The Origins of Halloween

Halloween arguably originated from the Celtic festival Samhain.

The early literature says Samhain was marked by great gatherings and feasts 

and was when the ancient burial mounds were open, 

which were seen as portals to the Otherworld. 

It was originally a festival meant to honour the dead,

but in modern times has come to evolve into something

more entertaining & light-hearted.

I am not sure how to react to this. 

In the end, I guess it's a good thing that

this spiritual festival attracted some attention,

albeit in its misguided form.

Do note: Samhain is not the only festival celebrated by the Celts.

It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals 

along with Imbolc, Bealtaine & Lughnasa. 

Samhain (~1 November), Imbolc (~1 February), 

Bealtaine (~1 May), and Lughnasa (~1 August). 

Of these, Samhain and Bealtaine, 

marking the transitions into winter and summer respectively, 

are thought to have been the most significant.

Compare these dates with the Chinese 万年历:

立冬 - 7 November 2025 /  立春 - 3 February 2025

立夏 - 5 May 2025 / 立秋 - 7 August 2025

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重阳节

'重阳节', translated as 'Double Yang Festival', 

falls on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. 

'Yang' is interpreted as '9' because it is considered 

the highest (odd) single-digit number.

The number '9' holds great significance in Chinese numerological thought. 

In many ways, it holds even greater importance than '10' & '12',

represented by 10 Heavenly Stems & 12 Earthly Branches. 

Translated from Baidu:

1. Ancestor Worship Festival

The Double Ninth Festival, along with New Year's Eve, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, are all traditional Chinese festivals for ancestor worship.

China has long held the custom of honoring and remembering their ancestors. This custom is a way of showing filial piety and remembering one's roots. 

2. Offering sacrifices to "Great Fire" (Antares).

One of the prototypes of the Double Ninth Festival is the ancient ritual of worshipping the fire star. The fire star, Antares (also known as 'Xin Xiu' or Heart Lunar Mansion), which served as a seasonal constellation marker in ancient times, disappears in the ninth month of autumn. The *Xia Xiaozheng* refers to this as "the inner fire of the ninth month." The disappearance of Antares not only deprived the ancients, who used it as a marker of seasonal production and life, of their temporal coordinates, but also instilled a sense of fear in those who revered it as a deity. The fire god's hibernation signified the arrival of a long winter. Therefore, during the "inner fire" season, just as a welcoming ceremony was held when it appeared, corresponding farewell rituals were performed. While the details of these ancient rituals are difficult to ascertain, traces of these customs can still be found in later Double Ninth Festival rituals. For example, in some areas of Jiangnan, there is a custom of worshipping the Kitchen God on the Double Ninth Festival, who is considered the fire god of the household. This reveals clues to the ancient worship of Antares in the ninth month. The ancients often associated the Double Ninth Festival with the Shangsi Festival or the Cold Food Festival, and the ninth day of the ninth month with the third day of the third month, as corresponding major festivals in spring and autumn. The Han Dynasty scholar Liu Xin wrote in his "Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital": "On the third day of the third month and the ninth day of the ninth month, maids would play games and perform purification rites and climb mountains." The correspondence between the third day of the third month, the Cold Food Festival, and the Double Ninth Festival is based on the appearance of the "Great Fire" (a mythical bird). 

The ancient people used the sexagenary cycle to record the years. According to the order of the twelve earthly branches, the first month is Yin, and the ninth month is Xu. Xu is the fire storehouse, and fire enters the storehouse in the month of Xu. Xu is located in the northwest and is within the Qian hexagram of the Luoshu. In the late autumn month of Xu, "Da Huo" (Antares II) retreats and hides on the ground in the northwest along with the stars in front of the Azure Dragon constellation. The Book of Changes, Qian hexagram: Use nine, see a group of dragons without a head, auspicious. In traditional culture, in the late autumn double yang, "Da Huo" retreats and is in the midst of the transformation of Qian and Kun. Qian is strong and healthy, and Kun is gentle and harmonious. The combination of the two is an auspicious sign.

3. Double Ninth Festival

The name "Double Ninth Festival" comes from the ancient book "I-Ching" which states that "the yang line is nine". In I-Ching, "six" is defined as a yin number and "nine" as a yang number, which is also the "extreme number". The height of the sky is referred to as "nine layers". "Nine" is the old yang, which is the yang's extreme number. When two yang numbers are combined, Nine times Nine returns to One. One 'Yuan' is the beginning of a new cycle and the renewal of all things. Therefore, the ancients believed that Double Ninth Festival was an auspicious day worth celebrating. In ancient times, there was a custom of drinking and feasting to pray for longevity. On the ninth day of the ninth month, both the day and the month are nine, which is called "two nines in a row", hence the name "Double Ninth". At the same time, it is also two yang numbers combined, hence the name "Double Ninth Festival". Zhang Dai of the Ming Dynasty wrote in "Night Voyage": "Nine is a yang number. Its day and the month correspond to it, hence the name 'Double Ninth Festival'." 

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More on 3I Atlas

Some of the info in the following video is a repetition of previous videos. 

Some, like the change in its tail direction, is new.

My previous video introduces to us to what the 3I Atlas roughly is. There is also a Western astrological analysis based on its current movements as well as future movements.

Due to its many anomalies, 3I Atlas may not follow its projected movements in the future, especially after it makes a gravitational turn behind the Sun (from our perspective).  

If its course varies hugely from its projected course, this would prove to be compelling evidence that this so-called comet has a 'mind' of its own & could reverse gravitational pull. It could be a mothership with engines & propellers. 

Sadly, we will not be able to see how it changes course because it is too close to the Sun & we do not have drones near enough, nor telescopes powerful enough. This might be deliberate.

Question: what are the implications if scientists finally conclude that it is an alien spaceship?

1. For most of us who live our quotidian lives on Planet Earth, we are generally apathetic, especially if you are Singaporean like me. As long as the ship doesn't land anywhere on Earth especially Singapore, we don't really care. 

2. If its movements are deliberate, then there is a higher likelihood that there are astrological meanings associated. However, we do not know if we are interpreting these meanings accurately, as these alien beings might have a far more advanced version of astrology. 

3. If they are really very advanced, there is a possibility that they no longer need to believe in astrology, having already developed psychic / telepathic / telekinetic powers.

4. We have seen what orbs / tic tacs can do based on the reports of many sightings of alien craft. If they are really advanced technologically and can appear in any part of the solar system almost instantly through interdimensional travel, this means that they are slowing down deliberately, perhaps to let us see them.

5. The main concern would be whether they are benevolent or malevolent. If they are malevolent & technologically advanced, there is no need for them to be doing this. We would be destroyed already. If they are malevolent & not so technically advanced, then they might be doing this.

6. However, I personally do not think they are malevolent. The projected course suggests that they are simply 'observing' us. This means I think that they are either neutral, or benevolent.  

7. Why go into such trouble wasting so much energy travelling through space to 'observe' us? I think this is only one of their many other objectives. Their path gets very close to 3 planets, especially Mars. Our probes in Mars coincidentally all stopped working. We shouldn't just blame the USA. The entire international scientific community has decided to conspire against the populace. The mothership may have deposited some of its occupants or technology or both on Mars. There is more than meets the eye. 

8. This event is significant as it points to the idea that some things are hidden from us. In fact, I believe many things are hidden from us. We need to remain alert as there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed eventually. When that happens, we need to be mentally and emotionally prepared.

9. What would it mean if disclosure finally happens and we realise that we are not alone? A lot of people who are not prepared will have their traditional religious beliefs challenged and will not have a mental model to adjust to their beliefs. Some may deny reality, shut down, or turn insane. Others, in a rush to adapt, may adopt extreme beliefs of eradicating all alien life. We fear what we do not understand. There could be a world war, not among humans, but by humans against aliens. There would be a minority of people who believe that we could live & work with these aliens.

10. As long as this minority of people remains the minority, disclosure will not happen. Even if the majority of people believe we can work with aliens, as long as the governments & real leaders of various countries do not believe or accept it, disclosure will not happen. Imagine a scenario where technology becomes so advanced that energy will be either free or very inexpensive. The richest people in the world would lose their incomes overnight. Oil / gas / coal / energy industries would go bankrupt. Millions of people would lose their jobs & be forced to learn other skills.     

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3I Atlas

What is 3I Atlas? It's been around since July 2025, but we still don't know what it is. For now, there are just bits and pieces of info here & there based on Wiki & other news reports. Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has some things to say about 3I Atlas. You may want to watch it in case it gets taken down.

"Some say 3I/Atlas is just a comet. But there’s a problem:

 • No comet-like tail has been detected.

 • It glows in front instead of behind.

 • Its path is so perfectly aligned with planetary orbits that the odds of this 

being a coincidence are just 1 in 20,000."

NASA has apparently shut down its systems so we do not have a close up view of 3I Atlas based on the Mars probes. How coincidental. Even Europe & China with their powerful telescopes are strangely silent. 

I don't think we need to be actively looking for evidence of alien life. I believe that the meaning behind its visit is more important than its physical appearance, regardless of whether it looks like a mothership or not. I do not know of any Chinese astrologer who has commented on 3I Atlas yet. The following video, out of many others, is based on the Western astrological perspective:

The above video is actually easy to understand even for beginners 

who want to learn the technical basics of Western astrology.

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Who Was Enoch?

There are 3 books attributed to Enoch. In the first book, it was recorded that God literally brought the prophet's soul & spirit into the 'heavenly realms' to show him the intricate calculation of all the planetary influences, the solar calendar, the lunar calendar & the holy days of the year.

1 Enoch Chapter 41, verses 5 to 7: And I saw the chambers of the sun and moon, whence they proceed and whither they come again, and their glorious return, and how one is superior to the other, and their stately orbit, and how they do not leave their orbit, and they add nothing to their orbit and they take nothing from it, and they keep faith with each other, in accordance with the oath by which they are bound together. And first the sun goes forth and traverses his path according to the commandment of the Lord of Spirits, and mighty is His name for ever and ever. And after that I saw the hidden and the visible path of the moon, and she accomplishes the course of her path in that place by day and by night - the one holding a position opposite to the other before the Lord of Spirits.

The 'chambers of sun & moon' hint at the 12 solar signs of the zodiac & the 27 or 28 lunar mansions (depending on your school of thought).

These books are incomplete as only fragments had been preserved. A lot of information is missing. Why would Enoch be shown all these things if they are, as assumed, forbidden demonic knowledge? If God reveals this knowledge to Enoch directly, it is not considered demonic, but if Azazel teaches the same things to humans, then it is? One could argue that observations of holy days and festivals are different from demonic practices of magic. The former is passive observance, that latter is aggressive manipulation.

If the study of the stars is already intrinsically evil in itself, then the root isn't very far from the fruit. One should not study or know anything about it at all, regardless of whether it is active or passive.  

Azazel taught astrology to humans. He also taught them how to make weapons of war, and taught women how to put on make-up. By the same standards, we should condemn all cosmetic enterprises and every woman who puts on make-up. Every country that produces weapons of mass destruction as well as weapons of any nature should also be seen as evil. (That would be every country in the world.) Albert Einstein should also seen as a war criminal, together with Robert Oppenheimer. Sun Tzu, the writer of 'The Art of War', should also be condemned.

There is a lot of misunderstanding regarding astrology. It's a powerful tool that can be used for good, and can likewise be used for evil.    

I can think of at least 2 reasons why most churches do not consider 'The Book of Enoch' as canon. First, taboo topics like sex between humans and angels were depicted. Second, the fragmented texts go too much into detail about astronomical calculations - Enoch himself was given revelation of 'the hidden secrets', the 'chambers' of the sun and moon - so much so that condemning astrology makes the text inherently self-contradictory and self-stultifying. 

In Islamic texts, Enoch was known as Idris. He was believed to be the first person to teach astronomy to the human race. Some mystical traditions suggest that Idris and Hermes Trismegistus were actually the same person. In other words, he was not only a powerful astrologer / magician. He himself invented astrology & magic.

In the Western occult tradition, Enochian magic is considered dangerous. In a sense, all magic is dangerous. But Enochian magic is more dangerous.

So here's the golden question: who actually taught the human race astrology? Azazel? Enoch? Or Hermes? We may never know.

I have a personal interpretation of the Book(s) of Enoch. I think that Enoch's journey can be seen as a parable of the individual human soul & how one must progress from lower spiritual levels to higher ones (represented by the 10 heavens). Metaphorically, I think Azazel, Enoch & Hermes are one & the same. They all taught us astrology. They are all parts of our psyche that we have to learn to integrate to master ourselves.

A careful reading of all these texts implies that there are correct ways of practising astrology, just as there are wrong ones. Without white magic, its black counterpart cannot exist. 

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Planet 9 Might Exist

The following video is almost 30 minutes long so unless you are an astronomy / astrology enthusiast, you would likely skip this post. I found the last 10 minutes particularly meaningful as some numerological info about the Number 9 was discussed.

If Planet 9 is confirmed to exist, what does it mean for us astrologically? Quite a bit.

It could explain some of the discrepancies in astrological interpretation

because we just don't have enough information at this time to derive 

an accurate birth chart. If our technological devices evolve,

so must our astrological techniques.

Then we will have to figure out which astrological sign Planet 9 rules, 

or if it rules any at all, and then integrate it into our current system. 

Pluto rules Scorpio, Neptune rules Pisces,

Uranus rules Aquarius. 

As mentioned in my previous post,

Scorpio squares Aquarius but trines Pisces.

Which sign would the new planet rule?

In my humble opinion, it might either be

Gemini or its opposite sign, Sagittarius.

I personally think Planet 9 could exist. 

This is also an exciting time for astrologers.

In the olden days, ancient astrologers found a way to locate the stars

even though they didn't have powerful telescopes.

How did they derive the position of the stars?

The simple answer: via channeling.

Or to use another term: astral travel.

This Chinese video is again a very long one, and if you lack the patience

you can skip to the 30th to 32nd minute.

In 紫微斗数 (ZWDS), there are 2 extra 'assistant' stars - 左辅 Zuo Fu & 右弼 You Bi

- in addition to what we already know as the 7-star Northen Dipper.

These are part of the most important stars 

in the Purple Forbidden Enclosure.

左辅 Zuo Fu & 右弼 You Bi were discovered via channeling. 

They are not really very visible to the naked eye but are important stars. 

Meditating on their positions in your chart 

could enhance your spiritual energy to help you navigate your fate.

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Is Divination Necessary?

https://www.quora.com/I-was-just-learning-tarot-reading-but-my-friend-scared-me-that-its-not-something-to-play-with-but-I-really-want-to-learn-What-should-I-do

I'm interested in a Tarot reading, 

but my friend scared me saying it's not something to play with, 

but I really want to learn. What should I do?

Learn, but avoid consulting about anything where you have a strong preference for a particular outcome, because your hopes or fears will nullify the divination answer. It’s fine to consult on “Which of these two job offers is better?” if you have no strong preference, but if it’s “Has my sister got cancer?” - don’t ask at all if you can’t handle a bad answer.

Also, beware of getting caught up in reading cards on *everything*. They’re for specific problems, like asking how best to handle a situation or which of two courses of action would be better - if you start using them for every minor issue in your life, you’ll forget to live it.

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中秋节: The Mid Autumn Festival

For those of you who saw someone at Woodlands giving out flyers, yes, that person is me. I looked a bit ill at ease, as it was my first time giving out flyers. I was only there for one hour, but I'm exhausted.

According to 万年历 Wan Nian Li, the Mid Autumn Festival falls on 6th of October. The Western calculation places it more accurately on 7th of October. At exactly 12pm noon (Singapore time), the Moon will be exactly opposite the Sun @ 14 Aries. It will be an aggressive Moon. The Sun @ 14 Libra is also suited for romance.

This may mean nothing for casual followers who are just looking forward to eating mooncakes. For those who are practising lunar energy, we need to know what the Moon signifies. We already know that she takes precedence after autumn equinox. At full moon, her energy will be magnified further. Yes, I use 'her' as she exhibits feminine traits.

The Moon has traits that are similar to Venus, just as the Sun has traits similar to Mars. So during this period, all suitable activities will be related to the emotions, romance, relationships, universal peace, love, introversion, spiritual pursuits, & surprisingly wealth. Do note that the kind of wealth the Moon rules is not the kind you earn over the stock market, cryptocurrency or games of chance. This can happen but only because of other planetary influences. The Moon rules over savings, the money you already own. It represents the conventional way of gaining wealth - slowly and steadily. For those looking for quick 'wins', instead of the Moon, you should consider either Mars or Mercury or both.  

During this period, you may consider starting a humanitarian initiative or a love project, something that you pursue with great interest or passion. Take note of any intuitive 'flashes' you may have at this moment - you may be surprised that acting on them will result in success.

Why do the ancient Chinese celebrate this festival by burning lanterns? Because it's beautiful, but not only that. The lantern is a symbolic representation of our own selves, of how we must learn to shine more brightly as darkness descends and the Sun takes backstage. The Moon is only a faint reflection of the Sun, and we learn to face & integrate our shadow selves, the parts of ourselves we don't like or are uncomfortable with. We must trust in our own inner light to navigate through these dark times ahead, not just personally but as a country & planet. 

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Original Rules of Engagement

I understand that many of us Singaporeans are fast-paced people
& prefer things to be short & sweet.
I realise that I came across as too wordy but still encourage
all clients to read the detailed 'Terms & Conditions':

1. Online Consultation (through messaging) is available through WhatsApp. 

If you don't have Whatsapp, you can email me at heaven.earth.man.333@gmail.com.

2. Those who prefer Verbal Consultation (through video / voice call) may book an online appointment. Sessions can be conducted through WhatsApp. Apologies that Physical Consultation (face-to-face) is temporarily unavailable.

3. You can opt for either a Chinese or Western reading. Normally, I would recommend a Western reading if you are better at the English language. But some of you may already be familiar with Western astrology and would like to have a fresh Chinese perspective. Conversely, you may already know Chinese astrology and would like some feedback from a Western perspective. There are no hard & fast rules here. Choose whichever you prefer.

4. For Birth Chart analysis, please have your birth date and exact time of birth ready. Chinese readings require gender. Western readings require place of birth. Personality traits, career, life purpose, relationships & luck cycles will be discussed. Due to time constraints, we will focus on one or two aspects.

5. If you don't feel comfortable revealing your birth date and birth time, you may request for 'Divination'. Do have one specific question in mind. Sometimes, your questions may be vague, inappropriate or have other 'loopholes' that make them difficult to answer. In that case, I will help you to 'rephrase' the question so that it is easier to divine the answer. Advice / recommended solutions will be offered.

6. Please don't consult regarding vice & crime-related issues. Example: "Can give me the 4D for tomorrow's first prize?" Sorry, I don't promote gambling. "I'm going Geylang now. Which girl do I choose?" I don't know. Choose whoever you like. "Which bank should I rob?" Sorry, please don't rob. 

7. Please ask serious questions that are related to the positive directions you want to take in your life: personal development, career, relationships, money.  

8. During consultation, mutual respect is a must. Verbal / written abuse is not appreciated. If you are in a violent mood, please do not consult.

9. I'm a consultant, not debater. I give you advice & suggestions, and our discussion is meant to improve your life. My job is to help you, not to prove to you that astrology works. Please debate with someone else.

10. If you are a sceptic / agnostic / atheist, you are free to consult. If you have a religious persuasion, you are also free to consult. People from all races and walks of life are accepted. You are not required to 'convert' to any religion. There is nothing to convert to. We promote positive energy & spirituality. Come as you are, with an open heart and mind.

11. There are some situations where I can't help. The following examples are not exhaustive: If you have a medical condition, please see a doctor. If you have a serious psychological issue, please approach a psychiatrist. If you need someone to perform voodoo or any kind of curse, sorry, that person isn't me. Please skip. Thank you. 🙏

In these cases, I will refund you your money 

if you paid in advance (for payment issues in future). 

Overseas clients may consult, but I need to check with you 

about payment methods (in future) as I'm not familiar.

Disclaimer: Many branches of astrology are 'psychological' tools meant to help you understand various aspects of your personality. Due to the stresses of life, most of us experience mild psychological pressure which should actually encourage you to seek consultation, not impede you. I was referring to psychiatric patients who require medication to cope. This is beyond my area of expertise. 

I will address the issue of voodoo in another post.

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秋分: The Autumn Equinox 2025

"In the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the beginning of fall. 

The bright, outward energy of summer gives way to the slower, 

more introspective energy of autumn and winter. 

The warmth and extroversion of the past months 

make way for a time of solitude, rest, and reflection. 

As the Earth turns inward, so do we.

The equinox is often seen as a bridge between two distinct energies. 

Spring and summer, with their long days and abundant sunlight, 

are seasons of growth, play, and connection. 

These are the "Sun Seasons", when everything is in bloom, 

and our energy is more expansive. 

Fall and winter, on the other hand, are considered the "Moon Seasons". 

As daylight fades, the moon takes center stage, 

and we begin to spend more time in darkness. 

This period of extended night symbolises a time for 

rest, introspection, and quiet connection."

~~ Tree Moon World

The Solstices & Equinoxes hold importance in all ancient civilisations, regardless of whether one is from the East or West. For the ancient Chinese, as the Moon takes centre stage, you may want to take note of its position in your 紫微斗数 (ZWDS) & 奇门遁甲 (QMDJ) chart.

For ZWDS, the Sun & Moon are represented as 太阳 Tai Yang & 太阴 Tai Yin. One quick way to see whether the Sun or Moon holds greater importance in your chart is to check its level of brightness, its interaction with other stars and the nature of the palace itself. Then you need to check your hour of birth manually. The reason is, the level of brightness does not take into consideration your hour of birth. If you are born closer to noon, the Sun will have more energy. If you are born closer to midnight, the Moon will have more energy. Example: let's say that the Moon in your ZWDS chart is in 陷 Xian (Dim), but you are born at midnight. Then it will not be as dim as indicated. More positive qualities of the Moon will manifest than expected in your chart. However, if you are born at noon, then the Moon will be even darker than expected. 

The autumn equinox is another indication. As the Moon begins to take precedence, you might want to keep a lower profile if your Moon is weak. Conversely, you might also notice the palace where your Moon resides gaining strength. Sometimes, in a weird sort of way, both positive & negative effects are strengthened.

Some ZWDS practitioners believe that the Moon is in 化忌 Hua Ji this entire year 乙巳 Yi Si. They base this opinion on the Heavenly Stem 乙 Yi which afflicts the Moon. In addition, some also use the current month stem of 乙酉月 and see this as a double whammy on the Moon. 

While I generally agree that Yi has some bad effect on the Moon this year, I have reservations about the double whammy caused by the month. This does not mean that I think it's wrong. 

ZWDS runs on the Lunar calendar. The transition from one decade, year or month to another is based on the new moon which is the 1st day of the lunar month. When it comes to the analysis of annual luck, the 太岁 Tai Sui (Jupiter) stem is consistently 乙 Yi. But there is also the annual palace stem, which is different from individual to individual. It is the same for the calculation of monthly palaces. The palace stems of monthly palaces vary from individual to individual, even though they are the same for the solar calendar.

Simply put: ZWDS is a tool that is evolving. Yes, a lot of books have been written about ZWDS in both Chinese & English. But once you read them, you will also realise that a lot of knowledge has been lost & destroyed. In the olden days, many secrets were passed down by word of mouth but never written down. There is some confusion about which stem is more important or whether both should be used equally. Some prefer the solar stems. Some insist that the palace stems are important too. So ZWDS masters accumulate as many charts as possible to experiment & verify if their methods work. 

The same can be said about QMDJ, perhaps even more so. 

There is no 太阳 Tai Yang in a QMDJ chart. There is only 太阴 Tai Yin with 9 other deities. But the nature of 太阴 Tai Yin in QMDJ is different from ZWDS. In ZWDS, the Moon is Yin water Gui. In QMDJ, the Moon is Yin metal Xin. Its attributes / qualities are also slightly different. 

Water is a lot more passive. Metal is a lot more aggressive.

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Consultation is Free Until 20 Oct 25

I gave out a batch of name cards on 2 Sept 25. 

But the QR code on this batch of cards has expired.

Initially I wanted to begin consultation in the 7th lunar month

but there were some hiccups.

I intend to print another set of name cards as well as flyers.

Welcome to my blog.

 

[Note: Free Consultation has been extended until 20th October 2025.]

Please read the Guidelines before consultation.

Thank you. 🙏

PS: A partial solar eclipse happened today. 

It also signifies the end of the 7th month.

I didn't feel physically well these few days.

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七杀: The 7 Killing Star

According to some Bazi schools of thought, the 7 Killing Star is the most important 'power' star that one must look for in order to achieve success. Yes, all 8 characters must be considered in a chart. But once the 7K star exists in a chart, all other stars must be evaluated with this 7K star as the singular point of reference. If the Day Master is weak, elements that suppress / mitigate the 7K star are Useful Gods. If the Day Master is strong, elements that support the 7K star are Useful Gods. 

In fact, some Bazi schools of thought do not consider the seasonal strength of a Day Master at all. What is most important is whether the chart gets the job done, and whether the work done is efficient & effective. 7K uses the shortest time to achieve the greatest result, but may resort to unconventional / unscrupulous means to get it, ignoring proper protocol. Some people might get hurt. Its level of aggression is arguably the highest, with Hurting Officer at a close second. 

 

七杀 is associated with death, but it also represents swift aggressive execution of plans. If you need to use it, do so with care. Proceed with caution.

 

In 奇门遁甲 (QMDJ), as mentioned, we have 天柱 (Heavenly Pillar), also known as 破军. We have 天蓬 (Heavenly Grass), also known as 贪狼. But there is no 7K star. However, the 'Star level' is only one of the 5 levels that QMDJ operates at. There are: Palaces, Stems, Deities, Doors & Stars. The first 3 relate to Earth. The Doors relate to Man. The Stars relate to Heaven. (This is my own simplified version. No offence to other QMDJ schools of thought.) Also as mentioned, 死门 (Death Door) is associated with 坤 (Kun) which is synonymous to the lunar 7th month as well as the 7K star. Doors represent the most practical way to win a battle, but the fast results come and go easily. The Death Door is the last door we consider because it is the most inauspicious & least practical of all doors. We do not conventionally use this door except for anything associated with death: funeral processions, worship of ancestors & spiritual pursuits.

In 紫微斗数 (ZWDS), 7K is one of the stars that form the 杀破狼 (Sha-Po-Lang) formation. This formation is, like Bazi's 7K, the most aggressive of all formations in ZWDS. 杀破狼 (Sha-Po-Lang) is made up of 3 stars that are previously mentioned: 七杀 Qi Sha (7K), 破军 Po Jun (Broken Soldier) & 贪狼 Tan Lang (Greedy Wolf). Here, the meaning of 7K reverts back to the Bazi system of fast & effective results. But do use Sha-Po-Lang with discretion. Minimise aggression.

There are quite a few youtube videos that have both positive & negative remarks about Sha-Po-Lang. It is traditionally seen as an inauspicious formation. But in these modern times where change is the only constant, we may have to see this formation a bit differently. This is a video that has a more positive view of SPL:

That being said, the criteria for success does not only depend on the presence of SPL in one's ZWDS chart. Other compatible stars must be present in the 4 main palaces in order to enhance the SPL formation. The best star is arguably 紫微 Zi Wei (The Emperor) as it brings mental foresight & balances the aggression. The 4 Transformations are also key.

There are also many other auspicious formations that can indicate success as well, but the process is slower & steadier. SPL's success is a lot more turbulent.

A few things to add about 7K. In ZWDS, 7K is the 2nd most turbulent among all 14 stars. (The most turbulent is Broken Soldier.) Also, 7K likes to stand alone in its palace without the presence of other main / assistant stars. Any other star(s) present in the same palace would have little effect on 7K as their qualities would be suppressed & overwhelmed by it. Kind stars won't help much. Fierce stars won't threaten much. At its brightest, 7K can still succeed even with Hua Ji, but only after much effort. 

(Note 1: 7K does not undergo transformation whatsoever. However, it encounters Hua Ji only when another star is present with 7K and is indirectly afflicted.)

(Note 2: According to the classics, the worst star that can pair up with 7K is arguably 廉貞 Lian Zhen. Lian Zhen is translated as 'Purity' or 'Chastity' - which is an irony as it is arguably the most 'evil' main star among the 14 main stars. Both combine to form 杀拱廉贞格 or 贞杀同宫格. There is another name given to this formation: 路上埋尸, translated as 'Roadside Buries the Corpse'. However, there is some controversy over this name as modern practitioners do not think this formation is as inauspicious as it sounds.)

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'The 5th Season' by Mark Nepo

I’m currently reading ‘The Fifth Season’ by Mark Nepo. It’s a book about ageing. The author is in his 70s. It’s actually a great book for people of all ages, especially my age. I highly recommend it. 

These are some of my favourite quotes:

“The more a meteor burns up, the brighter it gets. 

More of it burns away & flakes off until all is light. 

As we hurtle through the years, 

we are worn off by all that doesn’t matter. 

As experience wears us down, we grow brighter. 

At death, we are all light. 

The 2nd half of life is integrative in a way 

that discards all that isn't essential – if we don’t resist it.”

Page 1: 

“The highest reward for our toil is not what we get for it, 

but what we become.” – John Ruskin

Page 11: 

“Hard as it is, every catastrophe requires us to build again. 

No one is exempt from mysterious emergent cycle of build, repair & rebuild. 

And we are changed, renewed & reshaped for the rebuilding. 

Whenever we build, we build something in us. 

Whenever we repair, we repair something in us. 

Whenever we rebuild, we resurrect something in us.” 

Page 41: 

"The pain of not playing is greater 

than the pain encountered when playing. 

The pain of not being fully alive is greater 

than the pain encountered while living. 

The commitment to live a creative life, 

whatever that means to you, is essential."

Page 153: 

“A common feature of spirituality is a loss of self, 

a letting go, a willingness to embrace something outside of ourselves, 

a willingness to listen rather than talk, 

a recognition that we are small and the cosmos is large.”

– Alan Lightman

The title of his book, according to him, is based on Chinese folklore that references the ‘Heavenly Pivot’ as the 5th season in the Chinese calendar, associated with late summer. 

 

From a TCM viewpoint, there is a correlation between Heavenly Pivot & late summer. Heavenly Pivot or 天枢 (Tiān Shū) is seen as ‘Stomach 25’, referring to 2 acupuncture points to the left & right of the navel. It represents transformation from fire to earth (late summer).

From an astrological viewpoint, there is no direct correlation between Heavenly Pivot & the 5th season. There are 4 seasons which are divided into 12 earthly branches and 24 solar terms. Three earthly branches – 巳午未 Si Wu Wei – correspond to early, middle & late summer. 午 (Wu), the 5th earthly branch, is middle summer. 未 (Wei), which is late summer & a homophone for ‘stomach’, is actually the 6th earthly branch, not the 5th.  

In Chinese astrology, Heavenly Pivot – also known as the Celestial Pivot – is part of an asterism of 7 stars called 北斗七星 (Běi Dǒu Qī Xīng) or The Northern Dipper. It is considered the first star among all 7 because it is closest to Polaris, the North Star. Its Arabic name is Dubhe, and is the 2nd brightest star among all 7 despite being the furthest (123 light years) from our planet. In 奇门遁甲 (Qi Men Dun Jia), Pivot is 天蓬 Tian Peng (Heavenly Grass) & is associated with water, not earth. In 紫微斗数 (Zi Wei Dou Shu), Pivot is 贪狼 Tan Lang (Greedy Wolf) & has a dual nature of water & wood, unlike Heavenly Grass. So these 2 stars have slightly different meanings in different contexts, even though they are derived from the same star.

Heavenly Grass in a QMDJ chart has its ‘Fu Yin’ natal position at 'Kan' which represents the winter season. Greedy Wolf in a ZWDS chart does not have a natal position, but based on its elemental constitution, it corresponds to both winter & spring. 

In the olden days, at a certain fixed time, the Northern Dipper would have an ‘arm’ (or 柄 bǐng ‘handle’) which pointed towards the corresponding season of the year. The extreme end of this handle is the 7th star of the Northern Dipper, named 破军 Po Jun (Broken Soldier) for ZWDS or 天柱 Tian Zhu (Heavenly Pillar) for QMDJ. The ancient Chinese used this pointer as one of the ways to measure times & seasons, but due to precession and modern time-keeping devices, this is no longer relevant unless you are calculating a birth chart or doing divination. Its original Chinese name is 瑤光 Yao Guang (Bright Precious Jade). Its Arabic name is Alkaid.

Question: Why do the Chinese make things so complicated? They have 3 different Chinese names to refer to the same star. The Arabs only have one. The answer is, the ancient Chinese court astrologers did this deliberately to make things too complicated for people to understand, not just foreigners but even their own fellow citizens (who could understand the Chinese language). QMDJ was not transmitted to the masses because the military used it to win battles. If both foreign or local enemies knew its secrets, the battle could not be won. 紫微斗数, literally translated, actually means “Purple Emperor Dipper Calculation”. This system was exclusively meant to calculate the emperor’s fortune & help him overcome his fate. If everyone else knew how to improve their fate, the emperor’s position could be jeopardised.

It was rumoured that Chairman Mao either secretly knew 奇门遁甲 (QMDJ), or employed someone who secretly knew it to help him gain power, or both. So even though he publicly banned it, he privately used it to 'disarm' his opponents. Obviously we don’t really know if he knew, since it’s a secret. It’s up to you, the reader, to come to your own conclusion.

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Lunar Eclipse on 7th September 2025

The Chinese almanac states that the full moon was on 6th September, while according to the Western chart of the moment, 7th September more accurately reflects the exact degree of the Sun-Moon opposition. 

I am one day late. Better late than never.

Bazi alone does not indicate lunar or solar eclipses. Many online / physical Chinese almanacs, including the 28 lunar mansions, do not indicate them either. But some Chinese almanacs do. The ancient Chinese definitely knew about them. Western astrology, which is based on Hellenistic and ultimately Babylonian traditions, pays attention to them too.

The term 'Blood Moon' refers to lunar eclipses. For those of you who have just come across this term for the first time, yes, blood moons are largely inauspicious.

Aliza Kelly explains this well:

"Astrologically, eclipses are turning points. Unlike a typical new moon or full moon, eclipses activate ... the lunar nodes — karmic markers tied to fate, destiny, and other high-stakes spiritual consequences. If you’ve strayed too far from course, eclipses shove you back on your path. They accelerate timelines, perpetuate the inevitable, rearrange reality, and drag the deepest, darkest secrets out into the open."

Her advice not to do anything during eclipses actually runs through all branches of astrology, regardless of whether you have an Eastern or Western persuasion. Actual positions of lunar mansions can be controversial. Precession can be controversial. But the timings of all eclipses, new moons and full moons are never controversial.   

Derek Walters, a popular author on Chinese astrology, had this to say about eclipses:

"Towards the end of 1988, I was interviewed by a Hong Kong television company who asked me if I had any advice concerning the coming year. I said that anyone living in the San Andreas area should move. Shortly afterwards, there was a devastating earthquake in that region. In 1999, I was frequently asked what was the implication of the forthcoming total solar eclipse. I said, according to Chinese astrology, it meant the destruction of bridges. Later that year, because of the unrest in former Yugoslavia, bridges across the Danube, which lay in the path of the eclipse, were bombed by NATO forces, and a few days after the eclipse there was a mighty earthquake in Istanbul, which, astride the Bosporus, is traditionally regarded as the bridge between Europe and Asia."

Eclipses are not only karmic for individuals. It reflects karmic debt for countries as well as the entire human race. Our relationships with one another, the environment as well as our planet are all karmic in nature.

The best thing to "do" during this karmic period is shadow work. Do deep reflection. Re-evaluate your past. Realise your shortcomings. Be better.

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女宿: Girl Lunar Mansion

I previously mentioned that the Summer Triangle always takes centre stage in August which usually coincides with the 7th lunar month. What I didn't mention is that, according to 万年历 (Chinese 10,000 Year Calendar), the 7th day of 7th lunar month is always 房宿 (Room). Today is the 12th day and is always 女宿 (Girl), the constellation where 天津四 (Deneb) is located.

When you read the Chinese 10,000 Year calendar, do be careful. In the olden days, ancient people don't have the luxury of sophisticated calculators, computer software and internet technology that can churn out the exact locations of stars at the click of a few buttons. So they constructed a table that roughly matches a lunar mansion to an entire day:

You will notice that even though 牛宿 (Ox) is mentioned as one of the 7 lunar mansions belonging to '北方玄武' (Northern Tortoise), it does not represent any particular day in the above table. The reason is because certain constellations are larger than others. 'Ox' is a very small / narrow constellation and the Moon transits there only for a few hours. Hence it is integrated into 'Girl' and not considered as equally important. But we know that 河鼓二 (Altair) & 织女一 (Vega) are important bright stars, albeit inauspicious. Personally, I think at least a few hours should be dedicated to Ox in 万年历, if not an entire day.

[The above table is not the only version. There is at least one other version that includes Ox inside its calendar].

For manual tropical & sidereal calculations, the Moon's position is NOT fixed for any day in any lunar month. [It varies greatly in the lunar calendar due to leap months. It varies slightly in the solar calendar due to leap days / years.] For this year, it is @ 16 Capricorn for tropical & corresponds to 牛宿 (Ox). It's @ 21 Sagittarius for sidereal & corresponds to 箕宿 (Winnowing Basket).

Let's see what the 4 mansions mean:

Room: Auspicious day of the Rabbit, bringing prosperity to land. Wealth would fill the hills. Land and property bring happiness and health.

Girl: Auspicious day for celebration. Constructions would flourish. Suitable for marriages and burials. Land & property should be acquired.

Ox: Ox day brings few benefits. All construction and building activities would bring disaster. Use this day for burials and construction. Sell property & assets.

Winnowing Basket: Brings harm to both men and women. Official disputes and gossip would arise. All construction would be unprofitable. Marriage could lead to loneliness and an empty house.

[There are many different versions online regarding the actual current positions of the lunar mansions due to the precession of the equinoxes these few centuries. I personally use the Tropical version. This does not mean that other versions are not valid. Feel free to use whichever works for you.]

I am not suggesting that we don't follow 万年历. I think we should, but I also feel that in this internet age, we can afford to be more accurate. We must evolve.

That being said, the meaning behind these mansions and learning how to work with them are more important than locating their technical positions. 

A lot of research is done when it comes to the Sun signs along the solar ecliptic path, but I feel that not enough emphasis is given to the Lunar signs.

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Why is the 7th Day of the 7th Lunar Month Called '七夕'?

I won't repeat the information can be easily found about the Qi Xi Festival (7th Evening Festival). We know about the romance between the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, but some may not know that both are actually literal stars in the Northern Sky. Cowherd is Altair, and the Weaver Girl is Vega. They are separated by the Milky Way, and the star that serves as the bridge between both is Deneb. 

These 3 stars form what is called 'The Summer Triangle'. Altair is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila; Vega is the brightest in Lyra; Deneb is the brightest in Cygnus. All these are Greek names derived from Ptolemy (100 - 170 AD) & his predecessor, Hipparchus (190 - 120 BC), and Western astrology has adopted these Greek names.

If you are looking for a technical explanation, this youtube video is a good guide:

There are actually alternative Chinese names given to these Greek names as Chinese astrology largely developed independently from other forms. 

[Note: There was a brief period when Buddhist monk 一行 (Yi Xing) (683 - 727 AD) & Tang Dynasty Taoist alchemist 張果老 (Zhang Guo Lao) (601 - 735 AD) introduced 七政四馀 (7 Governors & 4 Residuals) to China. 七政四馀 is a mix of Chinese & Vedic astrology. It is believed that 紫薇斗数 evolved from 七政四馀.]

河鼓二 is Altair; 织女一 is Vega; 天津四 is Deneb.

All 3 stars are part of Chinese lunar mansions, which are simply another way of interpreting the shapes and patterns of the asterisms / constellations in the Northern Sky. 

 河鼓二 (Altair) is from 牛宿 (Ox mansion).

 织女一 (Vega) is also from 牛宿 (Ox mansion).

 天津四 (Deneb) is from 女宿 (Girl mansion).

Ox & Girl are located close to Capricorn and Aquarius, and the discrepancy is due to the angluar 'tilt' of the Earth's axis so that the Moon would traverse at a slightly different path from the solar ecliptic plane. This is an orbital inclination of 5.14 degrees.

The position of the Moon is different from year to year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. The reason is because it takes 27.3 days to revolve around the Earth. Currently the Moon is at 13 Scorpio. After sidereal adjustment, it is at 17 Libra. The Moon can be at Ox / Girl / Capricorn / Aquarius but only by coincidence. 

If you watch the above youtube video, you will notice that The Summer Triangle is always very close to the zenith in the Northern Sky during the month of August. This is true in August 2020, and it is also true in August 2025, which roughly coincides with the 7th lunar month. So the Chinese people knew that Ox & Girl would literally take centre stage during this time period, and dedicated one day to commemorate the occasion. I believe they chose the 7th day arbitrarily. 

Do take note. While 'Girl' (including Deneb) is generally auspicious, 'Ox' (including Altair & Vega) is considered inauspicious. Their presence in the centre of the Northern Sky should not be literally interpreted as a favourable day for romantic encounters.  

That being said, practising spirituality is best thing to do for the entire 7th lunar month, regardless of which Day Master you belong to in Bazi. Hence, 七夕贡案, or the Qixi Tribute, is a favourable ritual which involves the act of praying to the 7th Sister or the 7 Goddesses for romance luck & good 'weaving' abilities which, in modern days, can refer to any sort of technical skill involving the hands.

Surprisingly, the 7th day of the 7th lunar month is also the birthday of 魁星 or 魁斗星君 (Kui Dou Xing Jun), a deity who governs all academic / literary pursuits. One can pray to this deity on this day for wisdom in preparing for the exams.

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Why Is the 7th Month Called the 'Ghost' Month?

Today marks the 5th day of the 7th Lunar Month, which is also called the 'Ghost Month'. But what is the logic behind it? This is actually related to Feng Shui, the Chinese art of arranging living and working spaces.

The above diagram shows the '鬼门线' or 'line of the Ghost Doors', which passes through the North East 艮 (Gen) & South West 坤 (Kun) sectors of any flat. These are considered inauspicious positions. It is not recommended to build doors that open towards these directions. It is also not recommended for these sectors to be master bedrooms, kitchens, or have office / working tables. These sectors should remain static and movements should be minimised. 

These directions / sectors also indicate certain periods that are part of one entire year when the Sun revolves virtually around the Earth. In 奇门遁甲 (Qi Men Dun Jia), 死门 (Death Door) in its natal position resides in the 坤 (Kun) sector.

If you are able to read Chinese, the above picture actually mentions that the Death Door appears TWICE, one in the Kun palace and the other in the central 5 palace. According to '转宫法' (the Rotating Palace method), the central palace must remain empty, so the Death Door is 'pushed' into the Kun palace. So it's a double whammy. Death appears twice in Kun. Even if you subscribe to '飞宫法' (the Flying Palace method), Death Door appearing once is already bad enough.

Among all the doors, the Death Door in QMDJ is considered the most inauspicious. In the QMDJ sequence, the Fear Door is always followed by the Death Door, but the irony is, the Fear Door should not be feared as much as the Death Door. Perhaps there is a lesson to all this. Once you don't fear Death and accept the lessons that Death has to teach you, the Fear Door no longer needs to be feared. 

The Death Door (Kun) is represented by a time frame: from 立秋 until 秋分, which lasts 3 solar terms, from 申 Shen to the middle of 酉 You month if you use the Earthly Branches to calculate. This time period almost always coincides with the 7th lunar month, but its duration lasts longer - roughly 45 days - instead of roughly 30 days in a lunar month. 

We cannot immediately see that the Death Door in 坤 is related to 7th month as QMDJ uses 8 palaces. If we use the 12-palace theory, it becomes obvious.

There are 十二地支 or 12 Earthly Branches. If we count from the Earthly Branch 寅 Yin, 申 Shen is number 7. (Notice the similarity between 坤 & 申.) If we count from the Heavenly Stem 甲 Jia, 庚 Geng is also number 7. Regardless of which day master we belong to, we are told that 七杀 - the 7 Killing star - must be handled with care. Both stems are always of similar polarity and one fiercely attacks the other. That's why 7K is always associated with death.

There is an inauspicious QMDJ formation called '五不遇时' (5 Must Not Meet the Hour) and it is actually related to the 7 Killings Star. If you count the heavenly stems from 1 to 7, there are 5 heavenly stems in between. Based on Bazi, if the day master meets its 7K star at the hour stem, '五不遇时' is activated. It is recommended NOT to engage in any important activity as all consequences will be negative.

In 大六壬 (Da Liu Ren), the term '官鬼' (Officer Ghost) can be seen in 三传 (the 3 Transfers).  '官' is Direct Officer in Bazi. '鬼' is the 7 Killings star.

Conclusion: There is no need to be afraid of the 7 Killings star or the Ghost month but you do need to take certain precautions, especially if you are a weak 甲 Jia Day Master (based on Bazi) and 庚 Geng appears somewhere in your chart, particularly in the Hour Pillar. Keep a low profile. Practise spirituality. Do good deeds. 

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We Must Evolve Part 3

My last example is based on 紫微斗數 (Zi Wei Dou Shu). Ancient texts mention that 天同 (Tian Tong) or Heavenly Child, will be more beneficial for females than males. 

The reason is, the Tian Tong star is a passive, peach blossom star that has a tendency to be lazy and depend on benefactors to get by. She loves to play (like a child). For those who have never heard of this star, think of her as a more innocent, introverted version of the Greek Aphrodite. Tian Tong is milder, purer, naïve and optimistic, adopting a happy-go-lucky outlook. She is also known as a star of blessing and metaphysics, and a female with this star in her Life palace is said to prosper her husband. In other words, in a patriarchal society, she is the perfect wife.

On the other hand, if a male has Tian Tong in his Life palace, he will find it very hard to adapt as this star has ‘feminine’ traits. Men in the past were expected to rule their households, exhibit leadership qualities, be ambitious, capable and actively work hard. If a man has this star in a patriarchal society, he will be under pressure to be someone he is not. Conversely, a female with 紫微 (Zi Wei), or Emperor, and 杀破狼 (Sha-Po-Lang) in her Life palace will also be under the opposite pressure to be someone she is not. 

Our society must be better than that. We must allow a person to be who he or she really is.

In the olden days, women accept their lot in life despite their charts showing great potential. Take a female Tian Tong again for example. She has the fortune of marrying a rich and powerful general during the Han dynasty, who dotes on her and gives her everything she wants. She doesn’t need to do any household chores because the maidservant(s) do everything. Every day, she wakes up, puts on make-up, looks pretty and says a few endearing words to her husband. Then her husband happily goes to work. She has nothing left to do, so she goes shopping to buy clothes and cosmetics that make her look even more beautiful. When she reaches home, she reads some poetry while waiting for her husband. He comes home, and she gets ready to have a romantic evening with him after dinner. Rinse and repeat the next day. 

You can’t really blame her. She may not be really happy or fulfilled, but what to do? Many Tian Tong women are content to live in a patriarchal society because it allows them to be lazy and there is no need to prove themselves. They still get by, whether they do anything or not. So why do anything? 

Fast forward till today. Modern men are no longer so willing to pamper their wives. This is actually a good thing for women. They step up as they no longer have the excuse that they are Tian Tongs to justify their laziness. You don’t work, you won’t eat.

Some modern Tian Tongs, both male and female, tend to be more passive though. There are, however, other Tian Tongs who are successful and highly driven business owners. They understand their charts well, and find a way to evolve using their decade / annual luck.

Conclusion: We modern men may feel slightly insecure, even threatened by women who are more ambitious and competitive nowadays. But perhaps we can look at the issue another way. We men can, at last, be lazy and take the back seat without being criticised for not ‘being a man’. Let women have the right to take the initiative of inviting us out. Allow them to buy us dinner and stuff. And other more expensive things.

Another example: those of us who have more artistic traits can pursue our interests without our traditionally-inclined family members pointing fingers at us. Challenge them a bit. Who says that we men cannot be good at the languages and humanities? And who says that women cannot be good at maths and science too?

Gender stereotypes in the past restrict both men and women from what they want to be and who they are supposed to be. Our modern society corrects that. You have the freedom to choose. With the freedom comes the responsibility. (I know this is such a cheesy, cliché, overused Spiderman statement.) Men in the past were believed to be superior and had to work doubly hard to prove their superiority. Now this burden is gone. Men, pat yourselves on the back and congratulate yourselves. Everyone is on equal footing now. We are free to work hard, free to take a break, free to be competitive, free to be lazy.  

We rest to recuperate - and evolve - to go the longer distance. 

Laziness is not always a bad thing.

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We Must Evolve Part 2

「你们喃呒师傅负责超度先人，我们殡仪经纪负责超度活人.」

You priests transcend departed souls; we undertakers transcend their loved ones.

「不止死人要超渡，生人也需要破地狱，生人都有好多地狱.」

Not only do the dead need to transcend hell; the living need to break free too.

Being alive can be hell. 

I accidentally chanced upon ‘The Last Dance’, a 2024 Cantonese blockbuster featuring an elderly Taoist priest in Hong Kong who was estranged from his children. It featured some themes including sibling rivalry, the clash of faiths between the older & younger generation and the deeply-rooted discrimination of the religious patriarchy against the feminine. There was also a 50-year-old protagonist who had no choice but to drastically switch careers from being a wedding planner to a funeral planner. The struggles he had to overcome, the compromises he had to make, the new things he had to learn, all struck me deeply. 

There are a lot of old hierarchal religious structures that remain patriarchal till today, not just in Taoism but also in many other religions including Hinduism, Islam & Christianity. Some churches continue to insist that women should not speak in a church but remain submissive (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). Other churches play down the Bible verses and allow women to speak, but forbid them from becoming pastors. These regulations prevent women from expressing their faith confidently and contributing freely to the world.

God knows we need more women to step up, not just in the religious and spiritual spheres of influence, but also political, entrepreneurial and social. We men have messed up enough in many of these departments, especially political. 2 world wars and countless other conflicts including the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine have all been started by mainly men. Why not give women a chance?

I don’t want to come across as a male-hater. Yes, there are some evil women out there, and more than a few good men. All I’m saying is that we need to give good people more opportunities to shine, regardless of whether they are male or female.   

In astrology, all signs have a balanced mix between the masculine and feminine. For Western, 6 signs are masculine, 6 signs are feminine. For Chinese, there are 10 Heavenly Stems – 5 Yang, 5 Yin – and 12 Earthly Branches – 6 Yang, 6 Yin. All signs, stems and branches alternate between positive & negative. There is no superior sign or inferior sign. 

[There is one small exception in 奇門遁甲 (Qi Men Dun Jia), but the Heavenly Stem ‘Jia’ is not restricted to males only. ‘Jia’ can represent both male & female genders in a QMDJ chart. Some may contend that the 'Jia' being the first is evidence that the masculine is superior. But a deeper understanding of QMDJ will tell you that the system is not really meant to promote a patriarchal society but to protect what 'Jia' represents. It has nothing to do with masculinity.]

All signs exhibit the duality of human nature. We all need a balance of positive & negative in our lives.

I suspect this might be the main reason why we see a greater number of females who are either themselves astrologers or astrology enthusiasts. Some of them may have become disillusioned by the rigid patriarchy of mainstream religions. When they see the fair balance between the astrological signs, they intuitively know that this is what real spirituality should be like.

There is one small problem though. Even though all forms and branches of astrology imply there should be equality between genders, the earliest ancient astrologers were male.

Western astrology actually has its roots in Babylonian, Persian, Egyptian and arguably Vedic astrology, which in ancient times could only be understood by males who were educated enough. Chinese astrology largely developed on its own, but for a short period of time did try to incorporate Vedic astrology into its system. Similarly, the court astrologers in China were predominantly male, and even though Taoism’s central idea was the fair balance between Yin and Yang, women & their status took the back seat for a long time until only a century ago. 

 

This may surprise you, but there are some aspects in astrological interpretation that are also influenced by the patriarchy. For example, for Bazi, some ancient texts state that natives with all 4 Yang pillars are good, and natives with all 4 Yin pillars are evil. Others claim that a female with strong 7 Killing stars (七杀星) should not get married because she is a loose woman who kind of sleeps around and will either curse or dominate her husband. (In most ancient cultures, wives must submit to their husbands.) But there is no mention that she would have strong leadership skills or become an official because females by default were not even given a chance to go to school no matter how good their Bazi chart is. How can they be good leaders or officials if they are not even educated? 

There is a limit to what Bazi can see. If you are born a female in a patriarchal society, no matter how good your chart is, your chances are limited unless you move to another country that can give you more chances.    

I say this as a male. We must evolve and be better than this. Giving women equal opportunities motivates them to prove themselves. We men in turn will not take our own opportunities for granted, and will work harder to compete with the women who are given equal standing. The end result is a better society and a more efficient economy which benefits from healthy competition. 

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We Must Evolve Part 1

"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. 

It has been found difficult; and left untried." 

~~ G.K. Chesterton from 'What's Wrong With the World'

If Christianity has not been tried as much as it has been found wanting, then the same can be said about astrology, perhaps more so.

For mainstream, orthodox Christianity, everything you know about the religion is already either found in the scriptures or in tradition. Nothing more needs to be known. What you know just needs to be practised.

In astrology, there are 2 general schools of thought. The first is the traditional, closed one: we no longer need more stars beyond Saturn. What we have is enough to make accurate predictions. The second is the modern, open one: there are so many stars in the solar system and beyond. The universe is constantly expanding. Our knowledge is limited. We need to constantly learn and evolve to adjust to the changes we see around us.     

I am more sympathetic of the latter. To evolve, we must remain open.

Uranus, Neptune & Pluto are relatively new planets. There is still much research required to analyse how important these planets are and whether they really rule the signs they claim to rule.

When Uranus was discovered, Western astrologers knew that the age of Aquarius is imminent, so they conveniently matched Uranus to a new age of innovation, science & technology. 

When Neptune was discovered, they were surprised, but managed to match Pisces with it since it is the age that precedes Aquarius and we are not even sure if we have reached the end of the Pisces age yet.  

When Pluto was discovered, I think everyone was stumped. They could have matched Aries with it because it follows the natural anti-clockwise sequence and is also associated with violence and destruction. But instead, they chose the other sign that Mars rules: Scorpio. Is this arbitrary? Maybe not. I've come up with a reason behind it, but it is my theory only. I have not come across this theory in any book I read. It is just the result of my deep reflection.

As you can see in the above diagram, Scorpio always trines Pisces and squares Aquarius. Its aspect with Pisces is smoother, easier to manifest and positive. However, its aspect with Aquarius is challenging, harder to manifest and negative. 

In other words, Scorpio tries to 'quicken' Pisces to spirituality, universal compassion and intuition, represented by the age of Christianity and the concept of 'Fishers of Men'. On the other hand, it tries to 'impede' Aquarius, slowing down the Innovation of Science & Technology.

I personally think there is an important message here. If we don't have the moral fortitude to deal with weapons of mass destruction, it is better not to develop them further.

The 3 outer planets warn us of the dangers, as well as the hopes, of the present age and the age to come.

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