Chinese Almanac Astrology January 3 - 6, 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."

::: ::: :::

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: 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: 3 Zhun: Sprouting

“Zhun is favorable for young people, fresh thinking, new alliances, and gentle progress. Zhun is an inspired, delicate and new situation needing unpretentious leadership and experienced advice to grow. When Zhun is divined inexperience is the basis for difficulties, there are no real outside obstacles. Delays should be expected."

LM Changing: Zhouyi

::: ::: :::

FRIDAY January 3, Yin Wood Snake 9

Hexagram 19 Lin: Approach

Lunar Mansion: The Mound / Dog

Solar Indicator: Maintain

The Wood Snake character of today is honest, shy and popular. Be gentle and social. It is a day for action and generosity.

"You must be patient and appropriate in your progress, but do not procrastinate. The auspice is for forward action."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 19 Lin

"It is time to build (thresholds, public buildings) and add on (growth of family: new baby, new bride) to property. It is auspicious to initiate and continue routine business. It is a day for feasting, gatherings and romance. Marriages contracted/performed today produce resourceful and wealthy children. It is an excellent day for assemblies, parties and celebrations.

“This day brings fresh breezes in Spring, cooling mist in Summer, light rain in Fall and thin ice in Winter. It is inauspicious to enter retreat, practice renunciation or travel alone. Avoid confrontation."

LM Notes: The Mound

“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

SATURDAY January 4, Yang Fire Horse 10

Hexagram 13 Tong Ren: Community

Lunar Mansion: The Stomach / Pheasant

Solar Indicator: Destroy

Today has a bit of fire behind it, outspoken, quick-tempered and skillful, Fire Horses are known for their flare. However, today is best for collaboration and release. When in doubt, cancel plans and go for the community-minded approach.

“It is favorable to go forward in concert with others after reflection and alliance is established."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 13 Tong Ren

"It is auspicious to build, bury the dead (increase status/rank) and marry (your children will hobnob with kings) on this day. It is a good day to make your case, to push forward and to ask for what you are due (collecting receivables). It is a good day for gift giving and charity (canceling debts owed you)."

“Contraindicated activity: It is inauspicious to be confrontational, break the law or squander resources (gamble); such activities will bring years of loss and regret.”

LM Notes: The Stomach

“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

SUNDAY January 5, Yin Fire Goat 11

Hexagram 49 Ge: Molting

Lunar Mansion: The Watchers / Cock

Solar Indicator: Danger

Take a chill pill today and step back. The day is more about what is happening under the surface and it's best to get out of the way and let go. Today's character, high-strung, moody and successful, is actually quite suited to moments of sacrifice though may not like it at all...

"It is a favorable time for dramatic reform and revolution - night becoming day. If you are ready to accept serious change and ready to let go of the past, everything is favorable. If you fear change, Ge donates the painful torment of unsuccessful resistance.”

LM Changing: Zhouyi  49 Ge

“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

“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

::: ::: :::

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

::: ::: :::

MONDAY January 6, Yang Earth Monkey 12

Hexagram 30 Li: Oriole

Lunar Mansion: The Net / Crow

Solar Indicator: Danger

This Monday is an excellent day for consulting experts and elders. Today's character is otherwise, charming, eloquent and moody, so go for the eloquence and keep it mellow.

“Though things seem bright, one cannot rely on the brightness to last for a long time. Seize the moment. No battle is won without sacrifices on both sides."

LM Changing: Zhouyi 30 Li

"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

“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