Book Althea S T 2018 Chinese Astrology for Beginners useless

CHINESE
ASTROLOGY
FOR BEGINNERS
Contents
Chinese Astrology
Destiny, Luck and Free Will
Five Elements and You
Four Pillars of Your Life
Ten Personality Types
Twelve Branches
YOUR Luck 2018-2022
Glossary
1
“Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept
it, no matter where it leads him.
― Henry Miller
Chinese Astrology
We’ve always sought the answers to the mysteries of existence by looking to
the skies in wonder, contemplating our lives and the nature of reality. Our
Chinese ancestors built their early philosophies around concepts of nature and
the Universe; these ideas were the origins of their astrology. Nature was seen
as a self-generating phenomenon; a complex structure composed of interacting
elements which altered the fabric of experience.
Historically, there were no clear boundaries between astronomy and
astrology, like there were no real demarcations between geography and Feng
Shui. Much of the population of ancient China depended on the success of
their crops, they needed to understand changes in the seasons, weather and the
exact timing of the tides. Gazing to the heavens, examining the stars and the
skies was crucial to their survival.
This forerunner to contemporary astronomy and meteorology, concerned itself
with deciphering the best times to plant and harvest crops. By the fifth century,
the Chinese had already catalogued more than 1400 stars; many in the
population were committed stargazers.
The ancient Chinese acknowledged everything as an expression of energy,
including life itself. The Three Treasures - Heaven, Earth and Human Qi
concept weaved a close relationship between their astrology and Chinese
philosophy. Therefore, it’s not surprising that Ying/Yang, the Five Elements
and the concepts of Heaven, Earth and Man played such an important role in
the analysis and interpretation of their astrology.
The indigenous Chinese religion, Taoism, which stressed the value of nature
and the importance of natural rhythms and cycles, was also influential. Its
metaphysical bent towards the integration of Mind, Body and Spirit, which
was seen as a reflection of Heaven, Earth and Man in the microcosm,
postulated that everything was (is) connected and acts accordingly. The life of
each individual is determined by the person’s deeds (Human Qi), the
prevailing energy of the location (Earth Qi - Feng Shui) as well as the
individual’s date and time of birth (Heaven Qi).
Ten Stems and Twelve Branches
Chinese astrology differs from Western astrology in many respects.
Several thousand years ago, Stems and Branches were invented for
chronological purposes. These Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly
Branches were used to address years, months, days, hours and even minutes.
Gaining an understanding of these Stems and Branches proved to be quite
difficult as people were often illiterate, so animal symbols were soon used to
represent the Twelve Branches.
The system of twelve-year cycles was created by Chinese astronomers by
observing the orbit of the planet Jupiter. According to a Chinese legend, the
sequencing of the twelve Chinese Zodiac signs (Branches) was determined by
Buddha himself. Legend has it that during the celebrations of a particular
Chinese New Year, all the animals were invited to a meeting but only twelve
appeared. Rat was the first to arrive, due to his natural foresight and cunning
character. It is even said that he climbed onto Ox’s back and jumped right in
front of Buddha, presenting himself as the first animal guest. Ox was naturally
the second, with Tiger right behind him, followed by Rabbit, Dragon, Snake,
Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and finally… Pig.
Buddha decided to name the years after these twelve animals, and it is
generally accepted that people born in certain years adopt the personality
traits of the animal representing that year. However, in the practice of
Traditional Chinese Astrology, the birth month, day and hour also play an
important role. The location of Branches (or animals) and the interaction with
other Branches (together with one’s Self and Day Pillar) can only provide the
complete picture of each person’s character and destiny.
The Chinese calendar is not only based on animal signs (Branches) but also
on ‘sexagenary cycles’, which most likely originated during the Shang
Dynasty almost 2000 years BC. These cycles operate not only in years, but
also in months, days, hours and minutes. Above every Branch sits a Stem, and
as there are Five Elements, each Branch appears five times, on each occasion
combined with a different Stem.
The Twelve Branches appear as either Yang or Yin, even numbered years are
Yang (2018) and odd ones Yin (2019). Every Yang Branch is also
accompanied by a Yang Stem, while Yin Branches are accompanied by Yin
Stems. For example, 2017 was an odd numbered year, and therefore it was
Yin, its Branch and Stem were also Yin. 2018 is an even year, it consists of a
Yang Branch and Stem. Each sexagenary cycle (usually referred to as ‘Sixty
Jia Zi’) starts with the Yang Wood Rat and ends with the Water Pig.
Although different schools of Chinese Astrology use the lunar and/or solar
calendar to calculate the beginning of the year, in this book I use the solar
calendar, which means the New Year always appears at the beginning of
February; usually on the third or fourth day of the month, depending on solar
longitude. People born between 1st January and 3rd or 4th February, were
therefore born in the previous year.
Chinese astrology also deals with the month, day and hour of a person’s birth,
even down to the minute in certain cases. The most important elements in the
evaluation of a person’s Destiny and Luck, are referred to as Self and the Day
Pillar of the person’s life.
2
“You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This
approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my
life.”
― Steve Jobs
Destiny, Luck and Free Will
Destiny
Our understanding of destiny, every dictionary definition, every conversation
or even every common-sense belief you’ve ever entertained, is in reality
limited, misinterpreted or distorted. There’s more to destiny than a mere
predetermined course of events that we can’t influence or change…
The part of our destiny is the Qi we inherit from our parents and other
predecessors, which enters our bodies through the ‘gate’ closely related to the
kidneys. It’s how information is transferred through the generations, how our
bodies reflect our ancestors and how we can carry the sadness of our
grandparents in our lives without really knowing what triggers it. In the same
way, it is also possible that certain knowledge or skills can be transferred
from some distant past, mysteriously skipping several generations. If your
ancestor was imprisoned or fought a war, these kinds of inherited traumas and
their associated feelings (anxiety, losing hope, paranoia, etc.), may well be
transferred to their descendants (you). I saw these many times while
practicing Regression Therapy and Family Constellations, long before I
discovered Chinese astrology.
From the point of view of Chinese astrology, the individual’s life is not only
about ancestral memories and genes; it is a mixture of vertical (spiritual) and
horizontal (ancestral) energies, we know them as the Qi of Heaven and Earth.
Although we inherit energetic imprints from our ancestors, we’re unique, our
souls have their own signatures vibrating under the reign of Heaven.
We can see our basic outlines of destiny in a Chinese astrological chart. By
utilizing the information about your date of birth, we can calculate the Four
Pillars chart (also known as Ba Zi). This chart has specific patterns, we
typically classify as destiny. Some people’s charts show more patterns, while
others are peaceful like a mountain lake on a calm day. It’s not, however, the
number of patterns that define the strength or limitations in your life (although
the more patterns you have, the more complicated things can become for you,
at times causing you to spend too much energy trying to resolve issues, leaving
you with insufficient time to take good care of yourself, to grow and learn) it’s
the type of patterns.
Some patterns really drain you of energy and demand so much attention, these
patterns you experience as limitations, these patterns are part of your destiny.
There are certain patterns you’ll keep repeating as mistakes, over and over
again, causing you to become entangled in situations that bind you, until you
break them, or become aware of their existence. Sometimes the most powerful
thing you can do, is not to resist your destiny!
Patterns can be invisible, waiting for the right time to launch or relaunch. This
is why, for example, some women just can’t resist the men who destroy them,
they remain married to alcoholics, criminals and narcissists. Patterns can
come from your parents and they’ll define your childhood experiences. Some
patterns can affect your health and looks and unfortunately, some of them are
just beyond repair, leaving some individuals to live with severe physical
limitations all of their lives. Sometimes, you can do well most of your life, but
a time arrives when certain physical predispositions just knock on your door,
pushing their way into your life uninvited.
Your destiny shapes your dreams and creates your habits. At times, you know
your patterns are not working for you, yet it feels as if you can’t do anything,
but keep repeating them. Also, sometimes you confuse your dreams and goals
with your patterns of destiny, as you walk from the past to the present, without
even knowing it. As stated above, some people are born with some
unexplainable sorrow, others become fighters for justice, and still others feel
the unexplainable need to help people or animals, etc.
Our destiny also shapes our definition of success. For some, family is their
greatest success, while others feel successful when they travel, help people,
meditate, be by themselves, write, act, make money, manage others, give birth
to children and many other things. Those achievements that we consider to be
successful, depends on the patterns of your destiny.
Destiny is not a straight road, it’s filled with twists, turns, bumps and beautiful
landscape, it brings challenges, together with opportunities. Some will
experience it as hardship, and others will not be able to see beyond the
limitations imposed by their destiny. At the same time, we are able to learn
and transform the perceived lacks into advantages.
The Four Pillars of Chinese astrology is an analytical method that utilizes
the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water), your main patterns
of destiny can be seen through the strengths and placements of each of
these Five Elements. The specific combinations of these Elements (as in
Stems and Branches) can also be experienced in the negative as clashes,
harm, punishment or destruction. If you experience others taking advantage
of you, if you’re too serious or uptight, hasty, impulsive, emotional, loose
with your morals or prone to unexplained conflict, these too are the
patterns of your destiny!
We’ll never know life in its fullness, it’s not our role, but we can learn,
change, let go, grow and develop, until we eventually become able to
acknowledge that we no longer have to carry certain burdens. The knowledge,
working on ourselves and developing mindfulness, all these can help us to
reach the ultimate goal of human existence: the release from suffering.
Luck
Luck in Chinese astrology is rather predictable, it’s closely related to time
and moves in 10-year cycles. These Luck Cycles are fixed time frames in your
life, they start at certain age and change every 10 years. For example, if the
first Luck Cycle started when you were 4, then your Luck will change when
you turn 14, 24, 34, 44, etc.
Each Luck Cycle is different, and you’ll typically experience 6-7 Luck Cycles
in your lifetime. We can assess the influence of each Luck Cycle based on the
Elements it brings and what those Elements represent to a specific person.
The same Luck Cycle will not affect two people the same way, they’re unique.
One person can face hardship and obstacles, while another will prosper under
the influence of the very same Luck Cycle.
What is certain is that we all feel the influence of this change and many of us
have noticed that certain years were very important in our lives. New Luck
Cycles can raise sudden interest in educational or spiritual matters and some
of the changes bring us what we need most, balancing both our charts and our
lives. New Luck Cycles can bring you the love of your life and/or cause the
flourishing of your career. You could sign an unbelievable contract or reach
high levels of popularity in specific Luck Cycles, or you can find the cure to
happiness and fulfilment. In certain Luck Cycles it is easy to grow and thrive,
find a great home or business property and enjoy the wonders of Feng Shui.
In other Luck Cycles, you can just get more of something you don’t need,
which can only bring you - problems. For example, all of the sudden, you
could notice that your friends and family have become hard on you, that
they’ve changed towards you, ‘just like that.’ It feels that you can barely
survive some of the 10-year periods, which might test all of your abilities!
You could also become dissatisfied with your job, family life and even your
looks. Some individuals experience breakups, separation or divorce upon
entering a new Luck Cycle.
New Luck Cycles bring completely new issues to understand. You could go
through experiences you’d never had before, and may feel lonely, isolated,
cornered or trapped. Your children could start making trouble for you, or you
may have to take care of elderly parents, sick relatives, or deal with your own
health issues.
Certain Luck Cycles bring mixed luck, a lot of goodness and some hard times.
This is when you can meet a new person or the love of our life, but also have
to go through the pain of divorce and losing your home, explaining the new
situation to your children, changing friends, etc. Hence, in some Luck Cycles,
and also in certain years, you can get something new and also lose something
old. Your life can suddenly get very complicated, some blessings, like
establishing a family, can also come with challenges (like paying a mortgage).
Sometimes, your health will improve, but your career or relationship can
become problematic. You can lose or gain weight, change your habits or
develop new interests… all of these things can be clearly seen in your chart!
Free Will
Having a free will is not necessarily the opposite of destiny, certain things in
your life can be predetermined, but still you keep your free will, meaning that
you can make choices and decisions for yourself. Life happens to you, and you
experience life and make decisions as part of the same process.
Of course, some of the inherited patterns (destiny) make you decide things too
easily, or conversely, too slowly. To make a mistake, or to have a
breakthrough, requires the same level of probability, which depends also on
your knowledge and - awareness.
You have to know your limitations in order to transform them, this process, of
course, is more than possible. However, this knowledge requires either some
serious engagement, (learning Chinese astrology, having a consultation, or
going into therapy) and/or spiritual practice, Yoga, meditation, engaging in
Buddhism, etc. All of these can bring deep insights, which in turn can release
you from certain patterns.
Sometimes, you have to work hard, other times less so. Sometimes you’ll get
a help which will ease your quest, and at other times your search will stretch
through a whole 10-year Luck Cycle. What’s important is you’ll never know
until you try, and even then, there’s no guarantee that certain patterns won’t
continue to affect your life, albeit to a lesser extent…
3
“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.”
― John W. Gardner
Five Elements and You
The Five Elements and You
The Five Elements are: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
Each Element appears in a state of both Yin and Yang and hence:
Yang Wood (Jia) and Yin Wood (Yi)
Yang Fire (Bing) and Yin Fire (Ding)
Yang Earth (Wu) and Yin Earth (Ji)
Yang Metal (Geng) and Yin Metal (Xin)
Yang Water (Ren) and Yin Water (Gui)
This is how the Five Elements determine the Ten Basic Personality Types of
Chinese astrology!
The Five Elements – the Five Phases of Energy
Wood is upright it represents the Spring, your birth, growth and
development, whenever there’s a need for growth (personal or business),
Wood can be used to boost it.
Fire represents warmth and expansion, it signifies the most active phase,
when everything is able to reach its full potential quickly (Summer).
Earth is the most fertile, it’s when everything ripens and completes, it’s
supportive, giving and nurturing, the symbol of faith and transformation
(late Summer).
Metal preserves, it’s about contraction and sinking (Autumn).
Water is depth, it represents the quiet phase in nature (Winter) when energy
is withdrawn in order for it to be renewed. Water signifies calm and
contemplation.
The Five Elements and Human Souls
The Five Elements provide an inexhaustible source of information about our
health, relationships and wealth.
The Water Element rules our willpower.
When it is weak so is your will power and self-renewal seems difficult.
The Wood Element rules over your ethereal soul.
It’s responsible for your dreams and creativity.
The Metal Element represents your corporal soul.
The Fire Element houses your mind.
The Earth Element represents your thinking and intellect.
How the Five Elements Relate to You
Wood People:
Are compassionate, idealistic, imaginative and creative. They may appear
youthful and are often pioneers in their fields. They require support and
favorable circumstances in order to grow and succeed. They’re often quick to
react and may appear territorial, impatient, impulsive or rash.
Fire People:
Are courteous, bright, warm and enthusiastic in their endeavors, though they
can appear superficial at times. They can be passionate about their causes and
are often attractive and polished with happy disposition.
However, sometimes they can be over passionate, impatient or overly social.
Earth People
Are stable, hardworking, diligent and steady, they tend to be traditional and
conservative and ready to strive in order to achieve their goals. On the
downside they can be stubborn, slow and reluctant to accept change.
Metal People
Are fundamentally just, firm and decisive.
They can be also single-minded, ambitious, aggressive and competitive. At
times they appear stiff and unresponsive.
Water People
Are emotional, wise, intelligent and philosophical; they’re also adaptive,
quick, witty and eloquent and they can make excellent mediators and
strategists. On the other hand, Water People can be fickle, lacking in stability
and discipline.
The basic characteristics of the Elements can be applied on a personal level,
they can provide information about a person’s constitution, their organs,
personality traits, talents and what they’re able to accomplish. For example,
Earth People are stable, supportive and nurturing, they tend to accomplish
their goals in a rather traditional and conservative manner…
4
“The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.”
― Michelangelo
Four Pillars of Your Life
The Four Pillars - Four Areas of Your Life
When you calculate your Chinese astrological chart www.bit.ly/4PChart you’ll see there are four pillars
relating to your date of birth:
The Hour Pillar
The hour you were born; it represents your hopes and dreams, also childhood and children.
The Day Pillar
The day you were born; representing your Self, but also your health, love life and spouse.
The Month Pillar
The solar month of your birth; represents your parents and siblings, but can also refer to your career.
The Year Pillar
The year you were born (as measured by the Chinese Solar Calendar); represents the influence of the
wider environment, your grandparents and ancestors.
Each pillar consists of an upper and lower part, the upper part relates to one of the Five Elements (Ten
Heavenly Stems), the lower, your Chinese zodiac sign (Twelve Branches).
Your chart contains not one, but four animal zodiac signs which are referred to as Branches. You’re
defined primarily by the animal sign of your birthday, as opposed to your birth year (as is often
mistakenly thought in the west). The four Branches; Hour, Day, Month, Year, affect different aspects of
your life.
Sample Four Pillars Chart (1)
Hour
Day
Month
Year
Ren m Yang Water
Jia s Yang Wood
Yi u Yin Wood
Bing a Yang Fire
Rat n (zi) Yang Water House b (Wu) Yang Fire Goat d (Wei) Yin Earth Dragon v (Chen) Yang Earth
Sample Four Pillars Chart (2)
Hour
Day
Month
Year
Ren m Yang Water
Ding c Yin Fire
Ding c Yin Fire
Wu y Yang Earth
Monkey f (Shen) Yang Metal Pig l (Hai) Yin Water
Goat d (Wei) Yin Earth Dog j (Xu) Yang Earth
5
“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”
― Andy Warhol
Ten Personality Types
Ten Personality Types of Chinese Astrology
There are ten basic Personality Types of Chinese astrology:
The Initiator
The Artist
The Motivator
The Giver
The Guardian
The Nurturer
The Protector
The Thinker
The Executive
The Visionary
The ten basic Personality Types of Chinese astrology are based on the Self,
the Element that appears in the upper part of the Day Pillar.
Hour
Day
Self
Month
Year
1. The Initiator (your Self is Yang Wood or Jia)
- Clear set of standards and beliefs, strong leadership abilities.
They like challenges but they can initiate too many things or get involved in
too many projects. They enjoy seeing quick results for their efforts and have
no patience in times of hardship; they can become irritable and sometimes
even aggressive.
Jia Wood is usually represented by a tall tree, and as with tall trunks, these
individuals tend to be sturdy and rigid. Often, they’re not willing to adapt
or change easily, especially once they have made up their minds and set
their goals.
They’re generally self-confident, straightforward, honest and can be very
demanding with a tendency to be inflexible. Their need for steadiness
originates directly from the immobility of tall trees, for only a stable and
well-known environment will support their growth. As it is not easy to replant
large trees, in much the same way, these people find it difficult to move, adapt
and compromise, insisting on certain established conditions that have already
proved to be good for their overall development and sense of security.
Since their size implies that their roots are strong and firmly grounded, this
enables them to not only grow, but also pinpoints their ability to outgrow any
situation and overcome adverse circumstances. External changes don’t really
reach them as the weather conditions need to be extremely strong in order to
shake and eventually damage these big trunks. This is why Jia people are
always progressing, using their planning, development and executive skills to
support their growth and upward climb.
Jia Self people celebrities include: Richard Branson, Fidel Castro, Sir
Richard Attenborough, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, James Cameron,
Tim Burton, Paul Simon, Julio Iglesias, Tommy Lee, Whitney Houston…
Hour
Day
Month
Jia (Yang Wood)
Year
2. The Artist (your Self is Yin Wood or Yi)
-Strong aesthetic appreciation and survival instinct; they love art and are
often very artistically talented themselves.
Yi Self people – Artists, are very creative, they’re developers of ideas,
perfectionists, with many talents and skills, they adapt easily, and people
love them. Appear keen and have strongly developed sensory abilities
particularly taste, smell and touch.
They love nature and animals and are sensitive towards suffering. Yi Self
people are also very social and are perceptively aware of how other people
feel. They can easily scan them (other people) and make emotional assessment
- which is usually correct. However, because Yi Self people are so
perceptive, they can be too tuned to others which leads to emotional
dependency.
One moment they will appear fickle, changing their direction and opinions
quickly, like the wind; and the next a Yi Self person will mesmerize you with
their gracefulness, manners, calmness, soft words and brilliant ideas.
Beneath their superficial and vain appearance, Yi Self people are very
intelligent, blessed with sharp minds and the ability to think quickly. These
people are often gifted with exceptional abilities of improvisation. As they
are very curious and adventurous, they tend to constantly be busy, finding new
interests, only to be followed by some new courses of action.
Sometimes, Yi people will appear to have contradictory personalities; though
they may be very interested in the material world, they often lack a deeper
insight into their own future, together with the patience needed for the
realization of their ideas. They can be indecisive, but only until they find
something they are good at, and then they’re ready to invest all of their energy
again.
Yi Self people celebrities include: John Lennon, Sting, John Coltrane,
Madonna, Kenny Rogers, Liam Gallagher, Amy Winehouse, Yves Saint
Laurent, Danielle Still, Bill Clinton, Rupert Murdoch, Michelle Obama,
Oprah Winfrey…
Hour
Day
Month
Yi (Yin Wood)
Year
3. The Motivator (your Self is Yang Fire or Bing)
-Warm and enthusiastic individuals, recognizable by bright appearance,
big smile.
These people – Motivators, have special talents, they can bring out the best in
others! Charming and passionate about things, they are able to motivate and
inspire others.
They simply love life, love people, love socializing and shining on others,
they place great importance on interpersonal relationships and are commonly
well-liked. A Bing Self person also has a strong need to be liked, sometimes
he’ll leave his comfort zone way behind in order to win acceptance and
approval of others.
Bing Self people need time alone to center themselves, they can just fly too
high sometimes, showing no interest in mundane or boring details, jumping
to conclusions or making wrong judgements. They tend always to create
some more excitement, they’re true motivators who can work well with
others.
Bing Fire people are confident but can sometimes be too optimistic and
naïve; lacking any patience for reality checks. They find it easy to become
interested in certain things, although they can just as easily lose this
interest - overnight.
Yang Fire is represented by the Sun, whose light is created by countless
ongoing processes, so the moods and interests of these people can vary, and
they will be always one step away from becoming forceful and destructive.
However, as soon as they learn how to control their interests, energy and
self-expression, they become truly grounded and efficient.
Bing Self celebrities include: Gerald R. Ford, Vladimir Putin, Nelson
Mandela, Lance Armstrong, David Copperfield, J.K. Rowling, Pierre
Cardin, Anna Kournikova, Ray Charles, Mariah Carey, Roman Polanski,
Mario Puzo, Kanye West…
Hour
Day
Month
Bing (Yang Fire)
Year
4. The Giver (your Self is Yin Fire or Ding)
- People oriented and responsive individuals who understand and care
about others.
They have a special talent to bring out the best in others. Willing to give
support, advice, encouragement, love and time to others and help people find
their way, they’re symbolically represented by candle light.
This is the Yin Element, hence soft, gentle and kind individuals. They want to
improve everything, and they sacrifice warmly and gladly to reach you. Their
characters are warm, mild and gentle, and they can easily connect with others.
They’re passionate about things they care for, as they are intuitive,
compassionate, helpful, altruistic, open minded and organized. However,
they’re also insecure and need a lot of attention and approval (candle depends
on wax, etc.).
Ding individuals are usually perceived as being likeable and fun and most
people enjoy their company, for they’re always in the mood for socializing,
shopping, going out or just having a good time. Yin Fire people – Givers,
are usually well informed about the hubs of local nightlife and due to their
charm, charisma and social skills they can be very popular in certain
circles.
Though Ding people are known for being multi-talented, their biggest quality
is the ability to encourage others to make the best of themselves and to
improve certain areas of their lives. Though Yin Fire is by no means blazing
sunlight, Yin Fire people will still touch other people’s lives by unselfishly
offering their light, warmth and leadership. Due to their genuine concern for
others, Ding Fire people make good therapists and counselors and can also be
a very precious source of good advice.
Ding Self celebrities include: Jeremy Irons, Sean Penn, Robert De Niro,
Serena Williams, Usain Bolt, Pippa Middleton, David Bowie, Janis
Joplin, Johnny Cash, Gene Simmons, Rowan Atkinson, Rachael Ray, Tony
Blair, Jimmy Carter...
Hour
Day
Month
Ding (Yin Fire)
Year
5. The Guardian (your Self is Yang Earth or Wu)
-Reserved individuals; interested in peaceful living and security.
You may think that they have no integrity, but you’d be wrong. They’re
organized, methodical, hardworking and motivated to complete their tasks.
Sometimes they just want to do everything by the book and they can be overly
serious.
But they also have their softer sides too when someone gets close to their
heart, they can’t resist to help that lucky person too much. Wu Self people
respect others, they’re very caring and supportive with people they love!
These individuals are also strong and solid, firm as the rock that this Self
represents. The image of Wu Earth is high ground earth – dry and hard to
excavate – emphasizing that Wu people are rich and deep, and not as soft,
accessible and expressive as their Yin counterpart. Wu individuals can appear
rough and simplistic, but they are actually very well grounded, steady, rich,
industrious, plentiful and generous. However, they may not be so good at
revealing their qualities, for a tall mountain tends to hide its wealth, and we
have to make an effort to go and excavate it, in order fully realize its
treasures.
Consequently, behind their reserved and cautious appearance, Wu people –
Guardians, are basically friendly, and they genuinely care about and
appreciate others, which is why many of them are very popular. Though they
can be slow to establish deeper relationships, Wu people truly value their
friends and their friendships are based on mutual loyalty, discretion, trust and
dependability. However, sometimes they can be too lonely and pessimistic,
lacking joy in their lives.
Wu Self celebrities include: Eric Clapton, Howard Stern, Mel Brooks,
Chris Carter, Andy Warhol, Steve Wozniak, Michael Jackson, Magic
Johnson, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Jelena Jankovic, Barry Gibb,
Pink, Madeline Zima…
Hour
Day
Month
Wu (Yang Earth)
Year
6. The Nurturer (your Self is Yin Earth or Ji)
Kind, warm-hearted and concrete, they have faith in others.
They’re sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, and ready to nurture
those they care for (some of these people spend a lot of time finding and
wrapping gifts for others). This can also lead them to taking on a lot of
responsibilities which don’t always belong to them, at times leading them to
feel tired and complain that they are overburdened.
Yin Earth people value security, they’re fond of tradition and like the ‘old
ways’, finding it hard to adopt the new. Aesthetics are important to them, so
they can be good interior designers creating great looking spaces. They
also have excellent memories, this ability helps them to make things
running smoothly. However, they’re not as open as they may appear, they
can retreat when faced with a rough approach and/or criticism, at times
they need some encouragement.
Their earthly disposition gives them a tendency towards the realistic,
practical and very down-to-earth ways of being. They’re trustworthy and
reliable, and if they promise something, it’s quite certain it will be kept. Most
Ji people are resourceful and very skillful organizers, able to complete any
tasks at hand in a steady and patient manner, albeit at their own pace.
At their best, Ji Earth people set an example for others on how to be
supportive, help everything grow and develop, sometimes it’s intentional
accompanied by a firmly set goal, but occasionally it’s unintentional, it
happens simply by being present in other people’s lives. Because of this, they
may find that people will start to rely on them; expecting them to solve their
personal issues.
Ji Self celebrities include: Barack Obama, Michael Moore, Isaac Asimov,
Anjelica Huston, Donald Trump, Justin Timberlake, James Brown,
George Michael, Pete Sampras…
Hour
Day
Month
Ji (Yin Earth)
Year
7. The Protector (your Self is Yang Metal or Geng)
-Geng people can appear as cold, reserved and distant, and they are on
many occasions…
These individuals typically have a lot of fight in their lives, as they’re
symbolized by a sword which is used for defense but also attack.
Unsurprisingly, they can be aggressive and impatient, sometimes doing exactly
what they want to without a care for others, and then they can surprise you
with their chivalry! When it comes to their protective side, Geng people care
about their integrity and image. They’re also protective towards weaker
people, the unprotected or vulnerable, the young, etc.
Geng people have strong value systems, they want to live their lives in tune
with what they feel is right for them. Often, they believe they’re right, and
can debate really hard, especially with superiors or those who are equal in
status with them. They’re not people who’ll open up to you and/or start
crying, although they’re prone to complaining and, even more, to criticism.
Geng people are usually quite determined and are unlikely to waver from
their course of action. Moreover, they really enjoy challenges, and fighting
for the right cause makes them come alive, especially when it results in
being on the winning side. It’s hard to change them, but they need a lot of
pressure and discipline in order to succeed.
With the same endurance, boldness and fighting spirit, Geng people will
tolerate equally the ups and downs of life, and of all the ‘Selves’ they are
known to be the most resilient, unafraid of difficulties and the hardships that
life may bring. It’s very important to Geng individuals – Protectors, to have a
sense of purpose, and a goal to strive toward. If these people feel useless they
can start to wander, or eventually become dissatisfied and depressed.
Geng Self celebrities include: Dr. Oz, Michael Phelps, Mike Tyson, Chuck
Jones, John Grisham, Margaret Thatcher, Charlton Heston, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Cliff Richard, Sara Ferguson, Jennifer Lopez, Charlie
Sheen, Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher…
Hour
Day
Month
Geng (Yang Metal)
Year
8. The Thinker (your Self is Yin Metal or Xin)
-Great intellect, keen perception, psychological skills and clear thinking.
Xin Self individuals are unconventional and restless, with a fighting nature.
They’re social rebels, battling for what they think is right or truth. Xin Self
are also skeptics, with bright ideas and out of the box thinking, who like to
socialize and discuss with others. Xin Self are not easy, because they want
to improve everything and that includes people.
They can be competitive and harsh on others, looking down on them,
especially if they don’t want to debate with them. At times they debate just for
the sake of debating and can become oppressive and cynical. They can also
change their opinions, not because of you, but because they want to.
Many Xin people stand out due to their intellect, charm, good looks and
refinement. These talkative individuals almost always have something to say,
mostly because they like to be seen and heard, but also because they know
things. Xin people like to be in contact with the external world as they not
only like to shine within it, but also like to be well informed and regularly
updated.
These people value serious literature, but they are often the first ones to
discover and follow new trends; they equally enjoy reading historical books
and cruising Facebook. They are extrovert who enjoy public appearances and
entertaining others, and they are widely known as being interesting, humorous,
witty and funny people.
Xin Self celebrities include: Gordon Ramsay, Novak Djokovic, George W.
Bush, Sylvester Stallone, Lionel Richie, Gwen Stefani, Gwyneth Paltrow,
Luciano Pavarotti, Sacha Baron Cohen…
Hour
Day
Month
Xin (Yin Metal)
Year
9. The Executive (your Self is Yang Water or Ren)
-Natural born leaders who quickly grasp the complexities of life and
penetrate other people’s characters.
Ren Self people – Executives, have a strong intuition, they’re good to
absorb information and create pictures about everything. They are able to
make quick judgments, enjoy challenges, see the world as the source of
possibilities and make use of them. They like to discuss and enjoy
challenging conversation.
Ren Self are also born business people, blessed with entrepreneurial spirits,
they strive towards perfection, don’t like their mistakes as they are seen
these as weaknesses, and they are critical of the errors other people may
make. They can be forceful and intimidating, you’ll have to earn their
respect yet!
Ren is symbolized by big and powerful bodies of water, big streams, lakes,
seas and oceans. Beneath their tranquil appearances, Ren Water people are
usually bold, fast and dynamic. Just as water in nature flows everywhere,
Ren people are not good at standing still, feeling a constant need to move,
both physically and mentally.
Ren individuals are intelligent, sharp and ambitious. They’re also curious
and courageous enough to try new things, and their adventurous spirits can
sometimes get them into trouble, especially when they are younger.
However, no matter what problem may arise, these people will be able to
find the correct solution, just as the nature of water is to find its way.
Ren Self celebrities include:
Oliver Stone, Buddy Holly, Warren Buffet, Dan Brown, Ray Bradbury, Paul
McCartney, Brigitte Bardot, Prince Harry…
Hour
Day
Month
Ren (Yang Water)
Year
10. The Visionary (your Self is Yin Water or Gui)
Intelligent, imaginative and introspective people.
They love to learn about the world they live in and they like to decipher life’s
mysteries. Gui Self people are visionaries who crave knowledge and
understanding, they can become excited about difficulties and opportunities
equally. They’re very intuitive, quick thinkers, accurate guessers with great
depth and a philosophical approach to life. However, they can also be
emotional, introverted and - childish.
The Gui Self individuals are creative, flexible and adaptable, freedom lovers
who don’t like restrictions. They’re humorous and quick witted, friendly,
thoughtful, with a depth of feeling as their inner world is intense. Gui Self
people are fluent conversationalists, but with a tendency towards being
introverted and an ability to suddenly change their minds. It can be like they
sometimes just don’t know what they want.
Like every Water-type person, these people may give the impression of being
calm and relaxed. However, their peaceful appearance may hide a complex
personality with many deep and changeable emotions which are intense and
rarely indifferent. Gui individuals are empathic, compassionate and
understanding; people like to confide in them because they’re not only good
listeners but also they‘re very protective, helpful and available at times of
need. Since they are symbolized by a mist or rain, their basic nature is
unquestionably that of giving and nourishing.
Sometimes they’re indecisive and compelled to try different approaches and
need time to decide what’s right for them. Once they manage to control their
over- sensitivity and emotions, Gui people will can transcend any confusion
that permeates their lives.
Gui Self celebrities include:
Barbara Walters, Jerry Bruckheimer, Stephen King, Anthony Bourdain, Guy
Ritchie, Malcolm Forbes, Jay Leno, Giorgio Armani, Martha Stewart, the
Dalai Lama…
Hour
Day
Month
Gui (Yin Water)
Year
6
“What the younger generation didn't understand was that the grass was
greenest where it's watered.”
― Nicholas Sparks
Twelve Branches
Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs
There are twelve Chinese zodiac animal signs, or Branches:
Rat (Zi)
Ox (Chou)
Tiger (Yin)
Rabbit (Mao)
Dragon (Chen)
Snake (Si)
Horse (Wu)
Goat (Wei)
Monkey (Shen)
Rooster (You)
Dog (Xu)
Pig (Hai)
Each Branch has its own characteristics, constitution, health issues, and ways
they handle certain situations.
They have related colors, directions, Elements, seasons, years, months, days
and hours! They all associate well with some specific signs, as they fight with
others. Find more info in ‘A Course in Chinese Astrology’:
www.bit.ly/AstroBOOK
To Calculate your Four Pillars Chinese Astrology chart and find the four
Branches of your life, just follow this link: www.bit.ly/4PChart
Hour
Horse
Day
Self
Rat
Month
Year
Rabbit
Goat
Rat
Element: Water
Polarity: Yang
Season: Winter
Direction: North 2
Loves: Ox
Best friends: Dragon and Monkey
Secret Friend: Snake
Clashes With: Horse (If you have Horse in one of your Four Pillars, and Rat
in the other, then you may experience many conflicts in life)
Complicated Relationship With: Goat, Rooster and Rabbit
- Smart, capable, charismatic, instinctive, versatile, ambitious,
changeable, irritable, cunning and calculating.
In ancient China it was considered a privilege to be connected with Rats
because they were viewed as brave, resourceful and enterprising individuals,
able to take care of themselves and others. As instinctive, intelligent, witty,
quick and cunning creatures with sharp senses, Rats are able not only to
survive adverse situations, but also to find ways to thrive, regardless of their
circumstances.
Although they commonly appear calm, relaxed and easy going, Rats are
actually very anxious beings, known for their stubborn and opinionated nature
and aggressiveness they use to defend their views, territory or belongings. At
the same time, they’re very smart and alert, they’re keen observers with the
ability to notice and memorize a myriad of details relating to people, the
environment and what’s happening around them.
Behind their talkative exterior, Rats are actually very reserved and private
people who may not be that transparent. These secretive individuals carefully
guard their privacy, as they typically hide their worries and fears, keeping
their doubts, problems and weaknesses to themselves.
Although they’re mostly self-involved people, they can also act in very giving
and generous ways, especially towards the members of their own family and
the people they care for. However, since they are both very territorial and
sensitive to disrespectful behavior and ridicule, if they feel badly treated,
Rats may become very defensive, critical and/or hostile.
Rat Celebrities Include:
Isadora Duncan, Gustav Mahler, Hermann Hesse, Sigmund Freud, Robert
Atkins, Richard Bach, Pope John Paul II, Jose Frakson, Nicholas Rockefeller,
Warren Buffet, Albert Frey, John Grisham, John Carpenter, Jim Morrison, Ana
Ivanovic, Michael Phelps, Andy Murray, Tyson Gay, Vera Wang, Sharon
Osbourne, Ashton Kutcher, Victoria Beckham, Wendy Deng, Ben Stiller,
Robert Downey Jr., Kirstie Alley, Jennifer Lawrence, Mayte Garcia, Jennifer
Lopez, Christopher Walken, Slobodan Milosevic…
Hour
Day
Rat (Zi)
Month
Year
Ox
Element: Earth
Polarity: Yin
Season: Winter
Direction: NE1
Loves: Rat
Best Friends: Snake, Rooster
Secret Friend: Tiger
Clashes With: Goat
Complicated Relationship With: Horse, Dragon, Dog
-Reliable, persistent, cautious, pragmatic, truthful, honest, diligent,
obstinate and conservative.
Oxen are honest, pragmatic and down-to-earth individuals, recognizable for
their cautious and deliberate nature. They’re responsible and dependable
creatures who respect agreements and keep their promises. The Earth Element
that rules over this Branch makes Oxen complex, cautious and reserved
people, who are not that transparent.
On the other hand, they’re soft, open-minded and tolerant individuals, who are
trustworthy and reliable. They tend to follow their own pace in everything
they do and sometimes it may take a while until they decide their course of
action or make a plan to obtain their goal. Nevertheless, once they make up
their minds, they’ll pursue their goals in straightforward and persistent ways.
As sentimental people, Oxen tend to attach strongly, refusing sometimes to let
go of anything; as a result, they could end up hoarding everything, from
people, to emotions, memories and - material things.
As hardworking individuals, Oxen like demanding tasks, which would enable
them to employ their basic qualities: endurance, perseverance and
thoroughness. Unlike some other Branches, Ox people are not afraid of
routines, they’re stable and motivated people, who prosper in a methodical
and well-organized manner. Due to their strong need for stability and security,
they typically function cautiously, they tend to play safe, considering carefully
all possible developments in a venture, before they become deeply involved.
Ox Celebrities Include:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claude Monet, J.D. Salinger, Thomas Edison,
Carl Gustav Jung, Federico Fellini, Alain Aspect, Alfred Hitchcock, Danielle
Steel, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Gerhard Schroeder, Vito Genovese, Pablo
Escobar, O.J. Simpson, Earl Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Rupert Murdock, Reid
Hoffman, Joseph Mercola, Larry King, Chris Carter, Timothy Leary, Kelsey
Grammer, Demi Moore, Roseanne Barr, Tom Hanks, Lily Allen, Sinead
O’Connor, Christina Aguilera, Natalie Wood, Aishwarya Rai…
Hour
Day
Month
Ox (Chou)
Year
Tiger
Element: Wood
Polarity: Yang
Season: Spring
Direction: NE3
Loves: Pig
Best Friends: Horse, Dog
Secret Friend: Ox
Clashes With: Monkey
Complicated Relationship With: Snake
- Friendly, open, self-reliant, proud, brave, competitive, sharp and
resilient.
Tigers are intelligent and alert individuals, and their ‘Traveling Star’ nature
also makes them youthful, restless and enterprising. Consequently, they hate
routine, and prefer being always on the move and leading busy and exciting
lives. When these individuals get involved in something, they become very
determined and able to set a strenuous and exhausting pace that ignores even
their own physical limitations; as such, others can rarely keep up with them.
Tigers have impulsive and adventurous natures, and their lives are filled with
wanderlust and numerous changes.
Tiger’s personality is strong, he’s territorial and a natural born leader who
will fight for some domain and/or principles he considers important. During
the process of maturation, most Tigers learn how to tame their natural drives
in that way that channels their energies into the meaningful goals. However,
there are some Tigers who never grow up in this way and who can’t resist
initiating new ventures, which they’ll often soon abandon in the pursuit of
ever newer ones.
Tigers are extremely impatient creatures, they tend to rush and force
objectives, believing only in their own actions and lacking confidence in the
natural timing and development of events. They may suffer from occasional
tension and/or anxiety as they’re often engaged in many activities
simultaneously. Since they don’t like to stand still, leading stable lives or
finding peace within can be challenging for them.
Although they may appear self-sufficient, Tigers are actually very sensitive
when it comes to the opinions and acceptance of others. Feeling welcomed
and appreciated by friends and family is very important to them, for when they
feel underestimated or rejected, they may become upset and make poor
decisions out of rage or frustration. When they feel accepted, however, Tigers
relax easily, transforming into youthful, fun and naïve beings who
unquestionably believe in other people’s good intentions.
Tiger Celebrities Include:
Richard Branson, Tim Ferris, Paris Hilton, Michael Jackson, Silvio
Berlusconi, Hillary Clinton, Adolf Hitler, Yogananda, Raphael Nadal, Boris
Becher, Dan Brown, Chelsea Handler, Whitney Way Thore, Tom Cruise,
Christina Applegate, Bear Brown, Cody Lundin…
Hour
Day
Month
Tiger (Yin)
Year
Rabbit
Element: Wood
Polarity: Yin
Season: Spring
Direction: East 2
Loves: Dog
Best Friends: Pig, Goat
Secret Friend: Monkey
Clashes With: Rooster
Complicated Relationship With: Dragon, Horse, Rat
- Gentle, keen, lovely, moderate, tranquil, diplomatic, family oriented and
sensual beings.
The Chinese have many strange legends with Rabbits as main characters, and
one of them is that once upon a time Rabbits lived on the Moon, along with
three-legged frogs. Another one informs us that Rabbits have a secret recipe
for immortality, while the next states that they are able to feel when others are
lying. In Chinese culture, Rabbits were also related to clairvoyance, longevity
and immortality and these qualities, together with soothing presence and
healing abilities, are also assigned to Rabbit people.
The first impressions of Rabbits are that they are amiable individuals with
good characters, who will always try to comfort others and find solutions – or
accomplish their goals in polite and diplomatic ways. Although their basic
nature is kind and open, Rabbits are actually reserved, cautious and well
known as quiet, calm and very private individuals who tend to keep a low
profile. Although they can be ‘picky’ when it comes to choosing close friends,
their minds are open, they don’t have cultural, racial or social class
prejudices. As friends, they’re loyal, trustworthy, compassionate and very
attentive, they enjoy ‘catching up’ with close friends and treat them as family
members.
Rabbits are intelligent and quick beings, keen observers who pay close
attention to everything that is happening in their surroundings. They’re
controversial people, they’re honest but they dislike confrontations and
restrain from openly expressing their opinions, especially if there is a
possibility of a rejection or a conflict. Yet, they’re articulate, and they can
skillfully and easily talk themselves out of many uncomfortable situations.
Rabbit Celebrities Include:
Winston Churchill, Paul Andreau, Ted Turner, Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Vuitton,
Stanley Kubrick, Harrison Ford, Stephen King, Bruce Willis, Bear Grylls,
Andre Agassi, Diego Maradona, Tina Turner, Alicia Keys, Nicole Kidman,
Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart, Prince, Elton John…
Hour
Day
Month
Rabbit (Mao)
Year
Dragon
Element: Earth
Polarity: Yang
Season: Spring
Direction: SE1
Loves: Rooster
Best Friends: Rat, Monkey
Clashes With: Dog
Complicated Relationship With: Rabbit, Ox
-Strong, original, determined, courageous, leader, pushy, dramatic, proud,
vain…
Dragon is one of the most intriguing and exotic of all the twelve Branches,
represented most commonly by an image of a lush green mountain. In ancient
China, Dragon was viewed as a special and extraordinary creature, he was
believed to bring good luck not only to those who were born on Dragon’s day
or year, but also to their family members and people they dealt with.
Dragons are strong, complex and sometimes contradictory creatures who tend
to give a special significance to themselves and everything they do. They’re
brave, enterprising and adventurous, and very territorial, ready to defend their
assets in every possible way. They’re known as born leaders and masters of
ceremonies who naturally claim major roles in their surroundings, enjoying
the approval and admiration for who they are and everything they do.
Dragon people tend to think big, both in business and everyday life, striving
for perfectionism and grand results. Their actions are determined, their
demands direct and concise, as they’re able to make clear decisions and
execute them with passion and persistence. They’re courageous, strong
individuals, who won’t hesitate to push when necessary or to be over
dramatic when something doesn’t develop in the way they expected.
Dragons are blessed with good luck, their lives can easily become success
stories, bringing them not only respect but also numerous other benefits. They
have snobbish and prideful attitudinal tendencies often annoying other people.
They can be also very protective and eager to aid those in need and/or
antagonistic towards others who are equally powerful, intelligent or
successful, perceiving them as a threat.
Dragon Celebrities Include:
Karl Marx, Charlotte Bronte, Friedrich Nietche, Richard Lewis Stephenson,
Sai Baba, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Harry Houdini, James Cameron,
Roman Polanski, Peter Bogdanovich, Tony Scott, Paolo Sorvino, Samuel L.
Jackson, Leonardo Di Caprio, Steve Jobs, Sheldon Adelson, Roman
Abramovich, Dweight Eisenhower, Pope Benedict XVI, Queen Elizabeth II,
Edward Snowden, Abdulah II of Jordan, Bjorn Borg, Lionel Messi, Asperger,
Jim Jones, Leonardo DiCaprio, Uri Geller, Roland Castro, Tom Ford, Katy
Perry, Khloe Kardashian…
Hour
Day
Month
Dragon (Chen)
Year
Snake
Element: Fire
Polarity: Yin
Season: Summer
Direction: SE3
Loves: Monkey
Best Friends: Ox, Rooster
Secret Friend: Rat
Clashes With: Pig
Complicated Relationship: Tiger
- Keen, intelligent, attractive, mysterious, complex, reclusive, restrained,
cunning.
Snakes are very intelligent and attractive people with multilayered
personalities who carry the aura of mystery and controversy. Though they can
present themselves as friendly and open, they’re actually very secluded and
introverted beings, able to compensate possible lack of information or
knowledge with intelligence and quick observation. They’re also keen and
well-organized creatures possessing a sharp intuition, who show strong
interest in philosophy, spiritual, mysticism and metaphysics.
In China, the snake in the house was considered as a harbinger of good luck,
as it was also believed that good fortune always follows Snakes. Snake
people’s luck can be related to their inherent ability to easily spot
opportunities and to make the most of them with subtlety, using both their
people skills and powerful mind in order to make appropriate decisions. Due
to their sharp intellects and good memories, Snakes are able to store a myriad
of practical information and details they use whenever they want to surprise
others and gain advantage.
Behind their cultured and socially acceptable appearance, Snakes are very
private individuals, renowned for their tendencies to conceal emotions and
thoughts. While they are skilled when it comes to hiding their own secrets
carefully, they’re capable of reading others with guile and ease. Due to their
curious natures and a need for different experiences, Snakes can easily get
into trouble, ending up in the center of intrigue, scandal, gossip or corruption
(the expression "long snake" in Chinese points to intrigue). Snakes don’t
always have great moral, due to their beliefs that any means are allowed when
there is a need to protect personal interests, they can often find themselves
oscillating between good and bad, light and darkness.
Snake Celebrities Include:
William Heisenberg, Benjamin Franklin, Johan Sebastian Bach, Celsius,
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Barack Obama, George Bush Junior, Bin Laden, Li Ka
Shing, Lakshmi Mital, Pierre Jacobs, Arthur Miller, Salvador Dali, Brian De
Palma, Quentin Tarantino, Jerry Bruckheimer, Shonda Rhimes, Richard Gere,
Jackie Chen, Silvester Stalone, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Ronaldinho,
Tom Jones, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Page, Halle Berry, Eva Mendes, Amy
Winehouse, Rhianna, Simon Fuller, Rene Angelli, Dasha Zukova
Abramovich…
Hour
Day
Month
Snake (Si)
Year
Horse
Element: Fire
Polarity: Yang
Season: Summer
Direction: South 2
Loves: Goat
Best Friends: Tiger, Dog
Clashes With: Rat
Complicated Relationship With: Rabbit, Ox
-Social, active, mobile, restless, passionate, proud, competitive, blunt.
It’s believed in Asia that although people born in Horse years might differ
greatly, they all still share the love of movement and the desire to travel. The
dominating Fire Element makes Horses cordial and warm, fast, social and
talkative creatures, who always have something to say. They They’re friendly
and open, honest, kind and generous beings, who have great stories and a
good sense of humor, which enables them to become the life and soul of any
party. Spending time with others is important for them, they’ll often be seen at
concerts, movies, in the gym, bowling or at sporting events.
As their counterpart Goat is acknowledged for being the most feminine
Branch of the Chinese zodiac, Horses are famous for being the most
masculine. Their characters tend to be active, energetic and independent,
regardless of their gender. The Fire Element, which rules this Branch, make
Horses very passionate, impulsive and impatient creatures, who often act in a
proud and egoistic ways. Fire also makes them changeable and volatile, at
times going in many directions, and finding it difficult to keep steady interests,
and/or to stay too long in one place.
Since fire cannot exist without fuel, Horses are always in search of new and
exciting information, people and things. Due to their intense and fiery nature,
they can behave in moody, rushed and impulsive ways, hence, albeit
unintentionally, at times they hurt others with their blunt remarks and reckless
deeds. They’re most commonly found walking, driving or engaging in sporting
activities and various competitions as they find it almost impossible to stay
still.
Horse Celebrities Include:
Nikola Tesla, Leonardo da Vinchi, Dostoievski, Tenzin Rinpoche, Gourdijeff,
Ron L. Hubbard, Israel Regardie, Louise Hay, Bella Burtock, Harry Truman,
Stalin, George Soros, Ingmar Kamprad, Bernard Arnauld, William Koch,
Carlos Slim Helu, Philip Glass, Lence Armstrong, Roger Federer, Martina
Navratilova, Mustang Wanted, Marc Jacobs, Phil Collins, David Lynch, Phil
Collins, Dr. Ozz, Elizabeth Taylor, Romi Schneider, Stana Katic, Madeline
Zima, Mickie Rourke, Jorge Garcia, Oscar Pistorius, A. Struengmann…
Hour
Day
Month
Horse (Wu)
Year
Goat
Element: Earth
Polarity: Yin
Season: Summer
Direction: SW1
Loves: HorseBest Friends: Rabbit, Pig
Clashes With: Ox
Complicated Relationship With: Dog, Rat
-Soft, sensitive, insecure, dependent, caring, creative, sociable, adaptable.
Goats are considered to be the most feminine of all twelve Branches, they’re
very romantic, emotional and sentimental. The strong Yin quality that
accompanies this Branch makes Goats flexible, adaptable and easy-going
people, who always tend to go with the flow and/or follow the path of least
resistance. Being cultured individuals, Goats respect others, and enjoy
discovering different cultures, people and customs.
Art and creativity form an important part of their lives and if they don’t find a
career in the arts and crafts, they’ll, most likely, find other ways to
incorporate their artistic flair into everyday life. Goats are typically very fond
of home decorating and/or cooking, they prefer creative hobbies enabling
them to express their talents. Hence, decoupage, painting, photography,
jewelry making, sewing, knotting, calligraphy, etc., can easily become very
important in Goats’ lives, taking a lot of their time and energy, while making
them happy.
Goats care very much about how they look, putting a great deal of effort into
improving their appearances and correcting perceived flaws. Goats are
elegant and stylish, they have a tendency to add personal touches to everything
they wear. Along with Rabbits and Pigs, Goats are part of the peaceful family
of Branches, their presence is soothing and they’re caring in relationships, the
home and the family. Goats won’t hesitate to invest substantial energy and
time into making their homes comfortable and pleasant, if not stylish and hip.
Goat Celebrities Include:
Galileo Galilei, Neils Bohr, Edgar Allan Poe, Stendhal, Edgar Degas, Isaac
Asimov, Frank Lloyd Wright, Dalai Lama, Ravi Shankar, Rudolph Steiner,
Alistair Crowley, Jidu Krishnamurti, Carlos Castaneda, Theresa Caputo,
Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Helmut Kohl, Julian
Asange, Donald Trump, Anthony Graziano, Debbie Ford, Doris Lessing,
Barbra Streisand, Martha Stewart, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Lady Diana,
Brittany Murphy, Lady Gaga, Elizabeth Hurley, Zhang Ziyi, Robert De Niro,
Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams…
Hour
Day
Month
Goat (Wei)
Year
Monkey
Element: Metal
Polarity: Yang
Season: Autumn
Direction: SW3
Loves: Snake
Best Friends: Dragon, Rat
Clashes With: Tiger
Complicated Relationship: Pig
-Intelligent, curious, resourceful, imaginative, witty, humorous, social,
cunning, manipulative.
Those having Monkey in their Four Pillars chart were always considered as
very fortunate people in China. Being resourceful, inventive, determined and
clever, Monkeys are able to cope efficiently with different environments and
handle almost every situation.
These individuals are also known for their openness, curiosity and vast
interests, they’re very expressive, communicative and versatile people, able
to discuss numerous topics. Due to their intelligence, adaptability and lively,
charming, talkative and playful natures, they’re popular and you would want
to invite them to any party. However, they’re also materialists guided by their
own concerns and some of them won’t hesitate to manipulate, scam, ridicule
and gossip, in order to obtain their goals.
In general, people born on Monkey days tend to be very thoughtful and
ambitious, always knowing clearly what they want and being motivated by
success and social recognition. Being quick and independent, they do not like
to be limited in any way; hence, they prefer playing by their own rules,
believing all means are allowed when it comes to obtaining one’s goals.
These talented creatures are capable problem solvers, but their impatient
nature, strong competitiveness and possible lack of compassion, might
undermine not only the final outcomes of their endeavors, but can also affect
their reputations permanently. They tend to be easily carried away by the
game, and coupled with their need for more and more adrenaline, excitement
and fun, they can become their own biggest liabilities. One Chinese legend
says that Monkey people possess many skills and talents, which can be
revealed only if there is someone who’ll guide them patiently, cultivating their
gifts.
Monkey Celebrities Include:
Paul Cezanne, Vincent van Gogh, Renoir, Robert Schumann, Anthon Chekhov,
Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, Albert Einstein, J.J. Ampere, J. Edgar Hoover, Gerald
Ford, Kirk Kirkorian, Paul Bernardo, Marc Zukerberg, Neil Diamond, Elvis
Presley, George Best, David Beckham, David Cronenberg, Robert Zemeckis,
Sergio Leone, Marc Cherry, John Galliano, Valentino, Orhan Pamuk, Liam
Neeson, Charley Sheen, Eva Longoria, Kate Winslett, Helen Mirren, Scarlett
Johansson, Kris Jenner, Rudolf Nureyev Marina Abramovich, Sandra
Melnicenko, James Holmes…
Hour
Day
Month
Monkey (Shen)
Year
Rooster
Element: Metal
Polarity: Yin
Season: Autumn
Direction: West 2
Loves: Dragon
Best Friends: Ox, Snake
Clashes With: Rabbit
Complicated Relationship With: Dog, Rat
In Chinese astrology the Rooster and Monkey share the same Element,
together occupying “the House of Career”, which implies that they’re both
ambitious and career-oriented people. Being the Yin part of this duo, the
approach Roosters have to life is much gentler and more flexible, as they are
more emotional and romantic creatures. Symbolized by a piece of shiny metal
and jewelry, Roosters tend to stand out due to their extravagance, flamboyant
personality and distinctive dress sense.
They’re sociable creatures who enjoy attention, spending time with others,
and who are appreciated for their cheerful, witty and amusing company. Due
to their occasional bragging about materialistic items or their
accomplishments, these Roosters can be misperceived as being fashionable
and vague. However, behind their rushed and talkative exterior, they are
actually loyal and trustworthy people, hardworking, diligent, practical and
down-to-earth.
Their honest approach and extroverted natures bring Roosters much sympathy.
However, due to being insecure and gullible, they don’t tend to have too many
close friends. They’re complicated beings, who can appear to be overcautious, skeptical and argumentative at times, due to their oversensitivity
towards criticism and ridicule, they can overreact when being made fun of, or
be overly dramatic when criticized, feeling that they are not being respected.
The ruling Metal Element makes Roosters very competitive and territorial,
hence they can easily become bossy or aggressive when they feel threatened.
Roosters want to be liked, and the satisfaction they gain from making good
impressions affects both their moods and self-esteems.
Rooster Celebrities Include:
Joan of Arc, André-Marie Ampère, A.G. Bell, Alfred Adler, Arthur C. Clark,
M. Crichton, Alan Watts, David Attenborough, John Lennon, Herbie Hancock,
Ridley Scott, Woodrow Wilson, George Washington, Mao Zedong, John Ford,
Amancio Ortega, Mark Cuban, Evan Williams, Larry Page, Jim Henson,
Michael Moore, Tom Clancy, Usain Bolt, Serena Williams, Jamie Oliver,
Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce Knowles, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Anna
Wintour, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jodie Foster, Mia Farrow, Eddie Falco, John
Goodman, Nick Vujcic, Mat Daemon, Chris Noth, Michael J.Fox
Hour
Day
Month
Rooster (You)
Year
Dog
Element: Earth
Polarity: Yang
Season: Autumn
Direction: NW 1
Loves: Rabbit
Best Friends: Tiger, Horse
Clashes With: Dragon
Complicated Relationship With: Rooster, Ox, Goat
- Trustworthy, reliable, hardworking, diligent, modest, conservative,
loyal, defensive, critical
In Chinese astrology, Dog occupies "the House of Family" together with Pig,
which describes them as filial and family-oriented individuals. The Dog is the
male part of this union, assigned to guarding and protecting family members,
traditional values and the home. The Earth Element makes Dogs loyal,
reliable, trustworthy, serious, hardworking, diligent and dependable. This
kind of (hard) Earth also makes them cautious, reserved, timid and prone to
repressing emotions. The Yang quality provides Dogs with strength, stamina,
resilience, persistence and a sense of integrity.
Despite their customarily cautiousness, Dogs are loyal, understanding,
compassionate and kind, hence these people won’t hesitate when their friends,
colleagues and family need attention, support or help. They’re filial
individuals and good listeners, famous for their patient, honest, attentive and
giving nature. However, since they are not very open, it often happens that
they most commonly know more about others than others know about them.
They have excellent memories and sensitivities towards injustices, Dogs can
silently hold grudges for a long time, waiting for the right moment to say, or
do, something which will make it clear that certain subjects are still not
forgotten. Although they don’t get angry often, they’re passively aggressive
beings who tend to complain and criticize a lot, expressing their discontent or
resentment by being bitter and/or sarcastic.
Their calm surface hides very anxious interiors, and they are the kind of
people who always question everything, particularly their own deeds and
methods. They’re careful in everything they do, and since having control is of
the utmost importance to them, they can sometimes wait too long for the right
time to initiate action. In the same way, as steady and diligent people, Dogs
are able to wait patiently for the results of their hard work.
Dog Celebrities Include:
Benjamin Graham, Alois Alzheimer, Felix Mendelssohn, Henry IV France,
Vladimir Putin, Fidel Castro, Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Mussolini, Bill
Gates, Liliane Bettencourt, Mike Bloomberg, Andrey Melnicenko, Jacqueline
Kennedy, Roberto Cavalli, Vanessa-Mae, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford
Coppola, Ozzie Osbourne Bruce Lee, J.K.Rowling, Maya Angelou, Elizabeth
Kubler Ross, Richard Wilhelm, Bert Hellinger, David Copperfield, Dynamo,
Joel Schumacher, Paula Deen, Charlie Chaplin, Julianna Margulies, Tom
Seleck, Will Smith, Robin Williams (actor), Paco de Lucia, Kylie Minogue,
Mila Kunis, Dita Von Teese…
Hour
Day
Dog (Xu)
Month
Year
Pig
Element: Water
Polarity: Yin
Direction: NW3
Season: Winter
Loves: Tiger
Best Friends: Rabbit, Goat
Secret Friend: /
Clashes With: Snake
Complicated Relationship With: Monkey
The Chinese consider a pig to be a pleasing and productive animal. This can
be seen in the early drawings that preceded the characters for Family or
House, depicting a house (or a roof) with a pig inside. In Chinese astrology,
the Pig occupies ’the House of family’, together with the Dog, which denotes
both Branches love for home as well as their commitments to the family.
Pigs make the Yin part of this duo, known for their caring approaches, soft
heartedness, and tendencies to encourage, help and shelter everyone in need.
Their compassionate and gullible natures are unquestionably their greatest
virtues, but due to their considerable trust and lack of cautiousness, these
creatures can be easily fooled and exploited.
Pigs are sincere and sympathetic people, who function in tolerant, mild and
lenient ways, offering unselfishly their understanding, comfort and/or
forgiveness. Due to their openness and lack of prejudice, they have a wide
circle of friends and acquaintances, who originate from different backgrounds.
Easy going, amusing and witty Pigs can get on well with literally anyone,
fitting into, with the same ease, big crowds or small private parties. Pig
people are well known for their fondness of the cozy and comfortable
lifestyle, they’re recognizable for their love for food, particularly the finest
delicatessen. Pigs enjoy going out and having good time with their friends,
they can be often seen in their favorite restaurants and coffee shops.
Behind these benevolent appearances, Pigs are very intelligent, resourceful
people and keen observers, who most commonly see much more about others,
then they will necessarily say. They’re talented, creative and capable
individuals, known for their quick wit and remarkable sense of humor. Pigs
are also ambivalent creatures, behind the soft and curious appearance, are
strong and confident beings, well aware of their qualities.
Pig Celebrities Include:
Hegel, Johannes Kepler, Roald Admundsen, Federico Garcia Lorca, Agatha
Christie, Charles Bukowski, Helen Keller, Edward Bach, Joseph Pulitzer,
Eric Berne, Ramana Maharshi, Neil Armstrong, James Walton, Bernie
Ecclestone, Michael Kors, Prince William, Akira Kurosawa, Sophia
Coppola, Gene Simmons, Sting, David Bowie, Celine Dion, Magic Johnson,
Mathieu Kassovitz, George Clooney, Anthony Bourdain, Tony Robins, Pele,
Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Charles Manson, Ted Kaczynski, Andreas
Breivik…
Hour
Day
Pig (Hai)
Month
Year
7
“The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.”
― Malcolm Gladwell
Your Luck 2018-2022
*In order to read your prospects, you should firstly calculate your Self. www.bit.ly/4PChart
Jia The Initiator
2019 Good love luck for Initiators who have Tiger in their Four Pillars chart - and men in general. Singles should ju
2020 This year brings mixed luck. On one hand, smooth development and helpful people. On the other, the occasion
2021 Another wealth year for Initiators, they might want to improve their finances and/or invest in properties (good
2022 This will be a very active year, favorable for travel and changing places. This is also a growth year, when we
Yi The Artist
2019 Good wealth luck, and though not as strong, the time is right to consider additional sources of income. Rather
2020 This year is favorable for reputation and status. For women, it is also beneficial for love and relationships, as
2021 2021 is yet another wealth year for Artists. The time is good for launching projects and finding opportunities t
2022 This can be a very active and demanding year. If Artists want to progress, they have to come up with a very go
Bing The Motivator
2019This year brings a lot of activity and changeable luck. It provokes you to stay alert, be in charge and actively sear
2020This year is about wealth and making improvements. The omens are good for your reputation and status. It is the r
2021This an active year, when luck is changeable. However, it is still favorable for wealth, and opportunities – only i
2022This year brings mixed luck, though better for those Motivators who have Horse and/or Dog in their Four Pillars
Ding The Giver
2019You may have a lot to do this year. The important things is that it is favorable for your status and reputation, so yo
2020This year brings good romance luck for singles. And although love luck is good for both sexes, it is slightly better
2021This year brings smooth development, and Givers will feel good about themselves. They will be creative, with a
2022This year brings seriousness in all Givers’ activities. They would like to settle down and establish some kind of
Wu The Guardian
2019This year brings wealth for Guardians; however, they should be actively searching for the opportunities. Favorab
2020The streak of wealth opportunities continues for Guardians, this year is for securing what they already have and c
20212021 is an intense year for Guardians, which brings unstable developments. Their patience may be challenged, an
2022This is yet another active year, which will bring more pressure and stress. If Guardians want to improve their we
Ji The Nurturer
2019This year brings wealth opportunities for Nurturers. However, it will be also about finding ways to secure the we
2020Wealth luck is improving now, and it favors short-term investments. Favorable omens for entrepreneurs, an oppor
2021This is the year which brings a lot of mingling and socializing. Now Nurturers can reconnect with people, organi
2022This year brings stable energy. It is favorable to get everything organized and put in order, but also to get recogni
Geng The Protector
2019This year brings rather smooth developments, especially for Protectors who have Tiger and/or Horse in their Fou
2020The streak of ideas and creativity continues, which benefits especially artists and creative individuals. Protectors
2021Smooth year, when it is easier to find support and help, this is especially true for Protectors who have Tiger and/
2022Protectors can look forward to one great wealth year. Of course, the wealth won’t just jump into their laps, and th
Xin The Thinker
2019This year will challenge Thinkers to show what they know and what they can do. They will be more creative and
20202020 brings a much calmer energy to Thinkers, accompanied by smoother development. Overall course of events
2021The Ox year brings much calmer energy, favorable for inner questing and spiritual development, hence the time is
2022The Tiger year brings strong wealth opportunities to Tinkers. Favorable for Thinkers who have Pig in their Four P
Ren The Executive
2019Pig year brings a lot of activity and the overall development can be especially favorable for Executives who hav
2020The Rat year will bring a lot of activities for Executives. Intense year in general, but in business strong competiti
2021The Ox year brings more stable development, but still a lot of responsibilities and some pressure to accomplish e
2022This year brings rather easy developments (unless you were born in the y/m/d/h of Monkey). Executives will be c
Gui The Visionary
2019The Pig year brings a lot of activities for Visionaries, and it is possible to meet some really fierce competition. T
2020Another active year is ahead for Visionaries, but this one is particularly favorable for socializing and meeting pe
2021The Ox year requires some action and brings tension, stress and occasional hostility (especially if you have Goat
2022The Tiger year brings more intensity for Visionaries. But they will be in their element, having a lot of ideas and th
Note
Although these annual overviews are tailored specifically for Ten Personality Types of Chinese astrology, the
overall result of each year depends on your Day Branch, as well as on the other three Chinese zodiac signs
(Branches) present in your Four Pillars chart. Not to mention a very important thing, that everything also
depends not only on your current luck, but also on your – decisions!
8
“Ideas are easy. It's the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.”
― Sue Grafton
Glossary
Ba Zi (Eight Characters)
Ba Zi – also known as the Four Pillars of Destiny – is a form of a traditional
Chinese astrology. This method involves the evaluation of Destiny and Luck
as part of a consultation. The consultation helps a person to not only find out
who they are, but also how to reach their full potential - and when.
Ba Zi chart
The Ba Zi or Eight Characters chart (also known as the Four Pillars Chart) –
is a traditional Chinese astrology chart. The Eight Characters are derived
from your DOB and distributed evenly into Four Pillars, which stand for a
person’s year, month, day and hour of birth. Customarily, and according to
tradition, pillars are usually written from right to left.
Bullying Punishment
Bullying Punishment is a relationship that exists between Storage Stars. In this
kind of relationship there is always a victim and a perpetrator.
Cardinals
The Four Cardinals – or Peach Blossom Stars – occupy the four cardinal
directions. Rat occupies the North, Horse is settled in the South, Rabbit is in
the East, while Rooster governs the West. When the Four Cardinals dominate
the Four Pillars, they make people charming, attractive and social.
Graveyards
Graveyard or Storage Stars refers to the four Earth Branches – Dragon, Goat,
Dog and Ox – which represent the end of things. These Branches are complex
and each Graveyard Branch stores Qi from both the current and previous
season. When Graveyards dominate in the Four Pillars, they make people
cautious, practical, hardworking and obstinate.
Day Master
The Day Master – or Self – is a Heavenly Stem of the day of birth. It defines a
person, describing their basic traits, inclinations, talents and faults. In a Ba Zi
evaluation it serves as a reference point in analyzing different life aspects. It
can be weak or strong, moderate or dominating.
Day Pillar
The Day Pillar is a person’s day of birth, converted into the 60 Jia Zi
(Pillars). The Day Pillar is the most basic pillar, as it directly refers to the
person; revealing who they are, the psychophysical status of their health and
their chances in love and marriage.
Destiny
An individual’s Destiny (Ming) is established at the time of their birth and
involves not only their basic personality, intellectual capacities and bodily
constitution, but also inherent talents and other capabilities (or shortcomings).
Destiny comes hand in hand with Luck (Yun).
Destructions
Destruction refers to the specific relationship between two Branches that
create a change by destructing something that already exists. Destructions can
cause external obstacles or destructive personal habits. Although in certain
cases they may also help in breaking down something that needs restructuring
and modification.
Eight Characters (Ba Zi)
The Eight Characters – also known as the Four Pillars of Destiny – is a form
of a traditional Chinese astrology.
Fan Yin
The concept of Fan Yin refers to the existence of the Clashing Pillar in the
Four Pillars chart. For example, Rabbit and Rooster are in a Clashing
relationship, and whoever possesses these two, is already experiencing a
partial Fan Yin. Meeting Fan Yin in certain Luck Cycles and years may also
introduce challenges and hardships.
Favorable God
This expression usually refers to the most favorable Element, regardless of its
presence in the chart.
Fire Element Branches
When they meet each other, Fire Element Branches produce Fire. Fire gives
people more passion and ambition and these people tend to be pro-active in
achieving their goals. The Fire Element Branches are: Tiger, Horse and Dog.
Five Elements
The concept of the Five Elements, or Wu Xing, describes the five stages of
every change in life.
The Five Elements are: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
Each Element appears in a state of Yin and Yang, resulting in Yang Wood and
Yin Wood, Yang Fire and Yin Fire, Yang Earth and Yin Earth, Yang Metal and
Yin Metal, Yang Water and Yin Water.
Five Types of Luck
Also known as the Five Gods, the five basic Types of Luck are: Friend,
Expression, Wealth, Power and Resource.
Four Growths
The Four Growths – or Four Traveling Stars – refer to the four Earth
Branches that ‘grow’ the seasonal Qi. Tiger grows Fire, Snake grows Metal,
Monkey grows Water and Pig grows Wood. These Branches are complex and
dynamic, and people who have them in their Four Pillars are good starters,
full of energy, activity and creativity, who take pleasure in their growth.
Fu Yin
Fu Yin refers to a repetition of the same pillar, meaning that someone has two,
or more, identical pillars. Fu Yin can signify many different things about a
person – from their inclination toward health issues, accidents and loss, while
also being a sign of twins in a family.
Hidden Stems
Hidden Stems are contained within each Earth Branch. Depending on the
Branch, it will contain from one to three Hidden Stems. No matter how many
Hidden Stems the Branch contains, one of them will always represent the
Main Qi, while other two are referred to as Sub Qi.
Hour Pillar
The Hour Pillar is the hour of your birth, converted into 60 Jia Zi (Pillars).
The Hour Pillars concern your dreams and hopes – it is the most internal and
intimate Pillar.
Intelligence Star
Intelligence or Academic Star appears in the Four Pillars of individuals who
enjoy reading and learning, and who may also be interested in education and
knowledge. People with a prominent Intelligence Star think and learn quickly
and are usually able to grasp a subject on the fly.
Luck
Luck or Yun complements the concept of Destiny - Ming.
Knowing more about our Luck is the basis of great accomplishments as it
reveals the best choices, timing and other such important information. Luck
always follows certain cycles and, in addition to the 10-year Luck Cycles (Da
Yun, or big luck) there are also annual luck cycles (Xiao Yun, or small luck).
Luck Cycles
Luck Cycles - simply known as Big Luck Cycles or Luck Pillars - are 10-year
cycles.
Luck Cycles are about external events and things that come to a person, from
the external world. Each Luck Cycle affects every Stem and Branch in an
individual’s Four Pillars, in a positive or negative manner.
Metal Element Branches
When they meet each other, Metal Element Branches produce Metal Element.
Metal makes people strong, firm and righteous. The Metal Element Branches
are: Snake, Rooster and Ox.
Month Pillar
The Month Pillar is the solar month of your birth, converted into the 60 Jia Zi
(Pillars). This Pillar refers to your parents, siblings and career.
Nobleman Star
The Nobleman Star is concerned with those responsive and kind people who
care for us and who help us in different ways (teachers, mentors, etc.). It is
always a good sign when one has a Nobleman in their Four Pillars chart.
Peach Blossom
The Peach Blossom Star provides support to one’s charm, physical
appearance and attractiveness. As a result, it can positively influence one’s
love life and popularity. The Peach Blossom Stars – also known as the Four
Cardinals – occupy the four cardinal directions. Rat occupies the North,
Horse is settled in the South, Rabbit is in the East, while Rooster governs the
West.
Qi (Ch’i)
Qi or Ch’i is the energy.
It is most usually referred to as the “breath of nature” and “the life force that
exists in everything, animated or unanimated”. The earliest form of the written
character for Qi shows the words steam (气) and rice (米), associating it with
the vapor that appears during the process of cooking rice.
Seasonal Combinations
Every Branch relates to a specific solar month, and each solar month belongs
to a specific season. When Branches from the same season meet, they tend to
accentuate the Element of that season.
Self
The Self – or Day Master – is a Heavenly Stem of the day of birth. It defines a
person, describing their basic traits, inclinations, talents and faults. In a Ba Zi
evaluation it serves as a reference point in analyzing different life aspects. It
can be weak or strong, moderate or dominating.
The Ten Selves are: Yang Wood – Jia (The Initiator), Yin Wood – Yi (The
Artist), Yang Fire – Bing (The Motivator), Yin Fire – Ding (The Giver), Yang
Earth – Wu (The Guardian), Yin Earth – Ji (The Nurturer), Yang Metal – Geng
(The Protector), Yin Metal – Xin (The Thinker), Yang Water – Ren (The
Executive) and Yin Water – Gui (The Visionary).
Self-Punishment
Self-Punishment occurs when a person has two Pigs, two Horses, two
Roosters or two Dragons in their Four Pillars. In this kind of situation, an
individual may tend towards doing things that will harm them.
Shen Sha
Shen Sha are symbolic Stars which affect our lives in different ways.
The most important Shen Sha are: Nobleman, Peach Blossom, Sky Horse and
Intelligence Star.
Six Clashes
A Clash exists when certain two Branches, which always occur at the
opposite sides of the Chinese Zodiac wheel, both appear in one’s Ba Zi chart.
A Clash always denotes opposition, conflict, hardship and - changes.
Six Combinations
Whenever they occur in one’s Ba Zi chart, certain pair of Branches (Ox and
Rat; Tiger and Pig; Rabbit and Dog; Dragon and Rooster; Snake and Monkey,
Horse and Goat) - tend to combine. The Six Combinations affects positively
one’s social skills, and those who have them can more easily communicate
and make connections.
Six Harms
A Harm is a relationship between certain Branches which harm each other,
creating difficulties and damaging relationships. Sometimes, Harms can be the
cause of quarrels and break-ups.
Sixty Jia Zi (60 Pillars)
There are 60 unique combinations of Heavenly Stems and Earth Branches, and
these are usually referred as 60 Jia Zi, because they start with Yang Wood Rat
Pillar (Jia Zi).
Sky Horse (Traveling Star)
Sky Horse is a Star that makes people active and busy.
Small Luck Cycles
Small Cycles refer to the influence of the Annual Pillar, that is, the specific
year.
Storage Stars (Graveyards)
Storage Stars or Graveyards refer to the four Earth Branches: Dragon, Goat,
Dog and Ox, representing the end of things. These Branches are complex and
each Graveyard Branch stores Qi from both the current and previous season.
These people are cautious, practical, hardworking and stubborn.
Ten Gods
The Ten Gods are basically the Five Types of Luck in their Yang and Yin
version. This categorization is more precise, and it can help access the
specific qualities and subtleties of the Five Types of Luck – or Five Gods.
Ten Personality Types of Chinese Astrology
The Ten Personality Types of Chinese Astrology are derived from the Ten
Stems or Ten Selves. The Ten Personality Types of Chinese Astrology are: 1.
The Initiator (Jia or Yang Wood) 2. The Artist (Yi or Yin Wood) 3. The
Motivator (Bing or Yang Fire) 4. The Giver (Ding or Yin Fire) 5. The
Guardian (Wu or Yang Earth) 6. The Nurturer (Ji or Yin Earth) 7. The
Protector (Geng or Yang Metal) 8. The Thinker (Xin or Yin Metal) 9. The
Executive (Ren or Yang Water) and 10. The Visionary (Gui or Yin Water).
The Four Pillars (Ba Zi)
Four Pillars or Ba Zi (Eight Characters) is a traditional Chinese Astrology
method, which shows an individual’s date of birth in the form of Heavenly
Stems and Earthly Branches, which are distributed evenly into four pillars
(there are year, month, day and hour pillars). Customarily, and according to
tradition, pillars are usually written from right to left.
Three Combinations
The Three Combinations are also known as the Three Stages. When certain
Earth Branches from the same Elemental Frame (Water Element Frame, Wood
Element Frame, Metal Element Frame, Fire Element Frame) meet each other,
they produce a new Element, related to the Frame they belong to.
Three Treasures
The concept of the Three Treasures is most usually referred to as Human,
Earth and Man Luck or the Tien-Di-Ren principle. It concerns the placement
of humans between heaven and earth and the influence of all three Treasures
on an individual’s destiny and luck.
This principle can also be applied internally and therefore in Chinese
medicine we will also come across the concept of the Internal Three
Treasures, of Shen, Qi and Jing.
Traveling Stars
The Four Growths or Travelling Stars refer to the four Earth Branches that
grow the seasonal Qi. Tiger grows Fire, Snake grows Metal, Monkey grows
Water and Pig grows Wood. These Branches are complex and dynamic and
people who have them in their Four Pillars are good starters, full of energy,
activity and creativity, who take pleasure in their own growth.
Twelve Branches (Twelve Chinese Zodiac signs)
The Twelve Earthly Branches are known as the twelve animals of the Chinese
zodiac, although they are more than animals and cannot be compared with the
zodiac signs in Western culture. The Twelve Earthly Branches are Zi (Rat),
Chou (Ox), Yin (Tiger), Mao (Rabbit), Chen (Dragon), Si (Snake), Wu
(Horse), Wei (Goat), Shen (Monkey), You (Rooster), Xu (Dog) and Hai (Pig).
Each Branch has its own unique characteristics, corresponding season, solar
month, bi-hour, direction, and hidden stems…
Ungrateful Punishments
When appearing next to each other, certain Growth Stars may create situations
that relate to a lack of acknowledgment for one’s own efforts and
contributions.
Uncivilized Punishments
This relationship occurs between Rat and Rabbit and it usually indicates an
issue of unfaithfulness and/or other sexually-related matters (like rape, incest,
etc).
Useful God
Useful God is the most important Element (Stem, Branch) in one’s life and can
sometimes be the difference between success and failure.
Void
The concept of ‘Void’ is also known as Kong Wang.
It indicates a general lack of fulfillment and happiness in certain areas of
one’s life. Kong Wang can be present in one’s Ba Zi chart, but it can also
arrive in specific Luck Cycles and years.
Water Element Branches
When they meet each other, Water Element Branches tend to produce the
Water Element, which makes people more emotional, deep, wise and
reflective. The Water Element Branches are: Dragon, Rat and Monkey.
Wood Element Branches
When they meet each other, Wood Element Branches produce the Wood
Element. Wood makes people youthful, gullible, imaginative and spontaneous.
The Wood Element Branches are: Pig, Rabbit and Goat.
Year Pillar
The Year Pillar is the year a person was born, converted into the 60 Jia Zi
(sixty Pillars). The Year Pillar is the most external Pillar in a person’s Four
Pillars chart and it refers to early childhood, ancestors and the wider social
environment.
Yin-Yang
The principles of Yin and Yang complement and balance each other; they
depend on one another while constantly fluctuating toward a state of dynamic
balance.
Yin is basically a nourishing female principle, complex and very deep, while
Yang is a male principle, simple, quick and rather superficial. Yang is open,
while Yin is more hidden. Yang is spiritual, while Yin is more material. The
nature of every Yin is soft, hidden, dark and mysterious, whereas Yang is
strong, more obvious and bright.
Chinese Astrology Consultations
Chinese Astrology teaches us that life is not only about who you are but who
you can become.
Why not learn more – to make informed decisions, catch the flow and speed
up your growth?
We offer three types of consultations:
Life Chinese Astrology Consultation
Business Chinese Astrology Consultation
Annual Chinese Astrology Consultation
Don’t waste your time standing in front of the closed doors, but instead
just tune with the best flow of your life. Understand the right timing of
certain decisions and moves; accept the limitations of your chart; find the
best solutions for specific problems; arm yourself with knowledge, and
make plans and strategy for the three years ahead…
Drop us an email to schedule your Chinese Astrology Consultation!
Chinese Astrology Courses & Private Study
What if you could grasp the Life’s deepest mysteries?
Gain the knowledge about inherent human potentials and the ways the time
influence one’s private life and business. Improve your understanding of the
current developments and future implications of certain decisions. Master the
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Master the deepest secrets of human’s Life, in four levels:
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