CHINESE ALMANAC ASTROLOGY
Commentary and compilations by Jamie Shulander,
All notes from class notes/works by Liu Ming
::: ::: :::
LUNAR YEAR: YANG WOOD DRAGON (1844, 1904, 1964, 2024) ‘Laughing Dragon’
“Wood Dragons are artistic, righteous and ingenious. They survive difficult childhoods to become caring parents. They are persuasive, humorous and easily make friends. Jealousy haunts them. They are productive artists. Their fortune steadily improves throughout their life. In old age they will cultivate elegance and own a considerable amount of property. They are prone to lung and liver disharmonies due to suppressed anger. They are susceptible to possession when passing through damp forested areas.”
LM Notes: 60 Characters
LUNAR MONTH: YIN FIRE RABBIT (1867, 1927, 1987, 2047) ‘Moon-Gazing Rabbit’
“Fire Rabbits are quiet, but stiff and regal. They think very little of the knowledge or teachings of others and have a high opinion of their own opinions and thoughts. They are painfully idealistic. Their lack of trust conflicts with their strong sexual appetite and this often leaves them isolated and lonely. They marry more than once. Despite repeated calamities in their lives, they have good fortune and will be comforted by wealth and position. Though strong, they often acquire unusual diseases - difficult to diagnose and treat. They are particularly susceptible to pernicious cold.”
LM Notes: 60 Characters
QI NODE: 3 Insect Stirs
Yang Rises
"Insect Stirs is a time of 'awakened movement'. The cold ground softens. Insects awaken from their hibernation. The heat rises up from below and cool wind descends from Heaven. Wind has the subtle freshness of spring but no great or abiding force. The hibernation of dragons ends. In winter dragons (the symbol of spring) are locked in frozen alpine lakes. Their stirring cracks the ice and causes thunder and lightning. The world is startled. Rivers and creeks swell.
Below the surface of Earth the insects stir - wake from their hibernation. In this qi node the insects do not reproduce, develop or burst out of the ground - they only stir. The union of Heaven and Earth is an occasional temperate wind - invisible and inconsistent.
During this qi node qi is best in the hours around dawn. One should practice neigong facing the rising sun. Do not exert yourself, but let the neiqi wiggle and play - this renews us and gives us longevity. Be creative, follow your instincts in neigong.
There is a slightly mischievous quality to the qi of insect stirs. When the baby reaches for the stove, one has to admire curiosity, but curtail enthusiasm."
LM The Way of Three Treasures
LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 34 Da Zhuang: Great Strength
“The spontaneous use of force may work in some situations, but injury and difficulties surround the misuse of force. Being rambunctious leads to costly mishap, injury and failure, but also survival. The auspices are mixed.”
“The wise use great strength with great caution, because the know it is costly (great injury). In general, the authors of the Zhouyi give great strength no value, unless it is paired with wisdom.
However, it is also observed that even the weak, when in a desperate situation, naturally possess great strength - the will to survive. The force or instinct to survive has great strength and can have a successful result. This kind of great strength should not be confused with belligerence or mere violence."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 34 Da Zhuang