In honor of my Teacher, Liu Ming,
CHINESE ALMANAC ASTROLOGY
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: YIN WOOD BOAR (1875, 1935, 1995, 2055) ‘Traveling Pig’
Wood Pigs are gullible, immature and
strong willed characters. They have extremely uneven fortunes, running from
exalted to disastrous. Their youth is often spent in dissolute circumstances,
but their survival gives them a strong and stable old age. They will be
repeatedly deceived by friends, family and strangers and learn slowly from
this. Despite their difficulties, their old age is stable, joyful (supportive
children) and rich. Their illnesses are caused by over-eating and emotional
stress. They have long lives.
QI NODE: 18 Frost Descends
Yin Encloses Yang
"The Frost Descends
qi node is when autumn collapses into winter. Lesser Yin gives way to Great
Yin. On Earth stasis and frost are prevalent. As the autumn descends into
winter, natural activity appears to subside. In fact, activity simply withdraws
deeper and deeper inward and down. The northwest wind carries in the growing
cold with transitional dam. Days grow short (yang diminishes). During this
period the environment grows ever more yin and is characterized by hoarfrost.
Dampness (Earth) rides the cold wind and is variable. Snow threatens. The blustery
wind is pernicious cold/damp.
Yang, withdrawing in and
downward, must not be called back up and out. Dress warmly and stay out of the
wind. During the period qi is best at 8pm. Neigong is practiced inside where it
is warm, rub your belly until it turns red. Eat warm and nourishing meals and
go to bed early. Even if the weather is not cold (temperature) do not get
caught in the wind."
LM The Way of Three Treasures
LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 2 Kun: Earth
“Let things naturally fulfill
themselves. Let go of planning and meddling. Wait. Restraint is rewarded. It is
favorable for peace and inaction... 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
::: ::: :::
TUESDAY October 29, Yin Earth Pig 2
Hexagram 37 Jia Ren: Household
Lunar Mansion: The Tail / Tiger
Solar Indicator: Divide
“Jia Ren is about
well-ordered, supportive families and family-like groups that have a collective
purpose. Selfless caregivers (mothers/nourishment) make households and
family-like groups strong. Selfless and consistent inner strength is the basis
of true communities. Orderly family/communities nurture great leaders who, in
turn, make the alliances that create fair and just nation-states."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 37 Jia Ren
“It is auspicious to
start a building (brings prosperity), get married (brings fertility), bury the
dead (resolves karma) and educate the young (secure longevity) on this day. It
is a good time to move house (into a city). These actions today cause a person
or family and all their projects to flourish. On this day investments increase
in value. It is ideal to give or receive (spend) inheritances. Enjoying the
arts is appropriate. Lost treasures can be found on this day. It is ideal for
self-cultivation, meditation and enjoyment. It is a time of recognizing and
acknowledging achievement with rewards. Evening is less auspicious.”
LM Notes: The Tail
"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
WEDNESDAY October 30, Yang Metal Rat 3
Hexagram 63 Jiji: Already Across
Lunar Mansion: The Basket / Leopard
Solar Indicator: Full
"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 63 Jiji
"It is auspicious
to marry, work hard, purchase, build and remodel (new door = new
resources) on this day. It is auspicious to continue your routine work, review
and reinvest. Acquiring wealth (work, invest and collecting debts) is
highlighted. Good for burials, memorials and funerals (rain of blessings from
the ancestors). Contraindicated activity: Laziness, gossip and slander."
LM Notes: The Basket
“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
THURSDAY October 31, Yin Metal Ox 4
Hexagram 22 Bi: Ornament
Lunar Mansion: The Ladle / Griffon
Solar Indicator: Level
"Bi is favorable when
appearances match the inner nature of things. Simplicity, rather than
extravagance, is recommended as the aesthetic of confidence. Beware of the
deception that comes from superficial decoration."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 22 Bi: Ornament
"It is a most
auspicious day for Daoist religious rites, initiations and transmission of
(esoteric) teachings. It is an auspicious day to start up a business and build
a new building (home, temple). It is a safe day to dig foundations (wells,
trenches) and get married. New opportunities (news) abound - taking exams and
routine work bring great success/reward on this day. It is an auspicious day to
bury the dead - they will rest peacefully and benefit the surviving relatives.”
"Contraindicated
activity: Hypocrisy, irreverence, breaking taboos and sloth."
LM Notes: The Ladle
“This is a day when
stable readiness and the qi of confidence blooms into activity. Youthful
anxiety and ambition are replaced by personal strength and confidence. From
this position all things look and are possible. Educated choices are easily
acted upon. Others join you to enlarge the success of activity. The prince
(yang) is mature, if inexperienced, but ready to act independently of his
mother (yin). Pleasure is the outcome of disciplined practice. Yang qi’s
previously renegade quality is matured, integrated and dominant.”
LM Notes: Level
FRIDAY November 1, Yang Water Tiger 5
Hexagram 36 Mingyi: Pheasant Call
Lunar Mansion: The Oxboy / Ox
Solar Indicator: Settle
“When integrity demands
action, be cautious and prepared to fail. The situation is unfavorable because,
the clear warnings of doom are being ignored by the powerful."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 36 Mingyi
“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
“Preparedness makes
action timely and successful. Tradition, convention, training, education - all
forms of readiness, inspire action. Forces join together and new alliances
produce unexpected results. Action taken with such thorough preparation is
bound to succeed. The qi of the day is stable, progressive and functional.
Clarity and calm (yin) are not unseated by action (yang). Focus and repetition
succeed. Procrastination and equivocation is contraindicated.”
LM Notes: Settle
In resolution and adventure...
Warmly,
Jamie Shulander
Instagram @jamieshulander
jshulander@gmail.com
415-450-7884
