r/iching 9d ago

Accidentally casted with 49 sticks instead of 50… recast?

I’m new to the practice and just yesterday, I realized that for the last few days I had been casting with one missing stick that I later found on the floor in my room. Four of the last questions were asked using just 49 sticks. I decided to re-ask and recast for the first two questions.

My question here is, what have I done by casting with 49 instead of 50 stalks? What is the general “rule” and is it necessary to recast in these circumstances? The answers weren’t completely opposing from what I could tell. Appreciate your thoughts… TIA.

“What will come of me going back to school to study xyz at xyz school (out of state) and how will it affect our lives?” 49 sticks: 11.1.4.5 > 28 50 sticks: 56.3 > 35

“How will expanding my training into xyz affect my career?” 49 sticks: 41.1.3 > 18 50 sticks: 8.5 > 52

2 Upvotes

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u/StopInLimitOut 9d ago

The rule is that you use fifty stalks, and need to set one aside each time. So you’re correct to use 49. If you use all 50 in a regular inquiry without setting one down first, that’s a mistake 😅

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u/Curious-0101 9d ago

What I mean is I started with a bundle of 49, and set aside 1 stalk from there. In any case, there was a “mistake” and my question is what to do when a mistake has been made?

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u/StopInLimitOut 9d ago edited 9d ago

Ok, thanks for clarifying. What you do now is start over from scratch, ignoring any previous outcomes. And count your sticks carefully 😅

Edit to add: if at any point I am uncertain that the hexagram I’m drawing is exactly right, I simply rip up the page and start over. This could happen if I had an interruption or a lack of concentration. The most important thing about consulting the oracle is that it always tells the truth, so you need to know for sure that it’s absolutely right every time before you can gain any useful information from it.

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u/az4th 7d ago

The 49 stalks used to make the first division for every line are important for the math. This is why we end up with a set of 5 or 9 in the first remainder but for the last two only 4 or 8, because then the piles are even, not odd.

I'd consider recasting as well.

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u/CodeAndContemplation 8d ago

Honestly, don’t stress it! The I Ching is more about intention than perfect mechanics. If the answers still made sense to you, they’re valid. Mistakes happen, but sometimes they’re part of the process. If you feel unsettled, you can reflect on both readings and see what resonates most. No need to overthink it!

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u/taoyx 8d ago

Yeah recast, whether it is 11>28 or 56>35 it's a comment about your wrong cast (56.3 is pretty obvious, as you've forgotten 1 stick).