Chinese Almanac Astrology December 22 - 25, 2019

In honor of my Teacher, Liu Ming,


 




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 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”.

::: ::: :::

QI NODE: 22 Winter Solstice

Yin Rules

“The Winter Solstice qi node has the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It is one of four annual pivots that rectify the annual qi. During this qi node qi is at its height at midnight! At the end of this qi node, the new calendar year begins. In the Chinese official calendar it is the mid-point of winter. The astrological year is still months away.

Yin peaks but in this same qi node it begins its inevitable decline - supreme yin gives birth to the flux of yang. Tigers mate. Christmas lights twinkle. Birth and death commingle, but life is cold and apparently dead now begins to move toward life.

Everywhere in Chinese cosmology black (dark) produces ‘yellow’ or light of the sun. ‘The darkest hour is just before dawn’.”

LM The Way of Three Treasures

LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 39 Jian: Stumbling

“Events call for experts, but, even if experts cannot be found, all goes well. Caution, patience, humility and self-discipline pay off. If you are not anxious or selfish, you are given success."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 39 Jian

::: ::: :::

SUNDAY December 22, Yin Water Snake 27

Hexagram 9 Xiao Xu: Minor Force

Lunar Mansion: The Room / Hare

Solar Indicator: Maintain

Today opens not with forward action, but rather through patience, accepting alliance and re-calibration. The Water Snake character of today cunning, gifted and restless is a nice match for the auspices...And, I forgot to mention yesterday - Happy Solstice!

"It is best to subordinate to or ally yourself with the strong or wait to accumulate more strength and resources. Do not be rambunctious, distracted or diverted. Small projects done well will eventually add up to success. Obstacles and delays can be expected in any forward action.” 

LM Changing: Zhouyi 9 Xiao Xu

"It is auspicious to make (sincere) offerings to ancestors, consult oracles, practice ritual and meditation, move home, begin construction and add rooms (remodel) to homes and shops. It is a good day for fengshui adjustments, acquiring luxuries, medical treatments (esp food/herb cures) and making investments. Success will visit anyone who studies and/or takes exams today. Funerals on this day benefit both the living and the dead. Straight-forwardness and sincerity bring success."

"Contraindicated activity: Finalizing divorce, excessive ambition and ingratitude. Exaggeration and hypocrisy bring disaster. Not a good day for taking leadership or management responsibilities."

LM Notes: The Room

“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

MONDAY December 23, Yang Wood Horse 28

Hexagram 5 Xu: Waiting

Lunar Mansion: The Heart / Fox

Solar Indicator: Destroy

Put in the clutch, today is best for compliance, waiting and/or cancellation. Today's character is impulsive, reclusive and focused, and also prefers no surprises. When in doubt go with the routine or nothing at all to reduce mishap.

"Xu suggests that waiting is a part of the natural unfolding (fate) of all situations. Xu is about making the most of waiting - using the power of patience and procrastination to avoid struggle and develop wisdom in action. Accepting fate is not about abandoning intelligence. A wise and able person has the sensitivity to find the freedom within fate. The wisdom of Xu is the clarity to hold back and go forward at the right times.” 

LM Changing: Zhouyi 5 Xu

“It is auspicious to comply with superiors, make offerings to the ancestors, move home and/or immigrate. Only routine work may avoid negativity. Contraindicated activity: If you start a lawsuit (making your case) you will lose everything (imprisonment). If you construct a building, get married or bury the dead, disaster follows. Everything sold today will be at a loss to the seller. Pushing forward (forcing progress) on this day will have three times the negative result of other days.”

LM Notes: The Heart

“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

TUESDAY December 24, Yin Wood Goat 29

Hexagram 26 Da Chu: Great Store

Lunar Mansion: The Tail / Tiger

Solar Indicator: Danger

Today's Wood Goat character, industrious, sincere and disciplined, should help balance out the auspices that otherwise suggest both action and caution.

“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

“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

WEDNESDAY December 25, Yang Fire Monkey 30

Hexagram 11 Tai: Great

Lunar Mansion: The Basket / Leopard

Solar Indicator: Complete

Today also finds the character, organized, industrious and frank, supportive to the mostly action-oriented auspices. So when in doubt, rest and see what unfolds...

“Tai is favorable for going forward and expanding. When Tai is divined natural growth is inevitable - all plans succeed, if you do not push or rush them. Do not over analyze the situation. Recognize that things unfold by themselves.” LM Changing: Zhouyi 11 Tai

"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

“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

::: ::: :::

In resolution and adventure...

Warmly,

Jamie Shulander

Instagram @jamieshulander

jshulander@gmail.com

415-450-7884