Chinese Almanac Astrology August 13 - 17, 2019

In honor of my Teacher, Liu Ming,


 

I offer the following:
CHINESE ALMANAC ASTROLOGY

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

Commentary and compilations by Jamie Shulander

All notes from class notes/works by Liu Ming

INDICATORS Listed: Yearly, Monthly, Lunar then Daily

::: ::: :::    =    Change

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

LUNAR YEAR: YEAR of the BOAR

 "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."

LUNAR MONTH: YANG WATER MONKEY (1812, 1872, 1932, 1992, 2052) ‘Elegant Monkey’

Water Monkey is high-strung, sharp and observant. Their uneven fortunes come from an unpredictable and dramatic emotional character. Though an appearance of competence bring success and leadership, the Water Monkey is easily distracted and often loses all that is gained through silly negligence. They mesmerize competent helpers but are prideful and often ungrateful. Emotional turmoil gradually undermines their health. Nourishing food is the best method of healing.

QI NODE: 13 Autumn Begins

"Yin Reverses Yang

“In Autumn Begins there is the reversal of what the Chinese call "late summer". At this time autumn qi (particularly in evening/night), which is Dry, will reverse the lingering damp heat pattern. It often causes typhoons and tornadoes.

During this qi node qi is the best at 3pm.

Now and then, during the day, practice neigong facing southwest. Do not overexert yourself (or sweat); let the qi move the blood and transform nutrients. Dress lightly (cover well), and stroll about in the morning to avoid the damp.

Chew well. During the day eat two meals, rest (nap) after lunch, snacks of fruit (pears) are good on hot days. Drink green and flower tea and in the evening enjoy a light savory soup.

Vegetarian meals are fine.

Activity should turn from outward to inward - begin to edit and then store what has been accomplished. Continue the cautions of Great Heat.

Before bed bucket bathes and go to sleep not long after dark. Do not go about in the evening or by the coast. Rest, relax, travel (inland), exercise (modestly) and do not be exposed to coastal or night winds." 

LM The Way of the Three Treasures

LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 12 Pi: Obstruction

"Pi is not a time for going forward. You are blocked by your own pretense or by external circumstances. Be humble and patient, and cancel or postpone great plans. Adaptation and patience are the keys to positive change in the future." LM Changing: Zhouyi 12 Pi

::: ::: :::

TUESDAY August 13, Yang Water Horse 13

Hexagram 13 Tong Ren: Community

Lunar Mansion: The House / Pig

Solar Indicator: Open

 Today's character is independent, hard-working and thrifty...

“It is favorable to go forward in concert with others after reflection and alliance is established."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 13 Tong Ren

“It is auspicious to build, remodel and make fengshui adjustments (especially to enhance career office/shop). It is auspicious to initiate business, negotiate and sign contracts and get married (all of which have long-term benefit). Expect to be generously compensated for work done today. 

“Public welfare projects succeed. Temple buildings brings benefits for many generations. 

Conversely it is auspicious to enter retreat if there is great sincerity (renunciation) and strong resolve (compassion for others). The benefits you receive on this day should be shared with others (living and dead). Burials on this day are celebrated by both the living and dead ancestors (bring great wealth). 

“It is not auspicious to wait, procrastinate or be confrontational.”

LM Notes: The House

“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

::: ::: :::

LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 41 Sun: Diminish

“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

::: ::: :::

WEDNESDAY August 14, Yin Water Goat 14

Hexagram 49 Ge: Molting

Lunar Mansion: The Wall / Porcupine

Solar Indicator: Shut

"It is a favorable time for dramatic reform and revolution - night becoming day. If you are ready to accept serious change and ready to let go of the past, everything is favorable. If you fear change, Ge donates the painful torment of unsuccessful resistance.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi  49 Ge

"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

“A Shut day is a day of rest, whether you like it or not. Qi resources are spent and the notion of a spender (yang) is long gone. Dispersion has ended in exhaustion (big yin) and no memory exists to create joy or negativity. Struggling to act on such a day borrows qi from fantasy and sets up a ghostly pattern of bad qi credit. What’s it like to float down the river with no boat, no river and no protagonist? 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. Focus on your golf swing and forget about how the kids are squandering their inheritance on cocaine. It’s that kind of day! The river has reached the sea and even the water is confused.”

LM Notes: Shut

THURSDAY August 15, Yang Wood Monkey 15

Hexagram 30 Li: Oriole

Lunar Mansion: The Stride / Wolf

Solar Indicator: Design

“Though things seem bright, one cannot rely on the brightness to last for a long time. Seize the moment. No battle is won without sacrifices on both sides."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 30 Li

"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

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

LM Notes: Design

FRIDAY August 16, Yin Wood Rooster 16

Hexagram 55 Feng: Abundance

Lunar Mansion: The Mound / Dog

Solar Indicator: Divide

   

"Feng is about an enormous windfall, harvesting a bumper crop or a fated reward that comes (and goes) naturally. It expresses the mysterious and fertile generosity of nature. The mention of astronomical and astrological influences in several of the lines indicates that success is a matter of fate-synchronicity with the cycles of time. Do not waste time feeling unworthy or claim the success is yours. Honor all co-factors and reward all co-workers. Celebration and generosity express abundance."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 55 Feng

"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

On this day progress is envisioned but we learn that pausing and even loss may be part of process. Though moving forward is immanent there is a shedding of skin on this day that puts a pause in the forward progress. The qi-teeter-totters and, in adjusting, exposes our vulnerable or immature state and we are unable to press forward. The young leader (fresh yang) does not want to leave the safety of his mother (big yin) who still protects him. What haunts this qi state is aggression - imagining that you are ‘ready’ for action, progress or pressing forward….

"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

SATURDAY August 17, Yang Fire Dog 17

Hexagram Consult the Oracle

Lunar Mansion: The Stomach / Pheasant

Solar Indicator: Full

"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

“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

::: ::: :::

In resolution and adventure...

Warmly,

Jamie Shulander

Instagram @jamieshulander

jshulander@gmail.com

415-450-7884