Four Pillars of Destiny (aka Eight Characters)

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

Ba Zi is a system of Chinese astrology that can foretell a person’s destiny and life path. In this system, a person’s date and time of birth is expressed as eight characters comprising of four heavenly stems and four earthly branches (which equals eight characters).

Ba Zi literally means ‘eight characters’ in Chinese.

Each component of a person’s date and time of birth namely the year, month, date and hours are expressed as a set comprising of a heavenly stem on top of an earthly branch. The result is four columns of two characters each. This explains why Ba Zi is also known as the Four Pillars of Destiny.

An experienced practitioner can reveal a lot of your destiny by simply evaluating your Eight Characters. However to determine your life path or luck cycle, the eight characters are read in conjunction with a additional set of pillars 6-7 pillars, each of which represents a decade in your life. They are called Decade Luck Pillars.

In addition each of the earthly branches of the Four Pillars can be represented by between 1-3 stem equivalents that may or may not be explicitly written down. They are called the Hidden Stems.

The Eight Characters, Hidden Stems and Decade Luck Pillars form the components of a Ba Zi (of Four Pillars of Destiny) Chinese Astrology Chart.

The stem and branch that represents the day is called the Day Master. It represents the person and is the most important component. It is compared with the other pillars, hidden stems and decade luck pillars to reveal a person destiny and luck cycle.

You can download a free Ba Zi software charter at
http://www.fourpillars.net/

You should not confuse this with the year pillar which is commonly used to determine your yearly animal zodiac sign. Example whether you are a tiger, horse, dog etc. The heavenly stem of the year pillars determine your year element. For example if you are born in Geng Xu year then you are a Metal Dog as Geng belongs to the metal element while Xu is dog.

For more information on the stems and branches.

Ba Zi uses the Chinese Solar Calendar and it should not be confused with the Chinese Lunar Calendar which is used by other Chinese astrology systems such as Zi Wei Dou Shu or the Purple Star Astrology system.

Feng Shui Buy House Guide — Click here to Download

Chinese Astrology

What is my Personal Element?

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

This can often be very confusing. One practitioner tells you that you belong to the element metal while another tells you that you are fire. Who is right?

Well, both of them are likely to be right. How can this be?

The principle of the Five Elements is pervasive in the Chinese studies. It is used in Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology, Qi-Gong, Face Reading etc.

There are many systems of Chinese Astrology, the more popular ones being BaZi and Zi Wei Dou Shu. Both systems make use of the Five Elements but in a different way.

In BaZi the heavenly stem of the day is known as the day master. In a Ba Zi analysis, this day master is referenced against the remains year, month and hour pillar as well as with the decade pillars and hidden stems to reveal a persons destiny and life path.

In Zi Wei Dou Shu there is an element that is the Na Yin (melodic element) of the stems and branch combination of the Fate or Self court. The main use of this element is to determine the start year of your decade luck for example from 2-11 years, 3-12 years, 4-13 years etc.

Then there is the element of the year of your birth. Let’s take an example of someone born in 1969 or Ji You year. Since stem Ji belongs to the earth element while ‘You’ is associated with the animal sign Rooster this person is said be an Earth Rooster.

As you can see from the above a person personal element can be earth based on the year of birth, have a fire element day master in BaZi and a water element Na Yin element in Zi Wei.

You should not be surprise if another practitioner tells you that you belong to another element. He could be using a different system.

So do not worry too much about elements. It is only means to achieving the final objective which is a highly accurate destiny and life path analysis!

Others

The Five Elements & Internal Organs

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

One of the many things that an astrologer can tell about from your birth chart is your general health condition and the health challenges that you can expect as you go through life.

For example in Zi Wei Dou Shu the astrologer can do this by looking at the Health Palace and to a lesser extent, the Fu De or Mental palace and the stars within. Each star has a yin or yang property as well as one of the Five Element and an experienced astrologer can make an educated guess about your health condition and the disease that you may suffer from.

But how do they do it?

internal organs In Chinese medicine the internal organs are classified into the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. The five Zang organs are the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidney. They are yin in nature. The six Fu organs on the other hand are yang in nature and they consist of the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, gallbladder, bladder and the pericardium.

Each of these is also associated with one of the Five Element as shown in the table below:-

Internal Organs and the Five Elements
	Wood	Fire	Earth	Metal	Water
Zang (Yin)	Liver	Heart	Spleen	Lung	Kidney
Fu (Yang)	Gallbladder	Small Intestine	Stomach	Large Intestine	Bladder

Let’s suppose you have the Qi Sha star in your health court. A star by itself does not mean much but let’s say that there are other factors present that indicate a weakness. Qi Sha is yin metal which means the lung. From this an astrologer will infer that you are likely to have a problem related to the lungs!

An experience astrologer can also verify his analysis by observation. For example he detects a weakness in the heart in the chart. He will normally look at your face. If it is pale, then it is likely that your heart is weak. Other the other hand if it is rosy, it may not be!

Similarly a liver deficiency is indicated by thin, soft and pale nails while a spleen deficiency is indicated by pale lips. The skin is also associated with the lung and the metal element. Therefore a healthy skin indicated good lung function. Finally thick and glossy hair indicated healthy kidney while hair loss reflects (but not necessarily) weak kidneys!

As you can see, the Five Elements is not just used in Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology but also in Chinese Medicine and other Chinese disciplines.

Chinese Astrology

What is my correct Date of Birth?

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

While our date of birth is obvious to most of us, it can present a lot of problems to beginners of Chinese Astrology systems. Let me explain?

In the Gregorian calendar system, the next day begins at one second past midnight. For example of you are born on the 18th June 1980 at 11.59 pm, you are deemed to be born on the 18th June. If you are born 2 minutes later at 12.01 am, you are deemed to be born on the 19th June.

However in Chinese time keeping, the day starts with the Zi hour which is from 11 pm to 1 am. Therefore to the ancient Chinese the new day starts at 11 pm!

So what is the problem?

The problem is that there is some degree of disagreement between practitioners as to when the new should start. Some masters content that the day should start at 12 midnight like the Gregorian calendar instead of at 11 pm.

The problem arises for someone born between 11 pm and mid-night. Is he considered to be born in the rat hour of today or tomorrow?

The Chinese astrology charts for both the days are different and will give a different reading!

In my opinion, this argument is unnecessary. Simply plot two charts, one using today’s day and another using tomorrow’s date. Then map key events e.g. change jobs, business joint ventures, marriage, divorce, travel or migration, made or lost money etc to the person and you will have the answer.

This method works fine for older people with rich life experiences but it may not work with a young child.

So which is the correct chart to you?

Based on my experience, I normally use the chart where the next day begins at 11pm. This is usually the correct one.

However I am not the final authority on this and you should read more charts and form you own opinion.

Chinese Astrology

Indirect (or Unexpected) Wealth

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

Have you wondered why some people appear to have better luck at betting and constantly winning at contests? There are frequently the top prize winners in lucky draw events and are even likely to gain an unexpected inheritance from a long lost uncle?

Have you also wondered why you too seem to possess such indirect wealth luck but only for brief periods in your life?

In the study of destiny analysis, the ancient Chinese observed that many of those with such luck have a certain format or structure in the life chart. For example in the destiny system of Zi Wei Dou Shu, it is the appearance of the Tan Lang (Greedy Wolf) and Huo Xing (Fire Star) in the fate constellation (early heaven) that makes the difference. It can also be the Fu De (Mental) court emitting flow enhancer to the Wealth court.

This kind of wealth is different from Direct (or Proper) Wealth which is wealth that is create through hard work either as an employee or a business owner. Indirect wealth is something that happens without much effect and in most cases unexpectedly.

Does it mean that if you do not have such a structure or formation, then you are not so lucky? The answer is both yes and no.

If the combination do not appear in your fate constellation (early heaven) but appear during certain decades or years (luck cycle) in your life, you can expect better luck during those decades or years. Of course the strength of this combination is not as strong as if it appears in the fate constellation.

If you do not have such a combination in your fate constellation and/or during your luck cycles, does it mean that you should refrain from putting your money in bets or gambling?

Our ancient forefathers seem to think so. What do you think?

Chinese Astrology

When will I Die?

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

The Chinese has a saying about the elderly. They are worries about two things. The first is whether they will die before they can spend all their savings and second, whether they will finish all their savings before they die!

Dying or rather when (and sometime how) is an pre-occupation with many people. Therefore it is not surprising that that last question many of my friends and clients ask at the end of a Chinese Astrology consultation is when they will depart this world!

And I always disappoint them by saying that I do not know.

The truth is I do not know. Maybe there are some practitioners out there that do and I welcome their inputs. What most of us can tell are the years and months where one is in danger of losing one’s life.

Common sense tells us that those born on the same year, month, date and time do not die at the same time. This is further exemplified in the study of twins who are born at the same time (bi-hour). Most of them do not die at the same time and not even in the same year.

To get a better understanding of dying, we must understand the concept of the Big and Small Tai Ji. When we compare a house with the rooms within, the house is the Big Tai Jji while the rooms are the Smaller Tai Ji’s. The Big Tai Jji always has more influence over the Smaller Tai Ji’s. This is why placing a water fountain in the wealth sector of a house is more effective that placing the same water feature in the wealth sector of the room. Big always overcome small.

Man live on earth. When we compare the surrounding with man, the surrounding is the Big Tai Ji. Man is the Small Tai Ji. When we evaluate the astrology chart of a man living in his surroundings, we are evaluating the Small Tai Ji.

The Big Tai Ji always overrules the Small Tai Ji. An example is the recent tsunami in Asia that took the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. I am sure the astrology charts of all who die did not indicate an imminent life threatening event caused by water! In fact some of their charts may show a healthy and prosperous life (if they had lived). This is an example of how the Big Tai Ji in this case the tsunami can introduce uncertainties that overrule the Small Tai Ji (reading of a birth chart).

Are there other factors that can influence a potential outcome predicted in an astrology chart? There are. In Zi Wei Dou Shu, facing direction (Feng Shui) can increase or decreasing the chance of a predicted event from happening. Let’s take an example of two persons born at the same time whose chart indicates a lifetime weaknesses of the respiratory system. From the chart let’s say that a facing direction of West strengthens the system while East further weakens it. The one who stays in a house that face West may suffer minor respiratory problems while the one that lives in a house that face East can suffer major respiratory ailments.

In addition, the animal signs of those close to you like your spouse, children, maid, business partner etc can also influence the astrology chart. So can the person’s facial and body features.

It does not end here. Yin Feng Shui practitioners will factor in good ancestor Feng Shui while numerologist will attribute it the power of numbers!

I think it is no fun to know when you are going to die. I would suggest instead that we accept the fact that we will die one day. It is like paying taxes. There is no escape. Meanwhile, simply live life to the fullest so that you have no regrets when the time comes!

Chinese Astrology

How to Calculate your Chinese Lunar Age?

February 9, 2014 Henry 1 Comment

Most ancient Chinese metaphysical formulas are based on the Chinese Lunar or Chinese Solar Calendar. A good example is the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar where the expecting mother’s age and date of conception is required in the Chinese Lunar equivalent. Another example is Ba Zi or Eight Characters which requires the age in Chinese Solar equivalent.

Knowing how to calculate the Chinese Lunar (or Solar Age) is crucial to applying these formulas. Here is how to do the calculation of the Chinese Lunar age.

The most important to remember when it comes to calculating the Chinese Lunar age is that the Chinese take into consideration the time spent in the mother’s womb. The exact time spent in the womb may vary plus or minus nine months. To simplify matters, the Chinese take the time spent in the womb as one year.

Therefore when you are born, you are already one year one as compared to the Gregorian system where you are one year old only 365 days later!

The trick is getting the Chinese Lunar age is to simply add one year to your Gregorian age. If you are your 35 years – Gregorian age – then your Chinese Lunar age is 36!

This works for most people!

However the Chinese Lunar new year do not begin on the 1st Jan. Instead it varies between Jan 22 and Feb 22.

Let’s take the example of the year 1960, year of the Rat. In that year the Chinese Lunar New Year begins on the 28th January. If you are born after the 28th January, you are deemed to be born in the Chinese year of the Rat or numerically in 1960. However if you are born before that, say on the 2nd January 1960, you are deemed to be born in the previous year i.e. the year of the Pig or numerically 1959.

How does this affect your Chinese Lunar age?

Let’s say you want to find out your Chinese Lunar age in the year 2000.

If you are born on or after the 28th January 1960 then your Chinese Lunar age is simply 2000 – 1960 + 1 or 41 years old.

However if you are born before the 28th January 1960, say any day between 1st January and 27th January 1960, then your Chinese Lunar age is 2000 – 1959 + 1 or 42 years old.

That’s it.

You can find out the start of each Chinese Lunar year using a 10,000 years calendar or you can tinkle with my on-line Ten Thousand Year Calendar.

Chinese Astrology

The Concept of Luck Cycles

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

The ancient Chinese believe that our path in life is largely influence by destiny luck and periodic luck cycles. By what is destiny luck and what are periodic Chinese luck cycles?

To the Chinese, destiny luck is something that you are born with or pre-destined. It is imbued in you at birth. For example you may have the gift of the gap which makes you highly suited for certain professions like TV presenter, speaker or lecturer. Yet others may have strong career luck but average wealth luck making more suited for top jobs in large corporation rather than starting and running a business.

Like destiny luck, luck cycles are also pre-destined or predictable. Unless western thinking, it does not happen by chance. An astrologer, using your date and time of birth can tell when certain aspects of your luck such as career, wealth, relationship and health will be strong or weak.

A strong luck cycle can compensate for wealth destiny luck but only in that cycle. For example while a person with weak wealth destiny luck is not suited for business, he can still be very successful starting and running his own business during periods when his luck cycle (especially in wealth) is strong.

It is much like an ordinary car. Even though top acceleration is not strong and road holding mediocre, it can still reach a very high speed if the road is smooth, wide, straight and free of obstacles.

On the other hand someone with strong wealth destiny luck can still face major problems with his business or wealth during periods when his luck cycle (for wealth) is weak. It is like a performance car (strong destiny luck) driven over bad bumpy and winding roads that is choked full of traffic (weak luck cycle). Yu just cannot go fast even with all the power under the hood.

Luck cycles are divided into big limits and small limits. Big limits usually cover a period of 10 years while small limits cover a period of a year. As you would expect, the luck of big limits has more significance than small limits.

The big limit luck cycle do not necessarily begin at age one. Instead it can begin anyway from age 1 to age 10 depending on the system of astrology that you employ and the time and date. For example for one person the big limit Chinese luck cycle may be from 1 to 10 while for others it may be from 2 to 11, 3 to 12, 4 to 13 etc.

Between destiny luck and big limit luck cycle. Which has a more significant influence? The answer is destiny luck. A person with strong destiny luck (for career), will be easily successful in his career even without really trying hard. While his career may stagnate or take a turn for the worse during a weak luck cycle, he is likely to bounce back when in a strong or moderate luck cycle returns.

This is not the case for someone with weak career destiny luck. During a strong luck cycle he may do exceptionally when in his career but it will be poor again during the next weak or moderate luck cycle.

Chinese Astrology

Chinese Zodiac Pig

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

Overview

The Pig is the twelve animal in the cycle of the 12 zodiacs or horoscope signs in the Chinese animal astrology system. It is associated with the earthly branch Hai which is associated with the 10th month and between the hours of 9 P.M. and 11 P.M.

Traits

The Pig is honest and righteous. They are innocent and tend to be reserved but are hard working and have a warm heart. They are careful, affectionate, cooperative and always willing to help others. Pigs are true, frank, generous and rarely deceitful or betray their friends.

Even though Pigs are talented, clever and self confident, they are not competitive or revengeful. Once they accept you as a friend, they will treat you with sincerity and be trustworthy.

Pigs however can have unrealistic aims, impatient and may waste time in aimless pursuits. They may also be selfish and turn out to be over-confident leaders.

The Pig is not very sociable and has a small circle of true friends that they are willing to sacrifice for. It is not easy to befriend a Pig as they find it difficult to trust others and are very wary of those that offer support.

Even though the Pig is not stupid, their reactions are slows and people often take advantage of them.

Compatibility

They are more compatible with the Dog, Rabbit and Goat less compatible with the Snake.

Suitable Career

Pigs are suited to a career as a scientist, author, musician, technical or skilled worker, doctor or actor.

Practical Advice

The Pig should not be afraid to take up a challenge. You will be successful if you work hard, concentrate on your work and listen to advice. You should not limit yourself and not be afraid to try new things.

It is best to avoid arguments. Approach life carefully and do not hurt other people’s pride. Exercise kindness. It helps to win respect and love which leads to a peaceful life and business success.

Chinese Astrology

Chinese Zodiac Dog

February 9, 2014 Henry Leave a comment

Overview

The Dog is the eleventh animal in the cycle of the 12 zodiacs or horoscope signs in the Chinese animal astrology system. It is associated with the earthly branch Xu which is associated with the 9th month and between the hours of 7 P.M. and 9 P.M.

Traits

Like the animal counterpart, those who are born in the year of the Dog is trusting and can be a loyal companion. They are kind, honest, determined and always ready to help others. The dog is also alert, sensitive, responsible, and keep a cool head in times of distress. Dogs are good listeners and people trust them naturally.
They treat promises seriously will fulfil it regardless of the difficulties involved. Clearly, they will never betray a friend.

Dogs however can be obstinate and too critical. They cannot help noticing and commenting on other people’s weakness. They tend to be pessimistic and dislike crowded places. They also dislike traditional customs and can be very emotional. They also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and often appear moody and unsettled.

Although a Dog makes a loyal and honest partner, they lack confidence and this can cause love problems. They tend to be hesitant and are likely to marry a friend whom they have had long and trusting relationship.

Compatibility

They are more compatible with the Rabbit, Tiger and Horse and less compatible with the Dragon.

Suitable Career

Dogs are suited to a career as a politician, educator, businessman, doctor, judge, in the uniformed service or as a writer.

Practical Advice

The Dog should learn to be more confident and to express themselves better. They should clarify misunderstandings immediately and correct mistakes that they have made.

Be patient when dealing with others especially when younger or less experience people come to you for help. Give yourself time to consider a situation before deciding on the best course of action. And abide with your decisions.

Bank on your strength. Be loyal and honest with others. Be respectful and polite to your superiors and seniors and never be greedy. Success will come your way.

Finally try not to be too critical.

Absolutely Feng Shui

Four Pillars of Destiny (aka Eight Characters)

What is my Personal Element?

The Five Elements & Internal Organs

What is my correct Date of Birth?

Indirect (or Unexpected) Wealth

When will I Die?

How to Calculate your Chinese Lunar Age?

The Concept of Luck Cycles

Chinese Zodiac Pig

Chinese Zodiac Dog

Feng Shui and More