I Ching Pearoast
I've always loved this story, although the last time I told it here it turned into a long argument about probability. Anyway:

My (now late) mum was a bit of a sucker for the supernatural (whereas I'm a full-on scientific atheist type). When trying to decide on things to do, she used to do the I Ching. One day she had a dilemma, and decided to throw the yarrow stalks or whatever you do.

The answer she received seemed fairly meaningless, so after much deliberation, she gave up and tried it again. She was rather freaked out to get exactly the same hexagram (which is pretty unlikely in itself). Bewildered, she threw it again. This time the result was this:

YOUTHFUL FOLLY has success.
It is not I who seek the young fool;
The young fool seeks me.
At the first oracle I inform him.
If he asks two or three times, it is importunity.
If he importunes, I give him no information.
Perseverance furthers.

That was the last time she consulted the I Ching.
( flatfrog Staring vacantly into space, Mon 17 Sep 2012, 15:22, Reply)