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
::: ::: :::
LUNAR YEAR: YEAR of the RAT
"Charged: Charming, diligent, perseverant, methodical, social, cooperative, discrete, frugal and observant. Rats are capable and fun loving.
Depleted: Complaining, nervous, nit picking, annoyingly analytical, stingy, scheming, cowardly, overly concentrated (mono-maniacal) and selfish.
Image: The Rat talked about in Chinese Astrology is well known to all Chinese farmers throughout history. If there is grain, rats appear, so rats are linked to prosperity. A rat year is expected to be profitable. Rats always appear in groups and, though not individually strong, they can undermine an enormous barn by gnawing and nibbling away the foundation piece by piece. Rats often view their social life as central to their existence. Sociability is required to survive. Their acute social observation makes them good mimics or actors. When they are being someone else (acting) they love center stage. Though not a sensual materialist, like the Pig, rats are hoarders and often live in clutter. They are likely to become more capable as they age..."
YANG METAL RAT (1840, 1900, 1960, 2020, 2080) ‘Rafter Rat’
Metal Rats are sensitive, meticulous and resourceful. They easily win the attention and support of others and love to compete and win. Their ambition is modified by a strong personal sense of moral and spiritual values. They enjoy independence and are ruthlessly calculating in matters of the heart and finance. Though not without enemies, they experience relatively even fortunes. Jovial in appearance they internally brood and worry over the slightest things. They are susceptible to contagious and common illnesses but live long because of treatments from expert physicians and meticulous personal habits."
LUNAR MONTH: YANG METAL DRAGON (1880, 1940, 2000, 2060) ‘Angry Dragon’
Metal Dragons have an egotistical, powerful and outspoken character. Despite their egotism, they are articulate and knowledgeable. They are so strong that they feel above morality and the law. Their uneven fortune is due to many broken boundaries and commitments - unburned bridges (karma). Their vitally strong constitution gives them enormous appetites (food, sex, ideas). Their medical problems go unnoticed, eventually becoming irreversible mental disorders (and/or possession).
QI NODE: 4 Spring Equinox
Yin and Yang Equality
"At the Spring Equinox the yin and yang are equal. A quivering Yang arises and a shaky Yin submits. The day and night are equal in length. This qi node marks one of four annual pivots that rectify the annual qi. In lunar calendar terms this is spring's midpoint. A Prince is crowned. During this qi node the best qi is available around dawn; you should practice neigong facing due east and greet the dawn. Imagine that you inhale the true and pure yang of the sun from over the horizon as the light appears. Have it enter your body and refresh all your organs, channels and joints.
You will notice that all the winter's lethargy is gone and if you have been cultivating spring, yang is no longer shaky. Plans and actions are enhanced. It is an ideal time for in depth study, long walks and consulting with diviners and astrologers. Focus and go forward. Do not forget the advice of sages! Crows and ravens are sun-creatures in Chinese tradition - they will be rascally now all through spring and summer."
LM The Way of Three Treasures
LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 43 Guai: Lurch
“Guai tells us when
impulsiveness, abruptness and breaking with standard protocol are okay.
Success, in the case of Guai, is a timely, but abrupt, escape.
Sometimes it is best to immediately quit a situation and/or abandon a
relationship because of its excessive restrictions. Guai carries
the ambiguous message that misconduct is sometimes appropriate.”
LM Changing: Zhouyi
::: ::: :::
SUNDAY March 29, Yin Metal Goat 6
Hexagram Consult the Oracle
Lunar Mansion: The Watchers / Cock
Solar Indicator: Settle
Today is a day to pull back and keep
it close to home. Focus on small projects with the family and tap into the
day's character: gentle, forgiving and aesthetic.
“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
“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
::: ::: :::
LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 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
::: ::: :::
MONDAY March 30, Yang Water Monkey 7
Hexagram 42 Yi: Increase
Lunar Mansion: The Net / Crow
Solar Indicator: Maintain
Today's character is high-strung,
sharp and observant. Mind the follow-through and nourish what shows up in the
day...
“Yi is about the
natural progress of things when it is enhanced by the best of conditions. Sun
and water and good soil help the tree grow strong; yet a tree is also
subordinate to the warmth, the rain and the soil. The tree also naturally
"knows” what to take and leave. Yi is the “knowledge” of nature.”
LM Changing: Zhouyi 42 Yi
"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
“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
TUESDAY March 31, Yin Water Rooster 8
Hexagram 3 Zhun: Sprouting
Lunar Mansion: The Beak / Monkey
Solar Indicator: Destroy
Today's character is resourceful
but unstable. Be mindful and subordinate...
“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 3 Zhun
"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
“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
WEDNESDAY April 1, Yang Wood Dog 9
Hexagram 27 Yi: Jews
Lunar Mansion: The Trio / Gibbon
Solar Indicator: Danger
Though the character of the day is articulate,
talkative and active. Today carries risk...Be mindful, observant and
hesitant.
“Raw impulse is strong
but dangerous. Excessive ambitions can bring about personal disaster. There
will be setbacks in progress. Acting properly when the time is right goes well.
In the acquisition of what you want (money or property) it is important to be
strong but modest."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 27 Yi
"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
“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
