Bazi Pillar Animals

[心神 ~]

@Taomeow recently mentioned Tiger being one of her four pillar animals, which got me thinking about my pillar animals aside from my daymaster (Metal Snake). In light of recent conversation about the fall of Dao Bums, our various goals, and the different ways we interact, I thought it would be interesting to discuss basic elements of our Bazi charts.

 

I used bazi-calculator.com and input my birth date, time, and location (accounting for time zone offset and daylight savings). Then I took the names of each of my pillars and read about the daymaster characteristics on Hidden Sun to get an idea of how my animals relate to one another.

 

Though only one pillar is the daymaster, I'm still using the daymaster descriptions that I have access to in order to get a general idea of the element/animal relationship. This is obviously very surface level and doesn't include a myriad of Bazi factors and metaphysical "math," if you will. But I still think it's fun and would love to learn a little more about everyone.

 

Here's a bit about what my animals are like, which combined gives a very interesting overview. My animals are Earth Dog (Wu Xu), Fire Snake (Xin Si), Wood Snake (Yi Si), and Water Monkey (Ren Shen). 

 

Wu Xu - Earth Dog - Straightforward 

 

Spoiler

As one of the four Fui Gong pillars, the Wu Xu is just as tough and hardy as any one of the other three. It’s one stand-out characteristic? Straightforwardness.

 

What happens when you stack two mountains on top of each other? It calls to mind someone well-grounded, stable, and determined. That’s exactly the image that the Wu Xu (戊戌) pillar creates. The classical texts describe the Wu Xu as an edgy and rocky mineral mountain, tough on the outside, passionate on the inside.

 

The Wu Xu naturally wants to achieve something substantial. They have a fine grasp of details and are a firm believer of learning by experience. In fact, the Wu Xu naturally likes knowledge. To be more specific, the Wu Xu likes to hoard knowledge.

 

The more knowledgeable Wu Xu, the more self-confident they become. Proud and alert, the Wu Xu Companion star brings a natural flair for leadership, aided by a willingness to listen to opposing points of view. For all their toughness and straight talking, they enjoy working in a congenial atmosphere and will have little patience with pettiness and power plays.

 

Xin Metal (辛) Output star brings a desire for recognition. The gift of straightforwardness? It lies here. In the eyes of the Wu Xu, telling truth to power is the best way to deal with any situation. Beating around the bush is merely a waste of precious time and resources. Being the hardy person, Wu Xu honestly believes that coddling is bad for your health and tough love is the only love that matters. The Wu Xu will never be the person who lives in denial.

 

For the Wu Xu Day Master, the biggest challenge is learning to tell the truth in a way that is more acceptable to their audience.

 

Additionally, when two mountains are out together into a single pillar, Wu Xu's first instinct will be to hoard information. The Wu Xu will have the tendency to dole out information piece by piece on a need-to-know basis. The problem here, though, is that it often creates an aloof exterior where trust is hard to come by. Because people sense that they are holding back, that they are being reticent on purpose.

 

The Wu Xu typically presents with a steely, stoic, almost aloof persona. This is something that the Wu Xu Day Master must always be aware of. But beneath that steely exterior lies a soft inner core that the Wu Xu would protect at all costs. The Wu Xu is intuitive by nature and as a result, can be rather sensitive to criticism. The best way around this is for them to develop a more rational perspective and cultivate a deep inner faith in their abilities.

 

Xin Si - Jade Snake - Attention

 

Spoiler

Attention is the new currency. Agree? In that case, the Xin Si (辛巳), which brings with it the gift of commanding attention, must be one of the most sought-after pillar in our modern-day, digital world.

 

What do you see when you think of a piece of exquisitely carved jade? Cool and smooth to the touch. Hold it up to the light and watch the light dance in its emerald depths. Your eyes linger on its glassy perfection. The essence of the Xin Si pillar is embodied in that piece of jade – class, sophistication and elegance.

 

Like all Xin Metal Day Masters, the Xin Si likes attention. And, like all Xin Metal Day Masters, Xin Si individuals like you will tend to be blessed with a certain charm, likability, if not downright good looks. But if you think the Xin Si is just a pretty face… think again! There’s more here than meets the eye.

 

The Xin Si pillar brings with it gifts of wit, persistence and astute intelligence. Used together, not only do you have the gift of attracting attention, but more importantly, of commanding attention.

 

Xin Si has the natural ability to command authority and attention. Like the sun that the Bing Fire represents, this star also brings you an appreciation for structure and order. Perhaps this could be their secret for commanding and keeping attention – their ability to consistently deliver.

This very dependability of the Xin Si is also the reason why they are able to harness support from those around them. As represented by the Wu Earth (戊) Resource star, here lies the foundation of their intellect, love of learning and ability to structure information. Their love of learning, in fact, is the reason why the Xin Si Day Master is more than just a pretty face. 

 

The relationship within the Day Pillar itself amps up the natural creativity of the Xin Metal in addition to gifting resilience and strong action-taking abilities.

 

The Xin Metal Day Master tends to be a little fragile, sometimes. In this case, however, supported by your tough Geng Metal Companion star, the Xin Si is able to take the hits as they come.

In fact, looking at the three hidden stems together, this may be one of the strongest Xin Metal Day Pillars. It looks fragile on the surface, but there is real strength underneath.

 

Always eager to grab at everything that life has to offer, they risk spreading themselves too thin. This is the biggest block to the Xin Si’s success, the irresistible urge to bite off more than they can chew. The key negative characteristics of the Rob Wealth star is its love for comparison. When the strength of this star gets too strong, it tends to imbue a strong sense of competitiveness. By itself, this is not a vulnerability. But when this star manifests as a constant need for comparison, for needless competition, that is when things may possibly go awry.

 

Water is conspicuously missing in this pillar, but the Bing (丙) Fire and Xin Metal (辛) Day Master can possibly combine to create Water. Allowing that combination to happen requires embracing and nourishing their creative side. A Xin Metal Day Master naturally has an impeccable way of dealing with people, and can level up that skill a notch by learning skills such as public speaking.

 

Yi Si - Wood Snake - Versitile

 

Spoiler

Have you ever visited a tea plantation? Acres upon acres of thriving tea shrubs high upon the mountain top, the leaves waving in the wind, bathed in sunlight. Meet the Yi Si (乙巳) aka the Wood Snake, the only Yi Wood Day Master to sit on the Fire element as the Main Qi. This flexible Yi Wood is a master in versatility.

 

At a glance, this is an unrooted Day Master without much support, but this is where the creative energy and optimism of the Yi Si comes from. This element also brings you that ability to present fresh new perspectives on the same-old; same-old.

 

Far from depleting the strength of the Yi Day Master, the Wu Earth (戊) Direct Wealth adds stability to this pillar. In addition to conveying determination to the Yi Si, it also represents the ability to maximize resources and a knack for managing finance which in turn attracts many investment opportunities.

 

Finally, the Geng Metal (庚) Direct Officer star injects a hefty dose of practicality and pragmatism to temper the idealism of the Bing Fire Hurting Officer.

 

The most important thing to know is that Yi Si has the ability to project the outward persona of someone who is giving and selfless, yet at the same time, work towards their own goals and objectives. A natural extension of this outward persona is that sometimes, they may give the impression of being secretive, a little aloof or perhaps even superior.

 

The presence of both the Hurting Officer and the Direct Officer within the same pillar may indicate a rebellious nature as well as the probability of a lack of self-discipline.

 

The Bing Fire (丙) Hurting Officer is great when its passions are channelled towards realizing ambitions. But should the rebellious nature of this star take root, there is a danger that they may cast aside well-laid plans in pursuit of pipe dreams and castles in the air.

 

Competitive by nature, accepting help does not come easy for the Yi Si, therefore the Yi Si is to consciously create self-mastery through discipline.

 

 

Ren Shen - Water Monkey - Unpredictable

 

Spoiler

Be it a shark, submarine or sunken ship, the Ren Shen (壬申) or Water Monkey pillar inevitably carries a sense of depth – intellectual and emotional depth. Capable of extraordinary stillness and intent focus, they frequently startle those around them with clarity of thought and quick action-taking abilities. Like a shark, they can be idly gliding in one moment, and burst into a ball of frenetic action the next.

 

Ren Water (壬) is always equated with strong intelligence and resourcefulness.

 

Ren Shen (壬申) can present alternately as either cold and reserved or fun-loving and playful. Ren Shen is usually quite care-free. The coldness happens when preoccupied and trying to keep emotions in check.

 

Sometimes, Ren Shen gives off the wrong impression that they are a bit indecisive and aimless. But watch out when they make up their mind. Boom! That idly gliding shark will pounce into action!

 

When a shark stops swimming it dies. Ren Shen needs to keep moving, both physically and mentally. Ren Shen must continue to create connections and from there, keep growing as an individual and as an intellectual. Because when the movement stops, the whirlpool starts!

 

I also took a look at the animals' relationships to one another:

 

Spoiler

Monkey: Dragon, Rat, and Rooster (secret friend) are allies, Tiger an adversary (Noooo, TaoMeow 😢)

 

Dog: Tiger, Horse, and Boar (secret friend) are allies, Dragon an adversary.

 

Snake: Rooster, Ox, and Dragon (secret friend) are allies, Boar an adversary.
 

Rooster, Rat, Ox, Horse (allies)

Dragon, Tiger, Boar (frenemies?)

 

Rabbit and sheep don't seem to factor into my relationships.

 

I think these descriptions are spot on, and even align somewhat with my western astrological signs Taurus, Earth Dog - Stable, Structured, Straightforward; Sagittarius, Fire Metal Snake - Charming Adventure Seeker (well, the snake still contains some fire so.. not a perfect comparison, but oh well; and Gemini, Water Monkey - Emotional Depth, In Constant Motion.

 

My Taurean/Gemini, earth/air nature has always been at odds. Interesting to see that replicated with Earth Dog and Water Monkey relationships.

 

I also always thought my "cold, stoic, aloofness" stemmed from my Xin Si pillar, but I see now that it comes from all of them in different ways. I quite like how I communicate, though I can see how it would benefit me to be less impersonal. It would likely benefit others to see that much of what appears as coldness in my social interactions stems from a dual desire for self-protection and self-development, not from maliciousness or judgement. 

 

I definitely love learning. It's half a safety coping mechanism (hoarding knowledge) and half... it just feels great. Like it's what I was built to do. But because I love learning for its own sake and I know the joy of discovery and/or receiving an enlightening resource, I also love curating resources for others. So in that way, I hoard, but also give. 

 

So what are your animal pillars and their personality descriptions?

 

How well do the descriptions relate to you?

 

What overlap is there between your natal charts of various astrological systems?

 

What insights does your chart provide for how you interact with others, and how others can better interact with you?

 

What animals (expressed through other people) do you engage well with, and which ones less so?

 

Edited Friday at 04:47 PM by 心神 ~

[BigSkyDiamond]

very interesting thread topic by tieing it into the dynamic of "how we intereact with each other" on the forum.

 

I don't see Dao Bums as falling.  I see that view as an expression of resistance or aversion to change.  or as a "nostalgia for the good old days" sort of like as people get older and this happens every single generation, some say that the good old days were better and the current world is going to hell in a handbasket.  only to have that younger generation say how great that very same world was when they get old.  and yet the world is still here with yes problems and yes progress.  that is the pattern i observe.   doom and gloom is in the eye of the beholder.

 

so even holding this view or that view "the Dao Bums site is falling" or "the Dao Bums site is alive and well with active discussion ongoing", could be a personal expression tied to the pillar animals of Bazi.  I had to look up what Bazi even is, so learning happens.  For me this is evidence and supports my view that Dao Bums is alive and well, providing robust discussion where learning happens and understanding is shared.

 

great topic  心神 ~

 

Edited Friday at 05:38 PM by BigSkyDiamond

[Taomeow]

35 minutes ago, 心神 ~ said:

 

  Hide contents

Monkey: Dragon, Rat, and Rooster (secret friend) are allies, Tiger an adversary (Noooo, TaoMeow 😢)

 

 

I will give it a thorough read later (gotta run), for now just a quick note -- Tiger is just my Hour Pillar, so, no worries.  My Day Master is Snake -- just like yours, except mine is a green Snake and yours is a white one.  

 

 

Spoiler

 

White Snake: The Leucistic Rat Snake (Pantherophis sp., often Pantherophis obsoletus) is a striking, harmless snake found in European woodlands (and elsewhere). Leucistic variants lack pigmentation, giving them a beautiful white or cream-colored appearance with faint patterns, growing to 3–6 feet. Non-venomous and docile, they feed on rodents and are safe for humans.

 

Green Snake: The Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis) is a vibrant, harmless snake found in grassy woodlands, including parts of northern Europe (though more common in North America). Reaching 2–3 feet, it has bright green scales that blend into forest environments. Non-venomous, it eats insects and is gentle, posing no threat to humans.

   

 

 

 

A real taoist thread, like in the good old days.   Cool.  Thanks.

[心神 ~]

30 minutes ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

doom and gloom is in the eye of the beholder. so even holding this view or that view "the Dao Bums site is falling" or "the Dao Bums site is alive and well with active discussion ongoing, could be a personal expression tied to the pillar animals of Bazi.

 

Yes, I agree with this observation!

 

30 minutes ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

I had to look up what Bazi even is, so learning happens.  For me this is evidence and supports my view that Dao Bums is alive and well, providing robust discussion where learning happens and understanding is shared.

 

Yes, recent posts and interactions have fortified my desire for engagement here. Bazi was my introduction to Daoism, so I return to it consistently. I love to know how things work, how all the pieces of life fit intricately together, and puzzles are often more fun when worked on with others.

 

If you have the time or inclination, I'd love to hear about your pillars, or even just your daymaster!

[BigSkyDiamond]

5 minutes ago, 心神 ~ said:

Yes, recent posts and interactions have fortified my desire for engagement here. Bazi was my introduction to Daoism, so I return to it consistently. I love to know how things work, how all the pieces of life fit intricately together, and puzzles are often more fun when worked on with others.

 

i have noticed that (bold above) and am so happy to see you posting more.  It is welcomed and appreciated.  Looking forward to topics and discussion.

[心神 ~]

6 minutes ago, Taomeow said:

I will give it a thorough read later (gotta run), for now just a quick note -- Tiger is just my Hour Pillar, so, no worries.  My Day Master is Snake -- just like yours, except mine is a green Snake and yours is a white one.  

 

Of course, take your time. 😊 And what a relief! So then the only tenuous energy is the wood/metal, yes? I'm sure it depends on many other factors, but can the two elements find harmony?

 

I love the descriptions you added of actual animals. Even more layers of consideration, the puzzle grows and grows!

 

It occured to me while I was completing my pillars that one of them is a wood snake. For some reason I thought I had two metal snakes, but alas. So now I have quite a bit to learn about the wood snake!

[BigSkyDiamond]

again i am new to the area of "Bazi pillar animals" having just heard about it for the first time this morning in this thread.

 

From experience with shamanic work and indigenous practices, I am familiar with different animals providing carrying bringing delivering, say, traits strengths abilities, attibutes.  Which we can actively access for healing, information, wisdom, guidance in navigating daily life.  For instance i have a few "core" animals with me all the time, and other animals may come and go depending on the situation or circumstances.  The tradition i trained in, my core animals are not revealed to others (except during training with teacher or class).  But i could share publicly like on a discussion board such as this, something like "oh turtle has been helping me with my situation at work" in a general sense.

 

I am curious how the "Bazi pillar animals" function, in terms of role and our interactions with them.  I get the part about "map of our personality"  showing us inclinations of ourself, as astrology systems do.  How are the pillar animals used in our daily life?  and are some fixed, and some situational, etc.  Thank you.

 

Astrology systems have always been very opaque to me, but animals in the indigenous context are alive and meaningful for me.  It is interesting to observe which systems "come alive" for me and that i I resonate strongly with.  And those that are inert for me.  I'm fine with that.  The times I've tried to "push it" or "make it work for me" have never been successful.  I tried on and off for many years using Tarot, but they just don't speak to me.  Same with the Akashic records, nothing.  Whereas the I-ching is like turning on the spigot in terms of enhancing intuitive flow and hearing personal commentary specific to situation at hand.  

 

i have found systems like the Myer-Briggs indicator to be helpful and useful in understanding and seeking to improve interactions with others, whether that is in personal relationships or in an organization setting.  I was very impressed at one place where i was interviewing for a job, It was two grueling days of interviews which included individual interview, panel interview, assessment of personal skills through hands-on testing and demonstration, and yes full Meyer Briggs testing which was done on site, and then the results were discussed in context of the workplace, company culture,  and predominant interaction styles.  It was the most thorough and in depth set of interviews and testing I've ever seen at a company for job applicants.

 

It sounds like from the discussion thus far on the Bazi pillar animals, it is also used in that way, for enhanced understanding and optimization of personal interactions and relationships.

 

Edited Friday at 07:31 PM by BigSkyDiamond

[心神 ~]

1 hour ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

I am curious how the "Bazi pillar animals" function, in terms of role and our interactions with them. 

 

How are the pillar animals used in our daily life? 

 

What little I know is that bazi is a natal chart used for understanding personality and compatibility, especially for determining auspicious marriage arrangements.

 

It's a snapshot of the stars at the time one was born, represented in four pillars (hour, day, month, year). Each pillar then represents a different stage of life. The year pillar spans ages 1-16, and represents childhood, parents, and grandparents, waist and abdomen. Taking into account the placement of various auspicious and inauspicious stars in each pillar (displayed at the bottom of a chart, usually), it can be reasonably determined whether someone had a peaceful or a traumatic childhood or parental relationship. Fire Horse energy in the year pillar will appear in a person's personality, health and wealth circumstances, and relationships differently than if the Fire Horse were present in the hour pillar, which influences ages 48-60, progeny, old age, legs and feet.

 

An experienced Bazi reader can foresee patterns in charts that indicate success, wealth, romance, death, affairs, etc during specific years and decades. It's an incredibly complex system that is difficult to learn and it's very expensive to get a reliable reading from someone, with mostly good reason.

 

So day to day I don't use it all that much, outside of better understanding myself, loved ones, and associates.

 

Now, it can be determined how "balanced" a chart is, which would take into account the distribution of elements, and how "weak" or "strong" a chart is because of that. So someone lacking fire in their chart may benefit from intentionally developing fire energy in their life, like enthusiasm and passion. Someone lacking wood will need additional assistance developing leadership and discipline.

 

In that way a chart can be worked with consistently, though the focus is on the elements and not the animals.

 

Ziwei doushu (Purple Star Astrology) uses the same birth information to create a different chart that, while also yielding information about personality and compatibility, I think is more useful in a fortune telling sense.

 

I think TaoMeow is the expert-in-residence on both bazi and shamanism, so I'm sure she'll have a more in-depth, holistic perspective.

 

1 hour ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

I tried on and off for many years using Tarot, but they just don't speak to me.  Same with the Akashic records, nothing.  Whereas the I-ching is like turning on the spigot in terms of enhancing intuitive flow and hearing personal commentary specific to situation at hand.  

 

I do like tarot (I love a good puzzle), but I only have one deck (The Chinese Tarot by Jui Guoliang), and I don't turn to it much. I much prefer the I Ching.

 

1 hour ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

i have found systems like the Myer-Briggs indicator to be helpful and useful in understanding and seeking to improve interactions with others, whether that is in personal relationships or in an organization setting

 

Yes, systems like the Myers-Briggs paved the way for my eventual interest in Bazi, though I've never fully determined if I'm an INFJ or an INTJ.

 

Edited Friday at 08:50 PM by 心神 ~

[BigSkyDiamond]

INFP here.  There is another excellent system which i like even better than Meyer Briggs because it goes more in depth.  It includes a predominant layer of attributes, and then it also addresses and describes a second a layer of attributes which we can access or "grow into"  or draw upon, when we are at a safe stable point in our lives and in our development, i.e. not just focused on scrambling for survival.  It is in my view like the treasurse hidden within, an expansive vista and enticing view of coming attractions.  It has also been for me an incentive at times to stick with the personal development.  And it is encouraging that i am not ever stuck, that there is growth and advancement also.

 

The book has a flaky title  ("What Color Is Your Aura" by Barbara Bowers PhD) but it is in my experience a solid system. (get the actual book, not the online quicky distillations or quiz.)  I like these systems and when my 3 sons were growing up i was quite enthusiastic and of course wanted them to fill it in also so i could see what their type is, it drove them nuts and they had no interest at all and consistently refused.   a couple times in my life i was dating and it seemed to me a reasonable request and fun exercise to do on a date together, but that did not go over well at all either        

 

 

Edited Friday at 09:07 PM by BigSkyDiamond

[Cobie]

 

3 minutes ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

…  Aura …

 

I’ve been into chakras and auras all my life, I find them very useful.

 

 

[心神 ~]

7 minutes ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

It is in my view like the treasurse hidden within, an expansive vista and enticing view of coming attractions.  It has also been for me an incentive at times to stick with the personal development.  And it is encouraging that i am not ever stuck, that there is growth and advancement also.

 

Quite the endorsement! I've had zero experience with auras, but I'll be sure to read it and get back to you about it.

 

Since you enjoy this kind of thing, I also recommend Your Hidden Symmetry by Jean Haner. It's a fascinating presentation of 9 Star Ki, which is a simplified Japanese astrological system based on Taoist astrology and related systems. Using only the day, month, and year of birth, it provides interesting personality insight. But what I enjoy most about it is the section on each decade, and how energy flows for each individual in each year based on their birth information. So for example, in a 9-year cycle, year one is a time of uncertainty, beginnings, drafting plans. Year two is a time of planting seeds, year three for nurturing growth, etc. I'll need to take a peek at the book again to see what energy each year carries. I think I'm currently in year two or three of my current nine year cycle.

[BigSkyDiamond]

24 minutes ago, 心神 ~ said:

 

Quite the endorsement! I've had zero experience with auras, but I'll be sure to read it and get back to you about it.

 

Since you enjoy this kind of thing, I also recommend Your Hidden Symmetry by Jean Haner. It's a fascinating presentation of 9 Star Ki, which is a simplified Japanese astrological system based on Taoist astrology and related systems. Using only the day, month, and year of birth, it provides interesting personality insight. But what I enjoy most about it is the section on each decade, and how energy flows for each individual in each year based on their birth information. So for example, in a 9-year cycle, year one is a time of uncertainty, beginnings, drafting plans. Year two is a time of planting seeds, year three for nurturing growth, etc. I'll need to take a peek at the book again to see what energy each year carries. I think I'm currently in year two or three of my current nine year cycle.

 

The nine year cycle i have heard of and used at times.   One of the I-Ching workbooks i used at one time had a whole series of personalized exercises and one of them was mapping out a timeline for our entire life and marking significant events and changes .  When i did that it was startling to see the 9- or 10- year cycle vividly illustrated.  It then talked about using it to look at the upcoming years not yet lived and then it got depressing for me and i put it away becuase it of course showed a finite endpoint.  But i agree that provides useful insights.  I will check out the resource, thank you.

 

 

(since reading your posts i have ordered the Flying Star Feng Shui book by Skinner).  Using Feng Shui has had significant impact, particularly the parts about getting rid of stuff.  That was a big wake-up call for me when i read about that.  I remember pulling a metal trash can out into the driveway, and burning several boxes of letters i'd held onto for 20+ years.  It was one of the most freeing things i ever did for myself.  i kept the fire burning for hours, and just kept adding more stuff.  I burned all my wedding photos (this was several years after the divorce) and that felt wild and exciting and bold.  I burned thousands of pages of letters from my mom which were a laundry list from her of all the things wrong with me.  

 

i discovered using feng shui just how good it feels to get rid of stuff and how much i love getting rid of stuff.  In all the decades since, and all the truckloads of stuff i have tossed, i think there is only one thing i reflect back on it would have been nice to have.  something small and minor, which was easily replaced.  It really was a conscious process of  "why are you hanging on to that"  "why is it hard to burn that"  "what is the point in keeping that" for every single item i own.  To this day i still use that process.  If it is not uplifting or pleasing when i see it, it gets tossed.

 

Edited Friday at 10:00 PM by BigSkyDiamond

[Sahaja]

Here i am..

Pillar	Heavenly Stem	Earthly Branch	Zodiac Animal
Year	Yi (乙) – Yin Wood	Wei (未) – Goat	Wood Goat
Month	Geng (庚) – Yang Metal	Xu (戌) – Dog	Metal Dog
Day	Ding (丁) – Yin Fire	You (酉) – Rooster	Fire Rooster
Hour	Ren (壬) – Yang Water	Zi (子) – Rat	Water Rat

 

Day Master (Self) is Ding Fire (丁) — a candle flame or starlight 
 

Any observations would be welcome.  
 

 

 

added a little more

🎯 Summary

Aspect	Interpretation
Day Master	Ding Fire — soft, wise, spiritual light
Luck Cycle (68–78)	Reflection, mentoring, inner power, pressure to adapt
2025	Supportive year — Fire & Wood help you thrive
Best Action	Teach, share, write, or pass on knowledge
Watch for	Burnout from overthinking or emotional drainage

Edited yesterday at 05:03 PM by Sahaja

[心神 ~]

@Sahaja I extracted some of the main points and within the spoilers I included Paulynne Cheng's full write up from her site, Hidden Sun.

 

Ren Zi - Water Rat

Hour Pillar - Fruit - Governs 49-late life, progeny, old age, legs and feet

 

Spoiler

Dear Ren Zi (壬子) or Water Rat, what would you be if you could live a life without boundaries? Likened to an iceberg floating on the vast ocean, what you see on the surface is barely a tenth of what lies beneath. A water pillar through and through, intelligence and adaptability are the hallmarks of the Ren Zi (壬子) or Water Rat.  

 

In the study of Bazi, the Water element in general, governs wisdom, thoughts, intelligence and emotions. Ren Water (壬) specifically, is likened to a large body of water. Though free flowing at its core, this element is also very adaptable. It takes on the shape of the land around it. Yet there is latent power within this body of water. Given time, it can re-shape the earth.

 

These same characteristics can be found in the Ren Zi (壬子) or Water Rat Day Master. You are amiable and genial. Like the adaptable water, you display a bona fide enjoyment in people. This gift alone makes it possible for you to instantly connect with everyone that comes into your orbit. And given time, you too, can influence and re-shape the thinking of those around you.

 

With the entire ocean as your playground, the Ren Zi will do particularly well if you focus your efforts on careers or businesses that require a large amount of interaction with the public. You are amicable. People like you. They ‘click’ easily with you. Think of them as little fishes in your ocean. Once they are swimming within your currents, you get to corral them in your many coral gardens.

 

Self-assured, dauntless, independent and authoritative, the Ren Zi Day Master is never shy about taking charge under any circumstances. You have supreme confidence in your own intelligence and resourcefulness to overcome any obstacle. Yes, just like a large body of Water that easily sweeps past all barriers in its quest to reach the ocean. You are self-sufficient, and galvanized by an insatiable thirst for success.

 

This Ren (壬) Day Master sits on the Rat Branch or Zi (子) which carries the singular energy of your Companion star, the Gui Water (癸). Here is the wellspring of your fluid and sharp mind. This is how you can absorb new information and blend theory into practice with such admirable ease.

 

It’s been said time and again that the Rat Branch (Zi 子) holds a particularly restless energy. In your case, this manifests as a strong desire for constant exploration. The world is literally your oyster and there is nothing you like better than to keep experiencing, tasting, and learning all that life has to offer.

 

The Zi Branch also pulls in the Chou (丑) or Ox that carries your Xin Metal (辛) Resource Star. As a result, the Ren Zi is compelled by a strong desire to keep learning. Your intellectual interests are far-ranging, wide as the ocean. When given the freedom you need to thrive, it is not uncommon to see Ren Zi Day Masters succeeding in multiple fields or industries.

 

If all that intellectual power and adaptability is not enough, the Ren Zi (壬子) Day Master is highly adept at playing the long game. Like a river resolutely winding its way to the sea, you too can plan and stay the course of your dreams.

 

Blessed with so much capacity and dexterity, what could possibly trip up the Ren Zi? 

 

The ocean can be misleading. It may be silky smooth at the top but beware the currents that roil deep within its depths. Remember how I said earlier that Water governs emotions and thoughts? This is where your vulnerabilities lie. Over-thinking caused by emotions so powerful that sometimes they even scare you.

 

These repressed emotions are dangerous as they may show up as ongoing emotional issues or unhealthy behaviour like escapism. It’s not so easy for the Ren Zi Day Master to dissociate. At times like these, some ‘me time’ to rest, self-soothe and self-care are a must.

 

Still waters run deep, is how you present. Always externally affable, outgoing and poised, befriending you is the easiest thing in the world! That moment when you reveal the dormant force within, that is when the ‘shock and awe’ happens.

 

Knowing what you know now, learn to use that to your advantage. Sometimes a slow reveal works better. Not everyone can handle the shock and awe. We wouldn’t want those little fishies to scurry away, now do we?

 

Most of the vulnerabilities of the Ren Zi (壬子) or Water Rat Day Master happens when the Gui Water (癸) Companion star or as it is technically called the Goat Blade, runs amok. Anxiety and indecision are the natural consequences of those turbulent and churning emotions, that restless mind.

 

To calm the Goat Blade, we need to use the Influence star which, in your case, is represented by the sturdy and stable Wu Earth (戊). This element will help you channel your energy and give you the stability you need to thrive at your best.

 

So how on earth should you ‘use’ this elemental energy called the Wu Earth (戊)? Easy! In times of doubt, when you are feeling swamped, hew to your towering ambitions. Never forget the final destination that you have set for yourself. Let this ambition be the lighthouse that guides you past the treacherous currents and get you back into flow.

 

• Intelligent, adaptable, amiable, genial
• Benefits from focusing efforts on careers or businesses that require a large amount of interaction with the public
• Self-assured, dauntless, independent, authoritative, open to taking charge under any circumstances
• Strong desire for constant exploration and constant learning
• Adept at playing the long game
• Ongoing emotional issues or unhealthy behaviour like escapism
• 'Me time' to rest, self-soothe and self-care are a must
• In times of doubt, remember towering ambitions

 

Ding You - Fire Rooster - Gift of Perspective (Daymaster)

Day Pillar - Flower - Governs ages 32-48, self, spouse, middle age, marriage, romance, waist and abdomen

 

Spoiler

The Ding You (丁酉) calls up images of the glow of candlelight reflected off the smooth surface of the mirror. A little like the Bing Shen in the previous post, but this light is gentler and more calming. A fierce ray of sunshine may cause you to flinch and shade your eyes. But the reflected light of the candle is mesmerizing and captivating – a tell tale sign for a positive, attractive and exuberant personality.

 

While the reflected sunlight of the Bing Shen represents a powerful sense of purpose, when translated to its Yin counterpart, this image of the reflected candlelight signifies the Ding You Day Master’s ability to view things from new perspectives.

 

This is a rare and valuable gift that magnifies the Ding Fire’s natural ability to inspire, influence, motivate and enlighten. Because true inspiration and motivation can only happen when you are able to walk a mile in the other person’s shoes, when they are convinced that you speak their language and truly appreciate the situation they are in.

 

But make no mistake, there is nothing reticent about the Ding You. Bright Ding Fire sitting on the shiny Xin Metal results in a Day Master that loves the limelight and revels in being centre stage. This is an incredibly charismatic Day Master who exudes irresistible charm and enthusiastic confidence.

 

The Ding You pillar sits on the Rooster which is both your Night Noble as well as your Intelligence Star. This gives you a strong sense of nobility. In Chinese Metaphysics, the concept of nobility comes from a person who has the resources to be of help to others. And of course, seated on your own Intelligence star means that intelligence, knowledge and respect are par for the course.

 

Persuasive and passionate, the Ding Fire is the only element that can truly transform all the others. Because of this, Ding Fire Day Masters tend to be typically open-minded. But more than that, the Ding You (thanks to the Intelligence star), has the inborn ability to link different concepts and ideas together to create new insights or breakthroughs. Now if that isn’t genius, I don’t what is.

 

Your Xin Metal (辛) Wealth Star is the foundation of your innovative can-do attitude. This, coupled with your gift of perspectives, gives you the ability to look at obstacles and setbacks from different angles. Additionally, you thrive on challenges, viewing them as opportunities to learn, improve and demonstrate your abilities. Finally, because of your Xin Metal Wealth Star, you are never one to fall for the sunk-cost fallacy.

 

Instead, the Ding You is far-sighted enough to abandon a struggling strategy in favour of developing new tactics to attack the problem from a brand new angle. What was that famous line? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.

 

But here comes the irony. The opposing forces represented by the Ding Fire and Xin Metal gives rise to a rather prominent streak of rebelliousness and fierce independence in the Ding You pillar. On the plus column, this means that the Ding You Day Master is one who prefers to always be in control and will accept responsibility for their own action. But on the negative column, you find it really hard to accept advice.

 

So here’s the most important message to the Ding You Day Master. When you learn to recognize (and accept) genuine support when it comes your way, that is when the Day Master will truly shine.

 

For all your sociable traits, the Ding You can be a rather difficult pillar to analyze. Like the candle reflected in a mirror, what you project on the surface may not be what you truly are.

 

No doubt, the Ding You is infinitely attractive. But there is a fickle and restless quality that represents an idealist who is constantly chasing after new experiences.

 

Instead of viewing this as a disadvantage, use the natural inclination of the Ding You to learn new perspectives and open new doors by expanding your circle. After all, they’re already flocking to you like moths to a candle.

 

For the Ding You to truly shine, you need the freedom to pursue your intellectual curiosities without external interferences. In other words, the Ding You loathes being constrained. After all, this is an independent pillar that balks at restrictions and will rebel from too much authority.

 

Once given the room you needs to flex your creative muscle, you would be surprised to find that the Ding You can achieve tremendous feats of laser-like concentration and endurance. Therefore, to be Ding You, But Better requires you to make conscious choices in life that will give you the right environment or conditions.

 

• Positive, attractive and exuberant personality
• Ability to view things from new perspectives
• Natural ability to inspire, influence, motivate and enlighten
• Loves the limelight and revels in being centre stage
• Charismatic, charming, confident, persuasive, passionate
• Ability to link different concepts and ideas together to create new insights or breakthroughs
• Innovative can-do attitude, thrives on challenge
• Willing to abandon a struggling strategy in favour of developing new tactics
• Rebellious, fiercely independent, prefers to be in control, reluctant to accept advice
• Benefits from learning to recognize (and to accept) genuine support
• Fickle, restless, adventure seeking idealist
• Dislikes restriction and authority, needs the freedom to pursue intellectual curiosities without external interference

 

Geng Xu - Metal Dog - Gift of Toughness

Month Pillar - Seedling - Governs ages 17-31, siblings, assistance, early career

 

Spoiler

All Geng Metal (庚) Day Masters are tough. You know that. I know that. Meet the toughest of ‘em all… the Geng Xu (庚戌), also known as the Metal Dog. If at all, this pillar would be the real Excalibur, a sword embedded in stone, its powers and toughness, waiting to unleash.

 

Tough on the outside and inside, the sword represented by the Geng Xu (庚戌) pillar is the hardest of the 60 Jia Zi. The very characteristics of this pillar can be interpreted as an individual who is possesses both mental and physical strength, stamina and endurance.

 

It’s easy to recognize a Geng Xu (庚戌·) Day Master. This Geng Metal is tough and proud. Sitting on its Earth Resource Star, it is also resourceful and unyielding.

 

The first thing to note is that this Geng Day Master is firmly rooted. Of course, technically, we prefer if a Yang stem is rooted on another Yang stem. But in this case, the Geng Xu is rooted in its Xin Metal (辛) companion star, which in turn, is firmly embedded into the rocks. Not easy to dislodge this Xin Metal.

 

At the same time, it also sits on Fire Storage which continually tempers and moulds the Day Element. Now, at this point, please note that I described this pillar as ‘tough’. Nowhere did I say that the Geng Xu is rude or crass. On the contrary, the Geng Xu Day Master can be very pleasant and diplomatic, in spite of their natural ruthlessness and aggressiveness.

 

The flow of Qi within this pillar begins with the Ding Fire (丁) Direct Officer star. Here is the spark of courage of conviction and confidence that burns deep within the Geng Xu Day Master.

Seated on its Wu Earth (戊) Indirect Resource, the Geng Xu is at once intuitive and extremely self-willed. Words like ‘submissiveness’ and ‘compliance’ will be foreign or even nonexistent in this Geng Xu’s vocabulary. This Day Master knows that nothing worthwhile can ever be achieved without an equivalent amount of effort. With the support of this Wu Earth Resource Star, the Geng Xu has the mental and physical strength to take on any challenges and handle any hardship in pursuit of their goals.

 

The meticulous nature of the Xin Metal (辛) Rob Wealth star brings big ambitions and yes, a degree of ruthlessness to the Geng Xu. At the same time, this Xin Metal companion star can also bring a rebellious streak to the Geng Xu pillar. While some may instinctively slap a negative label on a rebel, I believe this can be a strength as it helps the Geng Xu stay defiant in the face of limitations.

 

Like many of the other Day Masters seated on the Xu Branch, the Geng Xu will also crave material security. I’m not saying that the Geng Xu is materialistic, but this Day Master will tend to worry about money.

 

Additionally, this Day Master has zero defences against boredom. Even the sturdiest axe will rust if it is not continually in use. The sharpest blade will turn dull when it is not sharpened regularly. When a Geng Xu Day Master is bored out of his or her skull, depression may ensue or worse they may even get themselves into trouble unnecessarily.

 

A great example of this weakness can be seen in the recent trials and tribulations of a famous Geng Xu Day Master, Tiger Woods. We have all seen his strengths. We have all seen how he (politely) decimated his competitors on the golf course. We have also seen the scandals he got himself into once he retired!

 

Does it seem to you like the two Geng Xu weaknesses I’ve outlined so far seem to be rather trivial? If you constantly worry about money, then make more money! If you cannot abide boredom, then find something constructive to do!

 

This next weakness, however, may be the Geng Xu’s biggest flaw. Notice how most of my other posts are written in the active voice while this one is mostly composed in the passive voice? There’s a reason for it. There is a 90% chance that a Geng Xu Day Master will not be reading this article at all. If at all this post is being read, it would be by someone who is curious about a Geng Xu in their lives.

 

Allow me to explain. The Geng Xu pillar sits on the Wu Earth (戊) Indirect Resource. This Day Master will be naturally drawn to unconventional wisdoms (such as Chinese Metaphysics). Yet at the same time, the Xu will have a silent-push with the Chen (辰) or Dragon which also carries the Wu Earth as its main Qi. So, the Day Master sits on its Indirect Resource, but at the same time, pushes it away. This type of relationship simply means that the Geng Xu will tend to be sceptical about their own powerful intuitions. Learning to trust your instincts may be the biggest lesson you need to learn. 

 

The Geng Xu Day Master can be very generous about sharing their strengths with anyone within their orbit. However, you will tend to present as domineering, aggressive, ruthless (yes, again) and very out-spoken.

 

This trait can be a double-edged sword (pardon the pun!). It is a strength when you use your dominant personality to motivate your team to greater heights. It becomes a weakness if you frequently overrule other opinions and leave behind an environment of diminished morale.

 

This is something for the Geng Xu Day Master to be aware of. The reason is because, you may not even see your behaviour as heavy-handed. But others may do! Once you are conscious of this, you can then call upon the inborn diplomacy of the Geng Xu pillar to smooth things over and build better team consensus. You will need that consensus, which leads us to the next point…

 

Being Geng Xu (庚戌), But Better requires the consensus I touched briefly on in the previous segment. The Geng Xu is tough, but it actually thrives on love and friendship. This pillar wants to be useful! You could say that sometimes, the Geng Xu may seem domineering simply because they care too much. A Geng Xu without friends and loved ones to serve and protect could easily lose faith in their own abilities.

 

Therefore, the Geng Xu must learn to build that base. The mountain you sit on must not be shaken. A leader can only lead when people are willing to follow. Therefore, the solution to being Geng Xu (庚戌), But Better is to use your strength, toughness and diplomacy to create a base of followers that you can lead to achieve your biggest dreams.

 

• Possesses mental and physical strength, stamina, and endurance
• Tough, proud, resourceful, unyielding
• Can be pleasant and diplomatic, in spite of natural ruthlessness and aggressiveness
• Courageous, convicted, confident, intuitive, self-willed
• Rejects submissiveness and compliance
• Has the mental and physical strength to take on any challenges and handle any hardship in pursuit of goals
• Ambitious, rebellious, defiant in the face of limitations
• Craves material security, financially conscious 
• Potential to develop depression due to boredom and unresolved restlessness
• Sceptical about own powerful intuitions, benefits from learning to trust personal instincts

• Tends to present as domineering, aggressive, ruthless (yes, again) and very out-spoken

• Ability to use dominant personality to motivate teams to greater heights

• Benefits from being mindful to not frequently overrule other opinions and leave behind an environment of diminished morale

• Desires to be useful, thrives in love and friendship

 

Yi Wei - Wood Goat - Gift of Shrewdness

Year Pillar - Root - Governs ages 1-16, childhood, parents, grandparents, early tribulations, head and face

 

Spoiler

A plant growing on dry earth. No, not merely growing, but thriving! That’s the image conveyed by the energies of the Yi Wei (乙未) pillar. Yes, something like a cactus. Hey! Cacti can be pretty too, you know. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it!

 

Let’s take a closer look at this unique plant that thrives in the harshest of environments. While all Yi Wood are survivors by nature, the Yi Wei manifests that trait most of all. Its roots run deep, able to tap into and make full use of every ounce of resource. This is where the shrewdness of the Yi Wei comes from. It reflects a person who can dig deep and make the most of any situation.

 

Like all Yi Wood Day Masters, the Yi Wei is instinctively a good networker. But the harsh environment in which the cactus grows has taught it to grow thorns as a self-defense mechanism. What this means is that you, the Yi Wei Day Master, will have the tendency to pick and choose your friends. The Yi Wei is already a natural quick judge of character. Basically, unlike other Yi Wood Day Masters, you’re just not that into needless entanglements and competition. Every person you bring into your personal space, is someone you already deem worthy and capable of helping you attain your goals.

 

This Ding Fire Output Star brings you a taste for luxury living as well as the willingness to work for that ideal lifestyle. You like refinement and charm, don’t you? Another gift of this Ding Fire is spirituality. The Yi Wei day master tends to be spiritually gifted and will have an interest in non-conventional wisdom. In most circumstances, you prefer to develop your own mind and intuition independently from others. Unique to the Yi Wei is an innate understanding or acceptance that you are solely responsible for your own self-development.

 

Lastly, your Ji Earth Wealth Star represents your perseverance, resilience and persistence that gives you a tenacious mindset that will drive you to extraordinary heights. But note, the key word is tenacity, not stubbornness. There is a big difference between the two. Stubbornness is about not wanting to change your position or mind about something. Tenacity is driven by the determination to achieve your goal.

 

One of the biggest vulnerabilities of the Yi Wei is your tendency to be a bit of a control freak. Again, this Yi Wood is growing in a harsh environment. This amps up your survival instincts which makes you at once demanding and critical of others.

 

Additionally, the Yi Wei needs to learn to control your responses to external circumstances that are out of your control. In other words, learn to tell the difference between what you can and cannot change. You see, for all its stillness, the Yi Wei pillar has a bit of an emotional roller coaster deep inside. Unseen by others, you could easily go from the heights of ecstasy to the depths of despair. The biggest challenge to the Yi Wei is to learn to control this tendency for self-torment.

 

The Yi Wei Day Master can come off as a bit of a loner, someone who prefers independence and solitude. Remember those sharp thorns?

 

Most Yi Wei Day Masters will tend to have a large group of acquaintances but few close friends. Generous and compassionate as you may be, the Yi Wei tends to like being the dominant person in any relationship. Could this be a handicap for you? Depends!

 

But like a cactus in the desert, your network of acquaintances are often myriad, varied but hidden from view.

 

To trigger a Yi Wei’s strengths is to cultivate a sense of purpose. This is when you truly become unstoppable. Because this sense of purpose, whatever it may be, is what will activate your willingness to work hard for an ideal, your resourcefulness and sheer will. What should this purpose be? You decide!

 

Additionally, be aware of the Yi Wei’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge. This dry Yi Wei pillar will suck up any and all knowledge. To maximize this gift, learn not only to store knowledge, but also to share knowledge.

 

• Ability to tap into and make full use of every ounce of resource

• Instinctively a good networker, quick judge of character, adverse to competition and needless entanglement

• Prioritizes relationships with those deemed worthy and capable of helping attain your goals

• Taste for luxury living, willingness to work for that ideal lifestyle

• Spiritually gifted, has an interest in non-conventional wisdom

• Prefers to develop own mind and intuition independently from others

• Persevering, reliant, persistent, tenacious

• Reactionary to external circumstances

• Desire for control, demanding, critical of others out of survival mechanism

• Perceived as loner preferring independence and solitude

• Domineering in relationships, many acquaintances, few friends

• Benefits from cultivating strong sense of purpose

 

Edited yesterday at 06:28 PM by 心神 ~

[心神 ~]

20 hours ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

(since reading your posts i have ordered the Flying Star Feng Shui book by Skinner). Using Feng Shui has had significant impact, particularly the parts about getting rid of stuff.  That was a big wake-up call for me when i read about that.  I remember pulling a metal trash can out into the driveway, and burning several boxes of letters i'd held onto for 20+ years.  It was one of the most freeing things i ever did for myself.  i kept the fire burning for hours, and just kept adding more stuff.  I burned all my wedding photos (this was several years after the divorce) and that felt wild and exciting and bold.  I burned thousands of pages of letters from my mom which were a laundry list from her of all the things wrong with me.  

 

i discovered using feng shui just how good it feels to get rid of stuff and how much i love getting rid of stuff.  In all the decades since, and all the truckloads of stuff i have tossed, i think there is only one thing i reflect back on it would have been nice to have.  something small and minor, which was easily replaced.  It really was a conscious process of  "why are you hanging on to that"  "why is it hard to burn that"  "what is the point in keeping that" for every single item i own.  To this day i still use that process.  If it is not uplifting or pleasing when i see it, it gets tossed.

 

I lost a loved one who never wore his good shirts because he was perpetually waiting for the right opportunity. When he died and I was left to sort through his belongings, I decided I would never live that way. I discovered minimalism and let go of anything that wasn't useful or beautiful. I felt free of the weight of a lifetime of things, and began to use and appreciate what remained. 

 

When I discovered feng shui, I had finally moved into my first home and just wanted to make a beautiful space that looked and felt good. Learning about feng shui led me to discovering it's true Daoist origins, and to reading about flying star feng shui, bazi, ziwei doushu, inner alchemy, the Yellow Emperor, the Queen Mother of the West, etc.

 

A difficult beginning to my journey, but I'm very grateful for where it's led.

 

It's been a while since I've read the book! I think I prepared for 2025's energy in late 2024 just so I wouldn't forget at the new year. But it would be a good idea for me to double check. Let me know what you think of the book, it'll be nice to swap notes!

[BigSkyDiamond]

On 8/15/2025 at 9:35 AM, 心神 ~ said:

@Taomeow recently mentioned Tiger being one of her four pillar animals, which got me thinking about my pillar animals aside from my daymaster (Metal Snake). In light of recent conversation about the fall of Dao Bums, our various goals, and the different ways we interact, I thought it would be interesting to discuss basic elements of our Bazi charts.

 

I used bazi-calculator.com and input my birth date, time, and location (accounting for time zone offset and daylight savings). Then I took the names of each of my pillars and read about the daymaster characteristics on Hidden Sun to get an idea of how my animals relate to one another.

 

Here's a bit about what my animals are like, which combined gives a very interesting overview. My animals are Earth Dog (Wu Xu), Fire Snake (Xin Si), Wood Snake (Yi Si), and Water Monkey (Ren Shen). 

 

so I am using the Bazi calculator at link provided, and am seeing the birth chart.  Since I am not sure of my "hour of birth" then i am paying less attention to that first column (is that "pillar"?) and more attention to the other 3 as those are confirmed. There is certainty for longitude and UTC time offset.   What is the best way to read this if unsure of hour of birth?   I entered my best guess.

[BigSkyDiamond]

i am seeing on the Na Yin line of the birth chart "water" but i still need to figure out which type of the six waters available (shown on another Na Yin specific chart).  So delving further into that.  Na Yin jumped out at me, as it mentions musical tones, and in another teaching the personal and individual "song of the soul" is used so i am exploring that connection.

 

Since the Bazi tool shows two charts, first my birth chart, and then the chart for today's date, i am seeing that for 2025 the year is showing "Hurting Officer."  When i do very basic search on that it includes "brings inherent challenges like impulsivity and resistance to authority" so in light of the opening post topic which invites us to explore interpersonal dynamics here on Dao Bums through the lens of Bazi, i am wondering if that might correlate with for instance the pushback and resistance to compliance with forum guidelines.

 

the charts are very interesting to explore, good topic, good discussion. Regarding this question asked in opening post,  "What overlap is there between your natal charts of various astrological systems?"   what jumps out at me at first glance is that for the 8 blocks in my Bazi birth chart, four of the blocks are Earth.  But i am a fire sign in western astrology (Sagittarius).  And there is 0 fire on the Bazi chart, here is summary:

4 Earth

2 Water

1 Metal

1 Wood

0 Fire

 

OK, basic question here.  for the "today's  date chart" does everyone see the same chart for that?  Is it the same for everyone?  or is it somehow related to or tied in to personal birth chart.  our Dao Bums banner shows Wood Snake, so that i am seeing in year column.  (am i reading that right?  green for wood in first row "Heavenly Stem" and snake below in second row "Earthly Branch").  

 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 07:55 PM by BigSkyDiamond

[心神 ~]

1 hour ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

 

so I am using the Bazi calculator at link provided, and am seeing the birth chart.  Since I am not sure of my "hour of birth" then i am paying less attention to that first column (is that "pillar"?) and more attention to the other 3 as those are confirmed. There is certainty for longitude and UTC time offset.   What is the best way to read this if unsure of hour of birth?   I entered my best guess.

 

Because each hour carries a different animal sign/energy, being off on the birth time by more than an hour alters the chart significantly. So the full picture will be less accurate without the hour pillar (first column) but you can still get a basic overview without it by focusing on the other three pillars individually.

 

You could start by reading about your daymaster (day pillar, column two), which if I remember correctly, carriers the strongest energy of the four pillars.

 

Each pillar has two main parts, the heavenly stem (element) and the earthly branch (animal). Combining the two parts displayed in the day pillar provides a basic profile, such as Ding Si, Fire Snake (which I also see displayed as today's pillar). Various elements interact to form beneficial "combinations" or harmful "clashes" and "destructions."

 

Each pillar contains additional energy, like the hidden heavenly stems, na yin, and flying stars. The presence or absence of certain elements in the hidden heavenly stem row can influence whether or not a pillar is "rooted" or "supported" by the same element. Each heavenly and hidden heavenly stem also carries one of the Ten Gods (like Hurting Officer or Direct Wealth), which is another expression of energy added into the equation. I haven't figured out na yin yet.

 

The stars are a part of Purple Star Astrology (ziwei doushu), and each star carries auspicious or inauspicious energy that influences how the elements in each pillar respond to one another and at what times.

Edited yesterday at 08:06 PM by 心神 ~

[BigSkyDiamond]

1 hour ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

 what jumps out at me at first glance is that for the 8 blocks in my Bazi birth chart, four of the blocks are Earth.  But i am a fire sign in western astrology (Sagittarius).  And there is 0 fire on the Bazi chart, here is summary:

4 Earth

2 Water

1 Metal

1 Wood

0 Fire

 

 

OK I found more on this regarding "missing element" or the element we have fewest of in birth chart: 

 

"In Chinese astrology, whichever of the five elements we have fewest of is termed our “Lucky Element,” which is not typical of how we think here in the West where having a whole bunch of something is usually considered lucky. In Four Pillars astrology, perfect balance is the preferred way to move on with our life and until we achieve that balance we are going virtually nowhere, although we may seem to be moving."

 

from article by Michael Erlewine (basics for beginners)

 

That actually makes sense then to me.  If fire is "missing" then by seeking it out, that is what brings me into balance which in my view is why it feels good, or why i am drawn to it.   For instance deep affinity for me with Phoenix.  (or in reading through this thread, like me exhilarated burning all that stuff.)

 

Edited 23 hours ago by BigSkyDiamond

[BigSkyDiamond]

1 hour ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

 what jumps out at me at first glance is that for the 8 blocks in my Bazi birth chart, four of the blocks are Earth.  But i am a fire sign in western astrology (Sagittarius).  And there is 0 fire on the Bazi chart, here is summary:

4 Earth

2 Water

1 Metal

1 Wood

0 Fire

 

OK i just found the HHS row "Hidden Heaveny Stems" in birth chart.  The "hidden" HHS represent latent or hidden potential, underlying influences, hidden strengths or weakness, secrets, relationships.  Latent aspects of destiny and personality.  That sounds like how the "overlay" layer works in another system i have  used (discussed in earlier post).  so revised summary for me (also includes the Na Yin)  shows:

 

7 Earth

5 Metal

4 Water

2 Wood

2 Fire

 

[Bhathen]

This is the YouTube channel which helped me understand the basics of bazi:

 

 

The first time I saw my chart after learning a bit, it was like every puzzle piece of my life fell into place. An exact snapshot of my life.

 

Since then I have mapped out a timeline of all the years of this lifetime and the main events that happened since, trying to associate them with the elements of those years. 

 

Like Luke, I've always associated Taomeow with a Tiger, maybe it's in relation to her fire element.My day master is a wood tiger.

Edited 22 hours ago by Bhathen