Here We Are Again!

Here we are again! Try saying that out loud in different cadences and tones. Make it sound celebratory or mournful. Energized or exhausted. Comedic or tragic. You can hear in your voice that it’s a fine line, right?*

One more trip around the sun. Here we are again where the daphne is just starting to bloom.

Unthinkingly, I neglected to water my Yuletide camellia (which is just outside of the window where I usually write) this fall and so there are no flowers. It really bothers me. I’ve tried keeping the curtain closed so I can’t see it, but it’s so dark at this time of year that letting the light in is preferable even with the disappointment. On the bright side, I’ve accomplished more this year than I have in some time and so a few things have fallen by the wayside. Yang and yin.

It’s that time of year where we do the counting up. What goals did we accomplish last year? Or perhaps more in sync with our current state as a nation, what were the failures? As a culture we’re good at tooting our horns, but not at celebrating our achievements privately – for our private selves. We also dislike acknowledging our failures. Americans like to emphasize the surface. At my house we call it the Narrative. The Narrative doesn’t include emotional disclosure. If my meaning is unclear look to our current President for an example of living the Narrative.

“I don’t like to analyze myself because I might not like what I see.”
Donald Trump 2014

That’s quite a deep and honest statement coming from him, don’t you think? It reminds me of a woman I knew who actually stopped wearing glasses at the point in her life where she didn’t want to see the outcome of her choices any more. No matter if she couldn’t drive ever again. As Dr. Phil would say: how’s that working for you?

This time of year is also where we set goals for the coming time cycle whether that’s a month, three months, a year or an even longer period. Everyone has the most goals in January. The list diminishes as the priorities of the year emerge. Aspirations are like the seed in the wet, cold ground; just waiting for the right moment to push through the surface. Some seeds won’t make it and others will emerge too weak. If you’ve ever planted seeds you’ll know that it’s a good idea to plant 20 when you want 10 good healthy plants. The caveat is you can’t hold back on thinning them out or they’ll choke each other. Yin and yang.

Speaking of thinning them out, this coming year of the Dog has been on my mind. The phrase that comes to mind is “culled from the herd”.

Every time I see one of those wildlife shows where an animal is hunted down by a predator I think of that phrase “culled from the herd”. I have the same response with those ubiquitous commercials on television, especially during the winter holidays, where they show dogs, cats and other animals that have been tortured in various ways by humans in order to solicit donations. I cannot watch that stuff without crying. I can’t go to animal shelters either because I feel like I need to adopt all of the animals. I’m that “emo” (as my kids would say).

While 2018 is not going to be that grim, there will be breakups, stoppages, bullies and the bullied. A feeling of restlessness might even make these ideas attractive. For many of us this year may be about a separation from others. If that is so, it is also true that it is about uniting with others. Yang and yin.

How the year of the Dog manifests for you will be related to the presence and particular position of the Sheep, Ox or Dragon in your chart. For example, if it’s in the month pillar it may be about the job or workplace. If it is about work, consider that maybe now is the time to go for the career you really want rather than settling for the one you have. How the situation plays out is up to you.

I recommend taking the approach of the Dragon. Be magical. Rather than choosing one of your tried and true solutions, come up with an approach that is different than what you would normally do – it might even be the opposite. If thinking outside of the box is not your strength, align yourself with someone who seems to find success in disregarding or changing the rules. Try envisioning the outcome you want, however unlikely or outrageous, and trace your steps backwards to see how you got there. You might be surprised at what you can come up with.

*Tip of the hat to Dan Leno and Peter Ackroyd’s Limehouse Golem

Harvey Weinstein : Release the Hounds

Let’s take a look at the Ba Zi of Harvey Weinstein. He was born March 19, 1952 in Queens, NY. His birth time is unknown but I have estimated it to be the hour of the Horse.

As you read through this analysis please keep in mind that how all of this plays out is much more about choice than fate.

Mr. Weinstein is a very strong Yang Wood person born in a Water Dragon year with all of the male potency and thrusting type energy of the Wood element. You’ll see his Day Stem (self) marked in red on his chart. The Wood element here is so strong that early pruning, by which I mean the intervention of the Metal element in his youth, would have been a great benefit.

My question is: Since the Metal element often is represented by the Father, where was his? Harvey himself speaks as if he and his brother were raised solely by their mother when the fact is his father was still alive when Harvey was in his twenties. How does a mother treat children whose father is absent? What is there to be said about choosing a partner who will be an absent father?

In elemental terms, Metal is exhausted by Water. Maybe his father stayed away to avoid Harvey’s tumultuous emotions. Because there is an abundance of the Water element in Harvey’s chart that tells me he is intelligent, deeply emotional and has strong sexual desire. Don’t take this as an excuse for his bad behavior but the sheer amount of water would be difficult to control, just like a flood. Ironically, the Metal element which would promote constraint, can also increase the Water.

Harvey lacks self control or discipline until he reaches his 50s, which is probably when he started stalking, terrorizing and manipulating his victims. He is so far out of balance that this is how he would perceive the idea of self-discipline. Instead of keeping his hands, etc. to himself Mr. Weinstein tries to take control by keeping his assaults hidden from the public eye.

For most of his life he has had really good luck. From his year you can see he’s a risk taker. From his month you can tell he sees himself as a great romantic, however, this applies to his work environment as opposed to his marriage type relationships. For many years he probably thought his charming nature would always keep his victims from blowing the whistle on him. How could anyone really be mad at such a great guy

In his day pillar he has the “groping hands” ch’i called Loy Hong Yim Sat, but also Yute Duk – a type of lunar related, feminine energy which enables him to survive disasters. Go figure. I’d say this is related to his mother, but more on that later.

To top it all off, his day pillar also asserts that his sexual escapades will be made public – more so in a Rooster year. Still, his natal chart has the solution to his problems built in because of the presence of the Dragon. His punishment will probably not fit his crimes. It’s the timing of the Rooster and the Dog that brings in his current bad luck. It looks like the Dragon may save his bacon once again – this time from the Dog.

This is a chart where the Dragon plays a very important role, and the part of the Dragon is played by Harvey’s mother Miriam. You see, because of the month he was born in, the sign of the Dragon gives him a sort of magical protection from the problems he would have without it. His mother is the person whom he saw as keeping him out of trouble. He speaks of his anger management issues and going to therapists in a New York Magazine article (from 2003? 2004?) saying:

Of course, they always ask me about my mother, Miriam. And the trick about Miriam is, my brother and I love her. She was widowed maybe 30, 40 years ago, so we grew up, you know, with Mom. She was incredibly supportive and tough on the both of us. She’s still, you know, the one person you, we have to toe the line with, you know”.

The relationship of the Rat and Rabbit in his chart makes me think that he came to disregard his mother’s teachings and influence and he thought he could keep it a secret from her. Miriam Weinstein died in November of 2016 by the way, before her son’s scandalous behavior came to light. I don’t see this as a coincidence. Her death meant that Harvey’s brakes were off and his reckoning was on the way.

In 2017 the Dragon in his year is compromised by the Rooster, bringing out the Metal element to correct Mr. Weinstein. The Rooster also creates a clash with the Rabbit in his month stimulating the women he molested to speak up. #metoo And – Harvey has been in a 10 year period of Rooster energy which heightened his nastiness and made it public.

The clash of Rabbit and Rooster has been present for everyone during 2017, bringing trust issues, questions of loyalty and sexual jealousy. This has come up as a theme in every Ba Zi I’ve read this year. As for 2018, it will be a Dog year, and when it comes to the Rabbit the Dog is on her side every time. I’m hoping that this will bring some justice for the women involved but not optimistic.

Finally, the role of the Dog in Harvey’s chart is to bring more Fire element which relates to fame. In his case the fame turns to infamy. Mr. Weinstein’s widespread abuse of women came to light in October of 2017 which is a Metal Dog month in a Rooster year. This was the beginning of his fall from grace. Most likely though, Harvey has been at it at least since 1970, a Metal Dog year. That may be the true beginning of the problem.

The energy of the Metal Dog is fierce, protective and will bite – something like good cop/bad cop. Which one will it be? Mr. Weinstein’s next luck pillar is also a Metal Dog and it will begin in 2019 so I’m guessing we won’t see him going to trial before then.

Empty Nested Phoenix, Itchy Footed Dragon

One of the traditional ways to make predictions about the coming year is to look at past years that share the same animal branch. The Dog is what is called an Earth branch. The branch is to the year as a flavor is to ice cream. Each year branch has its own particular taste, texture and consistency. The stems would be the topping that gives the nuance to the sundae. To continue with this metaphor, there are 5 possible stems (or toppings) which correspond to the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. 2018 is an Earth Dog year; a sundae consisting of Earth topped by Earth.

Given that 2018 will be a Dog year and there are 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals, you can subtract 12 if you want to know when the last Dog year occurred. That would be 2006 which was a Fire Dog year.

What were you doing then?

I moved house in 2006 with my husband and these two cuties:

August 2006

I try to deny my nostalgia* but the Dog brings it out in me. I have a distinct memory of the day that photo was taken – as if it just happened. But it’s 12 years down the road and my daughter Ella is out of state attending Cal Poly. My son Joe is going through the college application process and will most likely be leaving as soon as next summer to study Arabic in Morocco. This is a time for endings to make way for beginnings. My career as a stay-at-home mom is almost over. I feel privileged, and grateful to my husband Peter, that I was supported in my commitment to our family.

In 2006, my husband Pete and I were both feeling restless. We explored remodeling the house we were living in. We thought about moving to Bainbridge Island. Then we decided wanted to stay in the same neighborhood but live in a different house. We took our children out of private school and put them into public school. Those are just some of the big changes we made that year.

I can feel that same restlessness returning as we ease towards 2018, but it’s much stronger this time. To use the Chinese terms for it, I’ve got chang sang and yik ma under my Big Fate. Don’t worry I’m not contagious and it will pass, but for now it’s extremely uncomfortable – which I see as a message that change is needed.

Actually these words come from Ba Zi analysis and chang sang is a kind of rebirth while yik ma means unsettled or “time to move”. As to the Big Fate part, that means I’m in the midst of a 10 year period of this type of energy. I find it difficult to sit down. Sleep is more of a challenge than usual.

Studying Chinese Metaphysics has given me a clarity that confers an unexpected power on my choices. I don’t have to move if I don’t want to. As a Feng Shui professional, I could take measures at home to alleviate this urge to be in constant motion, but I don’t really want that. I am ready for a new phase and I see my discomfort as a reminder that change is how I’m going to get from here to where I want to be. It’s actually pretty good timing which is mostly what luck is about.

What I’m not saying is that my choice to just live with this stir-crazy feeling is the “right” one. If you were in my shoes you might want to choose differently. I respect that. I can help.

Feng Shui and Ba Zi are meant to be tools to help us navigate both good and bad times. Being stuck means you have time to consider deeply what you really want. That’s one of the reasons you might want to book a Ba Zi reading; to see how the influences of timing and your current choices are lining up with your heart’s desire.

*The word nostalgia comes from the Greek language: nostos meaning “a return home” and algos meaning “pain of body or mind”. Something like homesickness.

error: Content is protected !!