May we work together to create solutions and connect...
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.
AND SO WE BEGIN...
::: ::: :::
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: YIN FIRE BOAR (1887, 1947, 2007, 2077) ‘Mountain Pig’
Fire Pigs are resolute, talented and aggressive characters. They are precocious and tend to marry/partner young or not at all. Having rare and unusual skills they are supported by people of power and influence. They are devout followers and absorb knowledge/power from others. Uniqueness and excessive strength isolate them. Their fortunes improve with age (60+) and/or when they learn to let go. Though they are particularly susceptible to “hot” disease, they respond well to treatment and have long lives.
::: ::: :::
QI NODE: 20 Little Snow
Yin Expands
“In the Little Snow qi node the continued growth of the cold/yin continues and our adaptation to Big Yin should have set in. The first snow seems beautiful like a young princess. The wisdom of the Past (ancestors) is proven true. The pattern of withdrawal seems just and truthful. Yin is now well established.
“Now it is easy to feel winter has begun. As winter grows cold and the maturation of the annual yin qi develops the cold and damp unite to create snow. Days get shorter - the dark grows quickly. The ground hardens and may freeze, insects disappear and rainbows no longer appear. The qi is best at 10pm. During this period the environment grows ever more yin and yang inhibition grows stronger. Every being/thing must rest. A trip south (winter vacation) is recommended for those with insufficient yang. We must guard our inner yang as it recedes from the environment. Cancel your activities in preparation for retreat. Earphones and iPod should replace public concerts. Check your insulation! Catch up on classic movies.”
LM The Way of Three Treasures
LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 28 Da Guo: Excess
“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::: ::: :::
SUNDAY November 29, Yang Metal Rat 29
Hexagram 38 Kui: Incompatible
Lunar Mansion: The Void / Rat
Solar Indicator: Divide
Keep it close to home and keep your focus small. Take advantage of good habits and listen to expert physicians...
“Unfavorable for planning or forward progress. Expect to be frustrated but make small gains. It is a good time to seek counsel from those with expertise and wisdom...Try a little self-reflection and humility."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 38 Kui“It is auspicious to stay home, strengthen family ties and protect your children. Sleep and rest are recommended (be cautioned by your dreams).”
“On this day it is not auspicious to marry (your children will be delinquent or handicapped), bury the dead or make offerings to ancestors (ghosts/dead will become demonic - causing illnesses for 3 years!). Extra-marital affairs begun on this day will eventually ruin your family, reputation and health. Medical treatments today can cause injury and expose constitutional weakness.”
LM Notes: The Void
"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
MONDAY November 30, Yin Fire Ox 16
Hexagram 58 Dui: Pleasuring
Hexagram 58 Dui: Pleasuring
Lunar Mansion: The Roof / Swallow
Solar Indicator: Full
The character of today can be strong and oafish, where the auspices suggest caution. Aim to calibrate.
"Generally auspicious and associated with a light-handed approach to things. It is not how you find pleasure, but how you express it that will determine the longevity of your happiness."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 58 Dui“The key to the auspices has to do with how you act in a dangerous situation…It is auspicious to stay home, repair walls (security), remodel, take tonics and comply with superiors. It is favorable for medical treatments, exercise and eating well. It is favorable to raise roof beams and rafters (begin new construction). It is auspicious for family gatherings at home. Alliances and collaborations come to fruit and good 'luck'. This day is inauspicious for travel because you will be robbed (road) or drowned (sea). Strangers and strange (foreign) places offer calamity.”
LM Notes: The Roof
“This is an optimum day for education, preparation, polishing, gathering resources and firming up plans. Confidence grows as the right time and necessary resources are now part of the vision. The qi is forming patterns and remaining in the channels. Practice and disciplined cultivation bring confidence. The prince (yang) is gaining support. Discipline in small matters succeeds. True confidence requires no aggression. Though nothing needs to be done, the natural maturation of strength occurs.”
LM Notes: Full
TUESDAY December 1, Yang Earth Tiger 17
Hexagram 10 Lu: Treading
Lunar Mansion: The House / Pig
Solar Indicator: Level
"The process contains danger because you do not have the power to create success with certainty. Everything depends on exactly how you conduct yourself. Humility, caution, fear-management, and contemplation bring success.” LM Changing: Zhouyi 10 Lu
“It is auspicious to build, remodel and make fengshui adjustments (especially to enhance career office/shop). It is auspicious to initiate business, negotiate and sign contracts and get married (all of which have long-term benefit). Expect to be generously compensated for work done today.
“Public welfare projects succeed. Temple buildings brings benefits for many generations.
Conversely it is auspicious to enter retreat if there is great sincerity (renunciation) and strong resolve (compassion for others). The benefits you receive on this day should be shared with others (living and dead). Burials on this day are celebrated by both the living and dead ancestors (bring great wealth).
“It is not auspicious to wait, procrastinate or be confrontational.”
LM Notes: The House
“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
WEDNESDAY December 2, Yin Earth Rabbit 18
Hexagram 11 Tai: Great
Lunar Mansion: The Wall / Porcupine
Solar Indicator: Settle
“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 build, remodel and make fengshui adjustments (increase opportunities/wealth [public part of home]). It is auspicious to initiate business, sign contracts and get married (strengthen family ties). It is auspicious for investments, banking (gardening [increase fertility]) and study (the classics). It is an especially good day to exercise (martial arts), socialize (create parties, feasts and celebrations). It is also advantageous to travel, start a journey or vacation. NOT complying with the auspice of this indicator may lead to madness and suicide.
"Contraindicated activity: It is inauspicious to withdraw, begin an austerity or retreat."
"Contraindicated activity: It is inauspicious to withdraw, begin an austerity or retreat."
LM Notes: The Wall
“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: 21 Shihe: Biting
"A Zhou leader was both a warrior and a sage, not a brute. Good leaders know that it is their own miscalculations and poor management that lead to the need for a strong use of force (war). When we resort to harsh punishments we must do so cautiously - even humbly."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 21 Shihe::: ::: :::
THURSDAY December 3, Yang Metal Dragon 19
Hexagram 26 Da Chu: Great Store
Lunar Mansion: The Stride / Wolf
Solar Indicator: Maintain
“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 build, remodel or repair property (line clothing for winter) - in the sense to fortify or strengthen. It is auspicious to transact routine business, banking (anything that parallels the storing for winter), to plan but not speculate. It is beneficial to receive medical treatments (qi in channels) It is favorable to make amulets.
"It is inauspicious to travel, argue or press lawsuits. It is not advised to dig the ground or bury the dead."
"It is inauspicious to travel, argue or press lawsuits. It is not advised to dig the ground or bury the dead."
LM Notes: The Stride
“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
FRIDAY December 4, Yin Metal Snake 20
Hexagram 5 Xu: Waiting
Lunar Mansion: The Mound / Dog
Solar Indicator: Destroy
"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 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
“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
“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
LM Notes: Destroy
::: ::: :::
In resolution and adventure...
Warmly,
Jamie Shulander
Instagram@jamieshulander
jshulander@gmail.com
