Modernising the I Ching: Balancing Ancient Wisdom with Today’s Digital World

28 December 2024 12:01 am Views - 14

Is the spiritual guidance and wisdom from the I Ching, the ancient Chinese divination text, also known as the Book of Changes, still relevant today? We ask experts Erik Schön, Sandra Constantine, and Will Buckingham to weigh in.

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, has been a trusted guide for thousands of years, offering insights and guidance through its 64 hexagrams. Today, as we embrace smartphones, apps, and digital tools, this ancient text is finding a new place in our lives. The big question is: how do we modernise something so rooted in tradition without losing what makes it special?

Interestingly, a recent report by Springtide Research Institute found that 51% of Americans aged between 13 and 25 regularly engage in “tarot cards or fortune-telling”. Additionally, a study by Grand View Research suggests the global spiritual wellness apps market size was estimated at USD 1.91 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.4% from 2024 to 2030. This trend reflects a growing appetite for tools that combine introspection with modern convenience. However, the challenge lies in making it accessible to modern audiences while respecting its depth and origins.

For centuries, the I Ching’s rituals, casting coins or using yarrow stalks, were a big part of the experience. But for someone new to the practice that can be intimidating. Erik Schön, author of The Art of Change, wanted to change that. “The way I did it, I skipped the coins because that was too complex for me... So, I thought… How can we do this in another way to reduce that potential threshold?” he says, adding, “[I thought] let’s look at the 64 chapters or sections or verses and give them names that could potentially help people to identify, you know, one or two or three maximum… [the states] that are relevant to their current circumstances. And then they can read those chapters and then get those six questions per chapter to make them reflect on their situation. So that’s another approach.” Schön’s method simplifies the I Ching without taking away its purpose: guiding people through life’s uncertainties by helping them ask the right questions.

Sandra Constantine, co-founder of the Show and Tell Academy, has taken I Ching into the digital age by creating apps that generate hexagrams. It’s a way to make the practice more accessible, but she’s quick to point out that technology isn’t the answer. “Apps can simplify the process of generating hexagrams, but the interpretation still needs human insight,” she says. Sandra adds that while apps can give you the “what”, they still can’t offer the “why”. “Apps can make it simpler for you, but for divinations or representations, you need to still put your heart into it. So that’s why I said that with the rise of the digital and data-driven world, Show and Tell can give you the apps, but we cannot give you all the technical answers. IT (Information Technology) is good, but [we] still need the human touch.”

Will Buckingham, a novelist, a philosopher, describes the I Ching as a tool, not something to just study but something to use in our everyday lives. “I think it depends on the tool or the app. But the I Ching itself is a tool, and throughout history has been used as a tool. But it’s possible to use tools, without really understanding much about their origins, or their inner workings. I’m typing this on my MacBook. I have no idea how it works, but as a tool, I can use it just fine.”

The digitisation of the I Ching reflects a broader trend of integrating ancient wisdom with modern technology. While some fear that simplification may dilute the text’s depth, practitioners like Schön and Constantine see it as an opportunity to introduce the I Ching to new audiences. Buckingham suggests that the process of reinvention is itself a reflection of I Ching’s philosophy. “Some digital I Ching tools may be like this: they may be fun and engaging, without necessarily going that much deeper. But they may still have their value. Other tools may be more substantial, and more connected to one or another of the many traditions of the I Ching. But in this world, there’s a place for both depth and shallowness. And perhaps, in the end, if there is no single essence of the I Ching, then we don’t need to worry this essence can or will be diluted.” he notes, arguing that even simplified tools can serve as entry points for deeper exploration.

Whether you’re flipping coins, scrolling through an app, or reflecting on its questions, the I Ching continues to help people navigate life’s complexities. The key to its future lies in finding a balance: preserving its wisdom while meeting people where they are today.

As Schön, Constantine, and Buckingham show us, modernisation doesn’t have to mean oversimplification. It’s about making the I Ching accessible through relevant and practical tips, for the fast-paced, tech-driven world we live in, without compromising on its essence.