Chinese Almanac Astrology December 5 - 8, 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: YIN WATER BOAR (1863, 1923, 1983, 2043) ‘Forest Pig’

WATER is the native element of the Pig Earthly Branch. Water Pigs are volatile, open-minded and gregarious characters. They enjoy career, personal and financial experiments. Their preoccupation with others goes past caring into jealousy and envy. They often squander their qi hoping to please others. Their volatile emotions make them susceptible to all manner of illness and possibly suicide. Their maternal ancestors haunt them. If they resolve their ancestors’ negativity they have great spiritual potential.

QI NODE: 20 Little Snow

Yin Expands

“In the Little Snow qi node the continued growth of the cold/yin continues and our adaptation to Big Yin should have set in. The first snow seems beautiful like a young princess. The wisdom of the Past (ancestors) is proven true. The pattern of withdrawal seems just and truthful. Yin is now well established.

“Now it is easy to feel winter has begun. As winter grows cold and the maturation of the annual yin qi develops the cold and damp unite to create snow. Days get shorter - the dark grows quickly. The ground hardens and may freeze, insects disappear and rainbows no longer appear. The qi is best at 10pm. During this period the environment grows ever more yin and yang inhibition grows stronger. Every being/thing must rest. A trip south (winter vacation) is recommended for those with insufficient yang. We must guard our inner yang as it recedes from the environment. Cancel your activities in preparation for retreat. Earphones and iPod should replace public concerts. Check your insulation! Catch up on classic movies.”

LM The Way of Three Treasures

LUNAR HEXAGRAM 63 Jiji: Already Across

"Everything is ending well but decline and disorder is inevitable. Do not hurry or press for completion...Do not imagine that change ever stops. Things do not come to an end. When you succeed, do not assume things are complete or finished. To maintain success is no easy matter. When we are triumphant, we are fated to have the same decline and loss as our predecessor."

LM Changing: Zhouyi

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WEDNESDAY December 5, Yin Metal Goat 28

Hexagram 41 Sun: Diminish

Lunar Mansion: The Wall / Porcupine

Solar Indicator: Complete

 The gentle and forgiving nature of the day also bears a skill with aesthetic sensibility. When in doubt, simplify, rest and commit to new calibrations that emerge.

“Sun is about how sacrifice brings good fortune. It is also about the enlightened management of diminished resources and the transformation of reduced circumstances into an advantage. Sun is about attracting new resources into your life by eliminating inessentials. It is a time when recycling the trappings of success allows you to stay in power. It is when less is more.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi 41 Sun

"It is auspicious to build, remodel and make fengshui adjustments (increase opportunities/wealth [public part of home]). It is auspicious to initiate business, sign contracts and get married (strengthen family ties). It is auspicious for investments, banking (gardening [increase fertility]) and study (the classics). It is an especially good day to exercise (martial arts), socialize (create parties, feasts and celebrations). It is also advantageous to travel, start a journey or vacation. NOT complying with the auspice of this indicator may lead to madness and suicide.

"Contraindicated activity: It is inauspicious to withdraw, begin an austerity or retreat."

LM Notes: The Wall

“It is a day for resting on your laurels...Wisdom approaches and withdrawing succeeds. Art is the demonstration of confidence, dignity and wisdom - be artful. No more accumulating - decorate with modesty. The way of perfecting power is austerity and restraint. Do less, have less, show less and seek nothing. Enjoy what is already manifest.”

LM Notes: Complete

THURSDAY December 6, Yang Water Monkey 29

Hexagram 60 Jie: Juncture

Lunar Mansion: The Stride / Wolf

Solar Indicator: Harvest

Today's Water Monkey character is high-strung, observant and moody. Disciplined practice and securing foundations, relationships and physical supports, are timely and effective.

"Favorable for the practice of circumspection and restraint. Being observant and conservative with resources is auspicious. Knowing how to see and when to use limits brings success."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 60 Jie: Juncture

"It is auspicious to build, remodel or repair property (line clothing for winter) - in the sense to fortify or strengthen. It is auspicious to transact routine business, banking (anything that parallels the storing for winter), to plan but not speculate. It is beneficial to receive medical treatments (qi in channels) It is favorable to make amulets.

"It is inauspicious to travel, argue or press lawsuits. It is not advised to dig the ground or bury the dead."

LM Notes: The Stride

“The qi seems to float us forward quite naturally - ebbing and flowing are both acceptable. The lessons of earthly life are found in both maturing and declining. Everything succeeds...Let new resources and assistants come forward by standing back.”

LM Notes: Harvest

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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.

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FRIDAY December 7, Yin Water Rooster 1

Hexagram 61 Zhongfu: Holding the Center
Lunar Mansion: The Mound / Dog
Solar Indicator: Harvest

Aim to be humble and empathetic, the Water Rooster usually isn't. However, keen resourcefulness is available, and it is a good day for many things...

"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 61 Zhongfu: Holding the Center

"It is time to build (thresholds, public buildings) and add on (growth of family: new baby, new bride) to property. It is auspicious to initiate and continue routine business. It is a day for feasting, gatherings and romance. Marriages contracted/performed today produce resourceful and wealthy children. It is an excellent day for assemblies, parties and celebrations.

“This day brings fresh breezes in Spring, cooling mist in Summer, light rain in Fall and thin ice in Winter. It is inauspicious to enter retreat, practice renunciation or travel alone. Avoid confrontation."

LM Notes: The Mound

“What makes this day smooth is a sense of fearlessness. It is not so much how it goes (yang) as what it shows (yin). Rise and fall are no longer the point - the wide view can be taken. Ease is possible - effortless continuity on all sides. The qi seems to float us forward quite naturally - ebbing and flowing are both acceptable. The lessons of earthly life are found in both maturing and declining. Everything succeeds. Cleverness and survival give way to courage and directness. Be like the beloved monarch and not an ambitious merchant. Let new resources and assistants come forward by standing back.”

LM Notes: Harvest

SATURDAY December 8, Yang Wood Dog 2

Hexagram Consult the Oracle
Lunar Mansion: The Stomach / Pheasant
Solar Indicator: Open

Articulate and active, the Wood Dog characters offers a smoothness from yesterday. Be clever, be kind and relax...

"It is auspicious to build, bury the dead (increase status/rank) and marry (your children will hobnob with kings) on this day. It is a good day to make your case, to push forward and to ask for what you are due (collecting receivables). It is a good day for gift giving and charity (canceling debts owed you)."

“Contraindicated activity: It is inauspicious to be confrontational, break the law or squander resources (gamble); such activities will bring years of loss and regret.”

LM Notes: The Stomach

“The choice here is whether to call fate something to fight or something to embrace. It is a day with an easy qi. It is a day to appreciate how things really operate beyond the desire that creates images and appearances. Accepting should be a boundless (yin) act beyond goals - the goal has always been return to our beginningless origin (Dao). There is no protagonist (yang) that should relax - there is only relaxation itself (yin). Look around for a successor (new plan, idea, task) and resume the heart/mind of a novice. The son of a rebel leader may become the second emperor of a new dynasty. An open heart gives the option to acquire great wisdom.”

LM Notes: Open

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In resolution and adventure...

Warmly,

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