Chinese Astrology : introduction bazi - ziweidousu - ninestarki (traduit Francais Spanish Deutsche)

Chinese Astrology - a overview
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Brenda Keener


Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


This lesson will give an overview of the history of Chinese astrology and the Chinese calendar systems used in its construction.
Next, it will examine the twelve animal signs, the concepts of yin and yang, and the five elements as they present a foundation for our further study.

Chinese Astrology - First Things First

China has a long and colorful history, and represents one of the most ancient civilizations still intact. While a great deal of ancient wisdom from the Western world has been lost or destroyed, the wisdom of the ancient Chinese is still available to us in many forms, one of which is its wealth of astrological information. Chinese astrology dates back further than Western astrology; in fact, the first bits and pieces of  information archaeologists have found were inscriptions located on Oracle bones!

A great deal of colorful and interesting mythology surrounds the Chinese astrological tradition - whenever possible, I have included either stories in my lectures or links to these fascinating stories for your reading enjoyment.

Chinese astrology differs from Western astrology in many ways. Western astrology is very accurate, but analysis focuses on profiling the character of an individual rather than his or her fortune or fate. In contrast, much of Chinese astrology focuses on a person's life path and what fortunate and unfortunate events may befall them. Feng Shui is intimately tied to Chinese astrology, as inauspicious "stars" in a chart or home location can be remedied with "cures" such as a wind-chime in a carefully chosen location, or a fishbowl containing nine fish in another. As we will learn in a later lesson, combinations of stars in a sector of your home are contrasted with your "signature" stars to determine how spending time in that location will affect you.

An astrologer can improve accuracy and usefulness of his or her readings by learning BOTH systems well enough to blend them into a rich composite of information. Many attempts have been made to map one into another - we will also discuss the similarities and differences between Western and Eastern astrology in a later lesson.

Chinese astrology also centers around the concept of balance, not only between elemental correspondences, but also between the opposite concepts of "yin" and "yang" as we will learn in the rest of this course.

Imbalances in any way are thought to be responsible for all ills that befall us.Chinese astrology and Feng Shui are used in Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and many forms of fortune telling and business analysis. Just like Western astrology, "real" Chinese astrology differs greatly from the pop books or Chinese restaurant napkins that only concentrate on your animal sign. In this class, we will learn several methods of analysis that result in a unique description of every person.

Don't be surprised also if you find web sites and books that give different names to terms we use - there are MANY schools of thought in Chinese astrology. I will attempt in my explanations to provide all the
different names and terms that I am familiar with for things that have multiple correspondences.

Until a few short years ago, thein formation available on this subject was limited in the English
language - and in the entire Western world. Only recently has information about the more advanced topics of Chinese astrology been available here. I have been lucky enough to travel to both China and
Hong Kong - where I was able to procure some additional material. These will not be used in this class as I cannot expect you to fly across the ocean to purchase textbooks, but I will use "pearls of wisdom" from
them in my lectures from time to time.

We are about to embark upon a magnificent journey into this ancient and amazingly accurate
topic I hope you all find this newly available subject as fascinating as I do!

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


The Chinese Calendar


In order to truly understand Chinese astrology, we first must look at the Chinese calendar - or calendars as they use both a Lunar and a Solar calendar.

Western civilization uses only one calendar, a solar calendar that was devised by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and modified by Pope Gregory in AD 1582 - but a solar calendar is not fully accurate as the rotation of the Earth around the Sun is not an even number of days. This is why we have a leap year every four years.

The Chinese blend a combination of the solar and lunar calendar- and use both in various applications of astrology. Popular astrology uses the lunar calendar, which is why we have the Chinese New year starting on different days every year. Most Feng Shui astrology (including 4 Pillars analysis) uses the solar calendar.

Evidence of the earliest calendars was dated to the Shang Dynasty (1800-1200 BCE) and was inscribed on Oracle bones. This calendar established the solar year at 365 1/4 days and lunation at 29 1/2 days.
An interesting history of the Chinese calendar (as well as calendars of other civilizations) can be found at http://webexhibits.org/calendars/calenda... .

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Winter Solstice must occur in the 11th month of the year, and the Chinese New Year on the second new moon after the solstice. Chinese years, months, and days are also assigned a name based upon the Chinese system of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches in both solar and lunar calendars. In this cyclical system, each year, month, and day is associated with one of the 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches.
A week is counted off by these 10 days or stems, and also by 12 days, or branches. Each successive time period will have a new Stem and Branch, until one has been going through the Stems 6 times and the Branches 5 times, to give a total of 60 unique combinations.

The 60 year period is a very important concept in Chinese astrology - we have just entered a new period which began in February of 2004; the 8th period. This means that many of the popular Feng Shui books which gave guidance based on auspicious circumstances for the 7th period are now out of date!

In the case of years and dates, the Stem and Branch method gives a continuous cycle for thousands of years. This is similar for months, but in the case of a leap month, it is assigned its previous month's Branch/Stem combination with the leap designation added. A leap month is added to compensate for the facts that there
isn't an even number of days in a moon cycle, there isn't an even
number of moon cycles in a year, and there are at least three ways of
measuring the length of a moon cycle!

The Chinese also divide time differently than we do in Western culture; a day consists of 12, 120 minute hours.

The solar calendar is called the Hsia calendar, and is used by the farmers as the Sun rules the seasons.
The solar calendar breaks down the year into 24 "mini-seasons" or ch'i chieh. These subdivisions relate to the equinoxes and solstices.

By now, you should have a strong sense of the complexity and accuracy of
the Chinese calendar systems and have a solid basis for understanding
this system of astrology.

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


The Yearly Animal Signs and Their Characteristics


Many pop Chinese astrology books as well as Chinese restaurant napkins show your animal sign as "all there is" to Chinese astrology. Just like a sun sign in Western astrology, the yearly animal sign is a very important component of an analysis but not the ONLY component.

According to Chinese legend, Buddha invited all of the animals together for a meeting, but only twelve arrived. To honor them, he named a year after each of them. Still another legend replaces Buddha
with the Jade King, giving the rat first place as he so impressed the king by playing the flute. To determine your Chinese animal sign, use the chart on page 6 of the Charts book in your Chinese
Astrology kit. Make careful note of the date the year began if your birthday is in early February or late January. Now that you have your year animal and element - here are the basic characteristics of each sign:

• The Rat
  - Asian cultures do not denigrate the humble rodent as we do in the
  West, the rat is seen as a very clever and intelligent animal. Rats are
  quick witted and nimble. They are very expressive and aggressive, and
  confident, strong business people. They are most loyal to their few
  friends, and make devoted family members.
  
• The Ox - Oxen are very stable, persistent and stubborn
  people with more strength and fortitude than any other sign. They have
  remarkable memories and are highly creative. They are not the most
  social, and prefer being with a few friends rather than at large
  gatherings. They are also patient and very loyal to those close to them
  
• The Tiger - Flamboyant and aggressive, the Tiger is
  also charming and hard to resist. Tigers are always in a hurry,
  pursuing some cause, or passionately involved with a latest interest.
  Tigers are born leaders, but need to learn moderation in all things.
  They can have bad tempers and need to learn to control their passions.
  
• The Rabbit - Whereas the Tiger conquers by force, the
  Rabbit conquers by diplomacy. A Rabbit is very calm, kind, and sweet
  and has many friends. He detests confrontations, and may also be
  insecure and afraid of expressing himself. Rabbits are very deep
  emotionally, and have a strong artistic or poetic streak.
  
• The Dragon - The natural sign of nobility to the
  Chinese people, Dragons are noble in nature and commanding in presence.
  They are aggressive, determined, self-confident and dominant, and can
  also be snobs if they choose to. They love power, but usually handle it
  well. Most Chinese parents aspire to have a Dragon child - as they are
  good luck.
  
• The Snake - Despite the Western negative connotations
  - the Asian snake is a charming intellectual, full of grace and
  intelligence. He is never loud, but very diplomatic and graceful.
  Snakes are philosophers and deep thinkers. A bit lazy, the snake enjoys
  luxury and has an excellent sense of humor.
  
• The Horse - Born to run, Horses are active, physical
  people with lots of energy. They are very productive, hard working
  people as well. Horses love social events, and love the spotlight.
  Innately rebellious, they hate to be pressured or told what to do. The
  horse is cunning and full of "street-smarts". He is also hot-blooded
  and hot tempered.
  
• The Goat - The most creative of all the signs, the
  Goat is also the most insecure. Goats are gentle, artistic, romantic
  and fond of nature. They are not the most organized people, but tend to
  succeed in creative pursuits. They tend to be charming dreamers that
  shy away from confrontations and heavy decision making.
  
• The Monkey - The most fun-loving of all the signs, the
  Monkey loves to be the center of attention. Clever and cheerful, he can
  also be opportunistic and a bit selfish. Monkeys are great at problem
  solving and enjoy listening to the problems of their friends. They also
  cannot hide how they are feeling, and tend to wear their hearts on
  their sleeves.
  
• The Rooster - The perceptive rooster misses nothing,
  and because of his strong analytical skills and fierce determination,
  makes a great business person. Forthright and straightforward, he does
  not play games, rather "what you see is what you get". Roosters have
  strong emotional natures and are fond of social activity.
  
• The Dog - Faithful, loyal and sincere, the Dog is the
  most honest friend to have. He reveres duty, tradition, and honor. He
  shows great courage in adversity, is very reliable, and is a great
  listener. He can also be very righteous and judgmental under adverse
  circumstances.
  
• The Pig - Probably the most generous and honorable
  sign of the Chinese zodiac, Pigs are highly intelligent and have hearts
  of gold. Sadly, they can be taken advantage of by others not so
  generous. Pigs love luxury and have impeccable manners. They also can
  tend to see things through rose colored glasses.
  

Full compatibility analysis of each sign in relation to each other is given in your textbook - this applies not only to other individuals, but also to the year, month and day signs as you will see in future lessons.

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


The Five Elements and Their Characteristics


Another extremely important concept in Chinese astrology is the concept of the five elements - wood, earth, fire, water and metal. This differs from the Western concept of the elements, which is air, fire, water and earth. Elemental representations are used extensively in Feng Shui as "cures", and each animal sign is accompanied by a yearly element as well.

For example we are now in the year of the Wood or Green Monkey.A brief description of each element is:

• Wood
  - The wood element represents the creative force of nature and all
  things green and growing. It is associated with Spring and new life,
  and the colors green and blue. Wood people are creative, strong and
  resilient - seeking growth and new creation in all that they do. All
  flowers, plants, trees, and things made of wood represent this element.
  The natural shape representing wood is rectangular.
  
• Earth - The earth element nurtures all that we do, and
  represents solidity and grounding. Earth people are firm and resolute -
  we can say they are "down to Earth" - just like in Western astrology.
  They are also practical, hard working and very conservative. The color
  for earth is yellow, just like the loess soil of central China. Natural
  stones, rocks, tiles, bricks, and flat or rectangular shapes represent
  the earth element
  
• Metal - Metal symbolizes autumn, and the tools used in
  the harvest and reaping of produce. The evening also represents the
  metal element - with the golden sunset. Metal people are forceful,
  strong and determined - and can often be driven by a need to succeed.
  All round shapes, knives, jewelry, and tools represent the metal
  element.
  
• Fire - Fire is very similar to the Western
  astrological definition, and symbolizes the life force. It is an
  element of summer, and of the south. Optimism, enthusiasm and
  motivation are governed by fire, as is anger and war. Fire people are
  quite intelligent, impulsive, fervent, and dynamic - true leaders. The
  colors of Fire are orange and red, and the shape associated with fire
  is triangular. Stoves, candles, and hearths all represent the fire
  element.
  
• Water - Also similar to the Western definition, water
  represents emotions and emotional depth. Water is considered cleansing
  in Chinese astrology, and governs all forms of communications and
  travel as well. Water people are fluent, have deep feelings and often
  strong intuitions or psychic powers as well. The colors of water are
  blue and black, and this element is represented by any irregular or
  wavy shape. Fountains, fish ponds, aquariums, and tinkling bells all
  represent the water element.
  

Blending these elements together with our yearly animal sign gives us one more piece of the
puzzle in our interpretations - for example, my husband is a Fire Tiger and I am a Water Tiger - he very enthusiastically initiates tasks that I plan and communicate to others. In many ways we are similar, and in
many others we are different as I have the stronger intuition and communication skills and he has the stronger drive and enthusiasm.

Each animal also has a predominate natural element assigned to it - compatibility between this natural element and the yearly element is a key factor in determining whether a year will be auspicious or not. It
is also very important to understand how the elements relate to each other by looking at the cycle of construction and destruction, as follows: <blockquote>Constructive Elemental Cycle
Wood -> Fire -> Earth -> Metal -> Water -> WoodDestructive Elemental Cycle
Water -> Fire -> Metal -> Wood -> Earth -> Water </blockquote>In the constructive cycle, we say that wood creates fire which creates earth and so forth. This uses the positive manifestations of each of the elements and shows basic compatibility. For instance, a person born in a wood year would have an elemental compatibility with a water or fire year. In the reverse, water puts out fire, which destroys metal, which chops wood, which depletes the earth, which is washed away by water. Two elements next to each other in this cycle are NOT compatible. Pages 16 and 17 of your text detail these cycles as well, and also discuss the concept of a buffer element - if an element is in
between two destructive elements it can lessen their impact.

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


Yin and Yang: The Need for Balance


The concept of yin and yang is central to Chinese astrology; each year not only has an animal and an element - but also a yin or yang polarity. Chinese astrology emphasizes the concept of balance - one way of calculating your "lucky" element is to look at your 4 Pillars chart (which we will examine in detail in the next lesson) and determine which element you are most lacking. This becomes the element you most need to bring into your life.

Nowhere is the concept of balance more graphically illustrated than in the concepts of yin and yang. Polar opposites, no yin can exist without yang and vice versa. Everything negative that happens to an individual is attributed to a lack of balance between yin and yang and the five elements, and everything that goes right, because a proper balance has been achieved. All changes in the universe occur through the workings of Yin and Yang, and the five elements as they flow through their creative and destructive cycles. This principle correlates with what we learn in modern science - all systems tend towards an equilibrium and will act to return to it if disturbed.

In Chinese literature, the Sun is known as the Great Yang and the Moon, the Great Yin.
Yang represents the masculine principle, and signifies activity, aggressiveness, heat, hardness, and things that are illuminated and evident. Yin represents the feminine principle, and signifies things that are dark, hidden, passive, receptive, yielding, cool, and soft. Light is considered yang, and shadow, yin.

Six animals of the Chinese zodiac are naturally yang, and six are naturally yin. A normally yin animal will manifest more aggressively if found in a yang year. For example, the sign of the Goat is normally yin, but as there are yang goat years there are more assertive goat people to be found. Likewise, a yin Tiger or Dragon will be more subdued than the typical yang Tiger or Dragon.

Each element can also be either Yin or Yang - for example, yin metal would be soft and pliable like silver
while yang metal would be hard like steel. In "real" Feng Shui - it is necessary to add elemental representations of the right polarity as well to correct imbalances. Feng Shui books tell us that the reason
many people remain single is because they have too many representations of one or the other polarity in their home decor (Ex. the single female with ALL flower paintings in the bedroom). A few more examples of items that represent each elemental polarity are:

• Yin Wood - Dried plants, bamboo, paper
  
• Yang Wood - Plants that are green and healthy
  
• Yin Water- Paintings of water, wavy shaped curtains
  
• Yang Water -Fish tanks, fountains
  
• Yin Metal - Silver, trinkets, jewelry
  
• Yang Metal- Knives, swords, steel
  
• Yin Fire - Candles, soft lighting, clove and cinnamon incense
  
• Yang Fire - Fireplaces, stoves, ovens
  
• Yin Earth - Semiprecious and precious stones, dirt
  
• Yang Earth - Rocks, tile, brick
  

In Zi Wei Dou Shu astrology, which we will address in a later lesson, each "palace" of an overall chart is assigned a yin or yang polarity as well. The effect of the stars in each house will vary based on this olarity. Chinese medicine also attributes many diseases to an imbalance of yin or yang - overly yin diseases include obesity, lethargy, depression, or abnormalities of the female organs. Yang diseases are nervous disorders, heart disease, high blood pressure, and fevers/flu. To correct the disorder, the patient is recommended to correct the imbalance in diet and surroundings.

Yin foods are soft and bland, such as rice, milk, oatmeal and pasta. Yang foods are meat, all spices, wine, and tomato sauces. Obviously, an upset stomach is considered a yang condition!

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


Putting it All Together - The Natural Correspondences of the Animals to Element and Polarity


Now that we have more of the basics under our belts, here is a list of the natural correspondences of each animal sign with respect to element and polarity:

• The Rat - Yang Water
  
• The Ox - Yin Earth
  
• The Tiger - Yang Wood
  
• The Rabbit - Yin Wood
  
• The Dragon - Yang Earth
  
• The Snake - Yin Fire
  
• The Horse - Yang Fire
  
• The Goat (called Sheep in your text)- Yin Earth
  
• The Monkey - Yang Metal
  
• The Rooster- Yin Metal
  
• The Dog- Yang Earth
  
• The Pig - Yin Water
  

What does just the polarity and element tell you about each sign? First of all, the yang signs are more assertive and aggressive than the others. You can expect that a Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey or Dog will stand up for their beliefs and fight more readily than will the Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Goat, Rooster or Pig! Secondly, as Fire is more aggressive, the Snake is more likely than the other yin signs to be expressive and assertive. Next in line is the yin metal sign - the Rooster, which is known for expressiveness. You may think it is counterintuitive that the Rooster is a yin sign - but look at how the Rooster communicates. The Rooster always has a special finesse about him - which makes him yin.

Now, if we look at the animals that have the same element- we will see that they are yin and yang
manifestations of that element. For instance, the Rat is yang water and the Pig is yin water. Both are communicative, but the Rat is more assertive and aggressive while the Pig is more serving and supportive.

The natural element of each animal is called its Branch element - this is never changing and is also taken into consideration when analyzing a 4 Pillars chart as we will see in the next lesson.

Yet another way of looking at the animal signs is by natural house, as described on page 14 of your Chinese Astrology kit. The six houses are Creativity, Development, Spirituality, Sexuality, Career, and Home Life. A summary of these houses and animal signs within is as follows:

• Creativity: Yang - Rat, Yin-Ox. The Rat is the starter, and the Ox, the finisher
  
• Development: Yang - Tiger, Yin - Rabbit. The Tiger conquers by force, and the Rabbit through negotiation and diplomacy
  
• Spirituality: Yang - Dragon, Yin - Snake. The Dragon is the magician and the Snake, the mystic
  
• Sexuality: Yang - Horse, Yin - Goat. The Horse represents the masculine principle, and the Goat the feminine
  
• Career: Yang - Monkey, Yin - Rooster. The Monkey has dexterity and the Rooster, flair and expressiveness
  
• Home Life: Yang - Dog, Yin - Pig. The Dog builds and protects, the Pig furnishes and makes the home comfortable.
  

It is considered beneficial if a person has two of the same members of a house in their 4 pillars chart, or if their spouse's or business partner's sign completes a house for them even if the natural compatibility between the two signs is not there.
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Lesson 2: The Concept Of Fate: Four Pillars Analysis


This lesson will introduce the concept of fate that permeates Chinese astrology, and will illustrate the fundamental idea of stems and branches. We will construct and analyze a 4 Pillars chart using our text, and we will examine it by life cycles.

Stems and Branches in Chinese Astrology


In the last lesson, we learned that days were counted off by the 10 days of an ancient Chinese week (Stems), and by another week of 12 days (Branches). These repeat in a continuous cycle - which gives sixty different pairings. The Branches are simply the animal names - which we are already familiar with. The stems are the elements - and even and odd numbers are Yin and Yang respectively. For instance, stem 1 is Yang wood and stem 2 is Yin Wood and so forth. A stem and a branch applies for each year, month, day and hour - all are significant to the Chinese astrologer. The stem markings are ancient, and were the first ever time markers to be used by the Chinese as inscribed on Oracle bones (on which they conveniently inscribed the date as well!)

These Stems and Branches are compared to the Stem and Branch of the current hour, day, month, year and decade to determine a person's most likely "fate". Chinese astrology is used to examine this fate, and Feng Shui plus adherence to religious beliefs such as Buddhism and Taoism is used to alleviate or avoid the predicted negative aspects of fate.

The Chinese believe that every positive thing has the seeds of a potential negative and vice versa - so this is not a fatalistic view of the future in total. A fortune teller also has the task of telling the individual what changes can be made to improve upon one's fate. For example, if your 4 Pillars chart (made up of the Stems and Branches for the hour, day, month, and year of your birth) show a lack of an element such as Earth, you are advised to add this element in your clothing and your surroundings.

To calculate your 4 Pillars or 4 Columns of Fate - first read pages 20-25 in the Book of Interpretations in your Chinese Astrology Kit. Next, use the charts in The Charts section and use your puzzle pieces to construct your full chart. As a check and balance, use this link http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/CF... and put in your birth information. Note - this site uses the color that represents the element instead of the element name, i.e., a Black Tiger is a water tiger and a Red Horse is a fire horse.

These 4 Pillars were often used by the Chinese to determine compatible marriages, and business partnerships.


Cycles of Time in the Chinese Calendar

As there are 60 combinations of Stems and Branches, the ancient Chinese counted life cycles in terms of 60 year or Sexagenery combinations. Reigns of emperors and even ages were counted in terms of these cycles. The current cycle we are in now began in 1984, and will finish in 2044. Three of these cycles make up a Great Cycle of 180 years - with each 60 year period being eferred to as an Era. The Eras or yuan are again subdivided into three periods of 20 years each, or yun.

These periods are numbered 1-9 throughout the 60 year cycle. We have begun period 8 in February of 2004 - meaning that the ruling star has changed.
Luck is calculated through each cycle by calculating the stem and branch of each period, and also by looking at where the ruling star falls in ones Zei Wei Dou Shu chart and home (to be discussed at length in future lessons).

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Lesson 2: The Concept Of Fate: Four Pillars Analysis


The Basic Four Pillars Chart


The Four Pillars method can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), and is still much used in Feng Shui astrology and general analysis today. The Four Pillars or Columns chart is called such as the Chinese writing causes it to fall into columns. Each pillar or column contains a stem and a branch - and each column relates to the year, month, day and hour of birth. The first column refers to the year animal and element, the second to the month animal and element, the third to the day animal and element, and the last to the hour animal and element. Now that you have your Four Pillars chart - the first thing to do is look at the element and year of your birth. Is the element of the year compatible with the natural element of the birth animal? If not, look at where it is in the destructive cycle, and look to the other signs and elements in the Four Pillars chart - remembering that an element in between the two destructive elements can have a positive effect.

Next, look to the yearly animal sign for indications of personality. It is analogous to the Western astrology Sun Sign, and is the biggest influencer of personality and individual type. Now, look for special combinations of animal signs in the 4 Pillars as described on pages 2-3 of the Charts book of your Chinese Astrology Kit. These special combinations are the Four Triangles:

1. Rat, Dragon and Monkey: This is the triangle of creativity and is often found in the charts of writers, musicians and artists. It bestows great creativity on its natives.
   
2. Rabbit, Goat (or Sheep) and Pig: This is the triangle of Home and Family, and it indicates a happy and comfortable home life
   
3. Tiger, Horse and Dog: This is the triangle of ambition, and it portends solid business success or success in any chosen field.
   
4. Ox, Snake and Rooster: This is the triangle of trade and commerce, and it portends success in marketing, sales, and trade.
   

All the triangle combinations are considered extremely favorable in one's 4 Pillars chart. The next configurations, the three crosses, are only lucky if you have all four signs. If you are missing one, you
will have a lack of that animal element affecting your luck as described on page 3 of the Charts book.:

1. Rat, Rabbit, Horse, and Rooster: This is the Flowers of Love and indicates power and fame.
   
2. Ox, Dragon, Goat(Sheep) and Dog: This is the Literary Cross, and indicates literary and artistic talent and potential.
   
3. Tiger, Snake, Monkey and Pig: This is the Four Coaching Posts and indicates continuous travel and luck with travel.
   

Now, look to see if Yin and Yang and the elements are well balanced in the chart. If not, this individual will have an over abundance of the heaviest weightings. A good way to analyze this is to use this site http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/ch... to calculate the weightings of each element. The element with the least weight is said to be the "lucky" element, or the one that the individual needs to bring into his or her life. Look also to the compatibilities between the animal signs and elements overall. Look more carefully at the month animal and element - these are said to represent the person's parents, siblings and childhood influences. The day Pillar represents one's marriage and adult life, and the hour
Pillar represents one's children and living conditions in later life.
Many Chinese astrologers consider the month pillar to be the most important one in determining the circumstances of one's life as adult life is the longest life period.

Now, turn to page 17 of the Interpretations book of your Chinese Astrology Kit and look at the creative element cycle again. This analysis is known as the Attribute Cycle. Using your element cards, place your self element(day stem) at the top of the chart. This element also stands for your friends and competition. For example, let's say this element is Fire. Then, the next element over to the right will be Earth, and this stands for your output or expression. The very next one controls your wealth, and the next your power. The last one before we return to the beginning controls your resources and indicates where necessary resource will come from.

Look again to the Day Stem element and see what supports this element (is immediately preceding it in the constructive cycle). Is this element present in this person's chart? If so, then this is an indicator of a happy life. If not - this person is advised to bring this element into his or her life. We pay special attention to the Day Heavenly (the stems are sometimes called Heavenly Stems) Stem in relation to the Month element and sign - if the Month Stem and Branch are compatible and supportive of the Day Stem and so is the season of birth, then the person is said to be "strong" in his or her Day element. This means times ruled by this element are lucky times for this person. It can be weak by not having other compatible stems and branches in the chart, the person being born in the wrong season, or too much of the preceding element in the creative cycle "draining" it.
If it is weak, then the lucky element will be the one preceding it in the creative cycle as it needs creating in this person's life.

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Lesson 2: The Concept Of Fate: Four Pillars Analysis


Analysis of an Example 4 Pillars Charts - Princess Diana and Saddam Hussein


The best way to understand how to analyze a 4 Pillars Chart is to take an example. In this section, we are going to analyze two different charts using the methods described in the last section. Princess Diana's sample chart is on page 90 of the Interpretations book in your Chinese Astrology kit - I suggest you turn to this page and refer to it as we go along.

Looking at her 4 Pillars chart - we see that she was born in the year of the Ox (natural Yin Earth), with the year element and polarity being Yin Metal. She had all the strength and determination of the Ox, plus the natural grace and beauty bestowed by the double Yin combination. The sign of the Ox also gave her a legendary stubbornness! Earth provides Metal - so her year element shows compatibility with the natural element of her sign, the Ox. This further shows a well integrated personality, she was down to earth and practical, yet courageous per the Metal element. The natural sign of the Ox is Spring, yet Diana was born in the summer - one indication of the inauspiciousness of her chart.

Reviewing the rest of the signs in her 4 Pillars analysis, she was born in the month of the Horse (natural element Yang fire) with month element Yang Wood, the day of the Goat (natural element Yin Earth) with day element Yin Wood, and the Hour of the Rabbit (natural element Yin Wood) with hour element Yin Earth.

Looking at her animal combinations, we see that she has none of the special configurations we looked at in the last section.
The presence of the Goat and the Rabbit in her chart further add to her grace and artistic talents, plus her legendary kindness and caring for those less fortunate. The Goat and Rabbit are compatible signs, which
also reinforces her as a well integrated personality. Relating the Goat to the Ox shows that dangers could arise for her from inner conflicts and indecisiveness, and relating the Horse to the Ox shows problems
with relationships, especially with the Horse falling as her month animal which rules earlier familial relationships such as parents and siblings. The relationship between the Ox and the Rabbit show that she
had a strong internal need for a happy family life. The Rabbit sign is in conflict also with the Horse - showing a conflict between her individuality and her need for social attention. The combination of the
Horse and the Goat gives her fairness and solid judgment capabilities.

Looking at the balance of Yin and Yang - she was definitely imbalanced on the side of Yin. The most heavily weighted element and polarity is Yin Earth - meaning sudden wealth which did happen to her. She has NO water in her chart - meaning this is what she needed to bring into her life to overcome the adverse aspects of her chart.

Her Day stem or key element is Yin Wood, as this was not supported by any Water (before it in the creative cycle), her childhood was not a happy one. However, the next sign after Wood, Fire, is present so she was very gracious and attentive in taking care of her own children. Her hour pillar being Yin Earth Rabbit also shows extreme generosity and kindness towards her children, she gave them the love she lacked as a child. Her Day element is weak, due to the lack of supportive Water and also due to the season in which she was born - further indicating that living next to Water or bringing water into her life would have helped her considerably. This day stem being weak also points to competitors instead of friends being ruled by it - she indeed had many people who were jealous of her. Her day element or Heavenly Stem is Wood, and the Earthly Branch of the Month is the Horse, with a natural element of Fire - wood creates fire so these are in balance.

Looking into the Attribute cycle, her expression element was Fire. This gave her great enthusiasm in communication and eloquence in speech. Earth controlled her wealth - this is usually the sign of someone who becomes wealthy and keeps their fortune. Metal controlling her power meant that she was indeed a person who would strive towards power and influence, as she did. Water controls her resources - again we see the lack of water creating a problem in her life with respect to internal resources. Most of her wealth and position came from marriage, not from her own endeavors. We will analyze how the years and cycles affected her in the next lesson.

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Now, let's look at Saddam Hussein's chart and see what we find. First, use this link, http://www.******.com/etelchin.htm and download the complementary Izi Wei
astrology software. Double click on the desktop icon, and click on the"Create, modify,....." button. Select Saddam Hussein, and click OK. In the central window, select 4 Pillars and OK twice. Now, you should have
his 4 Pillars chart in front of you. Let's analyze it!

Looking at his year animal, although the program calls it a Buffalo, we knowthis sign as the sign of the Ox, with the element and polarity of Yin Fire. A fire ox is mo re aggressive than the typical Ox - whose naturalelement is Yin Earth. Fire is ahead of Earth in the creative cycle, so these are compatible. The sign of the Ox makes Saddam very practical, determined, powerful and stubborn! We see also that he was born in the Spring, so his sign and birth time are in balance, making him a luckyindividual. He has none of the special configurations we mentioned in
the last lesson. Half of his stems and branches are Yin, the other half are Yang - meaning he should be well-balanced with the traits of both.
The weightings of his elements shows a lack of Water just like in Diana's chart - this is the element he would have needed to bring intohis life to be successful.

The Tiger, Rooster, Dragon and Ox are his 4 Pillars animal signs - all aggressive and powerful signs! The combination of the Ox and the Tiger creates internal conflicts within an individual which causes mood swings and rapid changes of personality, but the Rooster gives luck in commerce and trade, which was evidenced by the massive treasure he accumulated. It also shows that the individual will live in a luxurious home with every comfort.
The combination of the Rooster and the Tiger brings esteem and recognition, - Saddam was destined to be in the public eye. This combination also make one more inclined to step on others to get to the
top. Adding to this is the combination of the Dragon and Tiger - showing strong determination for power and luxury. The combination of the Dragon and Rooster means that he is a very jealous person when it
comes to his relationships. The combination of the Rooster and Ox adds a drive for expansion, and the accumulation of things.The daystem or "Master" is Yin Wood - which is weak as it is not supported by
any Water and exhausts the Earth in the rest of the chart. As Fire does exist in the chart - similarly to Diana - he did not have a great childhood but definitely cared for his children. As this element is
weak, Saddam had many enemies. His output and expression is ruled by Fire, making him a fiery orator and very expressive. The Day Master sign is the Rooster, which is compatible with the Month sign, the
Dragon, but adds to his tendency to be very power-centric. The combination of a day stem of Yin Wood and Yang Earth shows Earned Wealth -this was indeed the case. In the branches, we also see Yin
Earth which signifies Sudden Wealth as well (page 75 of your Interpretations book). But Yin Metal in the Day branch is an unfavorable sign, and the element needed for happiness, Yang Water, is missing.

The Wood Dragon is his month sign - showing that his parents and siblings were very noble, but somewhat despotic and snobbish. His adult life and marriage is symbolized by the Wood
Rooster, which is a sign of ambition and gives an overly proud disposition and a quick tongue. The Hour pillar is the Earth Tiger - which are somewhat compatible, but the branch element of Wood depletes
the Earth - his last years are not favorable ones and his own mistakes have cost him wealth and power.

His wealth, according to the attribute cycle is controlled by Metal - which is unfavorably placed in
his chart. This shows the sudden demise of his wealth. The next element in this cycle is water which controls his resources - oil is shipped over water so this is definitely true. The lack of water in his life
and chart once again is evident.
The full ****** analysis is available by clicking on the appropriate link. Some of the analysis they show is different from our approach, but a lot can be learned from
going through the detail.

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Lesson 3: Forecasting The Future Using The Four Pillars Analysis


This lesson will offer a deeper view into how to predict a person's fortune during a given year using their Four Pillars chart. We will look more deeply into example charts and their fortunes using these techniques, beginning with how one will fare year to year.

The simplest way to see how someone or something (remember, charts also apply to buildings, companies and countries!) will fare in a particular year is to assess the animal sign, polarity and element of that person's birth year in relationship to the new year.

For example, I was born in the year of the Yang Water Tiger. We are now in the year of the Yang Wood Monkey. The Tiger and Monkey are not compatible signs (they fall 60 degrees apart, and the rule in your text is that those signs that are multiple of 30 degrees on a circle are incompatible), the text tells me that this is a season for great caution. Also, Wood depletes Water which is my natal yearly element. So
far --- this HAS been a tough year!

Another quick way of assessing the impact of the year is to consider the Day Stem element - mine is Yin Metal - looking on page 81 of our text, this should be my
year of Earned Wealth. This is also happening in my life right now.


Analysis of Stems and Branches in Decades of One's Life

Chinese astrology divides a person's life into periods of 10 years known as Life Cycle Decades.
This is a comprehensive way of looking at the periods of a person's life to determine their most likely fate and what they need to do toenhance or mitigate it. Pages 84 - 87 of the Interpretations section of
your text details the best methods to use for this analysis. First turn to the inside flap of the Charts book and fill in everything you know.
Next, turn to page 84 of the Interpretations book and follow steps 2-8.
Carefully read the example on page 86 as well. Make sure that you have listed all the polarities for each stem element, i.e. Yin or Yang as they have different effects.

Knowing what we have learned about the creative and destructive cycle of the elements, PLUS using the Important Factors table on the second page of every element description, now compare both stems for each decade against the day stem to see whether it is supported or attacked. Look carefully for the indicators of Sudden Wealth, Earned Wealth, Happiness, etc (on the pages for each element) - these are likely to be decades in which thesethings occur to the individual. Both elements in each decade should be
comp ared to the day stem. If one is favorable and one is not - each will effect the other to make the decade more neutral. The stem of the animal sign will be stronger in the years favorable to that sign, and
weaker in the years in which it is not supported. Also, the first stem is stronger in the first five years of the decade, and the animal sign stem stronger in the second five years. Now, read pages 90-93 to see the book's example analyses of the Life Cycle Decades of Princess Diana and Albert Einstein.

As an additional example, my day stem is Yin Metal. I have just entered into a decade which features Yin Fire as the stem element, and Yin Metal as the animal element. Yin Fire is known as the "Seventh Curse"
to Yin Metal day stem people - but it is mitigated by the presence of Yin Metal as the animal element. This means that I will have better years in which the Rooster is strong (years of the Snake and Ox), and
not so good years when the effect of the Rooster is diminished. I will also add more Water to my decor during these years to quench the Yin Fire.

It is also important, when looking at a compatibility analysis, to analyze the life cycles of both partners. Some cycles will be highly favorable to the couple, and others will activate or accentuate an incompatibility within the chart. For example, if one partner was born in a Tiger year and the other has the Ox as the day branch but other compatible elements - this conflict will worsen in either a Tiger or an Ox ruled decade. If you find a tense decade period, it is then very instructive to also look at each year individually.
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Lesson 3: Forecasting The Future Using The Four Pillars Analysis


How to Use the Chinese Almanac


The traditional Chinese almanac, or Tong Shu, has long been consulted by Chinese families on a daily basis to determine the lucky or unlucky days for performing common activities. An abbreviated form
of these almanac that identifies "clothes cutting" days (in the ancient texts, the first two words were "Cut Clothes") can be found on pages 94-95 of the Interpretations book of your Chinese Astrology Kit.
You can use the wheel method provided in your kit, or go to one of the web based almanacs that are available either free day-by-day, or based on subscriptions.

One such site gives you three days free, the day of your question as well as the day before and after: http://www.dragon-gate.com/resources/Fen...
. To use this almanac, consult the day's 4 Pillars and analyze them in the same manner we used for the decade analysis against your day stem. Next, look at the bottom to see whether the day is favorable or not for your yearly animal sign. Auspicious and inauspicious directions are given, along with the directions for key deities for wealth, etc that can be effectively used by making sure you face these directions when performing key activities. The daily purple-white flying star is given - we will discuss this further in later lessons. Auspicious and inauspicious ages are given as well.

The result of many careful calculations, the Tong Shu also gives indications at the top of what activities are auspicious for the day, and which ones are not. As this is an ancient calendar, many of the listed activities do not apply in our modern world (today, for example, I was supposed to not dress in sackcloth).

Of particular importance in the practice of Feng Shui is the daily calculation of the position of the God of Wealth, this information is used to place strategically located items thought to bring wealth to the family in that corner of the home. The calculations that are required to create the Tong Shu are highly complex and do vary among versions created by different Chinese families. It is important to consult a Tong Shu from a highly respected source to ensure the accuracy of the information.

Different versions of the Tong Shu exist online, and for purchase. It is
considered very good luck to keep a bound Tong Shu in your home! The Tong Shu also shows the direction of the God of Wealth for the Chinese New Year, a most auspicious time.
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Lesson 3: Forecasting The Future Using The Four Pillars Analysis


Putting it Together


A true analysis requires that we blend together all that we have learned. In order to give a client or friend (a client could even be a building, company or project) a complete chart analysis using the
techniques we have learned so far, we first construct and analyze the Four Pillars chart as described in the last lesson. Next, we construct a decade analysis to see how this person will fare over each
decade of their life. If a decade appears particularly auspicious or inauspicious, we then go to the individual years and look at them one by one to see the variations we can expect. Key months can be examined
also for insights.

In order to gain more clarity in the near future (next 30-60 days), we then consult the Tong Shu and look at the 4 pillars for each day and construct an analysis using their day stem. Using all the information given in the Tong Shu, a fairly accurate description of the person's luck can be given near term along with advice on how to counteract any upcoming negativity.

This type analysis is useful in predicting what dates and periods of time are best for trying to conceive a child, get funding for a new business, get married, or determine the course of a business partnership. It is
also a good idea to look at the symbolism of the type of activity being planned in conjunction with the symbolism of the element and animal of each pillar - for example, a trade show or key communications meeting would be auspiciously planned when the stem is Water or the branch is an animal natively ruled by Water. It is also a good idea to look at whether the period in question is predominantly Yin or Yang - and whether or not the activity planned is Yin or Yang and therefore
compatible.

At this point in our studies, we have accumulated enough tools to conduct a reasonable individual, composite, or event analysis for ourselves or others. In fact, this is as much of Chinese
astrology as many astrologers ever learn! We, however, will continue in our studies. Next, we will add even more tools to our skill-set by learning the fine and complex art of Zi Wei Do Shu and 9 Star Ki.
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