The Anatomy of a Pillar

How the Stems and Branches Pair to Form Pillars

If you are new to Ba Zi, also known as Chinese Astrology, this is some very basic information to get you started. One of the names used for this system is Four Pillars of Destiny.

The Four Pillars are derived from a person’s birth information: year, month, day, time. Each pillar is made up of a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch. Each pillar is a shorthand description of a type of process or potential.

The Heavenly Stems are on the top of a pillar, while the Earthly Branches are on the bottom. Let’s use the Water Monkey pillar as an example.

When we say “Water Monkey” we are talking about Ren (yang Water) over Monkey (yang Metal).

yang Water
Monkey

The polarity, meaning yin or yang, of stem and branch must match. There is no yin Water Monkey. Since Monkey is yang Metal, the stem has to be yang too.

Each of the six yang branches (Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Dog) pairs with any of the 5 yang stems. For example, there are five possible Monkeys. This is true for every yang branch.

yang Wood yang Fire  yang Earth  yang Metal yang Water
Monkey Monkey  Monkey  Monkey Monkey

When we say Water Rooster, we are talking about yin water (Gui) over Rooster (yin Metal).

yin Water
Rooster

Because the polarity of stem and branch must match, there is no yang Water Rooster. Since Rooster is yin metal, the stem has to be yin too.

Each of the six yin branches (Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Sheep, Rooster, Pig) pairs with any one of the five yin stems. For example there are five possible Roosters.

yin Wood yin Fire yin Earth yin Metal yin Water
Rooster Rooster Rooster Rooster Rooster

Following this logic, there are 60 pillars in a cycle that repeats infinitely. These 60 pillars begin with Wood Rat and end with Water Pig.

12 Animal Fortunes for the Metal Monkey Month

Metal Monkey 庚申 Month
August 8th 03:16-September 8th 06:38

Here are the Animal Fortunes for the month of the Metal Monkey. To get the most out of the fortunes you’ll want to know all four of your pillars which are based on your birth date and time.

If you don’t know them just ask! Each of the four animals of your BaZi correlates with an aspect of your life.

Year Pillar
Has to do with your physical body and what you do with it, ancestors, family traits. In terms of luck the year pillar is said to take the first “hit” of any event, good or bad.

Month Pillar
Relates to career, work environment, training, age mates and peers, siblings, exes and your modus operandi

Day Pillar
Yourself and true partner; your immediate environment and home life.

Hour Pillar
Your innermost self, your children, future, hopes and dreams.

The Fortunes

Monkey
Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Month: August roughly.
Friends arrive. Is it finally time to play again? I’m declaring that it is – for you. Maybe you’ve been too serious for too long.
Hint: It made sense then, but this is now.

Rooster
Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
Month: September roughly.
Don’t worry so much about cutting things/people off. Many a Rooster’s dream is to have a henchman but they would probably be better served by a friend with big shoulders.
Hint: It will be hard for them to resist you too.

Dog
Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
Month: October roughly.
Taking a deep drink of destiny. You’ve got a lot of work to do for the next two months. Your helpers have their own concerns. Start setting your boundaries now if you haven’t already done so.
Hint: Gutting it out is probably not the way to go.

Pig
Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1994, 2007, 2018, 2030
Month: November roughly.
Maybe you’re feeling like the year is already over but I’m here to tell you not to sit on the bench just yet. There’s some kind of reparation to receive.
Hint: Consider engaging an expert for advice.

Rat
Years: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Month: December roughly.
A fresh start. You have some special privileges this month thanks to your associates. I recommend you use them to extend that luck into the future.
Hint: Stock up on resources. Work on your health. Learn something new.

Ox
Years: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Month: January roughly.
Good timing to offer new services, take brief work assignments. Your work is likely to very public so if you’re not used to that, get used to it.
Hint: It may be hard not to run away from so much talking and stimulation. You got this.

Tiger
Years: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Month: February roughly.
The changes come hard and fast opening space and exposing your true form. Ouch. Don’t expect to be in control. You’ll see the beauty in it later.
Hint: What you can do is take care of your health.

Rabbit
Years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
Month: March roughly.
Let yourself be guided by a trusted source. That might be a person or something intangible. Don’t worry too much about naming it as long as you’re working for the good.
Hint: This is your break from being the boss.

Dragon
Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Month: April roughly.
Special month for Dragons to focus on whatever you want to succeed. It probably has to do with your talent or work which you usually do solo.
Hint: The success comes with the help of associates. Let it happen.

Snake
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Month: May roughly.
If Monkey is in charge of Rabbit, who is secretly in charge of the Monkey? You see these patterns right? Of course you do, you’re a Snake.
Hint: You’re the boss of the boss’s boss. Keep it to yourself and reap what you can.

Horse
Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Month: June roughly.
Heading back to the track for a few races. You see the potential success is pretty big. Don’t forget the timing means this is a brief opening.
Hint: You might be the pacer. That would be new wouldn’t it?!

Sheep
Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
Month: July roughly.
Back in the support role for now, this month may be best spent on domestic matters in preparation for November. What will you be doing then? Travel?
Hint: There’s more fun to come – later.

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