In honor of my Teacher, Liu Ming,
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Commentary and compilations by Jamie Shulander
All notes from class notes/works by Liu Ming
INDICATORS Listed: Yearly, Monthly, Lunar then Daily
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LUNAR YEAR: YEAR of the OX
Deplete: Insensitive, ruthless if crossed, humorless, sullen, slavishly conventional, fearful of change, aloof and dull.
Image: The Ox talked about in Chinese Astrology is well known to all Chinese farmers. When China turned away from the wily horse to the sedate ox as the plow animal, rice productivity greatly increased. As a plow animal the Ox plows straight furrows and needs no coaxing. Ox are linked with the profits of consistent hard work and the Confucian virtue of perseverance in what is right. Naturally strong they are at their best when they are constantly challenged. Their sense of justice (and the law) makes them good leaders. Though often materially successful, they lack attachment to material things.
Metal Ox are accommodating, strong and reliable. They never shy away from difficulty or back down in confrontation. They promise more than they can deliver. Hurtful trauma in childhood (orphaned, immigration) and repressed anger ultimately polish their cold-heartedness into a calm and generous character. They are good parents and friends to a small in-crowd. They are rarely sick, and live long lives. Though their fortunes wax and wane they have comfortable old age.
LM Notes: Metal Ox
Yang Matures
"Grain is both a seed and a food. When grain ripens (develops its beard) food stores are renewed and the seeds for next year are also secured. Grain Ripens qi node is a time for first grain harvests. Food that will be harvested in autumn can also now be planted. Yang becomes a new Father and awkwardly rejoices. The Prince becomes worthy of the legacy of power. New alliances are made and old alliances confirmed - confidence spreads widely. The sun’s warmth transforms the damp of spring rain. The name Grain Ripens refers to the maturation of grain/seeds when yin and yang unite in the plant.
“The sudden burst of growth however, has a dark side. As hot qi breaks away from spring wind it may enter the Lungs (skin) too quickly (allergies and fevers). Sudden temper tantrums unseat the hun shake the shen. The heart is opened up and vulnerable - defensiveness lashes out. Emotional outburst in summer release stagnant qi but can also damage the shen/heart. Insomnia may occur or get worse. All our tissues and cells are meant to flourish (expand) at this time so it is important to maintain a good appetite (and diet). Breakfast is very important.
“Accidents and injuries occur often. Be careful.
“During this qi node qi is best at / near noon. In the morning practice neigong facing south. Do not exert yourself; let the neiqi (inner energy) cool the blood and transform nutrients. Rub your stomach in circles. During the day eat two modest meals, drink green tea and in the evening eat a very light supper Enjoy light savory (salty) soups. Guard the heart.
“Before bed bucket bathe, wash your hair and go to sleep early. Sleeping in until 7am is okay. Work, travel, rehearse - don’t dream. Planning is over - fulfill promises. Be active, not ‘aggressive’. Cultivate the summer qi by going places and doing things. Multi-task is okay. Show and express your feelings but do not overdo your expression. Don’t plan piano lessons; rehearse for a recital (coming soon). Chew well, drink to satisfy thirst (not more) exercise outdoors if possible, go for a walk and/or do some gardening."
LM The Way of Three Treasures
"Shi is time for order and cooperation. Agreements and alliances foster good fortune. When Shi is divined teamwork and personal discipline can transform danger into success, but losses will occur.”
LM Changing: Zhouyi 7 ShiHexagram 28 Da Guo: Excess
Lunar Mansion: The Heart / Fox
Solar Indicator: Settle
Today's Fire Dog character is "patient, persevering and
kind-hearted" and good at solving problems. The auspices of the day are
mixed. Tap into the patience available today, practice discipline and move
along cautiously.
“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 auspicious to
comply with superiors, make offerings to the ancestors, move home and/or
immigrate. Only routine work may avoid negativity. Contraindicated activity: If
you start a lawsuit (making your case) you will lose everything (imprisonment).
If you construct a building, get married or bury the dead, disaster follows.
Everything sold today will be at a loss to the seller. Pushing forward (forcing
progress) on this day will have three times the negative result of other days.”
“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.”
Hexagram 44 Gou: Meeting
Lunar Mansion: The Tail / Tiger
Solar Indicator: Maintain
“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.”
“It is auspicious to
start a building (brings prosperity), get married (brings fertility), bury the
dead (resolves karma) and educate the young (secure longevity) on this day. It
is a good time to move house (into a city). These actions today cause a person
or family and all their projects to flourish. On this day investments increase
in value. It is ideal to give or receive (spend) inheritances. Enjoying the
arts is appropriate. Lost treasures can be found on this day. It is ideal for
self-cultivation, meditation and enjoyment. It is a time of recognizing and
acknowledging achievement with rewards. Evening is less auspicious.”
“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.”
Hexagram 24 Fu: Return
Lunar Mansion: The Basket / Leopard
Solar Indicator: Destroy
Today's conventional Earth Rat is "clever and
thrifty," a nice fit for auspices that suggest both keeping an eye on
appropriate release and focused investment of energy and resources.
“Short-term plans
succeed in the context of a broad view. Things are turning for the better.
Routine work comes to fruition. It is favorable to have a clear goal before
setting out."
LM Notes: The Basket
“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
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“Wood Horses are
impulsive, reclusive and focused characters. Intermittent concentration causes
them to miss opportunities and make their fortune uneven. Beneath a shy
exterior they are self-assured and supportive but they do not make new friends
easily. They are very clever with their hands and will be known for this
capacity. They dislike surprises and prefer the simple cause and effect
concept. They do not express their feelings at all. Though strong, they suffer
from wind disorders and liver qi stagnation (conditions hard to diagnose and
treat).
“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.”
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Hexagram 27 Yi: Jaws
Lunar Mansion: The Ladle / Griffon
Solar Indicator: Danger
“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."
"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."
“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.”
FRIDAY, June 11, Yang Metal Tiger 2
Hexagram 3 Zhun: Sprouting
Lunar Mansion: The Oxboy / Ox
Solar Indicator: Complete
“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 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
“It is a day for resting on your laurels. Success is established and secured and the new state seems to govern itself. Enemies are few. It is a time for inward reflection (yin) on the bare face of reality (yang). Struggle (yang) is no longer possible or necessary (yin). Decline is not feared and success not celebrated. Wisdom approaches and withdrawing succeeds. Art is the demonstration of confidence, dignity and wisdom - be artful. No more accumulating - decorate with modesty. The way of perfecting power is austerity and restraint. Do less, have less, show less and seek nothing. Enjoy what is already manifest.”
LM Notes: Complete
SATURDAY, June 12, Yin Metal Rabbit 3
Hexagram 42 Yi: Increase
Lunar Mansion: The Maiden / Bat
Solar Indicator: Harvest
“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.”
“It is auspicious to
stay home, enjoy the arts, self-reflect, do inner panning and practice
austerity (meditation, fasting and rest). It is beneficial to guard your health
and conserve your qi. It is favorable to support others. Building may be safe
but not profitable.”
“It is not auspicious
to take risks, medical treatments, bury the dead (cause epidemics, bowel
disorders). To initiate industry (dig earth) and production on this day invites
calamity.”
“What makes this day
smooth is a sense of fearlessness. It is not so much how it goes (yang) as what
it shows (yin). Rise and fall are no longer the point - the wide view can be
taken. Ease is possible - effortless continuity on all sides. The qi seems to
float us forward quite naturally - ebbing and flowing are both acceptable. The
lessons of earthly life are found in both maturing and declining. Everything
succeeds. Cleverness and survival give way to courage and directness. Be like
the beloved monarch and not an ambitious merchant. Let new resources and
assistants come forward by standing back.”
SUNDAY, June 13, Yang Water Dragon 4
Hexagram Consult the Oracle
“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.”
“The choice here is
whether to call fate something to fight or something to embrace. It is a day
with an easy qi. It is a day to appreciate how things really operate beyond the
desire that creates images and appearances. Accepting should be a boundless
(yin) act beyond goals - the goal has always been return to our beginningless
origin (Dao). There is no protagonist (yang) that should relax - there is only
relaxation itself (yin). Look around for a successor (new plan, idea, task) and
resume the heart/mind of a novice. The son of a rebel leader may become the
second emperor of a new dynasty. An open heart gives the option to acquire
great wisdom.”
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In resolution and adventure...
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