Chinese Almanac Astrology January 19 - 24, 2020

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."

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LUNAR MONTH: YIN FIRE OX (1817, 1877, 1937, 1997, 2057) ‘Ox at the Lake’

"Fire Ox are assertive, focused and oafish characters. Their accomplishments are epic. They mature very quickly and/or are deprived of a normal childhood. Their strength (belligerence) creates enemies (hard knocks) but these enemies become their teachers. By midlife they will have overcome many obstacles to become well-known, prosperous and happy. They are likely to have more than one family and enjoy a ‘second childhood’ when they reach 60. They are prone to liver disorders and eye problems."

QI NODE: 23 Little Cold

Yin Declines

“In the Little Cold qi node yin inclines gracefully toward its demise. The ground may freeze and thaw and freeze again. The sheer weight of Yin compresses yang but it does not succumb. It may be too cold to snow. Retreat is natural gesture. The ice is cracking but it is hard to notice the change. Yang is imagining its recovery. The qi is best at 1 am! If your bed points East and you sleep on your right side - you face north all night. You should be dreaming in such a way that you are reinventing yourself down to the very depths of your being. This qi node is the inherent birth found in every death. The impulse of immortality played out in the myriad ephemeral phenomena.

You may wake from a dream cured of a chronic condition. You may wake from a dream remembering your true nature. Do neigong while asleep!”

LM The Way of Three Treasures

LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 15 Qian: Modesty

“With true modesty anything can be accomplished. In modest steps a great journey can be accomplished. Even when strong action needs to be taken, do not abandon modesty.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi 15 Qian

::: ::: :::

SUNDAY January 19, Yin Metal Rooster 25

Hexagram 3 Zhun: Sprouting

Lunar Mansion: The Room / Hare

Solar Indicator: Complete

::: ::: :::

QI NODE: 24 Great Cold

Malignant Yin

"The Great Cold qi node is Big Yin's last stand for the year - 'Cold rolls up into Heaven'. The fact is Yin power is nearly exhausted. It is the systole of yin/yang transformation - a pause and stillness before the stirring of spring and the return of Yang. It is time to remain withdrawn and silent. Cold and Damp unite and ride the Wind. The Cold is ghostly and hollow but still dangerous and penetrating.

"During this qi node Great Cold qi is best at 2 am. One should practice neigong in the evening before bed and just before dawn facing the northeast. Do not exert yourself, but let the yang qi stir - feel warm. During the day eat two small meals. Is is still the dead of winter so do not abandon the conservation of your yang qi. Rest often and throughout the day and work indoors. Do not think too much.

"During this time the Great Yin of winter is fallen - a cold Damp (pernicious qi) spreads, along the ground. Go to bed early and avoid the cold night winds that harm the lungs. Your genetic predisposition for illness and death (ghosts) are on the surface (abroad) and can be adjusted, cleared or subdued. Heavy phlegm and cold diarrhea that do not respond to treatment are dangerous signs of possession. Stay warm. Stimulating massage is okay but should not stir up yang. Warm baths and brushing the skin red are good.

"The groundless feeling of depression, fear and 'just surviving' are common symptoms of malignant yin. The unsettled dead cause outbursts of emotion (possession/fear) that hurt the Lungs and Colon - try to stay calm, but not lethargic. Strange and/or profound dreams are good signs of the transformation and resolution of ghosts."

LM The Way of Three Treasures

::: ::: :::

MONDAY January 20, Yang Water Dog 26

Hexagram 27 Yi: Jaws

Lunar Mansion: The Heart / Fox

Solar Indicator: Harvest

TUESDAY January 21, Yin Water Pig 27

Hexagram 24 Fu: Return

Lunar Mansion: The Tail / Tiger

Solar Indicator: Open

WEDNESDAY January 22, Yang Wood Rat 28

Hexagram 44 Gou: Meeting

Lunar Mansion: The Basket / Leopard

Solar Indicator: Shut

“Inauspicious for all intimate personal relationships. It is a time to withdraw and cut your losses. Both sexes are at risk to be abused by the inappropriateness of a relationship. Think rot and ruin. A kind of corruption has entered the very foundation of things.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi 44 Guo

"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

“A Shut day is a day of rest, whether you like it or not. Qi resources are spent and the notion of a spender (yang) is long gone. Dispersion has ended in exhaustion (big yin) and no memory exists to create joy or negativity. Struggling to act on such a day borrows qi from fantasy and sets up a ghostly pattern of bad qi credit. What’s it like to float down the river with no boat, no river and no protagonist? It is ideal day for retreat, mediation and severing ties with everything - don’t worry, it is not the end of anything! Let go anyway - feel the freedom and inaction, disconnectedness, because it offers limitless insight. Focus on your golf swing and forget about how the kids are squandering their inheritance on cocaine. It’s that kind of day! The river has reached the sea and even the water is confused.”

LM Notes: Shut

THURSDAY January 23, Yin Wood Ox 29

Hexagram 28 Da Guo: Excess

Lunar Mansion: The Ladle / Griffon

Solar Indicator: Design

“Da Guo contains instructions on how to avoid disaster in heavy, grave or weird and unconventional circumstances. When you get entangled in excess, going forward with caution may be the best thing to do. Excess and eccentricity have their place. Something greater than the usual mechanical sense of cause and effect is at work in Da Guo."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 28 Da Guo

"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

“It is an excellent day to recover wisdom by stepping back, planning, recalling alliances and reassessing our position.”

LM Notes: Design

FRIDAY January 24, Yang Fire Tiger 30

Hexagram 50 Ding: Tri-Pod Vessel

Lunar Mansion: The Oxboy / Ox

Solar Indicator: Divide

It's so shut that I didn't even wish everyone a Happy New Year's Eve! until now! :) Clean what you can, cleanse what you can, and otherwise, do that in the morrow!!! Welcome the New Year!

"It is a time of education and great spiritual and material success. Don’t rush. Your superiors notice you. Opportunity is abundant. Alliances are offered to you on all sides.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi  50 Ding

“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

"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

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In resolution and adventure...

Warmly,

Jamie Shulander

Instagram @jamieshulander

jshulander@gmail.com

415-450-7884