effective alternative for people who have tried Later Heaven divination yet been disappointed with the results.
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
Chapters include...
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, Feng Shui, and the astronomical key to time management. 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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© Ken Taylor 2002 - 2008
Illustrations courtesy of Rider Books