Understanding Oracles and the Signs and Signals of Spirit

by Robert Wilkinson

Often in my work I ask the I Ching to give a comment to a client about something. If you've worked with the I Ching, you know it can give some pretty strange answers that require some contemplation. How do we know what any sign or signal from Spirit is saying?

This article will not be an exhaustive study, but will introduce a few concepts that can help all to learn how to get clear about the signs and signals of Spirit, whether through the I Ching, the Tarot, or any other oracular method. It was inspired by a client who began to worry due to a comment by the I Ching about a period several months down the road. I have found this is a fairly common response when we are given hints or signals about unknowns in the near and distant future.

Whenever we get a signal about something that is unclear, the first thing is to stop worrying. That only distracts the focus from the need to learn. We learn through concentration, then meditation, then contemplating the whole. If we aren't clear about something, worry doesn't help us get clear.

Also remember that even if the signal seems to indicate something "bad," or "distressing," or "challenging" is going to present itself, we are Eternals learning certain realizations that we must apply in order to become skilled at responding to any and all human situations we confront throughout life in a physical vehicle. We learn through circumstances involving pleasure and pain so we can transcend being influenced by these. These teach us how to reference our Higher Self and Soul rather than respond through instinct, ignorance, "vain imaginings," buying into illusions, and other erroneous habits of the 5 senses and the mind.

I've found that the I Ching seems to assume that those who come to its "well of wisdom" are on some path that leads them to the Higher Self, or the "Path of the Superior Man" (or Woman, or Being) that it continually references. If it busts the lower self, it's only so that we are reminded of a better way. That's why dispassion is a key virtue when consulting anything that takes us into unknown zones. We must be somewhat detached and indifferent to the lower self and its assumptions if we would see clearly into future unknowns.

We are part of a greater web of Light/Life in which we move and live and have our Being. As our Highest Self is innately Loving, Wise, and Intelligent, then we have no need to worry or fret when we confront and/or move into the unknown zones that will help us grow in our mastery of life in human form. We are never separate from "All-That-Is," and as such can access a higher Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence any time we learn to get out of our own way.

One way to practice accessing a greater foreknowledge is to surrender the separate self with its fears and worries, and be willing to learn how to open to whatever it is that we desire to know. We all operate within the Laws of Magnetic Attraction, Synthesis, and Economy of Energy. That's why if you focus on what you're supposed to focus on in the Here and Now you eventually attune to a clear frequency that helps you resonate with "All-That-Is."

Then you're in a position to ask Spirit to send you a clear signal about whatever it is that you need to know. Demand the Revelation (or "Demonstration," as Florence Scovel Shinn puts it), and it will always come. Once we demand the Divine Demonstration or message, then it is up to us to pay attention and come to a greater realization about why that form came instead of any other message or demonstration, and how we can best respond to that prompting from Spirit.

Again, this requires a certain amount of concentration, focus and surrender of the mental tendency to generate mindsets that lead to fear and confusion. We learn how to antidote fear and confusion through practicing concentration, dispassion, detachment, and discrimination over time, not getting hung up when we don't do these perfectly, or read the signal perfectly.

It's all a learning exercise leading us to greater realizations and a greater ability to apply the truths and knowledge we acquire through practice. Then our skill puts us in situations where we can be a part of "corrective force of Nature Herself," and do our gifts perfectly within the greater Life.

© Copyright 2011 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Brenda Joy]

Bravo Robert! Spot on Perfect words as per usual. God Bless your path upon this Earth. You seem to be a Lighthouse shining your Light so that all other courageous travellers on this Journey may see clear their way through patches of darkness. I'm so glad you are here!
Brenda Joy.

[Jo Garceau]

Robert, I used the I Ching extensively for two years in the early 1980's, consulting it several times daily. Over that time, I came to the realization that the answer is always coming from one's Self...completely reflective of what one's deepest Self wants in a situation at the moment. The great wisdom of the I Ching is that we live in constant change and hence nothing is ever standing still. By the time, I reach 2 years from now, or any time in the future, for that matter, change will have changed the outcome. One can take a blessing from all this; nothing is ever so bad that it is going to remain forever. The same, of course, is true, of astrology, teaching us that the stars (and we) are always in transition. Whatever we are currently experiencing is going to change. I love your work, and thank you for the marvelous series on Mercury; it has been so very helpful in living with a huge transition. blessings. jo

[Valerie]

this article is a keeper. thanks as usual for your wisdom! :)

[H]

"That's why if you focus on what you're supposed to focus on in the Here and Now you eventually attune to a clear frequency that helps you resonate with "All-That-Is."
Soooo True.... Thanks Robert, you put me 'onto' the I Ching some years ago & i tap in from time to time, i have a wee ritual to centre self & always thank self & ALL for providing guidance..... Each & every time the reading i'm provided with is 'spot-on' tho sometimes requires some detached mulling over till the epiphany occurs :-) .... it always does...
Love & blessings for your ever wonderful gift & sharing it... :-)

[mina]

Dear Robert,

Thank you for your spirit that talks to me across the web, sending positive signals every time I read your articles.

I 've been victim of lacking focus my entire life , it's a continuous learning process to master.

I have mercuryRx-neptune 0 orb conjunction. I am gifted with imaginations but lack of focus to use them.

Much blessings

[Micheline]

This is a wonderful article as I have been playing around with some new apps on my iphone. Got the Mayan calendar stuff. I got a Goddes inspiration cards and Destiny cards. Very interesting stuff. Also, been learning about how to read regular playing cards or cartomancy. Very cool stuff.

Not easy. I agree with you on the idea that we need to take the time not to worry and read into it the wrong way but to sit with the reading and contemplate the meaning.

thanks again for your wonderful insight Robert!!!

kudos to you

[Nicolas]

Spot on! As I have learn from recent experience your out look on the understanding of Symbols and Oracles is to the point. While fear might be a natural reaction, it is not the path for understanding or growth. It must be overcome and maybe, that is the whole message behind the symbol or oracle we are consulting!

Blessing be and good follow up on your client's concerns.