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/aka Auspices 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
Wood Goats are industrious, sincere and disciplined characters. They mature quickly, attract helpers and work diligently towards great success. They have great good fortune due to previous causes. Many friends and their children will support them. Their artistic and aesthetic sense is strong, but they rarely produce art due to excessive idealism and naivete. They are strongly affected by their environment. Their strong constitution often chooses self-abuse but will ultimately give them long life.
QI NODE: 11 Slight Heat
Yang Declines
“In Slight or Small Heat qi node Yang begins its inevitable decline but growth is extended. The weather turns mild. Fruits and vegetables are abundant. Cicadas and crickets choruses are heard day and night. Twilight is beautiful. Barns bulge with the abundance. The Prince ascends the throne (yang matures) and becomes King. What will Yang’s legacy be? Is it survival at any cost (brutishness) or the fullness of true and elegant majesty (wisdom)?
“The name “Slight Heat” refers to the mild heat that appears as the yang of the year begins its decline. In this and the next Qi Node (“Great Heat”) the declining yang partners with the inter-seasonal earth and creates damp (or mucus) – that is thick and sometimes sticky qi and fluids. During this node, hot wind continues to prevail and may cause dry Lungs, coughs, hemorrhoids, constipation and fevers. It can aggravate existing (chronic or constitutional) heat conditions like insomnia, heart irregularities and low- grade systemic inflammations of the blood (eczema, dental infections, yeast infections, herpes, skin rashes). Yang qi is past its abundant stage and clings to earth causing damp. Contagious diseases that “rode the hot wind” in the Summer Solstice now take root. Anxiety may crowd into dreams.
“Flowers blossom and fruits and vegetables can be harvested and continue to ripen but this explosion of splendor is about survival. It is the time when many plants extend their qi to produce strong roots and fertile seeds (create future). The Chinese character for summer depicts a farmer at rest (idle) – growth in this part of summer needs little or no nursing (prayer is common). Fall harvests will dependent on this Qi Node being mild. Mild winds can clear damp (avoid mold). Strong summer-style activity takes much more qi to maintain. Though sustained activity is recommended (wind clears damp) it is becoming important to pace oneself. Summer storms can destroy crops and excess activity can purge yang before its Autumn harvest.
“During this qi node the environmental qi (Heaven/Earth) is best at 1pm. When you wake practice neigong facing due South. Do not overexert yourself (sweat); let the qi move the blood and transform nutrients. Dress lightly, untie your hair and stroll about to avoid the damp.
Chew well. During the day eat two meals, rest (nap) after lunch, snacks of fruit (melon) are good on hot days. Drink green and chrysanthemum tea and in the evening enjoy a light savory soup. Guard the heart (shen) from strain by modestly expressing your feelings – it is natural to feel a bit anxious (sudden decline of yang) – but avoid drama/anxiety. Before bed bucket bathe (cold salt rinse) and go to sleep at dark. Rest, relax, travel (vacation by sea), exercise (modestly) and do not get burned by the sun. Do not work or rest directly in the sun of midday!!!”
LM The Way of Three Treasures
LUNAR HEXAGRAM 50 Ding: Tripod Vessel
"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 DingHexagram Consult the Oracle
Solar Indicator: Harvest
"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
“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.”
LM Notes: Harvest
Lunar Mansion: The Beak / Monkey
Solar Indicator: Open
"It is best to subordinate to or ally yourself with the strong or wait to accumulate more strength and resources. Do not be rambunctious, distracted or diverted. Small projects done well will eventually add up to success. Obstacles and delays can be expected in any forward action.”
LM Changing: Zhouyi 9 Xiao Xu
"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 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.”
LM Notes: Open
WEDNESDAY, July 21, Yang Metal Horse 12
Lunar Mansion: The Trio / Gibbon
Solar Indicator: Shut
"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 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
“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
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QI NODE: 12 Great Heat
Malignant Yang
"Great Heat refers to the extreme heat in the yang twilight of the year. Oppressive heat draws up the dampness of the Earth. At this time declining Yang partners with the inter-seasonal Earth and creates Damp Heat. Damp Heat has an oppressive quality (mold, rot) in this qi node and it fosters unprecedented growth and a legion of illnesses. Though much continues to grow and flourish we must avoid the pernicious quality of the season. The great mantle of Yang must be handed down to Yin. The wise prepare for transference not defeat.
During this qi node the environmental qi (Heaven/Earth) is best at 2pm. Practice neigong several times a day facing due south. Dress lightly, wash your hair often and stroll about to avoid the damp. Chew well. During the day eat two meals, rest (nap) after lunch, snacks of fruit (melon, grapes) are good on hot days. Drink green and flower tea (jasmine, honeysuckle, lily) and in the evening enjoy a light savory soup.
It is a good time for initiating new and practical disciplines of conservation (that anticipate autumn). Activity should slowly turn from forward to reverse - begin to edit what has been accomplished. Cut back on obligations. Pace yourself. It is not a time for laziness and indolence but it is auspicious to edit what is 'unrighteous' - do not store what will mold or close down too soon.
Upon waking and before bed bucket bathe (with a final cold salt rinse), watch the sunset and go to sleep not long after dark. Rest, relax, travel (vacation by the sea), exercise and do not be exposed to coastal winds.
Guard the heart (shen) by modestly expressing your feelings - it is natural to feel emotionally lethargic or distant. Expect less from those around you to avoid emotional congestion. Be real! Honestly clear away emotional heaviness - denial. Damp heat inspires denial. Neurosis can easily go psychotic."
LM The Way of the Three Treasures
LUNAR HEXAGRAM 10 Lu: Treading
"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
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Lunar Mansion: The Well / Tapir
Solar Indicator: Design
“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, do fengshui adjustments, take exams, and maintain routine industry. The earth can be dug (gardening = wealth) and it is a good day to donate, buy or sell (investment) real estate. Community or charity projects will flourish. It is favorable for apologies. It is favorable for medical treatments (particularly for initiating a series of treatments for a chronic condition).
“It is not auspicious to postpone needed repairs, apologies or difficult tasks. It is not good for funerals or burials of those who died by suicide, violence or sudden illness because others will soon follow.”
LM Notes: The Well
“It is an excellent day to recover wisdom by stepping back, planning, recalling alliances and reassessing our position.”
LM Notes: Design
Lunar Mansion: The Ghost / Sheep
Solar Indicator: Divide
“It is especially auspicious for funeral/burial (resolution of fate). It is also good to make gifts/donations to temples and offerings to the divinities, spiritual guardians and make memorials for the dead (ancestors/lineage). It is advantageous for entering retreat, meditation, fasting, spiritual initiation, ordination and ‘crossing over’ into transitory states.
“It is not auspicious for worldly industry of any kind. It is a bad day to go to war (many casualties) or get married (husband will die early). One should avoid the wilderness (possession/illness will result).”
LM Notes: The Ghost
"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
Lunar Mansion: The Willow / Roebuck
“It is especially auspicious for seclusion and the composing of memorials. It is favorable to make offerings and practice divination. It is fruitful on this day to fast, enter retreat, practice meditation and receive spiritual initiation and/or ordination (lineage). It is ideal for funerals / burials and the complete resolution of the unsettled dead (exorcism).
“It is not auspicious for marriage. Do not indulge in lawsuits (as it will ruin 3 generations).”
LM Notes: The Willow
“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
"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“Think powerful, but gentle succeeds...It is auspicious for building and routine work (you will meet / hobnob with the powerful). Good auspice is directly related to continuity, convention and not innovation.
“It is not auspicious for funerals/burials or marriages (rape, divorce). It is a dangerous day for travel and/or medical treatments.”
LM Notes: The Birdstar
“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
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