{"id":14068,"date":"2018-04-01T01:10:32","date_gmt":"2018-04-01T06:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=17588"},"modified":"2018-03-26T13:25:47","modified_gmt":"2018-03-26T18:25:47","slug":"book-review-secrets-of-chinese-divination-a-beginners-guide-to-11-oracle-systems-by-sasha-fenton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2018\/04\/01\/book-review-secrets-of-chinese-divination-a-beginners-guide-to-11-oracle-systems-by-sasha-fenton\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review – Secrets of Chinese Divination: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to 11 Oracle Systems by Sasha Fenton"},"content":{"rendered":"

Review of Sasha Fenton\u2019s Secrets of Chinese divination: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to 11 Oracle Systems<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As readers of this column know, I have been a fan of Sasha Fenton\u2019s for years so it was with great delight that I opened this new (to me) book about Chinese divination. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Just under an inch in thickness, this richly colored volume is filled with the wisdom of the ages. As Fenton explains in the first chapter, there are links between the various divinations \u2013 they share common ideas, such as the \u201croot concepts\u201d of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements (page 2). In addition to this, many of the major divination systems cross-reference each other in many ways. As I read the book, I would become confused and have to refer back to this or that chapter and refresh my memory \u2013 sometimes I would have to skip ahead to some other chapter to find some other reference! But as the Buddha said: \u201cConfusion is good!\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The first divination system Fenton covers is the Ming Shu or what we know as Chinese Astrology. If you are aware that you are born in the year of the Horse or the year of the Rabbit, then you know a little about this complicated system. And it is complicated! If it was just a question of the year you were born and whether you were born in a Yang (Active) Year or Yin (Receptive) Year and the Element of your year \u2013 that would be enough. For instance, I was born in 1960 \u2013 that makes me an Active Metal Rat. In general, Rats are intelligent, tenacious, artistic and they hate to be rushed \u2013 much like the Taurus sign under which I am also born. A Metal Rat is \u201cidealistic, deeply emotional, clever with money\u2026they suffer from jealousy and envy.\u201d (page 16) She continues to explore the influences of the elements. Metal Rat women are \u201cvery demanding. They pursue the man they fancy, and the guy must toe the line or suffer the consequences.\u201d (page 52). And how! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fenton says there are ways to forecast with Chinese Astrology, but again, it\u2019s a different concept than how it\u2019s done in the West. There are \u201cActive\u201d years, \u201cHarmonious\u201d years, and \u201cDifficult\u201d years, and these depend on the element of your sign as opposed to your animal. So as a Metal person, I am active in Metal year. My harmonious years are Earth and Waters years. Alas! This year, 2018, is a difficult year \u2013 it is a wood year! Fire years are also difficult for Metal people. But I would imagine that going through fire would make metal stronger, wouldn\u2019t it? Like molten steel? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This chapter is filled with charts and lists, all designed to help the beginner diviner become adept at drawing up a horoscope for her- or himself or for anyone. If you take your time and read carefully, any confusion you may have will soon be gone. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The next chapter is about Face Reading. This was quite interesting. I liked the concept of the \u201cThree Zones\u201d of the face, as well as the \u201cThirteen Divisions\u201d. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Each zone and each division of the face has a name and a meaning \u2013 as well as the eyes, the nose, the jaw, the ears, the forehead \u2013 every part of the face! I have admit, though \u2013 as I was reading this chapter \u2013 it seemed to me that much of the information here was medical in nature. The meaning of moles and brown spots on the skin and yellow eyes and so on. But \u2013 in the East as in the West \u2013 the witches in any village were the original doctors, so this makes sense. You’d find divination was often just medical advice. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter Five is about Feng Shui, which I personally never thought was about divination. But if you want to create harmony and balance so that you are able to properly meditate and use your divinatory gifts, Feng Shui is all-important. One thing I read that I hadn\u2019t heard before was: \u201ca straight path that leads directly to the front door is simply asking for bad spirits to zoom in.\u201d I had never thought of that before. This is not an issue where I now live but if it is an issue where you live, Fenton suggests breaking up the path with some tubs of plants that tumble over the path \u2013 anything that breaks up the straight line. (page 80).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The next chapter is about Hand Reading. Fenton reports that the Chinese categorize types of hands by element. Apparently, they also link it to the I-Ching, as seen by this diagram:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

In her explanation of each section of the hand, she links back to Western hand interpretation but that really doesn\u2019t make much sense to the reader, unless they\u2019re already acquainted with Western Palmistry. Looking at the diagrams of both systems, I personally think the Chinese system is much simpler and easier to use. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Quite naturally, a chapter about the I-Ching follows the chapter about Hand Reading. I have written about the I-Ching before \u2013 it is one of my favorite methods of divination and I use it quite often. I throw pennies, as opposed to yarrow sticks (I always have pennies on hand). I like the simplicity of her explanations of the trigrams \u2013 I think I will be using this book as a reference the next time I throw the I-Ching. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Next comes a chapter called the Lunar Oracle. I am not sure at all if this is any use at all. But at the end she mentions that the Lunar Oracle \u201cseems to show particularly strong links to the Tarot\u201d although she personally \u201cwould opt for ancient Egypt\u201d as the source of the Tarot (page 151). I have to add my own two cents \u2013 given the names of the days of the Oracle \u2013 they could easily be an influence for the Lenormand as well! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter Nine is entitled Mah Jong Reading. As someone who has played numerous games of \u201cMah Jong Solitaire\u201d on my I-Phone, I was instantly curious to know how Mah Jong could be used in a divinatory fashion. But of course \u2013 the tiles have suits, just like cards, and those suits have meaning. There are also \u201cHonors\u201d tiles \u2013 Winds, corresponding to the four directions, and Dragons, also four in number \u2013 and the Guardians \u2013 Flowers and Seasons \u2013 also four apiece. Like the Tarot, you think of a question as you shuffled the tiles and then you pick out thirteen tiles. You place them into a spread:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Naturally, each direction has a meaning and which tiles land on which direction determines the outcome of the reading. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is <\/span>really <\/i><\/span>interesting and I am <\/span>definitely <\/i><\/span>going to look for a Mah Jong set so I can actually do a reading and report back to all of you about this. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The next divinatory system she reviews is called The Four Pillars of Destiny and she admits that it is so complicated that she didn\u2019t think she could \u201conly get it across in person\u201d but she included it in the book because a book about Chinese divination wouldn\u2019t be complete without it. (pages 169-70). I read through this chapter and I have to admit that it made absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. I knew what the basic concepts were about but that was IT. It made me think of that first day in calculus and opening up the text book and seeing all those numbers and letters and symbols and knowing that I knew what they were \u2013 because I\u2019d had algebra and trig \u2013 but beyond that, I was lost. The Four Pillars of Destiny are just like that. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lo Shu is a numerology system based on the magic square. It\u2019s also known as the Nine Star Ki but apparently that name is Japanese. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Like so many of the Chinese divinatory systems, this looks easy at first but then it opens up into a roomful of mirrors and suddenly \u2013 it\u2019s all confusion. I have to say \u2013 this chapter \u2013 like the Mah Jong chapter \u2013 deserves a posting all of its own. I am going to definitely look into finding out more about this system of divination. Just for my own edification! But of course \u2013 whatever I find out, I will share with you! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Weighing the Bones is something completely different. I am not even sure where the name comes from. It has nothing to do with bones or weight. You have to look up your date of birth \u2013 year, month, day and time \u2013 on a series of charts and then add up the corresponding numbers. Mine all added up to a \u201c3\u201d which meant \u201cA life a hard work and much travel\u201d (page 219). Well \u2013 I can\u2019t argue with that!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The last chapter is called The Chien Tung: Yarrow Stick divination and I always thought that yarrow sticks were used for the I-Ching \u2013 you used yarrow sticks or you used coins. But although Fenton concedes that yarrow sticks are used in I-Ching divination, she says she would \u201clike to take yarrow stick divination into a unique direction\u201d \u2013 she suggests connecting Yarrow Stick divination and the Tarot. For this, of course, you have to have seventy-eight sticks, numbered 1 to 78, each one meaning a card of the Tarot. There\u2019s a chart for the correspondences:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Personally, I think this is a stretch. Ok \u2013 on one hand, I admit it\u2019s cool, connecting the two divinatory systems \u2013 but on the other hand, the whole point of Tarot cards are the <\/span>pictures <\/i><\/span>on the cards. What are you supposed to do here \u2013 <\/span>imagine <\/i><\/span>the picture? Or just be so adept at the Tarot that you just know the concept when you draw the yarrow stick or sticks? Honestly \u2013 it really doesn\u2019t make all that much sense to me. But to each their own!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At the very end of the book, there is a glossary.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

All in all, I think <\/span>Secrets of Chinese divination: a Beginner\u2019s Guide to 11 Ancient Oracle Systems<\/u><\/span> is a very fine book and I am glad to own it. I plan to use it quite often and I guarantee you that some of the topics reviewed here today we will be revisiting in the near future! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Until next month, happy divining! Brightest Blessings!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Click Image for Amazon Information<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>\"\"<\/p>\n

References<\/u><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Fenton, Sasha. <\/span>Secrets of Chinese divination: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to 11 Ancient Oracle Systems<\/u><\/span>. Charlottesville, Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., 2003, 2018. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

About the Author:<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Polly MacDavid<\/b>\u00a0lives in Buffalo, New York at the moment but that could easily change, since she is a gypsy at heart. Like a gypsy, she is attracted to the divinatory arts, as well as camp fires and dancing barefoot. She has three cats who all help her with her magic.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Her philosophy about religion and magic is that it must be thoroughly based in science and logic. She is Dianic Wiccan and she is solitary.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>She blogs at\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>silverapplequeen.wordpress.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. She writes about general life, politics and poetry. She is writing a novel about sex, drugs and recovery.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Review of Sasha Fenton\u2019s Secrets of Chinese divination: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to 11 Oracle Systems As readers of this column know, I have been a fan of Sasha Fenton\u2019s for years so it was with great delight that I opened this new (to me) book about Chinese divination. Just under an inch in thickness, this richly colored volume is filled with the wisdom of the ages. As Fenton explains in the first chapter, there are links between the various divinations \u2013 they share common ideas, such as the \u201croot concepts\u201d of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements (page 2). In addition to this, many of the major divination systems cross-reference each other in many ways. As I read the book, I would become confused and have to refer back to this or that chapter and refresh my memory \u2013 sometimes I would have to skip ahead to some other chapter to find some other reference! But as the Buddha said: \u201cConfusion is good!\u201d The first divination system Fenton covers is the Ming Shu or what we know as Chinese Astrology. If you are aware that you are born in the year of the Horse or the year of the Rabbit, then you know a little about this complicated system. And it is complicated! If it was just a question of the year you were born and whether you were born in a Yang (Active) Year or Yin (Receptive) Year and the Element of your year \u2013 that would be enough. For instance, I was born in 1960 \u2013 that makes me an Active Metal Rat. In general, Rats are intelligent, tenacious, artistic and they hate to be rushed \u2013 much like the Taurus sign under which I am also born. A Metal Rat is \u201cidealistic, deeply emotional, clever with money\u2026they suffer from jealousy and envy.\u201d (page 16) She continues to explore the influences of the elements. Metal Rat women are \u201cvery demanding. They pursue the man they fancy, and the guy must toe the line or suffer the consequences.\u201d (page 52). And how! Fenton says there are ways to forecast with Chinese Astrology, but again, it\u2019s a different concept than how it\u2019s done in the West. There are \u201cActive\u201d years, \u201cHarmonious\u201d years, and \u201cDifficult\u201d years, and these depend on the element of your sign as opposed to your animal. So as a Metal person, I am active in Metal year. My harmonious years are Earth and Waters years. Alas! This year, 2018, is a difficult year \u2013 it is a wood year! Fire years are also difficult for Metal people. But I would imagine that going through fire would make metal stronger, wouldn\u2019t it? Like molten steel? This chapter is filled with charts and lists, all designed to help the beginner diviner become adept at drawing up a horoscope for her- or himself or for anyone. If you take your time and read carefully, any confusion you may have will soon be gone. The next chapter is about Face Reading. This was quite interesting. I liked the concept of the \u201cThree Zones\u201d of the face, as well as the \u201cThirteen Divisions\u201d. Each zone and each division of the face has a name and a meaning \u2013 as well as the eyes, the nose, the jaw, the ears, the forehead \u2013 every part of the face! I have admit, though \u2013 as I was reading this chapter \u2013 it seemed to me that much of the information here was medical in nature. The meaning of moles and brown spots on the skin and yellow eyes and so on. But \u2013 in the East as in the West \u2013 the witches in any village were the original doctors, so this makes sense. You’d find divination was often just medical advice. Chapter Five is about Feng Shui, which I personally never thought was about divination. But if you want to create harmony and balance so that you are able to properly meditate and use your divinatory gifts, Feng Shui is all-important. One thing I read that I hadn\u2019t heard before was: \u201ca straight path that leads directly to the front door is simply asking for bad spirits to zoom in.\u201d I had never thought of that before. This is not an issue where I now live but if it is an issue where you live, Fenton suggests breaking up the path with some tubs of plants that tumble over the path \u2013 anything that breaks up the straight line. (page 80). The next chapter is about Hand Reading. Fenton reports that the Chinese categorize types of hands by element. Apparently, they also link it to the I-Ching, as seen by this diagram: In her explanation of each section of the hand, she links back to Western hand interpretation but that really doesn\u2019t make much sense to the reader, unless they\u2019re already acquainted with Western Palmistry. Looking at the diagrams of both systems, I personally think the Chinese system is much simpler and easier to use. Quite naturally, a chapter about the I-Ching follows the chapter about Hand Reading. I have written about the I-Ching before \u2013 it is one of my favorite methods of divination and I use it quite often. I throw pennies, as opposed to yarrow sticks (I always have pennies on hand). I like the simplicity of her explanations of the trigrams \u2013 I think I will be using this book as a reference the next time I throw the I-Ching. Next comes a chapter called the Lunar Oracle. I am not sure at all if this is any use at all. But at the end she mentions that the Lunar Oracle \u201cseems to show particularly strong links to the Tarot\u201d although she personally \u201cwould opt for ancient Egypt\u201d as the source of the Tarot (page 151). I have to add my own two cents \u2013 given the names of the days of the Oracle \u2013 they could easily be an influence for the Lenormand as well! Chapter Nine is entitled Mah Jong Reading. As someone who has played numerous games of \u201cMah Jong Solitaire\u201d on my I-Phone, I was instantly curious to know how Mah Jong could be used in a divinatory fashion. But of course \u2013 the tiles have suits, just like cards, and those suits have meaning. There are also \u201cHonors\u201d tiles \u2013 Winds, corresponding to the four directions, and Dragons, also four in number \u2013 and the Guardians \u2013 Flowers and Seasons \u2013 also four apiece. Like the Tarot, you think of a question as you shuffled the tiles and then you pick out thirteen tiles. You place them into a spread: Naturally, each direction has a meaning and which tiles land on which direction determines the outcome of the reading. This is really interesting and I am definitely going to look for a Mah Jong set so I can actually do a reading and report back to all of you about this. The next divinatory system she reviews is called The Four Pillars of Destiny and she admits that it is so complicated that she didn\u2019t think she could \u201conly get it across in person\u201d but she included it in the book because a book about Chinese divination wouldn\u2019t be complete without it. (pages 169-70). I read through this chapter and I have to admit that it made absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. I knew what the basic concepts were about but that was IT. It made me think of that first day in calculus and opening up the text book and seeing all those numbers and letters and symbols and knowing that I knew what they were \u2013 because I\u2019d had algebra and trig \u2013 but beyond that, I was lost. The Four Pillars of Destiny are just like that. Lo Shu is a numerology system based on the magic square. It\u2019s also known as the Nine Star Ki but apparently that name is Japanese. Like so many of the Chinese divinatory systems, this looks easy at first but then it opens up into a roomful of mirrors and suddenly \u2013 it\u2019s all confusion. I have to say \u2013 this chapter \u2013 like the Mah Jong chapter \u2013 deserves a posting all of its own. I am going to definitely look into finding out more about this system of divination. Just for my own edification! But of course \u2013 whatever I find out, I will share with you! Weighing the Bones is something completely different. I am not even sure where the name comes from. It has nothing to do with bones or weight. You have to look up your date of birth \u2013 year, month, day and time \u2013 on a series of charts and then add up the corresponding numbers. Mine all added up to a \u201c3\u201d which meant \u201cA life a hard work and much travel\u201d (page 219). Well \u2013 I can\u2019t argue with that! The last chapter is called The Chien Tung: Yarrow Stick divination and I always thought that yarrow sticks were used for the I-Ching \u2013 you used yarrow sticks or you used coins. But although Fenton concedes that yarrow sticks are used in I-Ching divination, she says she would \u201clike to take yarrow stick divination into a unique direction\u201d \u2013 she suggests connecting Yarrow Stick divination and the Tarot. For this, of course, you have to have seventy-eight sticks, numbered 1 to 78, each one meaning a card of the Tarot. There\u2019s a chart for the correspondences: Personally, I think this is a stretch. Ok \u2013 on one hand, I admit it\u2019s cool, connecting the two divinatory systems \u2013 but on the other hand, the whole point of Tarot cards are the pictures on the cards. What are you supposed to do here \u2013 imagine the picture? Or just be so adept at the Tarot that you just know the concept when you draw the yarrow stick or sticks? Honestly \u2013 it really doesn\u2019t make all that much sense to me. But to each their own! At the very end of the book, there is a glossary. All in all, I think Secrets of Chinese divination: a Beginner\u2019s Guide to 11 Ancient Oracle Systems is a very fine book and I am glad to own it. I plan to use it quite often and I guarantee you that some of the topics reviewed here today we will be revisiting in the near future! Until next month, happy divining! Brightest Blessings! Click Image for Amazon Information References Fenton, Sasha. Secrets of Chinese divination: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to 11 Ancient Oracle Systems. Charlottesville, Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., 2003, 2018. *** About the Author: Polly MacDavid\u00a0lives in Buffalo, New York at the moment but that could easily change, since she is a gypsy at heart. Like a gypsy, she is attracted to the divinatory arts, as well as camp fires and dancing barefoot. She has three cats who all help her with her magic. Her philosophy about religion and magic is that it must be thoroughly based in science and logic. She is Dianic Wiccan and she is solitary. She blogs at\u00a0silverapplequeen.wordpress.com. She writes about general life, politics and poetry. She is writing a novel about sex, drugs and recovery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/197"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14068\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}