Chinese Almanac Astrology August 2 - 12, 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: 12 Great Heat

Malignant Yang

"Great Heat refers to the extreme heat in the yang twilight of the year. Oppressive heat draws up the dampness of the Earth. At this time declining Yang partners with the inter-seasonal Earth and creates Damp Heat. Damp Heat has an oppressive quality (mold, rot) in this qi node and it fosters unprecedented growth and a legion of illnesses. Though much continues to grow and flourish we must avoid the pernicious quality of the season. The great mantle of Yang must be handed down to Yin. The wise prepare for transference not defeat.

During this qi node the environmental qi (Heaven/Earth) is best at 2pm. Practice neigong several times a day facing due south. Dress lightly, wash your hair often and stroll about to avoid the damp. Chew well. During the day eat two meals, rest (nap) after lunch, snacks of fruit (melon, grapes) are good on hot days. Drink green and flower tea (jasmine, honeysuckle, lily) and in the evening enjoy a light savory soup.

It is a good time for initiating new and practical disciplines of conservation (that anticipate autumn). Activity should slowly turn from forward to reverse - begin to edit what has been accomplished. Cut back on obligations. Pace yourself. It is not a time for laziness and indolence but it is auspicious to edit what is 'unrighteous' - do not store what will mold or close down too soon.

Upon waking and before bed bucket bathe (with a final cold salt rinse), watch the sunset and go to sleep not long after dark. Rest, relax, travel (vacation by the sea), exercise and do not be exposed to coastal winds.

Guard the heart (shen) by modestly expressing your feelings - it is natural to feel emotionally lethargic or distant. Expect less from those around you to avoid emotional congestion. Be real! Honestly clear away emotional heaviness - denial. Damp heat inspires denial. Neurosis can easily go psychotic." 

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

::: ::: :::

FRIDAY August 2, Yin Metal Goat 2

Hexagram 26 Da Chu: Great Store

Lunar Mansion: The Neck / Dragon

Solar Indicator: Design

SATURDAY August 3, Yang Water Monkey 3

Hexagram 11 Tai: Great

Lunar Mansion: The Root / Badger

Solar Indicator: Divide

SUNDAY August 4, Yin Water Rooster 4

Hexagram 10 Lu: Treading

Lunar Mansion: The Room / Hare

Solar Indicator: Full

   

MONDAY August 5, Yang Wood Dog 5

Hexagram 58 Dui: Pleasuring

Lunar Mansion: The Heart / Fox

Solar Indicator: Level

TUESDAY August 6, Yin Wood Pig 6

Hexagram 38 Kui: Incompatible

Lunar Mansion: The Tail / Tiger

Solar Indicator: Settle

WEDNESDAY August 7, Yang Fire Rat 7

Hexagram 54 Guimei: A Girl is Married

Lunar Mansion: The Basket / Leopard

Solar Indicator: Maintain

::: ::: :::

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

::: ::: :::

THURSDAY August 8, Yin Fire Ox 8

Hexagram Consult the Oracle

Lunar Mansion: The Ladle / Griffon

Solar Indicator: Maintain

   

Prepare for retreat by tying up loose ends...

FRIDAY August 9, Yang Earth Tiger 9

Hexagram 61 Zhongfu: Holding the Center

Lunar Mansion: The Oxboy: Ox

Solar Indicator: Destroy

Retreat. Bottom line...

"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 auspicious to stay home, guard resources, meditate and focus. It is auspicious to initiate austerity, enter retreat, recover and economize.”

LM Notes: The Oxboy

“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

SATURDAY August 10, Yin Earth Rabbit 10

Hexagram 60 Jie: Juncture

Lunar Mansion: The Maiden / Bat

Solar Indicator: Danger

Continue to unplug...unplug and unplug.

"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 stay home, enjoy the arts, self-reflect, do inner panning and practice austerity (meditation, fasting and rest). It is beneficial to guard your health and conserve your qi. It is favorable to support others. Building may be safe but not profitable.”

“It is not auspicious to take risks, medical treatments, bury the dead (cause epidemics, bowel disorders). To initiate industry (dig earth) and production on this day invites calamity.” 

LM Notes: The Maiden

“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

SUNDAY August 11, Yang Metal Dragon 11

Hexagram 41 Sun: Diminish

Lunar Mansion: The Void / Rat

Solar Indicator: Complete

Though today's character is all about expansion, consider what inward expansion can mean...

“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 stay home, strengthen family ties and protect your children. Sleep and rest are recommended (be cautioned by your dreams).”

“On this day it is not auspicious to marry (your children will be delinquent or handicapped), bury the dead or make offerings to ancestors (ghosts/dead will become demonic - causing illnesses for 3 years!). Extra-marital affairs begun on this day will eventually ruin your family, reputation and health. Medical treatments today can cause injury and expose constitutional weakness.”

LM Notes: The Void

“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

MONDAY August 12, Yin Metal Snake 12

Hexagram 19 Lin: Approach

Lunar Mansion: The Roof / Swallow

Solar Indicator: Harvest

   

"You must be patient and appropriate in your progress, but do not procrastinate. The auspice is for forward action."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 19 Lin

“The key to the auspices has to do with how you act in a dangerous situation…It is auspicious to stay home, repair walls (security), remodel, take tonics and comply with superiors. It is favorable for medical treatments, exercise and eating well. It is favorable to raise roof beams and rafters (begin new construction). It is auspicious for family gatherings at home. Alliances and collaborations come to fruit and good 'luck'. This day is inauspicious for travel because you will be robbed (road) or drowned (sea). Strangers and strange (foreign) places offer calamity.”

LM Notes: The Roof

“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

::: ::: :::

In resolution and adventure...

Warmly,

Jamie Shulander

Instagram @jamieshulander

jshulander@gmail.com

415-450-7884