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: 19 Winter Begins
Yin Hides Yang
“The qi node called Winter Begins is a time of growing cold and the development of Big Yin qi. Days get short and nights grow long. The ground hardens (but does not freeze), insects disappear and the last harvest must be stored away. During this period the environment grows ever more Yin and is characterized by cold (water element). The winter is the great Abyss of Yin. If yang is not stored the world is barren.
As the last of the autumn qi subsides, a cold north wind (qi) appears and the season of winter begins in earnest. Dampness (Earth) riding the cold wind is only occasional. Winter is here and there is a chance to enjoy the Cold. During this period the environmental qi is best at 9pm. Neigong is practiced in the morning and just before bed. Dream with intention.”
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 63 Jiji
::: ::: :::
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
::: ::: :::
FRIDAY November 22, Yin Water Pig 26
Hexagram 64 Weiji: Not Already
Across
Lunar Mansion: The Neck / Dragon
Solar Indicator: Design
SATURDAY November 23, Yang Wood Rat 27
Hexagram 40 Jie: Release
Lunar Mansion: The Root / Badger
Solar Indicator: Divide
SUNDAY November 24, Yin Wood Ox 28
Hexagram Consult the Oracle
Lunar Mansion: The Room / Hare
Solar Indicator: Full
MONDAY November 25, Yang Fire Tiger 29
Hexagram 59 Huan: Overflowing
Lunar Mansion: The Heart / Fox
Solar Indicator: Level
::: ::: :::
LUNAR MONTH: YANG FIRE RAT (1876, 1936, 1996, 2056) ‘Field Rat’
Fire Rats are
aggressive, excitable and brave characters. They hide their resources then
burst forward and break rules. They enjoy uncovering other people’s secrets and
have more than a few themselves. Their fortune starts out obstructed but clears
in midlife, when their previous misconduct begins to resolve. Think reckless
Robin Hood. They have a constitutional weakness in stomach/spleen and are prone
to heart problems. If they reach old age they have wisdom and gain respect.
They will have “been there and done that”.
LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 24 Fu: Return
“Short-term plans succeed in the
context of a broad view. Things are turning for the better. Routine work comes
to fruition. It is favorable to have a clear goal before setting out."
LM Changing: Zhouyi
::: ::: :::
TUESDAY November 26, Yin Fire Rabbit 1
Hexagram 29 Kan: Pit
Lunar Mansion: The Tail / Tiger
Solar Indicator: Settle
“Routine work brings
about unexpected results. At the highest level of success is an opportunity to
be extraordinarily generous."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 26 Da Chu
“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
“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
WEDNESDAY November 27, Yang Earth Dragon 2
Hexagram 4 Meng: Immaturity
Lunar Mansion: The Basket / Leopard
Solar Indicator: Maintain
“What is unformed has
great potential but is also lacks clarity - so success, even progress, is
difficult. It is unfavorable for those who are anxious and impulsive. People of
limited capacity may miscalculate their ability to make use of an opportunity.
Read the advice patiently and do not consult the Zhouyi again on this
matter. Meng is often divined when you are obsessed and anxious about
something."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 4 Meng
"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
“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
THURSDAY November 28, Yin Earth Snake 3
Hexagram 7 Shi: Army
Lunar Mansion: The Ladle / Griffon
Solar Indicator: Destroy
"Shi is time for order and cooperation. Agreements
and alliances foster good fortune. When Shi is divined teamwork and
personal discipline can transform danger into success, but losses will occur.”
LM Changing: Zhouyi 7 Shi
"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
“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
FRIDAY November 29, Yang Metal Horse 4
Hexagram 33 Dun: Pig
Lunar Mansion: The Oxboy / Ox
Solar Indicator: Danger
“There will be modest
gains. Do not be overly concerned about limits and restrictions. Stay put and
you will grow strong. Success is acquired gradually but reward is
inevitable."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 33 Dun
“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
“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
In resolution and adventure...
Warmly,
Jamie Shulander
Instagram @jamieshulander
jshulander@gmail.com
415-450-7884
