Chinese Almanac Astrology December 21 - 24, 2018

In honor of Liu Ming

my teacher

To support grace and ease / For the resolution of all beings

CHINESE ALMANAC ASTROLOGY

Commentary and compilations by Jamie Shulander

All notes from class notes/works by Liu Ming

Scroll down to find daily indicators...
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INDICATORS - The pattern components that continuously rotate per year, month, daily, lunar or solar phase. The indicators below articulate the current alignment.

LUNAR YEAR: YANG EARTH DOG 4716 - Faithful Vigilance

“Charged: loyal, caring, protective, direct, helpful, intuitive, insightful, private, calm under

fire, just, expansive, congenial and quiet.

Deplete: stubborn, argumentative, spiteful, vain, rigid, frozen with anxiety, stingy and

excessively critical.

Image: The Dog talked about in Chinese Astrology is the Chow. This dog has been domesticated for more than 5000 years, both as an aggressive house guard and a battlefield companion. The battlefield Chow was ferocious at crippling the horses of the enemy chariots while never losing sight of its trainer (whose corpse it would protect even with its own life). The Dog epitomizes loyalty."

YANG EARTH DOG (1898, 1958, 2018, 2078) ‘Mountain Dog’

EARTH is the native element of the Dog Earthly Branch. Earth Dogs are modest, funny

and independent characters. They are light-hearted and generous, often quitting difficult

situations and avoiding confrontations. A short temper is hidden behind their joking. Strong

idealistic aspirations fill their youth and soften as the hardships of life close in. They do not

express their feelings or thoughts easily. They are prone to qi stagnation and poor circulation."

LUNAR MONTH: YANG WOOD RAT (1804, 1924, 1984, 2044) ‘Rat on the Roof’

Wood Rat is the first of 60 configurations of the Stem/Branch system. It is therefore very precarious. Wood Rats are particularly studious, industrious and naive characters. They are extraordinarily clever but also insecure. This may be the result of clinging to trauma (being orphaned or abandoned in childhood). Their rat-like resourcefulness is therefore held back by a lack of depth. Their cleverness and impatience often turns to frivolity, trendiness, deception and cunning. The fortune of wood rat is average and their wealth modest. Endless worrying weakens their constitution and they are prone to injury, skin problems, bowel disorders and arthritis.

QI NODE: 22 Winter Solstice

Yin Rules

“The Winter Solstice qi node has the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It is one of four annual pivots that rectify the annual qi. During this qi node qi is at its height at midnight! At the end of this qi node, the new calendar year begins. In the Chinese official calendar it is the mid-point of winter. The astrological year is still months away.

Yin peaks but in this same qi node it begins its inevitable decline - supreme yin gives birth to the flux of yang. Tigers mate. Christmas lights twinkle. Birth and death commingle, but life is cold and apparently dead now begins to move toward life.

Everywhere in Chinese cosmology black (dark) produces ‘yellow’ or light of the sun. ‘The darkest hour is just before dawn’.”

LM The Way of Three Treasures

LUNAR HEXAGRAM 61 Zhongfu: Holding the Center

"The action that arises from stillness is able to ‘work wonders.’ A Zen archer lets the arrow find the target without meddling."

LM Changing: Zhouyi

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FRIDAY December 21, Yin Fire Pig 15

Hexagram 1 Qian: Heaven

Lunar Mansion: The Neck / Dragon

Solar Indicator: Shut

  

"Qian is the natural endless progress of time as symbolized by the onset of spring. Time is celestial movement, like the wind in the sky - not the product of human effort. The first hexagram is like the head of a circle; it is the beginning or renewal of a constant and endless cycle of time."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 1 Qian

"It is auspicious to comply with the orders of superiors and/or let assistants/helpers lead the way. The image is auspicious, in a preordained sense, but can be ruined by unnecessary effort. It is about the useful conventions of education. Collecting data before action.

"Contraindicated activity: Industry, marriages and weddings, signing contracts and starting or initiating production invite calamity. These activities will bring ruin over the following 10 days. Building on this day causes strokes for fathers and eldest sons. Burying the dead will cause the spread of disease. Going to battle is disastrous. Travel by sea invites shipwrecks."

LM Notes: The Neck

“A Shut day is a day of rest, whether you like it or not...It is ideal day for retreat, mediation and severing ties with everything - don’t worry, it is not the end of anything! Let go anyway - feel the freedom and inaction, disconnectedness, because it offers limitless insight.”

LM Notes: Shut

SATURDAY December 22, Yang Earth Rat 16

Hexagram 2 Kun: Earth

Lunar Mansion: The Root / Badger

Solar Indicator: Design

“Let things naturally fulfill themselves. Let go of planning and meddling. Wait. Restraint is rewarded. It is favorable for peace and inaction.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi 2 Kun

"It is auspicious to go to school, make offerings to ancestors, consult oracles and/or physicians. Avoid abandoned buildings and the wilderness (as spirits that cause illness are active). Comply with superiors and taboos (follow conventions/traditions).

"Contraindicated activity: Marriages and weddings bring accidental death. Contracts signed today invite betrayal and embezzlement. Travel by sea invites shipwrecks."

LM Notes: The Root

“It is an excellent day to recover wisdom by stepping back, planning, recalling alliances and reassessing our position.”

LM Notes: Design

SUNDAY December 23, Yin Earth Ox 17

Hexagram 23 Bo: Erosion
Lunar Mansion: The Room / Hare
Solar Indicator: Divide

“History has recorded many failed revolutions. Bad timing or inappropriate (selfish) motive has undermined many attempts to restructure the powers that be. If you wish to revolt, do not be blinded by idealism, choose the time wisely, be just, and of impeccable virtue. Remember that leadership and eminence are matters of fate."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 23 Bo

"It is auspicious to make (sincere) offerings to ancestors, consult oracles, practice ritual and meditation, move home, begin construction and add rooms (remodel) to homes and shops. It is a good day for fengshui adjustments, acquiring luxuries, medical treatments (esp food/herb cures) and making investments. Success will visit anyone who studies and/or takes exams today. Funerals on this day benefit both the living and the dead. Straight-forwardness and sincerity bring success."

"Contraindicated activity: Finalizing divorce, excessive ambition and ingratitude. Exaggeration and hypocrisy bring disaster. Not a good day for taking leadership or management responsibilities."

LM Notes: The Room

"Holding back on this day is related to deeper self-reflection, education of all sorts and consulting with experts and elders - rather than forward action. It is not about immature reluctance or cowardice but about shedding inessentials."

LM Notes: Divide

MONDAY December 24, Yang Metal Tiger 18

Hexagram 8 Bi: Alliance
Lunar Mansion: The Heart / Fox
Solar Indicator: Full

"Bi is about those who strengthen their power through new and renewed alliances with capable people. It is about the confidence to go forward when trustworthy allies and coherent plans unite. Those who do not use this wisdom (join late) do not succeed.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi 8 Bi

“It is auspicious to comply with superiors, make offerings to the ancestors, move home and/or immigrate. Only routine work may avoid negativity. Contraindicated activity: If you start a lawsuit (making your case) you will lose everything (imprisonment). If you construct a building, get married or bury the dead, disaster follows. Everything sold today will be at a loss to the seller. Pushing forward (forcing progress) on this day will have three times the negative result of other days.”

LM Notes: The Heart

“This is an optimum day for education, preparation, polishing, gathering resources and firming up plans. Confidence grows as the right time and necessary resources are now part of the vision. The qi is forming patterns and remaining in the channels. Practice and disciplined cultivation bring confidence. The prince (yang) is gaining support. Discipline in small matters succeeds. True confidence requires no aggression. Though nothing needs to be done, the natural maturation of strength occurs.”

LM Notes: Full

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In resolution and adventure...

Warmly,

Jamie Shulander
Instagram @jamieshulander
jshulander@gmail.com
415-450-7884