Set of i ching sticks and method of using the same

Abstract

A set of I Ching sticks and method of using the same to convey information to a user based on various indicia and groupings of indicia disposed on the sides and ends of each of the I Ching sticks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A set, comprising:
 six I Ching sticks, each I Ching stick defining an elongated body including:
 first, second, third, and fourth rectangular side faces each including a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second portions, wherein the first and second rectangular side faces oppose one another and the third and fourth rectangular side faces oppose one another; 
 a first indicium, configured to convey information, disposed on each of: the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face, one of the first or second portions of the third rectangular side face, and one of the first or second portions of the fourth rectangular side face; 
 a second indicium, configured to convey information and different from the first indicium, disposed on each of: the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face, the other of the first or second portions of the third rectangular side face, and the other of the first or second portions of the fourth rectangular side face; 
 first and second end faces; and 
 a third indicium, disposed on the each of the first and second end faces, wherein the third indicium is different from each of the first and second indicia and includes four distinguishable orientations, each orientation configured to convey information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The set according to  claim 1 , wherein the first indicium is a yin line and wherein the second indicium is a yang line. 
     
     
         3 . The set according to  claim 1 , wherein the third indicium is a yin-yang symbol. 
     
     
         4 . The set according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portions of the third and fourth rectangular side faces each include a fourth indicium. 
     
     
         5 . The set according to  claim 4 , wherein the fourth indicium is a change symbol. 
     
     
         6 . The set according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portions of the first and second rectangular side faces each include a fifth indicium. 
     
     
         7 . The set according to  claim 4 , wherein the fifth indicium is a logo. 
     
     
         8 . The set according to  claim 1 , wherein each stick is wood dowel. 
     
     
         9 . The set according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the indicia is burned into the wood dowel. 
     
     
         10 . The set according to  claim 1 , wherein the I Ching sticks are separate from one another to enable individual manipulation of each I Ching stick relative to any other I Ching stick. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 positioning six I Ching sticks in an initial orientation wherein a first rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is displayed;   manipulating one or more of the six I Ching sticks; and   repositioning the six I Ching sticks in a final, side-by-side orientation wherein the first rectangular side face, a second rectangular side face, a third rectangular side face, or a fourth rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is displayed, depending upon the manipulating; and   determining information from indicia disposed on first portions of the displayed faces of each of the six I Ching sticks;   determining other information from indicia disposed on second portions of the displayed faces of each of the six I Ching sticks; and   determining still other information from an orientation of end indicia disposed on end faces of at least one of the six I Ching sticks.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the end indicium disposed on each end face includes four distinguishable orientations, and wherein each orientation conveys different information. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks are the same as one another and wherein the indicia on the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks are the same as one another and different from the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the third and fourth rectangular side faces of each of the six I Ching sticks each include one indicium that is the same as the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks and one indicium that is the same as the indicia on the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 further repositioning the six I Ching sticks in a spaced-apart, further orientation such that an additional one of the first rectangular side face, the second rectangular side face, the third rectangular side face, or the fourth rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is additionally displayed; and   determining information based upon the indicia provided on the additionally displayed rectangular side faces.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein four different areas of information are provided:
 a first area including the indicia on the first portions of the displayed faces and indicia on first portions on the additionally displayed faces of a first group of three of the six I Ching sticks;   a second area including the indicia on the second portions of the displayed faces and indicia on second portions on the additionally displayed faces of the first group of three of the six I Ching sticks;   a third area including the indicia on the first portions of the displayed faces and indicia on first portions on the additionally displayed faces of a second group of three of the six I Ching sticks; and   a fourth area including the indicia on the second portions of the displayed faces and indicia on second portions on the additionally displayed faces of the second group of three of the six I Ching sticks.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second areas constitute an inner world and wherein the third and fourth areas constitute an outer world.