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 or solar phase. The indicators below articulate the current alignment.
YEAR of the BOAR Honest
Charged: plain speaking, caring, sensuous, compromising, eloquent, tolerant, humanitarian, reliable, unselfish, funny, hard-working, lucky and gregarious.
Deplete: self-indulgent, indulgent, oversexed, luxury loving, flamboyant, secretive, long-suffering, gullible and self destructive.
Image: The Chinese character for home includes the character for this Pig. Needless to say in Chinese astrology, Pigs are the most domestic of signs. A modest sacrificial animal since ancient times, it has become a mainstay of the Chinese diet - considered a ‘great transformer,’ able to make garbage into sweet white meat. In parts of China a family’s wealth is measured in the number of Pigs one owns. The wild boar mother is considered one of the fiercest animals alive. The mother boar will attack a Tiger seeking its young without an interest in surviving - the ultimate expression of aggression. Pigs collect material objects and derive great sustenance from them. They see stuff as art/food.
YIN EARTH BOAR (1899, 1959, 2019, 2079) ‘Monastery Pig’
Earth Boars are sensual, lethargic and aimless characters. They are hard to teach and hold very strong opinions. Their previous causes are strong but may support a hardened view of life. Attractive and popular socially they cannot maintain committed relationships (overly protective then cold). Those closest to them often become their worst enemies. Their material fortunes are however good and they live in comfort and luxury. Though they appear healthy they are plagued by chronic dampness.
MONTH YANG EARTH DRAGON (1808, 1868, 1928, 1988, 2048) ‘Yielding Dragon’
Earth is the native element of the Dragon Earthly Branch. Earth Dragons have a distinguished and regal character. They are powerful, popular and broad-minded and suited to leadership. Their fortunes rise and fall. They achieve power, wealth and position but indulge in the rewards of success to excess. Their troubles are that they cannot stay within ordinary (social, political) boundaries and cannot listen to advice. Their physical constitutions are iron-clad. They are rarely if ever ill.
QI NODE: 6 Grain Rains
Yin and Yang Courtship
"Spring ends with the inter-seasonal qi node Grain Rains. This qi node is the transition from spring to summer. It charges the growth process with increased warmth (Yang) and Rain (Yin). The growing and transforming process is now seen everywhere in Nature. The power of growth hits the ground and spreads. Flowers bloom in orchards. Buds, the true outcome of spring, appear everywhere with the promise of abundance. The mantle of power is given to the princely forms of Yang. It is auspicious if thunder (sound of spring) is heard in this qi node to welcome the power of summer - just as it is auspicious that the quiet of autumn ends in the utter silence of winter.
"It is a time of final preparations, even ceremonious preparations. It is a good time to thank the wise mentors who have helped to shape your life. It is a good time to graduate from school or move on to higher education. New and better job (promotions), new and better address (moving house) and the chance to reinvent yourself is present themselves. It is a time to enjoy music, play music and dance. If your cultivation of spring was insufficient or negligent you will be held back with Damp (criticism, lethargy, allergies and indigestion)."
LM The Way of Three Treasures
LUNAR
HEXAGRAM: 6 Song: Disputing
"When a situation lacks clarity it is best to retreat and
wait for fortunes to change. Using litigation is a costly and risky way to
succeed. If disputes are successfully resolved, caution is still required in
handling the outcomes. Do not exert yourself in complicated or obstructed
situations. Do not force things. It is favorable to self-reflect and to seek
counsel.”
LM Changing: Zhouyi
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TUESDAY April 30, Yin Fire Rooster 26
Hexagram 61 Zhongfu: Holding the Center
Lunar Mansion: The Beak / Monkey
Solar Indicator: Maintain
"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 bodes well to
follow superiors, practice austerity and/or pool resources with others. It is a
good day to sincerely comply with divination and maintain taboos meticulously.
"It is inauspicious
to push forward, be industrious or initiate new ventures. Revolution or
demanding idealistic justice on this day will be catastrophic."
LM Notes: The Beak
“Spontaneous action and
inspiration (yang) become the new tradition (yin). Qi assertion (yang) is
repeated again and again to hold and harden gains (yin). Establishing a new
state is the focus. The qi of practice and the drilling of troops is awesome.
Allies appear from all quarters. True majesty succeeds without pressing
forward. Today success breeds more success and everyone may be included in the
new victories. Generosity is a prophylactic to decline - giving is a sign of
strength and cements alliances. It is the sun at noon.”
LM Notes: Maintain
WEDNESDAY May 1, Yang Earth Dog 27
Hexagram Consult the Oracle
Lunar Mansion: The Trio / Gibbon
Solar Indicator: Destroy
"It bodes well to
dispose of inessentials (haircuts), edit, fast, study (Classics), take exams,
enter retreat and practice meditation. It is good to be industrious close to
home (house clean). Initiating business (particularly group enterprise) will be
fruitful if planning has been thorough.
"It is inauspicious
to push forward aggressively. Do not get married, finalize divorce, bury the
dead (it will create family dissent), spend savings or speculate financially as
these all lead to losing resources and cooperation."
LM Notes: The Trio
“The successful prince
as warrior must now lose his youthful ambitions and develop into a proper
king….Today calculated loss (cancellation) succeeds”
LM Notes: Destroy
THURSDAY May 2, Yin Earth Pig 28
Hexagram 54 Guimei: A Girl is Married
Lunar Mansion: The Well / Tapir
Solar Indicator: Danger
"Things are
auspicious for the underdog, but early success collapses. The situation is
touch and go. Things can end up okay if some sacrifices are made."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 54
Guimei
“It is auspicious to
build, remodel, do fengshui adjustments, take exams, and maintain
routine industry. The earth can be dug (gardening = wealth) and it is a good
day to donate, buy or sell (investment) real estate. Community or charity
projects will flourish. It is favorable for apologies. It is favorable for
medical treatments (particularly for initiating a series of treatments for a
chronic condition).
“It is not auspicious to
postpone needed repairs, apologies or difficult tasks. It is not good for
funerals or burials of those who died by suicide, violence or sudden illness
because others will soon follow.”
LM Notes: The Well
“To roust hypocrisy in
his new alliances the leader must bait his hidden enemies (yin) by showing
vulnerability. This day is a qi expression of true power but all the action is
fraught with danger and risk. The games of political power are also the
precursors of decline. The power plays show yin to be drawing life from the
heart of yang. Success is limited now to a kind of survival. Manipulation and
covert action succeed. Elegance becomes the mask of cleverness and intrigue.
Doing only what needs to be done is best. Old habits or patterns of pressing
forward will invite catastrophe. Beware grudges.”
LM Notes: Danger
FRIDAY May 3, Yang Metal Rat 29
Hexagram 38 Kui: Incompatible
Lunar Mansion: The Ghost / Sheep
Solar Indicator: Complete
“Unfavorable for planning or forward progress. Expect to be frustrated but make small gains. It is a good time to seek counsel from those with expertise and wisdom...Try a little self-reflection and humility."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 38 Kui
“It is especially
auspicious for funeral/burial (resolution of fate). It is also good to make
gifts/donations to temples and offerings to the divinities, spiritual guardians
and make memorials for the dead (ancestors/lineage). It is advantageous for
entering retreat, meditation, fasting, spiritual initiation, ordination and
‘crossing over’ into transitory states.
“It is not auspicious
for worldly industry of any kind. It is a bad day to go to war (many
casualties) or get married (husband will die early). One should avoid the
wilderness (possession/illness will result).”
LM Notes: The Ghost
“It is a day for resting
on your laurels. Success is established and secured and the new state seems to
govern itself. Enemies are few. It is a time for inward reflection (yin) on the
bare face of reality (yang). Struggle (yang) is no longer possible or necessary
(yin). Decline is not feared and success not celebrated. 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
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In resolution and adventure...
Warmly,
Jamie Shulander
Instagram@jamieshulander
jshulander@gmail.com
415-450-7884
