Customer Reviews

Guide to the I Ching

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The I Ching has been in my life since I was nineteen. I am now four-four. My interest has not waned. But since I have read C.K.Anthony's books, ( only a year ago ) what I had only felt obscurely, like swimming under water, has been put into words. The author has not only written efficiently but has expressed a deep personnal commitment. As if she had blended two opposites : a personnal truth and the contact with the outside world. Bravo to Carol K. Anthony.

After comparing at least seven or more 'guides to the i ching' over a period of 10+ years, I have found this to be the best. While other books tend to look at other beings in a negative light when translating some of the i ching hexagrams, this book cautions the reader to look at their own inferior qualities.

Other books seem to have explanations that will make the student feel better, this book has translations that are less pleasing, but perhaps more honest. I look at this translation as an introduction to physics of the spirit.

This book is an outstanding place to begin work with the I Ching. Especially compared with direct translations. I don't know about you, but I'm not familiar enough with Chinese symbolism to understand what "four horses grazing in the meadow; there is no blame" means. Fortunately for those of us similarly afflicted, Carol Anthony and Wilhelm/Baynes have done the hard work for us.

This is by far one of the best books that I have purchased on the subject of the I-Ching. Its translations are quite extensive and give in-depth interpretations of the hexigrams and changing lines. If you buy this book, be prepared to read its translations with patience. I am currently a newer student of the I-Ching and have to really sit in quiet and prepare for long contemplation of the readings. It is well worth the time and effort. I highly recommend this book, but also purchase a book with less detailed interpretations to augment this incredible piece.

First off, I want to state that, when I first began doing I Ching readings, I referred to this book (and this book only, actually). This was the book that was recommended by my Acupuncture teacher. I, initially, found it to be incredible.

That was until I found out that this book is simply Mrs. Anthony's interpretations of what the I Ching states. After I bought the Wilhelm/Banes translation, I began to use them both. However, after about a month, I stopped using Mrs. Anthony's book altogether. I found her interpretation to be more of a hindrance than a help, mostly because I didn't see how she got certain meanings out of passages. I enjoyed reading the I Ching and making up my own mind about what the passages meant to me.

Do not get me wrong. I think many people will really enjoy this book. Mrs. Anthony gives a more Western approach to the I Ching and this is probably what many Westerners want and can use. However, for those who really want to get dig down into the hexagram meanings, the I Ching, Taoism, and the like, I would suggest starting with the Wilhelm/Baynes translation or, possibly, another good translation (I have heard there are some more recent ones out there). Then expand into other books that come your way.

This is a truly magnificent work written by a very wise lady. If you are at all interested in developing yourself using the Wilhelm\Baynes edition of the I Ching you will find this book indispensible. It is astoundingly insightful and must be regarded as a major achievement along with her other top book "The Philosophy of the I Ching". I read both of these daily. Many many thanks.

This is a great version of the I Ching! Carol Anthony takes the sometimes difficult to understand messages of the I Ching and turns them into plain english. Very good for beginners, or for anyone who wishes to get the full message of the I Ching without doing all the interpretation.

Ms. Anthony has obviously used the I Ching in her life and in this book shares its' usefulness, and her love for, and insight into, the meanings. Also,she uses the Wilhelm/Baynes translation with which so many of us are familiar and writes this as a "guide" to the use of that. Her paraphrases are exquisite in their ability to simplify for us, the more literate translations.

Carol K. Anthony is one of the most unassuming writers I have ever read, but how could she be otherwise? She has hooked into the power of the cosmos; and by comparison her tiny ego, tiny skills, tiny ability to convey truth comes up a tad tiny. This reflection on, translation of, whatever, reads like scripture. I simply adore and have talked with several other friends who concur. It is simply divine. A key to cosmic balance and every day common sense. I could gush about it for hours. Fact is: this is a book with super powers.

Both my wife and my daughter have used this book for many years to sort out the confusion life often presents us with. I was curious about it and looked for another book that wouldn't be exactly the same as theirs. This one is the best!