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
Fire Monkey’s are organized, industrious and frank characters. They have strong sexual energy and work on their appearance. They are late to settle down. Their fortunes are good (though their motivation may be inspired by escaping hardship) and they are successful in business. They are particularly capable of avoiding negativity, but they will unfortunately need this skill. Though vigorous they are susceptible to wind disorders and may have coronary problems.
QI NODE: 13 Autumn Begins
"Yin Reverses Yang
“In Autumn Begins there is the reversal of what the Chinese call "late summer". At this time autumn qi (particularly in evening/night), which is Dry, will reverse the lingering damp heat pattern. It often causes typhoons and tornadoes.
During this qi node qi is the best at 3pm.
Now and then, during the day, practice neigong facing southwest. Do not overexert yourself (or sweat); let the qi move the blood and transform nutrients. Dress lightly (cover well), and stroll about in the morning to avoid the damp.
Chew well. During the day eat two meals, rest (nap) after lunch, snacks of fruit (pears) are good on hot days. Drink green and flower tea and in the evening enjoy a light savory soup.
Vegetarian meals are fine.
Activity should turn from outward to inward - begin to edit and then store what has been accomplished. Continue the cautions of Great Heat.
Before bed bucket bathes and go to sleep not long after dark. Do not go about in the evening or by the coast. Rest, relax, travel (inland), exercise (modestly) and do not be exposed to coastal or night winds."
LM The Way of the Three Treasures
LUNAR HEXAGRAM 59 Huan: Overflowing
"Huan is generally favorable and associated with getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. It is the refreshment that comes from deep and honest spiritual revelation."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 59 Huan
Hexagram 22 Bi: Ornament
Solar Indicator: Maintain
"Bi is favorable when appearances match the inner nature of things. Simplicity, rather than extravagance, is recommended as the aesthetic of confidence. Beware of the deception that comes from superficial decoration."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 22 Bi: Ornament
“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
“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
Solar Indicator: Destroy
“When integrity demands action, be cautious and prepared to fail. The situation is unfavorable because, the clear warnings of doom are being ignored by the powerful."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 36 Mingyi
“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
“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, August 11, Yin Metal Rabbit 4
Lunar Mansion: The Wall / Porcupine
Solar Indicator: Danger
“Relax plans, open up and let go of goals. When Wu Wang is divined, good fortune is based on being free of fear and expectation but ready to act if an easy opportunity arises. Do not over focus on goals and gains and you can avoid disaster. Just let things happen naturally."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 25 Wu Wang
"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."
LM Notes: The Wall
“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
Lunar Mansion: The Stride / Wolf
Solar Indicator: Complete
Water Dragons are hard working, restless and taciturn. Today's auspices suggest another day of fortification and keeping a simple focus. When in doubt, pause and simplify.
“In this hexagram, the source of clarity and the strength that bring true success is subordination to fate - the act of following. When your efforts are rewarded it is stopping that brings success. Getting caught up in pursuit for its own sake will make you mad and diminish your resources."
LM Changing: Zhouyi: 17 Sui
"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."
LM Notes: The Stride
“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
Lunar Mansion: The Mound / Dog
Solar Indicator: Harvest
"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
"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
“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
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LUNAR HEXAGRAM 32 Heng: Constancy
“Heng is very favorable for carrying out routine work. Maintaining and practicing what is durable in life brings good fortune."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 32 Heng
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Lunar Mansion: The Stomach / Pheasant
"Zhen indicates a time for a dramatic breakthrough from lethargy. Good fortune here has everything to do with staying calm. Zhen denotes a situation where, though things are in turmoil at first, they sort out and become beneficial in the long run. Whether you are the rebel leader or the deposed ruler there is good reason to proceed with standard protocol, good manners, and determination.”
LM Changing: Zhouyi 51 Zhen"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 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
SUNDAY, August 15, Yin Wood Goat 8
“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
“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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