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he
TaoDeck
is a new invention that expresses the wisdom of the current era. While
the time honored methods of consulting the I-Ching are valid and beneficial,
this modern methodology brings a new dimension to the experience, making
it more personal and intuitive.
The
TaoDeck
is another attempt to bring the Tao and the I-Ching into the lives of
modern people.
At this time in history, a
significant amount of modern people live in
urban centers, divorced from the ebb and flow of the natural world. Many
never see a true
night sky, or feel the earth in their hands and feet. Awareness
of the cycles and patterns of nature is of minor importance. The sky,
stars, spirit, the earth, body and soul, all have been lost in commercial
media. Even food is
becoming increasingly manipulated and modified. A
sea on unknown chemicals, pollutants and energy fields
surrounds and inter-penetrates life. The primal connection to the world
of nature is broken and the ability to find inner essence is obscured.
More than ever,
with
the modern capacity for destruction and permanent loss, more ways are
needed to help find inner truth and clarity of direction. The
TaoDeck
can be one way to re-connect with the inner and outer realms of Reality.
By having
images of primal forces to work
with both visually and intuitively, the Deck provides a technique to find
the deeper meaning in events. The
hidden cycles and patterns of Life can be more easily understood and adapted
to.
The
idea for the TaoDeck
started in 1989. While contemplating the interaction of I-Ching ideas
with that of Chinese Medicine (wondering how to diagnose the body in the
form of a Hexagram), Stephen
Schachter
reasoned that determining the individual yin or
yang Lines were the most important part of getting the Hexagrams. Since
the Lines had 4 possible number values of 6,7,8 or 9, the key was to find
the lines or their numbers. When the 2 Line Duograms, which have the same
number values, were considered, the whole system suddenly came into focus.
The first prototype decks were crudely made and shared with friends
and associates, but did not develop further. Over the next 10 years the
TaoDeck
continued
to be thought about, always with the idea of producing a deck of cards
worthy of the venerable tradition while offering a unique and simple method
for approaching the drawing of a Hexagram.
Finally
in late 2000, Steve sat down with the artist Paul
Guess until he “got it” and decided to take on the challenge
of the designs and the general creative side of the project.
Throughout
the site further details are available about all aspects of this new publication
and we invite you to follow links to explore various aspects of I-Ching
history, the card's design, and the methods
of use,
Click
HERE to follow the story of the cards designs
and the unique possibilities that have been discovered.
