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There are countless ways to cast a hexagram. The most popular method is with just three coins. The assignment of numbers, binary or decimal, to specific hexagrams is a modern invention.

Some people prefer to use three Chinese coins, but any three identical coins will do. Throw the three coins together. Each head counts three; each tail counts two. (Or the other way round, if you prefer - there is no 'right way'.)Add up the result - it will be 6, 7, 8 or 9. For example, head (3) plus head (3) plus tail (2) makes 8. The primary hexagram is the hexagram you cast. This is the key to your answer.

Write down the line you received: it's the first line of your hexagram, which is the one at the bottom. Hexagrams are like plants: they grow from the ground up. Repeat the same process five more times, working from the bottom up to the sixth and last line. Now you've written down your primary hexagram. This is the basis of the whole answer: there's no more casting to be done.

PHOTO: COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG