The Chinese language of the classics is composed of pictographs which have many layers of meaning; to complicate matters further, the written language has virtually no grammar or syntax, so a phrase may be (correctly) interpreted in a number of ways. Most people who consult the I Ching rely on only one translation, which may omit some essential reading of the original text or misinterpret its significance. If you are not able to read the original Chinese, you MUST consult more than one translation. (I recommend, at the very minimum, Alfred Huang's The Complete I Ching, Wu Jing-Nuan's Yi Jing, and RJ Lynn's translation of Wang Bi's 3rd century commentary.)

Virtually all of the images used in both the hexagrams and the individual lines have symbolic meanings, which have been elucidated in commentaries over the centuries. Most of the commentaries on the original text were written by Confucius, and these in turn have been the subject of countless commentaries by other luminaries of the Chinese wisdom tradition. Some familiarity with the commentaries is necessary in order to make sense of the text.

Furthermore, hexagrams reveal a great deal more when they are understood in the context of the entire cycle of the I Ching. The internal structure of the I Ching is complex, and there are interrelationships between each hexagram, it's opposite, it's inverse, and those proceeding and following it.

Finally, it goes without saying that it is helpful to discuss a problem with someone else. Just talking about it and getting impartial feedback can clarify the elements of the situation and help you get a new perspective.

By consulting a professional, you gain the benefit of years of study and familiarity with this oracle.