The Oracle of Changes

Rating:
Summary: Great pick for the novice or expert!
Review: As a physician, columnist and lecturer (on natural health and spiritual systems), I am always searching for new presentations of ancient material. The Oracle of Changes CD is a refreshing take... and wondered why no one had done this sooner! I found the music soothing (perhaps a decent set of speakers is best for the full effect). I enjoyed the rendering of the 'cave of the oracle' I entered and the 'pool of reflection' I "sat" in front of to begin the reading. Realistic hands throw the coins for you 6 times and the lines appear on the screen. The artwork that accompanied each hexagram is full of imagery and purpose (longtime students of the I Ching may recognize the deeper meanings). The explanation of the hexagrams and line changes is given by a VERY soothing and clear female voice. Bonuses: The CD allows the user to save the answers in a journal for later reference. You can type in the number of any hexagram in stead of a question and get to that answer without a full reading. The CD also allows yarrow or coin toss odds; it's the user's choice. A great pick!

Rating:
Summary: Great pick for the novice or expert!
Review: As a physician, columnist and lecturer (on natural health and spiritual systems), I am always searching for new presentations of ancient material. The Oracle of Changes CD is a refreshing take... and wondered why no one had done this sooner! I found the music soothing (perhaps a decent set of speakers is best for the full effect). I enjoyed the rendering of the 'cave of the oracle' I entered and the 'pool of reflection' I "sat" in front of to begin the reading. Realistic hands throw the coins for you 6 times and the lines appear on the screen. The artwork that accompanied each hexagram is full of imagery and purpose (longtime students of the I Ching may recognize the deeper meanings). The explanation of the hexagrams and line changes is given by a VERY soothing and clear female voice. Bonuses: The CD allows the user to save the answers in a journal for later reference. You can type in the number of any hexagram in stead of a question and get to that answer without a full reading. The CD also allows yarrow or coin toss odds; it's the user's choice. A great pick!

Rating:
Summary: It could be better
Review: In fact, at one time, it WAS better. The same people that produced this version had a much better one back when they published their DOS version years ago. I had hoped for something approaching that excellent package--and in truth, this one approaches it, but doesn't quite reach it.

In the minus column, you have to run it from the CD. I truly dislike software that makes me do that. They seem to have loaded it up with features I don't want or need, including music that is distracting and graphics that, while nice, don't really add to the I Ching readings.

In the plus column, however, those graphics are really beautiful and they're very well done. The readings are fine, especially if you have a copy of one of the I Ching volumnes handy to shed a little more light on the subject. I am not convinced that these readings are as insightful as those on the original DOS package, but these generally outshine other computer generated I Ching readings.

If not for the need for the CD every time I run it, I'd give this one four stars--but the CD requirement is an annoyance I'd rather do without. I'll use it, but not as often as I would otherwise.

Rating:
Summary: It could be better
Review: In fact, at one time, it WAS better. The same people that produced this version had a much better one back when they published their DOS version years ago. I had hoped for something approaching that excellent package--and in truth, this one approaches it, but doesn't quite reach it.

In the minus column, you have to run it from the CD. I truly dislike software that makes me do that. They seem to have loaded it up with features I don't want or need, including music that is distracting and graphics that, while nice, don't really add to the I Ching readings.

In the plus column, however, those graphics are really beautiful and they're very well done. The readings are fine, especially if you have a copy of one of the I Ching volumnes handy to shed a little more light on the subject. I am not convinced that these readings are as insightful as those on the original DOS package, but these generally outshine other computer generated I Ching readings.

If not for the need for the CD every time I run it, I'd give this one four stars--but the CD requirement is an annoyance I'd rather do without. I'll use it, but not as often as I would otherwise.

Rating:
Summary: The Oracle of Changes
Review: This is a fun interactive oracle that is also informative and can be helpful to some degree.. It has alot of great wisdom in it. However if you looking for serious answers to a specific issue in your life, I suggest you develop your own intuitive abilities and learn the tarot for more in depth results.

Rating:
Summary: The Oracle of Changes
Review: This is a fun interactive oracle that is also informative and can be helpful to some degree.. It has alot of great wisdom in it. However if you looking for serious answers to a specific issue in your life, I suggest you develop your own intuitive abilities and learn the tarot for more in depth results.

Rating:
Summary: Which I could rate this with 10 stars
Review: When I first encountered the Oracle of Changes in the free online version I was dubious that anyone could develop a useful computerized way to cast an I Ching reading. I was intrigued with how useful, practical, and on-target the readings were that I was receiving. Since there were certain advantages to purchasing the CD-ROM over using the free online version I decided to buy the CD-ROM. I love this product. It was very easy to install and works just like it was supposed to work. The one thing I love best is the new translation used for this I Ching oracle. It is one of the best and most insightful translations I have ever seen. The one advantage is that it's not just a literal translation from Chinese into English, but a very poetic one that helps you to interpret this classic of Chinese wisdom. For myself, since I can't carry my computer around with me everywhere, I would love to see the developers of this software publish this translation in a book that I would carry around with me anywhere that I could toss a few coins. If this book would contain a literal translation of the I Ching along with the interpretive translation included on the CD-ROM I think it could become one of the best I Ching books out there. I would certainly purchase this book if they ever developed it.

Rating:
Summary: Which I could rate this with 10 stars
Review: When I first encountered the Oracle of Changes in the free online version I was dubious that anyone could develop a useful computerized way to cast an I Ching reading. I was intrigued with how useful, practical, and on-target the readings were that I was receiving. Since there were certain advantages to purchasing the CD-ROM over using the free online version I decided to buy the CD-ROM. I love this product. It was very easy to install and works just like it was supposed to work. The one thing I love best is the new translation used for this I Ching oracle. It is one of the best and most insightful translations I have ever seen. The one advantage is that it's not just a literal translation from Chinese into English, but a very poetic one that helps you to interpret this classic of Chinese wisdom. For myself, since I can't carry my computer around with me everywhere, I would love to see the developers of this software publish this translation in a book that I would carry around with me anywhere that I could toss a few coins. If this book would contain a literal translation of the I Ching along with the interpretive translation included on the CD-ROM I think it could become one of the best I Ching books out there. I would certainly purchase this book if they ever developed it.

Rating:
Summary: A Big Wish List
Review: Wishes:
1. I wish I could enter the results I got using the yarrow stalk method into the program, and have it prepare the report.
2. I wish the report could be "saved as" in a format that popular word processor programs could open and edit.
3. As The Tarot program of his allows you to use different decks, and select different elements in the prepared report, I wish different translations of the I Ching were available in the program, and could be selected in the report.
4. I view the I Ching as the "Urim and Thummim" and the "Ephod" used by Moses, Joshua, Kings David and Solomon, and the only way to make Jesus's Biblical statements about prayer work every time.
5. I pray this way a lot; I've found using 12" bamboo skewers to be the best for me; I wish I had a program such as this.
6. Where does he get the artists?

Rating:
Summary: A Big Wish List
Review: Wishes:
1. I wish I could enter the results I got using the yarrow stalk method into the program, and have it prepare the report.
2. I wish the report could be "saved as" in a format that popular word processor programs could open and edit.
3. As The Tarot program of his allows you to use different decks, and select different elements in the prepared report, I wish different translations of the I Ching were available in the program, and could be selected in the report.
4. I view the I Ching as the "Urim and Thummim" and the "Ephod" used by Moses, Joshua, Kings David and Solomon, and the only way to make Jesus's Biblical statements about prayer work every time.
5. I pray this way a lot; I've found using 12" bamboo skewers to be the best for me; I wish I had a program such as this.
6. Where does he get the artists?