I Ching
Interpreted by wu wei

Phrasing Questions

You can ask yes or no questions, but there are better ways to phrase your questions. The I Ching does not contain a kua or a line that answers "Yes" or "No." But, if you ask a question that requires a yes or no answer such as, "Should I marry now?" and you receive as an answer the kua of "Strong Restraint," your answer would be clear. A more meaningful answer can be obtained if you ask, "What can I expect if I marry now?" Depending on your answer, you might then want to ask, "What can I expect if I marry later?" Intelligent, well thought out questions will be the most rewarding.
It is essential that you write out your questions. It will also be helpful if you write a little about the conditions surrounding your question. Here is an example of what you might write:
"The house we are renting is for sale. We would like to buy the house, but it would strain our resources to the limit. My husband has just taken a new job, and there is a small possibility that he will be transferred, which would necessitate our reselling the house. What can we expect if we buy the house now?"
By writing out the conditions surrounding your question, you will find that it is easier to formulate your question. Initially, you probably would think to ask whether you should buy the house now. Writing out the conditions surrounding your question makes it clear that you should also ask what you and your husband can expect if he is transferred, and if you do not want him to be transferred, he might ask, "What can I do to avoid being transferred?"
Using the I Ching gives you the awareness that you do not have to be pushed around willy-nilly by fate, that by taking the appropriate action you can determine your own fate.
Asking whether you will make a lot of money this year indicates that you are not in control. A better question is: "What can I do to increase my earnings this year?" Asking what action you should take to create a particular result is a always a good question and demonstrates your awareness that you can control your affairs.
Always write the date, the time, and your location at the top of the page on which you write your question for later reference. It will also be of great benefit to write the answer to your question on the same page as that upon which you wrote your question. Keep the papers in a binder or folder so that you can refer to them at a later time. By looking at your questions and answers occasionally, you will see how events turned out and how the answers applied. As the years go by, you will be able to look back and see what your concerns were at different times in your life, and whether they remained the same or changed