Chinese Almanac Astrology December 8 - 11, 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: 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: 21 Great Snow

Yin Matures

“The Great Snow qi node is a time of visions and magic. Our inner yang sees images in the Great Yin. Things are not as they appear. Yin extends its influence into our dreams. During this qi node qi is best at 11pm (when you are asleep). Practice neigong in the  morning and evening. Remembered or forgotten dreams appear in this qi node that portend the coming year. The darkening of the light means shorter days, no rainbows and abundant snow. Stillness may lead to stagnation. All activity slows down, many things seem to stop or die. Every being/thing must rest. A trip south (winter vacation) is recommended for those with insufficient yang.”

LM The Way of Three Treasures

LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 61 Zhongfu: Holding the Center

"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

::: ::: :::

SUNDAY December 8, Yin Earth Rabbit 13

Hexagram 12 Pi: Obstruction

Lunar Mansion: The Watchers / Cock

Solar Indicator: Level

"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

“It is auspicious to stay home (familiar places / people), study, enter retreat, initiate austerities and make offerings to the dead. It is wise to postpone everything proactive (marriage, building, funeral, burials).

“It is not auspicious to be industrious in any way (building will bring loss). All positive events that occur today will ultimately have negative results (marriage will end in disloyalty and divorce). Medical treatments on this day will complicate existing illness - turn acute into chronic (possibly bring on premature death). Confrontation or battle on this day will lead to injury or death.” 

LM Notes: The Watchers

“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

MONDAY December 9, Yang Metal Dragon 14

Hexagram 45 Cui: Assembly

Lunar Mansion: The Net / Crow

Solar Indicator: Settle

“Beneficial for all joint efforts. Be receptive to the inevitable success that comes from joining together with others. Expect emotions to run high and epiphanies on all sides.”

"When we sincerely open our hearts in this way we are naturally purged of our selfishness and wantonness. Through this exchange we may enter into the depths of human spirituality. There is no greater gesture than this ritual of rituals."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 45 Cui

"To consult a physician and consult oracles (divination of all kinds) will bring clarity. It is a good day for industry (labor/gardening = long term wealth), building (restores clarity) and burying the dead (enhance intuition). It is inauspicious to take anything for granted. It is inauspicious for revolution, confrontation, breaking taboos, neglecting responsibilities or travel (someone at home dies/gets sick)."

LM Notes: The Net

“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

TUESDAY December 10, Yin Metal Snake 15

Hexagram 35 Jin: Advance

Lunar Mansion: The Beak / Monkey

Solar Indicator: Maintain

“...The truth is, nothing is accomplished without a network of co-factors and helpers (family and friends [alive and dead]). Modesty and grace express our interconnectedness.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi  35 Jin

"It bodes well to follow superiors, practice austerity and/or pool resources with others. It is a good day to sincerely comply with divination and maintain taboos meticulously.

"It is inauspicious to push forward, be industrious or initiate new ventures. Revolution or demanding idealistic justice on this day will be catastrophic."

LM Notes: The Beak

“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

WEDNESDAY December 11, Yang Water Horse 16

Hexagram 16 Yu: Comfort

Lunar Mansion: The Trio / Gibbon

Solar Indicator: Destroy

16 Yu: Comfort

"Pleasure, in its many forms, though powerful, is not long-lived. The auspice is good for enjoyment but self-indulgence can ruin it. Enjoy and share the results of the success, but do not make pleasure a goal in itself."

LM Changing: Zhouyi  16 Yu

"It bodes well to dispose of inessentials (haircuts), edit, fast, study (Classics), take exams, enter retreat and practice meditation. It is good to be industrious close to home (house clean). Initiating business (particularly group enterprise) will be fruitful if planning has been thorough.

"It is inauspicious to push forward aggressively. Do not get married, finalize divorce, bury the dead (it will create family dissent), spend savings or speculate financially as these all lead to losing resources and cooperation."

LM Notes: The Trio

“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

In resolution and adventure...

Warmly,

Jamie Shulander

Instagram @jamieshulander

jshulander@gmail.com

415-450-7884