Author: Stephanie Stewart

The Horse in 2021 ~ Metal Ox Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Horse?

Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002.
Month*: June
Hour: 11 am – 13.00
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Horse?

The Horse is yang Fire: the charmer, the extrovert, the seducer of the Zodiac, the Horse is rarely caught out despite his high-risk strategy. He has an ego of course but is better able to laugh at himself than for instance the Dragon. Like the Dragon, the Pig and the Rooster though, he can not generally work with his own kind. The typical Horse is not a deep thinker and his ego can lead him to suppose that no one else is either. Brexit mastermind David Cameron, born in the Fire Horse, may be a good example.

There tends to be a belief in shortage at work in the Horse. She thinks he must be the first to the trough if they are to eat. In romance the Horse like the Rooster, can be what Leonard Cohen called “a thin gypsy thief”. This means his weakness can be a failure to respect boundaries and property. Of all the animals, the Horse and Rooster are typically the marriage breakers and the home wreckers. This is not inevitable of course. If we know this about ourselves we can make wiser choices. Just because today is a good day to die, it is not necessarily a good day to kill.

Predictably the Horse is often not great at commitment. The yin and yang of this by the way is that a self-aware Horse is the most constant partner there is; an endangered species by the way.

Success matters a great deal to the Horse. He is not generally subtle. It is the winning not the taking part that tends to concern him.

The ever-fiery Horse is not keen on Water and especially her diametric opposite the Rat. He experiences this element whether expressed as a Rat year, excessive communication or actual Water as a dampener of enthusiasm. Water slows him down but does not halt him.

Interestingly the Horse’s charisma is best expressed either in a team with the other Plum Flowers, Rat, Rabbit and Rooster or in a pair with the Sheep. You will often find Sheep and Horse out and about together, the Horse radiating charm and the Sheep reflecting it. This actually is a good partnership; the Sheep is in awe of the sheer daring of the Horse and the reckless Horse may often need grounding, safety and a short term loan. Horse places the drinks order for his audience and the Sheep pays the tab.

In the Beatles Paul McCartney was the pr man but the corresponding long-suffering Sheep was George not John or Ringo, both wilful Metal Dragons. Now there’s a key; perhaps we can all let Linda and Yoko off the hook now!

The Horse’s home team all of whom have fire in common, is with the Tiger and the Dog. These are the hunters of the Zodiac: the Tiger kills, the Horse chases, the Dog guards. This support system is the most likely to bring the Horse rewards. On his own he is prone to burn brightly and extinguish early. He’ll have a good time though.

The Horse finds the Ox hard work also. There is metal hidden in the Ox which the Horse can turn to his advantage but the Ox’s preferences are often humdrum to him.

The Horse has visual, imaginative and intellectual gifts but is unlikely to value them enough to put them to good use. So many of the words we use about the virtue of work illustrate the unwillingness of the Horse to stick at things: harness, yoke, saddle, blinker etc. Again the yin and yang is that a Horse once-committed, never quits – think Boxer in Animal Farm.

A Horse who works with a Snake may achieve greatness because the Snake understands the Horse just as she understands the Dragon; the Snake is smart enough not to compete. In many ways the Snake is the perfect partner but it is more likely the Snake will recognise this than the Horse.

The Snake suffers in the short term and the Horse in the long. Racing, partying, playing, the danger is burn out. The challenge for Horses far and wide is to defer gratification long enough that there remains a future.
Richard Ashworth © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Horse in 2021

If you’re reading this that means you made it through the year of the Metal Rat. Phew! Horses who are emboldened by that might think they can foresee anything now. Nobody can do that.

I know you’re feeling exhausted and yet, the Metal Ox is fertile with creativity and new beginnings for you. If only the pace wasn’t so slow.

Horses are ready ahead of time, as usual, to start new projects and take on new assignments in 2021, but the road ahead is not clear until summer comes. You know there’s no time that’s absolutely perfect for anything but some are better than others. Do you want more independence? Spontaneity? I’m not saying it’s going to be an easy time but in 2021 you’ve got something like a passport. To use it, slow down and proceed with caution. Have a plan.

Horses are wanting to go out on their own. You’re ready to step onto the stage but the audience has not yet arrived. What do performers do in this time? Warm up. Limber up. Keep yourself ready to go on. Line up the preparations with your budget. Most of what you will be doing is in 2021 will be DIY. Make your own infrastructures to support what you do. There are audiences that care and audiences that don’t care. Which ones are you going to cultivate?

I cried for you. Now it’s your turn to cry over me.
Recorded in 1936 (Fire Rat year) by Gene Austin

In relationship you’re tired of feeling like you always come in second place. Are you feeling like your partner is holding you back in some way? Is there truly freedom in being alone with your audience as you envision? The Sheep is already likely to be rejected this year or at least made to feel that way. Will you be part of that? It may be time to leave some things behind, but you don’t have to embarrass yourself. Or maybe you do. Is that the sacrifice you think you have to make to pay for wanting to be free?

If you look at the Cycle of 12 in years, being in the Ox year means it’s the last third of winter. Three years of Water is bound to wear a Horse out. The earth of the Ox will become more fertile when you apply your Fire to it, so muster what you have. Be selective in who you work and partner with. Look for more than desire. It could be a hard landing if you commit to the wrong boss or partner, and a blow for your reputation.

Whatever uphill battle you’ve been fighting in 2020 (health related?) you’ve likely already gone beyond the worst of it. You’re recovering but don’t push it. Keep adding new healthy routines.

Horses generally don’t want to invite being depended upon. Don’t forget you’re not the only one who feels that way. In 2021 family and relationship bonds may feel weak. If you think that’s the case, get up to date with the people that matter to you. You can make the bonds strong again if you’re brave enough. You can make whatever choice you like.

February Decisions you made in 2010 resurface; it’s not the first time but it may be the last. This month will be a precursor to 2022
March A burst of optimism could lead to over spending. Money may begin to go out more than it comes in.
June Don’t overdo, especially when it comes to food, drink, partying, working, exercising. If you adopted healthier habits in 2020, add more. Don’t be greedy. Leave something for the next person. Get head out of clouds.
July There’s someone to help you clean up the mess you might have made in June. Are you aware that they need your help more than you need theirs?
October This may be the most helpful month of 2021 for you. Get enough warmth and light and you find more clarity of vision in your work. Keep the faith.
December  If you experienced ill health in 2020 you may find it flaring up again temporarily. Seek Fire.

Horses to Watch
1966 Fire Horses: Christine Blasey Ford, David Cameron
1954 Wood Horses: Oprah Winfrey, Tina Knowles
1942 Water Horses: Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell
1990 Metal Horses: Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson

©Stephanie Stewart 2021

The Snake in 2021 ~ Metal Ox Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Snake?

Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001.
Month*: May
Hour: 09:00 am – 11.00am
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Snake?
The Snake is yin Fire and sits between the Horse and the Dragon, possibly the most powerful pair of animals in the Zodiac and certainly among the most difficult stools to fall among. So a typical weakness of the Snake is indecision. Next to that is lack of commitment and finally a propensity for sudden and uncharacteristic dishonesty. The Snake is the prisoner who breaks at the threat of torture; a reasonable decision if you know you’re going to give in anyway btw.

There are perhaps old souls and younger souls. The younger Snake often has a vivid imagination and an inconsistent relationship with the truth; the older Snake may treat Truth as sacred. And Snakes being of Candle Flame Fire, can be easily discouraged. Sometimes they should be actually. Some Snakes stick long term with an inappropriate choice so as to put off making any choice at all.

The most written about Snakes in 2021 are apt to include Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. Xi, born in 1953, the year of the Snake in the Grass and appointed at a time when the internal tensions in China – between efficiency and self-expression, between industrial wealth and rural poverty and between cohesion and corruption – had never been so stark. Never question his sincerity – he means what he says – but he is likely, like his near-twin Tony Blair, to believe that the more he is opposed by those whose beliefs conflict with his own, the more right he must be. For both of these, dictatorship – that is tianming the Mandate of Heaven – is the preferable regime because the Snake can so often not tell the difference between their viewpoint and the absolute. This is perhaps the mark of the young soul.

Older souls may include 2020 Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. Born a Metal Snake in 1941, his bluntness is typical of the mature or balanced Snake. A spade for him is not a manually-operated digging instrument but a spade.

Typically, squeezed between the two, the choice for the Snake is between opposites: the extroversion of the Horse and the subtlety of the Dragon, instinct and logic, process and end product, long and short term, relationship and freedom, employment or entrepreneurship. In the face of this dilemma, a balanced Snake will often develop sufficient charm to get through without having to make the hard decisions.

Typically the Snake of either gender is not the decision maker in relationship. When they marry a Pig this is doubly so; the power of the Pig’s uncertain yin Water may precisely match the delicate yin Fire of the Snake, often making for stand-offs and provisional decisions. Those the Snake has not made may include the one to be committed to the relationship. The partner of the Snake (best choice probably Ox or Rooster though Monkey lady and Snake man works well) would be well-advised to drag at least this minimum communication from the Snake early on. Interestingly Snakes can despite all this be among of the best makers and keepers of relationship of all 60 Animals. But they sure can make it hard for themselves.

One of the advantages of being between the autocratic Dragon and the unruly Horse is that the Snake has her ego in check. Many would consider her wise because what she has to say is well-considered and she never says too much. The Snake can be a brilliant collaborator, especially with the Ox and the Rooster who are in a sense similar to her neighbours: the Rooster is blatant (much like the irrepressible Horse) and the Ox determined (like the heads-down Dragon) while the Snake anchors them to each other. There may be moments of doubt when the Snake’s loyalty wavers. At such times, the Snake asks searching questions which should have been settled long ago and then usually re-commits. The high minded Brutus was probably a Snake. Not Judas though. To know this, grants the Snake both power and integrity. Snakes who know this about themselves earn undying trust.

The Snake can also work with the Dragon in what is called the House of Magic#. Only she can subordinate her ego to the extent that the Dragon demands while also keeping up. An ideal Snake vocation is high-level p.a. Usually (and wisely) the Snake opts to be No 2 rather than Big Chief.

The Snake often has the intellectual and visual gifts of Fire. She makes a good critic as her judgement is sound and she is not out to destroy egos. She will generally have natural and effortless style too.

On the other hand the Snake has a love-hate relationship with the Monkey. Both have hands-on and logical ability and both attract occasional tussles but where the Monkey welcomes an opportunity for mischief, the Snake treats dispute as a regrettable evil. When a Tiger appears in such a form as a Tiger-born person or a Tiger month (February), this misunderstanding can turn nasty. In a Dog year like 2018 it’s plain sailing, in an Ox Year such as 2021 – when the Monkey is for the second consecutive year, favoured – more complex. If there are Monkeys in your friend group, seek them out and try to find common ground. They may save you when the chips are down.

The Snake is opposed to the Pig and as both are members of the informal group sometimes called the Four Terminals#, they can impede each other’s movement. Snakes may develop mobility issues in a Pig year and vice versa.

The Snake prefers a short menu and yes/no questions. In a Rat year their yin Fire may be baffled by the width of choice represented by yang Water. It’s possible that the Snake’s dreams will come true only for her to sprint in the opposite direction. Deep communication often has to be wrenched from the Snake and in the Water years of Rat and Pig there is little support for the tight-lipped. In the Ox year that follows, expect just enough Water but not too much. This makes scope for the restricted level of communication the Snake prefers.

Final health note: Snakes have a complex relationship with Fire. They are not usually sun-worshippers but often their skin needs just a little regular sun and without it they may fall prey to easily avoided ailments such as vitamin D deficiency. Caution!
Richard Ashworth © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info

# These terms are the brain children of the man who first introduced me to the Chinese Zodiac, Derek Walters, still the only Western authority respected to any degree in Asia. I sometimes tell my students that of the many thousands of books written on Chinese Astrology in the West, 99% are either nonsense or derived from Derek’s The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology. Or both.

The Snake in 2021

You’re tempted by what is shiny, but don’t take the prize if it’s not for investigative reporting. Surrender to a higher power to reap the biggest reward, or just act like there is one watching. Your own truth telling power runs deep, but it’s also volatile and prone to turn in unexpected ways when you don’t respect it.

In 2021 Snakes may have a deep running feeling of impatience, even anger, thinking about what you could be doing if things were “normal”. It may have you questioning what you would be willing to sacrifice to push goals along. You are already quite fortunate. Why push it?

In the year of the Metal Ox, it’s not really that surprising that the Snake would be so lucky. First off, you are a member of the Metal Triad Snake-Rooster-Ox. You’ve already got a relationship with the people who will call the shots in 2021. They will look to you for information. Be honest. Not wanting to be the bearer of bad news is no excuse for spinning. Just tell the truth.

The Snake is often the sign of a politician and you were meant to persuade. You can get away with a lot, however, sticking to facts will better serve your future plans and endeavors. 2022 is a Tiger, let us not forget.

If Snake is your month of birth, you can expect to feel more optimism than is your wont. That will be emphasized in March. Enjoy!

If you’ve got a Water Snake pillar in your BaZi you may find you have the capacity to keep tabs on what is meant to go unseen and you’ve the means to put a stop to any sort of harmful nonsense. The Rooster could use your reassurance about this. We all could to be honest.

Fire is not strong in 2021, so you’re going to need to rely on the breaks you have and the ones you can create. You have the advantage in February and August when it comes to the Fire Penalty, this year it seems to bring more opportunities for you. This may sound contradictory, but in May you will need to take extra care with fire: candles, incense, fireplace, campfire, smoking…This applies to Snake children too. Keep an eye on them.

You’re naturally attracted to your resource, Wood, but this year it’s weak too, meaning the kind of classes you want to take may not be available. There will be few opportunities for training or other education except in August. It’s your hard work that will certainly get the recognition it deserves this year. Focus on that.

Direct your work towards your purpose consciously or you may find you don’t have enough to do. What is it you’re working on that you feel you never have enough time to pursue? This is probably the year to put as much focus as you can on that. Your actions are going to have a set and long-term outcome. May will be a good month to set things in motion, mostly by watching and observing. You’ll want to know what might get in your way.

Other than January, May, September and November it could be a pretty quiet year. If you are wishing for something, anything to happen, be specific instead. Know what you are asking for and how it might happen.

I put a spell on you
Because you’re mine
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (1929 Earth Snake)

If you’re ready to rebrand, that’s what May and June are for. Do it sooner if you can. If you’ve been in error, own it and apologize. Change your position publicly. You can count on people recognizing and accepting your changes this year. Follow through by way of your future actions. Don’t blow your chance for amnesty by making false confessions.

Your friend/ex the Monkey could use your assistance in August. One of you may be looking for a place to belong, the other for advice. This is familiar ground for you. Keep an eye out for the Rooster who may need a nudge in the right direction in September. Support the culture that supports you.

January Complete anything lingering from 2020 now.
March Sunny prospects. Go for it.
May, June Rebrand
September Last chance for rebranding.
November Could be issues with housing.

Snakes to Watch
1977 Fire Snakes: Fiona Apple, Zak Bagans
1965 Wood Snake: JK Rowling, Brett Kavanaugh, Bob Ferguson
1941 Metal Snake: Bernie Sanders

©Stephanie J Stewart 2021

The Dragon in 2021 ~ Metal Ox Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Dragon?

Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000.
Month*: April
Hour: 07.00 am – 09.00
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Dragon?

The Dragon is yang earth, the most egotistical of the branches as well as perhaps the most powerful. Putting aside conventional rules of animal compatibility, many of us are either fascinated by the Dragon or suspicious. Or both. Shameless mischief-maker Vladimir Putin and Trump tribute act Boris Johnson are Dragons. So however is Marianne Williamson, whose Presidential bid may be over but whose influence will only grow. It was she who wrote Nelson Mandela’s mantra:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are weak. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful
beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.”

These are powerful people. The Dragon is not however always issued with a moral compass.

The Dragon is just as charming and affable as (s)he feels like being at any given time, but like the Pig, the Horse and the Rooster, they suffer the self clash which makes them unsuited to working with their peers. Dragons often live alone and enjoy their own company. Sometimes they claim to even when they don’t. Often what he experiences as joy is a subtle experience that others find puzzling. The Horse for instance who likes to dance on tables, may consider the Dragon a high maintenance prima donna. Even the his ally the Monkey, contrasts his own goonish delights with the impassive Dragon and can make no sense of it.

And yet the Dragon delivers. Sometimes awkward and gauche, the Dragon can appear incompetent and yet still win. Steadfast Dogs whose workings lead to a logical answer detest this about the Dragon and may sabotage him. Put simply the Dog thinks the Dragon goes on a bit. The Ox and the Sheep share something of this attitude but are more passive about it. If you are a Dragon, know this: you are likely to induce jealousy. However gracious you are, they know the level of your self-esteem.

The Chinese ideogram for thunder is a Dragon under a raincloud. And all over the world rainclouds speak of plenty; drenched is good if you’re looking for growth. The Dragon month is April, the time of sudden change. Dragon times are the tense moments before a storm breaks.

The Dragon does not naturally co-operate or easily share confidences. He will however grudgingly work with those he considers his inferiors as long as they are very clear about the pecking order. This is the central weakness of the unbalanced Dragon. King Lear was a Dragon, probably Sersei in Game of Thrones too where Othello (and Jamie Lanister) may have been a Tiger and Hamlet probably a Snake.

The Dragon’s traditional partners are the hands-on Monkey and the plotting Rat although these three may not mix socially. They need a task to cooperate upon, otherwise they find it hard to connect. Socially the Dragon will seek out the Rooster and the Horse both of whom can act as pr or spokesperson. Alone or teamed-up, the Dragon is just as creative as he wants to be. He can magic up wealth and as rapidly squander it. Neither Horse nor Rooster are much help to them in this regard although a benevolent Rat and a diligent Monkey can be.

The Dragon and the Snake form the House of Magic#. The Dragon is the Sorceror, the Snake his apprentice. So Merlin was a Dragon and his story illustrates the other central weakness of the Dragon: that he can be beguiled by the glamour of the Rooster. This coupling takes the Dragon off track. In a Rooster year the Dragon may forget all his carefully laid plans and go off-piste. In a Pig year they may have to re-think much of their approach to life to ready for the boom times of the Rat year that
follows.

Note to Employers: A Dragon employee is the best there is if the task suits him. It
had better suit him because he will do precisely what he feels like either way.

Final Note: As I said the typical Dragon has to seek his own moral bearings. Which
means that unbalanced Dragons are the worst: take predators Philip Green, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey
Weinstein. Who’d have thought these three shared ba zi charts?!? Or that they could justify the unjustifiable for so long? Of course as these guys show, the Dragon has the luck of the Devil*.
Richard Ashworth © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info

* While it lasts; the special star fiu gong is often an indicator.
# These terms are the brain children of the man who first introduced me to the Chinese Zodiac Derek Walters, still the only Western authority respected to any degree in Asia. I sometimes tell my students that of the many thousands of books written on Chinese Astrology in the West, 99% are either nonsense or derived from Derek’s The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology. Or both.

The Dragon in 2021

If you think you already know the answer to the question, why are you asking? If you think you are the answer to the question, this year you’re right.

Dragons probably won’t have as much action as they’d like in 2021, however, that may be what keeps them safe. Dragons often put that kind of consideration far down on the list. Regarding risk, in 2021 there’s someone willing to go farther than you are with it, especially when it comes to crossing boundaries. I recommend you stay in your lane. You can still help people from there.

It’s hard to settle for things not being as glamorous as you like. 2021 may be too sludgy for you. Don’t waste time on regrets about what is. The mundane is intrusive and probably inevitable in 2021. It’s not your favorite music but if you want to make the most of the year, you’ll follow the rhythm.

You’ve got a vital energy and you’re ready to bring everything you’ve learned to the table. Make use of all those credits and credentials but don’t worry about being acknowledged. If your bruised ego makes you want to take your marbles and go home, you could have a break up coming. Maybe in April.

Don’t you remember? I was always your clown.
Why try to change me now?
Written by Cy Coleman, recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1952 (Water Dragon Year)

In the 12 Earthly Branches there are four that are called the Vaults. These are Ox, Dragon, Sheep, and Dog. If you’re reading this because you have a Dragon in your four pillars, you’ve already got one vault. Find out what other vaults are in your natal chart or in your Big Fate (a 10 year luck cycle). If Ox is the only one missing, 2021 is meant to be the start of something big. This could mean a big challenge is coming. I recommend you embrace it. Take it on. Tend to business. The risk lies not in what will be asked of you, but in your declining.

Expect to be in higher demand in January, July and October. This feels like a call to fall into formation. Take up your assigned position. Being regimented is unnatural for you, but you might be talked into it if it brings the kind of sweets your ego craves. Don’t do that. Don’t do it for accolades. Do it because of the changes you want to see. We all have to pull together now. Decentralize whatever you can to facilitate that. If you’re an entrepreneurial type this is the time to strike out on your own with your business or become part of someone else’s startup.

Curb spending; save up or invest in things that will appreciate in value. Fortify yourself. Focus on nutrition and health.

If your Dragon is in the day pillar, what are you going to do with that nagging dissatisfaction with your current relationship? If you think “my wife/husband doesn’t know me”, ask yourself whether you know them. If the Dragon is in your year, you might think it’s okay to keep a physical or emotional relationship a secret because “it didn’t mean anything”. You know better and you also know any potential outcome can be changed if you listen and pay attention. You are good at those things when you want to be. When you don’t, it’s because you don’t want to be too easily available. Please.

It’s not a contest, but your partner may be more harmed by a break up than you are. Whatever you feel about them now, I don’t think that’s what you would want. So do what you need to do either way with kindness and empathy. You’ll be glad you did.

January Do good deeds. If you’re overshadowing a colleague, move out of the spotlight a little.
April A big win is being handed to you. Don’t get in your own way.
July Help a sister out
August Making repairs and reparations. That includes the ones you do for yourself.
September Attracted to your work and the shiny stuff it brings more than anything else.
October Stay in your lane unless you’re blocking bullies. Take care in competition.

Dragons to Watch
1940 Metal Dragon: Nancy Pelosi
1952 Water Dragons: Marianne Williamson, Vladimir Putin
1964 Wood Dragons: Kamala Harris, Jeff Bezos, Jim Jordan, Jack Ma, Boris Johnson

©Stephanie J Stewart 2021

The Rabbit in 2021 ~ Metal Ox Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Rabbit?

Years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999.
Month*: March
Hour: 05.00 am – 07.00
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Rabbit?
The Rabbit is yin Wood, essentially gentle and domestic. Her time is early morning; the legend has it that she and the Rooster swapped places which is why the Zodiac Rooster crows not at dawn but at dusk. The Rabbit rules the Spring therefore – think of March Hares and Easter Bunnies – and the Rooster the autumn. This story may also serve to illustrate the mistrust that can exist between Rabbit and the yin Metal Rooster.

The Rabbit is subtle, in keeping with her yin nature. She provides service readily and is often suited to catering and caring. But her preparedness to roll up her sleeves makes her the unexpected queen of networking. If you want to be introduced to the person in charge, ask a Rabbit.

Although giving an impression of reluctance to be in the spotlight, Rabbits are often performers but equally often are more at home behind the scenes. Writer-composer Tim Minchin fits this bill. Devoted Dad David Beckham perhaps also and strangely introvert ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. All clearly pretty good at making connections also.

The Rabbit can wait her turn; vigilance and patience are typical. Her natural allies are the Pig and the Sheep. This is a house-proud team and the Rabbit is a team player. Her unexpected friend is the Dog who values her ability to charm without threat.

The Rabbit also belongs to the gathering known as the Flowers of Love# (or Plumflowers) along with the Horse, the Rooster and Rat. She may often find herself clearing up behind these three extroverts and quite often the cuddle-bunny will obtain a life partner from the leavings of her more obviously glamorous colleagues.

Rabbit tends to be conservative with a small “c”. Early rising is typical but the yang of early alertness may be balanced by the yin of sleeping in. Lazybones or insomniac, sleeping is an issue. This is yin and yang.

In Vietnam this Zodiac Animal is called the Cat. Intuitively this does not sit right, the ideogram so clearly has ears. Furthermore yin Wood relates to the late Spring, leaves and flowers and grass, none of which are obviously feline attributes. Btw the song “Year of the Cat” written by 1945 Rooster Al Stewart in the Rabbit Year of 1975 illustrates again the misunderstanding that often occurs between Rabbit & Rooster.

In some ways the Rabbit epitomises yin. Yang Wood may be characterised as an upwards movement like the growth of a tree. Yin Wood is more of an outward expansion like the spread of grass. What these two expressions of Wood have in common is irresistibility. But they are very different types of irresistibility. To counter yang Wood we need yang Metal: an axe will cut down the biggest tree. But you could attack a lawn with that same axe and not remove all the grass in a lifetime. This is the power of yin Wood.

Wood is both stubborn and flexible. Yin Wood (as characterised by Soen, the wind of the South East) is thorough as well as organised: “gentle and thorough but ultimately adamant” as the Book of Changes has it.

Hexagram 53 of the Book of Changes, “Gradual Progress” describes this: the tree on the mountain grows against all the odds either because it throws itself absolutely upon the mercy of the tao or because it has a detailed plan that it follows meticulously. Or both.

The Rabbit is said to cause the Dragon (next in sequence) to lose money. Perhaps the Dragon is distracted by a neighbour so apparently different in nature. These two are not a great pairing but the fact is that the Rabbit sitting between the Tiger and the Dragon, shares qualities with both.

Partnership with the Tiger is sometimes formalised as the House of Progress#. The Rabbit offers carrot while the Tiger wields a stick. This arrangement exemplifies the truism that more is achieved with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone. Wood represents bone, spine and hair as well as eyes: the light is Fire but the receiving organ is Wood. The Rabbit is often not strong in these regards unlike the Tiger. This is yin and yang.

Finally it’s worth appreciating that the wooden table you’re probably seated by is wood but not Wood. Wood is always growing which is not true of anything else; not animals, people, cutting edges or stones. Usable Wood in feng shui terms, is alive. Dead Wood is often considered to be Earth, motionless and ashen.
Richard Ashworth © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info

# These terms are the brain children of the man who first introduced me to the Chinese Zodiac Derek
Walters, still the only Western authority respected to any degree in Asia. I sometimes tell my students that of the many thousands of books written on Chinese Astrology in the West, 99% are either
nonsense or derived from Derek’s The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology. Or both.

The Rabbit in 2021

It looks to be a fairly quiet year which may be somewhat of a relief after the incredible loudness of 2020. It’s time to call upon your art of the comeback. It’s probably not going to happen this year, however, it’s what you do and it will happen. You don’t need to make any excuses.

You might still have a lot to say about what was/has been ruined and who is responsible for that. Who could blame you? You have your reasons. The question is what are you going to do with this feeling of loss? Here’s a hint: forgiveness will set you free. It’s simple but maybe not easy. You’re the one whose stuck, not your offender. Choose you.

Tonight you belong to me
Patience and Prudence McIntyre (1942 Water Horse and 1945 Wood Rooster)

You’re up for a new relationship in 2021 if you want one. Be careful how you go about that. Stealthiness will likely result in your dirty laundry being aired in public. Make sure you know your new interest’s domestic/romantic situation. That way you’ll know in advance what secrets, if any, could come out.

Make choices based on what you want, rather than what you think someone else wants. Don’t accept something just because it’s being offered. Accept it because you want it. Say no thank you if you don’t. Accepting the unacceptable will wear away at your health. It’s not worth it so don’t do it just to maintain the status quo. You always have a choice about whether or not your flexibility will be turned against you.

Last year’s troubles have moved on to the southeast but you’re not quite out of the woods with the San Sha in the east. You’ll want to know that whatever you have to navigate this year, you’ll have people nearby to help you through it. The hard part is that you are all in the same boat. Even your reliable allies Sheep and Pig are struggling. This is why using your network is more important than ever. Push your search for assistance to farther degrees of separation. The Snake and Horse can help with that in the summer.

Make connections for yourself and on behalf of Tiger, Sheep, Dragon and Pig. That means help your neighbors and friends. When they understand their own positions in 2021, they will be happy to reciprocate however they can. We’ve all got a long row to hoe. Check in with the Sheep, who may be experiencing health issues. Don’t fret about what you can’t control.

In a Metal Ox year, the Rabbit’s natural disaster, if there is such a thing, might be defined as frustrated fertility. That’s about the material you can’t get published; the book you want to write, the creative path not taken. Don’t get hung up on it. If it’s not your time now, that just means it’s coming down the pike. If you’re attracted to having an affair, consider that you may just be looking for a useful way get your content out in the world.

Look at the year’s small blockages as your raw material. As for all of these aspirational pregnancies, births and adoptions that remain secret and unfulfilled, it’s just not time – yet. I’m sorry to say it but you’ve got other work to do for now. Mend and forgive. Take care of your health. See the opportunities that are right in front of you. Take them on.

If you’re feeling discouraged, look for ways to leverage the other pillars in your BaZi. At least read the fortunes for all four. 2022 and 2023 are coming.

January Someone in authority feels that someone in your network should be kicked out.
February You’re strong but still find yourself tempted to conform to unfamiliar standards
April Get some money by way of the Dragon
June Reinvent yourself and expand your network. This could be embarrassing.
September Private matters play out in public.
October Sparks and endings. Hardest thing for the Dog to do? Stay
November Meet or get reacquainted with a creative ally who will have important connections in 2022
December Find out what you learned, or didn’t, in 2020. Rinse. Repeat.

Rabbits to Watch
1951 Metal Rabbit: Jill Biden
1975 Wood Rabbits: Russell Brand, David Beckham
1987 Fire Rabbits: Colin Kaepernick, Evan Peters

©Stephanie J Stewart 2021

The Tiger in 2021 ~ Metal Ox Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Tiger?

Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010.
Month*: February
Hour: 03.00-05.00am
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.

* Caution: the start of the Chinese Month of the Tiger falls on the 4th or 5th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Tiger?
Because the Tiger is generally considered yang Wood but actually consists of three different elements, he is an especially versatile predator. There is nothing wrong with being a predator of course, except that it can imply a very rigid view of the world. Tigers often don’t play well with others, not because their egos are in the way (unlike the Dragon, the Pig, the Rooster or the Horse) but because for them, work and play are very distinct activities. They can up to a point frolic with other Tigers but broadly every alliance is focused on an outcome. It’s no coincidence that 1974 Tiger Victoria Beckham is the Spice Girl who never looked back; she simply moved on.

The Tiger never forgets. For the unbalanced Tiger no slight, insult or rejection can be allowed to go unredressed.. He may wait a lifetime but he will get his revenge. Earth Tiger Joseph Stalin typified this approach to life as Leon Trotsky was enabled to confirm the hard way. On the other hand the balanced Tiger will always repay a debt and will go out of his way to acknowledge assistance.

The typical qualities of yang Wood are sharp eyes, a strong will and swift movement. The Tiger stalks his prey silently and pounces when he is ready. He can wait days as long as he is not hungry. A needy Tiger is very dangerous. Never scorn the Tiger. The Tiger will often have a fresh view of things which makes him the eyes of the team he makes up with the Horse and the Dog. The Horse is front of house, the Dog the keeper of records and the Tiger the hit man.

In terms of human relations the Tiger may be the most yang of the animals; that is swift, sharp and unsubtle. The earth he inherits from his predecessor in the Zodiac the Ox, is turned miraculously from yin to yang when he receives it. The unbalanced Tiger knows no mercy and expects none. And in this he has altered the dogma he receives from the Ox – do as you would be done by – into a personal code. This alteration can amount to perversion and make for serious misunderstandings; the unconscious Tiger probably knows himself less well than any other animal. His ruthlessness which he can wear as a badge of honour, is often simply a failure to open up to interdependence with others. Of all insults “dependent” is the deepest for the Tiger. He will not depend. This makes relationship an act of will. With a true act of will, the Tiger forms the most enduring relationships. If it is not truly a choice but a resigned agreement to bend himself out of shape, all around him will distort also. Sometimes the truly unconscious Tiger thinks this reflects a merciless world in which he has been clever in getting his revenge in first. This logic doesn’t work and the smarter Tiger knows this.

But even the smartest Tiger is not in the clear because the corollary of foregoing revenge appears to be falling on her sword. This is a mistake too. Most of us prefer not to live by the law of the jungle but then most of us are not as well-equipped for it.

Metal is generally considered to represent logical thought, authority and competition. The Tiger is elementally the opposite of Metal; the wooden Tiger likes to think of himself as logical but instinctive (or even automatic) is a better description. Generally he can only make use of Metal early on in life or at the inception of a process. After that he can deceive himself that he knows what to do and that he is beyond advice. Her chief adversaries are the (yang Maetal) Monkey whose frivolity he can’t stand and the Snake who won’t offer him a static target.

The really unbalanced Tiger (yang Wood day stem for instance born in February) considers himself bold and resolute but truly is hanging onto past (mother) stuff that ought to have been completed. The admission of this would affront his pride and he is unlikely to do it.

Richard Bandler (himself a notoriously ruthless 1950 Tiger) the Godfather of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, used to say that the person with the most flexible behaviour has control. The Tiger is the yangest woodenest of the animals. He is so flexible that he can be completely immovable. In a sales situation – paired with the Rabbit in the so-called House of Progress# – the Rabbit opens the sale with sheer charm but the Tiger closes it.

This can be his role in the alliance with the Monkey, Pig and Snake sometimes called The Four Terminals#: the Monkey sells the traveller a ticket, the Pig may offer to accompany him and the Snake can enchant with tales of exotic locations but the Tiger is liable to snarl and send the traveller on his way. Without the Pig in the ba zi this combination can like the Four Earths, be a seriously unhelpful combination, implying restricted movement.

A tender father and an implacable father-in-law, a good leader but an erratic motivator, at his worst, the keynote of the Tiger is an uneasy combination between a long memory and a short fuse. At his best he is the sort of leader you would gladly die for. Take short-lived (and deeply respected) Labour Leader John Smith as an example perhaps. At worst she’ll do the job for you.
Richard Ashworth © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Tiger in 2021

You’re beyond the shock and awe. Now it’s time to refine the emotional lessons of 2020 and reprioritize. Will you do it or are you just biding your time until you can pounce in 2022? Your good luck in the Metal Ox year might spur that kind of decision, but it’s not your year yet.

I am a patient boy.
I wait I wait I wait.
My time is like water down a drain.

Everybody’s moving
Everybody’s moving
Everybody’s moving, moving, moving, moving
Please don’t leave me to remain
Waiting Room, recorded by Fugazi in 1989 (Earth Snake Year)

In this Metal Ox year, the Tiger’s every action is magnified and comes back quickly. Under these circumstances, it will be a year that you will never forget. That might be exactly what you need if you want to change. Stop trying to cut to the front of the line. Learn to wait your turn. Your timing is even more important than usual.

If the Tiger is your day pillar, in relationship there may be the unwelcome realization that you and your partner don’t currently share the same definition of commitment. This may be another area where masculine Tigers have some catching up to do, or find out that their lack of commitment is now reciprocated.

I could be wrong about that if you are clear about what committing means to you as an action word. At the very least, be honest and open about what you expect if you want things to go more smoothly. That could lead to some bitterness for the Metal Tiger who would prefer to only have to say something once for it to be known forever. In 2021 Tigers will question their commitment to almost everything, if only because they want to clear the decks.

Tigers would probably like to just skip over 2021. Maybe you’re worn out due to delayed gratification, but the year will pass more quickly than you think. There may not be much time to rest when you realize you are in a process of reinventing yourself. Who do you want to be in 2022? Where do you want to be?

As is natural in such a process, there will be some losses and perhaps even some loneliness. If that’s the case, know that it will be due to your own choices. Everyone knows you’re not afraid to make the difficult ones. Sometimes your lack of fear gets in the way of your intentions so be careful with that.

There’s a constant demand for you to remove the small obstacles that will come up in 2021. Consider whether your attention is making mountains out of molehills instead of finding solutions. Go after the bigger problems. Break those down.

Tigers are the opportunists when it comes to money this year and even though there could be some financial losses, the proportion of your wealth could mean your loss is not the same blow for you as for others. You’ll want to consider that. In 2021, some Tigers might see the yin earth of the Ox as an opportunity for a lasting source of wealth. This would be something like a perpetual paycheck. Is there such a thing?

The risk for Tiger in an Ox year is that as the Tiger creates more wealth, they may not consider that the Earth gets broken into smaller and smaller bits. Tigers who take their expansion as the highest priority may not realize how their behavior could become a self-harm. Paradoxically, it’s the over strong Tiger kind of energy that may be driving deforestation. It’s the nature of the more balanced Tiger, who knows when they are being self-destructive, to fight back against that.

Tune into your emotional intelligence and put their acquisitional side to work on environmental and human issues. If you are a Tiger whose attitude is “I got mine”, you’re probably not reading this anyway. If you are, get a clue.

February  Things that are hard (impossible?) to forget. Not necessarily bad.
March A possibly expensive relationship, especially for Fire Tiger
June Move to change your perspective
July Making money off of people’s value conflicts?
August End what was already over
October Go home. Seek attention.
November Your personal beginning of 2022.

Tigers to Watch
1962 Water Tigers: Keir Starmer, Chris Christie
1974 Wood Tiger: Katie Porter (US Representative CA 45th District) tears up “business as usual”.

©Stephanie J Stewart 2021

The Ox in 2021 ~ Metal Ox Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Who is an Ox?

Years: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009.
Month*: January
Hour: 01.00-03.00am
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is an Ox?

The distinctive quality of the Ox is insistence, not persistence because the Ox’s yin Earth makes for a certain fragility, more of a curtain than a rampart. The Ox is in many ways, the most sensitive Zodiac Animal. This is often expressed in what looks like obstinacy but is better understood as puzzlement at being disagreed with. In discourse you may find that an Ox has firm principles that on examination are more like prejudices or assumptions. They are often nonetheless firm as well as correct for all that. As a rule, don’t expect flexibility of mind from an Ox; they know what they know and are often not keen to venture beyond. Never forget however, how sensitive they are.

The Ox’s gifts are very often practical rather than intellectual. The intellectually gifted Ox is extraordinarily powerful. Because of her position between the Rat and the Tiger, the Ox can sometimes vacillate from a fierceness – that does not really suit her – to a Rat-like charm that she may not be able to sustain. Watch out for the Ox who you seem on first acquaintance to have known all your life but then becomes uncontactable. In certain contexts this is called “ghosting”.

With her allies the Snake and the Rooster, she forms a team which is of the Metal element. That is to say that the alliance is linear, judgemental and competitive. Where the ground rules are clear, this is an unstoppable combination, not when they’re not. But these three make a great legal team with the Rooster charming the jury, the Snake unearthing information that no one else could find and the Ox
sticking to the point. When the rules are unclear however, the Metal alliance can falter. Then the Ox can become judgemental in a more covert sort of way, being less liable to argue than to judge silently. Without the Snake and the Rooster, the Ox is more barrack room lawyer than barrister.

Working in such a team, Metal, that is the qualities of logic, reason and competition, is less important than consistency. In dealing with the Ox, it is important to remember not only that the Metal is there but also that the Ox may deny this fact even to herself.

The hour of the Ox (01-03.00) is when the worlds of spirit and flesh are closest.  She has a deep spiritual agenda. The gifts of mediumship and divination are essentially Ox gifts. He is above all extraordinarily sensitive.

He may nonetheless be attached to ancestral dogma. Fundamentalism of all sorts – political and social as well as religious – is a common trait. She is not always good at questioning tradition or second-hand wisdom that has come down on good authority. So she will often quote great men not because their words are wise but because they are great. Bob Dylan’s advice “Don’t follow leaders and watch your parking meters” goes over the head of the immature Ox but is the credo of the life-wisened one.

With the Dragon, Dog and Sheep, the Ox forms the Literary Alliance. Some call this confluence the Four Earths and think of it as negative. The fact is that it is a demanding combination. If the Dragon is missing from it, for instance, many think of the alliance as poisonous but to see this as an assembly of the vehicles of expression without anything new to say is probably more like it. The coincidence of these four animals in time and space is a challenge to a strong ba zi and can be the ruin of a weak one.

Barack Obama may be the world’s most famous Ox and a good example. He actually has a Sheep in his month pillar. This makes for a home-loving and secure man. This is heightened by his day stem (the character that rules the day he was born) which has a special affinity both with the Ox and the Sheep. This like so many Oxen, is a man who loves his babies.

The challenge to the Ox in the 21 st Century is to topple the toxic Fire Dog. Three of the last four American Presidents (Clinton, W. Bush, Trump) have been Fire Dogs born 1946. The Fire Dog is long past his peak; it’s time to make way. The current chaotic world order may represent this shift of power. Ironically perhaps these Fire Dogs represents the established order of things.

Fire Dogs btw may be best suited to light entertainment as David Gilmour, Roy Wood and John Prine among many others, demonstrate. It may be that the above presidents took an important wrong turn.

The Ox has a love-hate relationship with the irritatingly spontaneous and extrovert Horse to whom she can not help nonetheless being drawn. Nor is she that keen on the Rabbit who can help herself to the Ox’s fresh vegetables or the Tiger who somehow often manages to exploit her.

Central point: the Ox’s power is cyclical, arriving every twelve years and lasting for two. Don’t waste it!
Richard Ashworth © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Ox in 2021

You’re still the boss. The Ox in 2021 has way too much to do again and may be feeling a bit fragile. It doesn’t matter how much you actually have on your agenda; you may still be worrying that you’ll never get it all done. Good thing you like to work. It’s going to be a good year but quite demanding.

From your perspective, maybe volunteering leaves too much to chance, but in 2021 I see you doing it anyway. You don’t need a job description to be the measure of your success. More than you can accomplish will be asked. Remember that your best will be good enough.

Take up whatever you deem the best position in 2021. It may last until 2025 at least. This year the Ox will remind us that the meaning of executive is getting things done.

When the Ox is boss, they tend to take on more of the minutiae, not less. The Ox may have a partner, but they generally don’t have a second in command. In 2021, you can. Be quick to publicly acknowledge what you get out of this alliance. Normally, I know you would, but Oxen may be feeling a bit used and used up.

You’ll be picking that feeling up from others too. Take it and add it to your empathy. It’s going to be a year where you’re asked for advice. You’re going to be asked to be an example of how we get people what they need and how to persist in our pursuits of justice. Help us set an infinite number of new routines. Teach us how to grow big things from small beginnings.

Be ready to own and answer for your decisions. If you find your values are in conflict more than you like, take a moment to reflect. You’ve got the upper hand, yes, but your clash with the Sheep is meant for learning purposes. How do you use it?

Caretaking is going to be asked of you. We associate that word with domestic stuff, meaning home, but in 2021 the Ox is asked to take us from hell to breakfast. Oxen are going to notice needs at every turn whether anyone is specifically asking you to fulfill them or not. Your yin Earth is said to include 10,000 things! If the silent demands have got you feeling anxious, share that with someone who will listen well.

Whenever you call me, I’ll be there
Whenever you want me, I’ll be there
Whenever you need me, I’ll be there
I’ll be around
Recorded by the Spinners in 1973 (Water Ox year)

Of all the Oxen, the 1973 Water Ox is the one who can definitely set things right in 2021. The Water Ox is in charge of subduing evil. If you have that commanding pillar in your BaZi, put it to good use. In the day pillar this could be an assignment for you regarding your relationship. In the hour it might be your children who take on that challenge. If you have that pillar in the year, your role could be in a public forum, as with 1973 Water Oxen Stacey Abrams and Tarana Burke.

As you might expect (sigh), even in a year where there’s an Earth Penalty, the Dragon just happens to have and be the solution. The Earth Penalty is triggered for everyone at some point in January, July and October. If you don’t already know what Vaults (Ox, Dragon, Sheep, Dog) if any are in your Ba Zi this is a good time to find out. Creating the meaning you want can make most any situation work in your favor.

January Hit the ground plodding.
April Find out who your peers are. Things have changed. Break ups may be imminent.
July Orthodox vs Unorthdox; Women behind conflicts over vaccinations?
October Aim a kick at whatever’s at your heels and it will go away.
December Your second in command resigns.

Oxen to Watch

Powerful work in music
It could be Angel Olsen’s biggest year for her work so far. She was born in a Metal Ox month.
“I’ve been watching all of my past repeating” All Mirrors

Rapsody, born in the Water Ox month, brings justice and subdues evil.
“Who the kids gonna call now?” 12 Problems

Public power
1949 Earth Ox – Elizabeth Warren
1961 Metal Ox – Barack Obama
1973 Water Oxen – Stacey Abrams, Tarana Burke

© Stephanie J Stewart 2021

The Rat in 2021 ~ Metal Ox Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

The Rat

Who is a Rat?
Years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008.
Month*: December
Hour: 11:00 pm – 01:00 am
Day: you’ll need a Chinese Calendar or an expert for this.

* Caution: Chinese Solar Months can start as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year.

What is a Rat?
The Rat is yang Water but with a hidden stem of yin Water, that is to say it is 100% Water, the only Chinese Animal that is so pure. All Water on this planet, unless interfered with by outside forces, is connected with and on the same level as all other Water. Sea level at Zeebrugge is the same as sea level at Miami. If I spill my cup of tea here in Surrey and you spill yours in Taiwan, sooner or later they’ll mix. It may take aeons but they’ll mix. This powerful idea may clarify the connection between Water and communication.

Someone said that we have two ears and one mouth for a good reason: that we should listen twice as much as we speak. The issues relating to Water are listening and speaking while keeping the ratios right. The Rat can easily miss this. Some of us are elected primarily to talk and the yang Water of the Rat says it’s you. The Rat is the talker of the Chinese Zodiac. As you know, an unbalanced or distressed Rat tends to clam up or run off at the mouth. Which will it be?

Interestingly both Prince Harry and his father Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales are Rats. Charles’ career has been one of juggling his often outspoken opinions with the privilege of his position. I observed some while ago that Harry’s lessons might correspond; wise Rats tend to blurt or have learned to be shtum. Under considerable provocation Harry seems to have learned from his father’s example. Uncle Andy (1960 Metal Rat) not so much; he may embody the equal & opposite Rat quality of secrecy; the Rat who sits among the rafters above the dinner table.

The Rat is supreme in the realm of ideas. It is said that when you can tell Fire and Water apart, you are their master. The blue of the sky at mid-summer, for instance is not Water but Fire. Who can identify this consistently? The Rat who is a planner and a plotter and a deep thinker, is the most likely candidate. He thinks ahead, sometimes to the detriment of his awareness of the present. This makes him a good chess player but not so great at poker. He is apt to be too controlling for games that require openness – even to good fortune. That sort of uncertainty can be painful. Your average Rat wants the credit and to get that he has to be in control.

In conversation you may find that the mature Rat second guesses in a very distinctive way: typically he gets his correspondent to commit to a position before he states his; a very useful quality in a teacher but not everyone’s cup of tea in a collaborator. The Dragon and the Monkey, even the Ox, may find this reassuring but it drives the Horse and the Tiger wild and to some extent even the Dog.

Being big talkers and travellers, Rats are traditionally suited to work involving communication: sales, oratory and persuasion. In the collaboration with the Rabbit, Rooster and Horse that Derek Walters (himself a Rat) called the Flowers of Love, the Rat is the talker, the chatter-up if you will, where the Rooster provides the glamour, the Horse the passion and the Rabbit the accommodation. A Rat with the assistance of these other Animals is effortlessly successful and charismatic. Whichever of this quartet may be missing at any given time indicates his weaknesses.

None of the others however is ever much at ease alone in the company of the Rat. The Rooster appears to be on another planet which can make the Rabbit resentful, especially if that Rabbit is parent or child to the Rat; yang Water is a little too much for the Rabbit’s delicate yin Wood. Creed, Black Panther and Just Mercy star Michael B Jordan has just these dynamics to juggle.

An unbalanced Rat talks too much and listens selectively. A balanced one gets it exactly right; he is fascinating talker and a skilled listener. But this wilful deafness can be a point of pride. Blessed with an orderly mind and excellent retention, a Rat can consider his ignorance of a subject a reflection upon the subject rather than upon himself. This sort of Rat needs to learn to value the convictions of others, especially if they are derived from premises he does not accept.

The mature Rat is often a guardian, a watcher. Sometimes he is self-appointed and unbalanced, a Rat can display a particular blindness that leads him to believe that his opinion is an absolute. This is more accentuated and less well-informed in his partner the Ox in what some call the House of Creativity (or Cleverness). The relationship between the Ox and the Rat is less that of partners than of pupil and tutor but the Ox can be a particularly obdurate and dominating learner, sometimes drawing conclusions to which he is not entitled and sticking like a limpet to any conclusion he can justify. In these circumstances the Ox is not so much partner or even student of the Rat as tormentor. When Ox and Rat are together it is the Ox who calls the tunes.

A very conscious Rat can make good use of his blindness to the value of other people’s positions. She is likely to be able to explain things that baffle others and to derive laws from this gift. To have no explanation however is to open himself up to chaos. If he knows this about himself he can master even the most abstract discipline.

The Rat is versatile and multi-talented though not as notably so as the Pig of whom he is often jealous or the Dragon who can baffle him despite their mutual affinity. The yang Water of the Rat can speak of profligacy with money. Rats are brilliant small businessman but often poor tycoons. In the power triad with the Dragon and Monkey, the Rat may appear to overvalue the hands-on deftness of the Monkey to the detriment of the Dragon because he finds the Monkey easier to control and may envy the Dragon his magic. Twin Rats Robert Plant and John Bonham and Monkey Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin (formed in the Monkey Year of 1968) may be a good example of this creative tension.

And it is this potential for envy that is the other big weakness of the Rat. Often in dispute with Horses, the full-on spontaneity of Fire has always drawn resentment from certain Rats. He can’t admire what he can’t himself master. This can lead to him not getting credit for originality of mind. Consider Water Rat Alan Turing of Imitation Game fame who was not exonerated of the “crime” of homosexuality let alone appreciated until decades after his miserable death. And finally the Rat can be a fickle partner but an attentive parent, albeit one who may have favourites. The awakened Rat is absolutely even-handed; that in itself is quite a gift.
Richard Ashworth © 2021
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Rat in 2021

In 2020, the appropriation of your work wasn’t happening in plain sight. Now that it is, what are you going to do about it?

Say goodbye to the Metal Rat. When the year that matches your Animal year ends, it’s a good time to check in with how things are going. What would you have done differently in 2020? Do you need to make amends? Give amnesty? Apologies and forgiveness can be awkward, but maybe less so when the year is still fresh in your mind. Don’t wait.

This year I recommend Rats check in with their 10-year luck cycle, also known as the Big Fate. That’s a pillar to consider along with your other four. When does it change? What might change?

Rats can expect a much quieter year in 2021 than in 2020. This year you’re a go between, a carrier of intel, willingly or not. You’re meant to transmit the secrets; to redistribute the goods that come your way. You might be the origin but you’re not the destination.

The hard part of 2021 may be finally getting your content known – in the context of someone else’s work. Even when you thought you had publicly teamed up, a certain collaborator might act like they’ve forgotten that their platform is built on your innovations. Make sure your copyrights are in place and smile. Find new ways to market yourself. What else is there to do other than get to work on the next idea? That’s what you do.

Who am I to deny myself a pawn for you to use?
Small Poppies by 1987 Fire Rabbit Courtney Barnett

For those with two or more Rats in the natal chart, there’s a chance that you may be perceived as anxious, depressed, or too dark. If you feel that too, 2021 is the year to find new ways to release the Water stress. There may be a feeling of contamination you’re looking to rid yourself of. If confiding or confession feels impossible, start writing. Hide your journal if it makes you feel better.

Start the year by getting back in touch with support systems that go beyond your partner the Ox. You could both use some healthy objectivity. The Ox is going to be in demand, which won’t last that long, so perhaps give them the space to pull their hardest. That will empower you too. When you want to compare notes, have a few laughs and some comforting containment, turn to the Monkey and Dragon to freshen up your perspective.

Remember that as much as you love pursuing and fulfilling your purpose, there are times where you have big doubts. If you haven’t been doing so already, you might even be considering a complete overhaul of your work. Don’t do that without careful consideration. In 2021 your judgment may be slightly clouded. Why change your course when branching out is obviously more your thing? Use that natural tendency and you’ll move past the doubts with ease. Whatever it is you wanted to ditch will change its form with the progression of the year. You’ll see.

Looking for a mission? 2021 calls upon you to get the word out about resources, and with Monkey and Dragon, to store and transport them. This may not be literal, but however this scenario plays out for you, put yourself in charge of distribution. The acquisition without the distribution is unhealthy, as we’ve seen. If you’re serious about it, serve the Ox. Get the Ox to be your boss. Rent a warehouse.

For any health issues, of course you’ll want to see your doctor. Consider looking into acupuncture and moxibustion to support your current methods of treatment. If you’ve tried those treatments before, you may find they are even more effective in 2021 than in other years.

January All about relationship.
March The paradox of being a parent; also parenting parents.
April There’s a support group for that and you’re invited.
June Someone else takes the hit for you.
July You take the hit for someone else.
August Your driver has arrived.
December Cleansed and empowered. Up and coming.

Rats to Watch
1960 Metal Rats: Deb Haaland, James Comey, Amy Klobuchar
1972 Water Rats: Nikki Haley, Amy Coney Barrett, Beto O’Rourke
1984 Wood Rats: Meghan McCain, Prince Harry

©Stephanie J Stewart 2021

Metal Ox 2021 (pt. 2) : A Clash Among Friends

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Read Part 1

A Clash Among Friends

I’ve heard the Earth Penalty, which is the juxtaposition of Ox, Sheep and Dog, called the clash among friends. I see this as something like the Greek Furies being called the Eumenides or “kindly ones”. We hope to influence whatever forces might be against us, and choosing the right words is always a helpful way to direct your perception. Respect is a helpful defense too. What good can come from this year’s clash of values? It’s that we can change them if we want to.

As you might imagine with a clash among friends, in 2021 we may be prone to angry outbursts and stubbornness. These situations tend to happen more when we are more familiar with each other, or when we think we are. Maybe we don’t know each other as well as we thought. We all change and it’s healthy to acknowledge it. Let it be. We’re going to see all sorts of conversions, in the religious sense and otherwise. Let people off the hook for their past words or actions if they’ve changed. You may want that too.

In an Ox year, the Sheep is the year breaker. The Ox is said to be offended by the Sheep. What will tend to get in the way of the changes we want in 2021 are skirmishes over values, or so we may think. A feature of the clash of Ox and Sheep is that Earth piles up, creating obstacles; a mountain out of a molehill that distracts from what we really need to be tending to. That’s the Earth and all the 10,000 things it includes.

The flow of Earth from the NE to the SW in 2021 perpetuates long standing inequities, gatekeeping, commodifying and monetizing of the past 20+ years. Money piled up for certain groups while others were excluded from the flow. This is an energetic pattern that will continue to wane, but it sees a resurgence this year.

Expect to see the most formidable obstacles in January, July and October when the 3 Earths are present. These months look especially difficult for communication and travel; could be big misunderstandings around intentions.

It’s an Ox year, but 2021 is defined by the Dragon who is both trigger and solution. As in 2020, the study of the occult will continue to be a popular pastime and topic of conversation. Good job too, if you can get one. Obviously I don’t see this as a negative, but the magic that is in charge is the practical and domestic type. Don’t get distracted.

In terms of Flying Stars, the “difficult” 7 has moved out of the center, replaced by the 6 star. That’s the kind of authority we are used to and may recognize as God, a father, or any force that has traditionally held power over us. This will make the idea of a savior or saviors quite attractive and prevalent throughout the year. Be wary of suggestions or rumors about sacrifice as a way of influence. Expect that to be a big theme in October.

The 5 star is in the SE in 2021. In the U.S., geographically speaking that includes places that are on or close to sea level. Common sense and science will give you an idea of what that might mean. No need for me to spell it out.

What to Do

If you haven’t already rebranded yourself, do it now. Let people know if 2020 has changed your ways of thinking. Does that sound scary to you? That’s how you know for sure it’s time. The personal is political so make sure those values match up. Make apologies if that’s called for as part of your process, the sooner the better. Accept those who want to change sides. You’ll know soon enough whether they are serious or not. It will be worth suffering them to know the ones who are sincere.

Looking for work or thinking of new training? 2021 is the year to learn DIY skills or train for occupations that will prop up the domestic infrastructure.

What we need are ways to support people keeping their homes. We need people with experience and training such as:

Gardeners, Farmers, Cooks, Bakers, Artists, Musicians, Educators, Writers, Engineers, Tailors/Sewing, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, Volunteers, Apprentices

There are too many to name them all here. Look to train for any skill that allows you to build, make, repair and repurpose.

Now that we’ve learned many of us don’t need to live near urban areas to be able to do our jobs, we are free to live in new ways that may be healthier for us and our planet. Downsize density; we can spread out a little. Wherever you are, go local for goods and services as much as possible.

If you are able to move house or buy a new house, get one with its own plot of land if you want more power.

Quarterly Forecast

In the first quarter of the year, there will be restrictions on the administration of the Covid vaccine. There’s not enough to go around yet and the healthcare system is already overwhelmed. Doubts about receiving it mean refusals of the vaccine may peak in March. There will also be conflicts about who should be vaccinated next, because the vaccine won’t be widely available until the fourth quarter of the year. And of course, by widely available I don’t mean every country or neighborhood. It almost seems like now every event is trying to point our attention in a certain direction, doesn’t it?

In the second quarter, what we are used to having readily and quickly available may not be so. Whenever you need something important, you’re going to need a group to attain it. This was pretty much always true. It would be helpful to acknowledge and support that reality now. In May, for some it will be a good time to buy real estate or move. Others may be forced to move due to untenable circumstances. Expect to see more people migrating to chase a dream or to reunite with loved ones. It could be a good time to pull up stakes if you’re prepared. That would mean you’ve already established a support system where you want to plant your seed. Have a plan for defining and protecting your territory in your new location. I don’t recommend moving for everyone.

In the third quarter we can expect 2018 events, such as Trump’s Helsinki summit with Putin, to come back to haunt. I think that’s when we’ll see the biggest blockages of the year. There’s a risk that we may revert to outdated ways of thinking, hoping we will be more comfortable in unconsciousness. Our railways and other transportation systems could be overwhelmed, unreliable or accident prone. Communication systems may be at risk too. We may not know the full consequences of our government being hacked until October though.

The fourth quarter of the year looks like a rush to get back to work. We’ll be all dressed up and ready to go but moderation is still indicated. There will be more people available to administer the vaccine, but even when it’s more available, we will still need to be take precautions next winter. In October we will find out who was sincere about changing sides, who was not, and who did it secretly. In December we may see an assassination attempt. There’s some connection here with things that are going on in February. Perhaps this is where the planning begins. I guess we’ll see. February is a Tiger month, 2022 is a Tiger year.

Ultimately, the instability of 2021 means whatever we can accomplish will have a bigger impact than it might in a stable year. It may take years to see the results of our choices in 2021, but right now, many more doors and minds are open than in 2019. How can we make that last?

Metal Ox 2021 (pt 1) : Through the Looking Glass

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

This is embarrassing to admit, but I was considering not publishing a forecast for 2021. Like everyone else, I feel a heavy sadness, grief and exhaustion. I thought of using that as an excuse, however, the only thing I won’t allow for myself this year is regression. I’ve been through a few Ox rodeos before, and this time I’m not going to give up on what I’m meant to do. When I feel better, I want to look back and think “I did it anyway”. One less regret.

To do what I do, I have to open up to what is, and what is possible or likely. What I want has to be put aside in those moments, but sometimes I can see a way to link up what is possible with what is wanted. That is timing. If you just keep going the right moment will arrive. I would like to offer you something fancy, something more, but what I can say for sure is progress is going to be slow. Yoke up. Everything depends on how much we can pull together.

The Four Pillars of 2021
Through the Looking Glass

辛 戊 戊 辛
酉 戌 子 丑

Have you read Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass lately? It was published in 1871, a Metal Sheep year. The political themes and references to chess make it especially timely right now. That and the part about the White Queen (!) assuming Alice wants to be her lady’s maid for the salary of

“Two pence a week, and jam every other day…The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday – but never jam today”

Through the looking glass things are not what they seem. Right and left are reversed, corridors are endlessly extended, views are invited into our rooms. In 2020 we arrived on the other side of the glass. What was once familiar is now unnerving. This is going to be another year of confusion and uncertainty but what we do know now is that distribution is far more important than acquisition. Let’s keep that in the front of our minds in 2021.

The symmetry of the Heavenly Stems above brings to mind a mirror image; an image of a self looking in a mirror. In the branches I see the possibility of devolution. If we don’t want our actions to be counterproductive in 2021, look in the mirror for the countermeasure. It’s you.

All that time we’ve spent looking at television and computer screens in 2020. All that energy spent to connect through those dark mirrors. It doesn’t satisfy. Is what we see on the screen real, surreal or completely fake? Hard to tell these days. We’re uncertain about each other’s values and motivations now. We have our reasons. I worry we might let that dominate our attention.

All in Good Time

For any serious student of Feng Shui, it’s important to learn about different time cycles and how they mesh up. If you look at the cycle of the last 12 years in terms of seasons, 2019-2021 is winter. We’re in the winter of a 12 year cycle. The Ox year is like January. Under the ground, fertility is burgeoning but up top it’s still cold and wet. I suspect we’ve not even begun to process our grief for the lives that have been lost in 2020.

The Metal Ox pillar looks like an aftermath; the hangover of 2020. Obviously that’s not a big revelation.

Etymologically 丑 (Chou or Ox) is a word that comes from a combination of 酉 (You or Rooster) and 鬼 (Gui or ghost/spirit). 丑 describes a “clown” – someone whose behavior is called ugly or shameful. This condition might be called an excess of yin forces – intoxication or unconsciousness is implied, maybe possession too. These are possible problems, not excuses to continue business as usual.

In the 辛丑 pillar, I see a symbol of those who have been sacrificed for the sake of another’s advancement. Why would you want to know this? Because it means now is the right time to change it. We can kick the ghost out of the machine.

In 2021 we’re going to see people going about great accomplishments, even the rehabilitation of others, from a position of disability or disadvantage. They’ve been doing it all along. Maybe now we can begin to see ageing and/or illness as a part of human experience rather than a stigma or sign of weakness.

Keeping ill health a secret is based on a fear of rejection, and rightly so given how we react to it. Can you imagine how 2020 would have been different if no one had felt the need to suppress the knowledge of the spread of Covid? It’s time to decriminalize our bodies’ natural processes.

五行 Wu Xing (5 Elements)

As I mentioned before, there’s still an excess of Water element for now.

With so much Earth in the BaZi and only one lonely hidden Fire element, life goes on but slowly. The feeling of restless waiting continues. Justice wants the information to be free but authority resists.

Earth is in charge of the year but it’s not strong or stable. It may appear to be but it’s not. There are many more secrets that are going to come out about our leaders’ behavior and actions in 2020.

The chart for 2021 is cold overall. There are 10,000 things that need to be done. There’s a grimness about that, but the possibility of all the small things that can be changed is more important. They will add up. The Ox invokes the possibility that we pull together in more ways than we thought would be possible. The stakes are high. We will need to remember to celebrate every success, no matter how small. This is a year to seek Fire. That’s joy. Don’t fake it, but stoke it where you find it. Seek Wood too.

I’m not saying that will be easy, especially since there’s no Wood element anywhere in the Four Pillars of the year which suggests several things you’ll want to remember:

The brakes are still off when it comes to what people will say and do. Especially in the context of acquiring power.
We can’t rely on those in authority to save us. The task is too big for any one entity.
A change of heart is what can unite us.

Wood is what the year yearns for. It’s the flexibility of kindness that will generate compassion and break down stubbornness. The mistakes we might make in 2021 have to do with failing to allow and make safe space for all. This is a challenge we can handle. Wood can take our anger and turn it into a grassroots movement. If you’re not in the right group, go find your people. There’s no shame in starting over.

If I’m right about traditional authorities being unreliable, that means communities and individuals can rely on their own authority to save them. As I said in last year’s forecast, if there’s a Deus Ex Machina it’s us.

Read part 2

Metal Ox 辛丑 2021 Feng Shui Basics

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

While there’s still plenty of time to prepare for the coming year of the Metal Ox, here are some things you may want to think about when planning for the shift of the energy in your own home. You can use this information to set up, but keep in mind that while it’s accurate and helpful, by nature it’s generic. If your purpose is to go beyond the basics, the application of Feng Shui must be tailored to you and your home.

Even this general stuff is a bit complicated this year so skip down to the guidelines if that’s how you scroll.

Tai Sui, Sui Po and San Sha

The Year of the Metal Ox opens on December 21, 2020 at 18:54. The Tai Sui or Year Boss is in the NE. That’s the Ox. For real. If you’re not already familiar with the concept of the Tai Sui you can think of it as the ruling energy of the year. In some years people born under the same Animal branch as the year are considered to be offending the Tai Sui. In my opinion this isn’t one of them.

Opposite the Ox in the NE is the Sheep in the SW. That means in 2021 the Sheep is called the Sui Po or “year breaker”. The Sheep is considered to be in opposition to the Ox. Their relationship is a clash. Energetically the Ox sends force towards or pressures the Sheep. This is an earth clash so you can envision it as a “piling on”. It’s an accumulation of earth element mainly.

The area between NE3 (Tiger) and SE1 (Dragon) is called the San Sha or Three killings in 2021. It covers the entire area between and including Tiger and Dragon. The Rabbit (centering at 90 degrees) is the most difficult area. The energy in the San Sha this year is metal element (west) vs wood element (east).

Lest you get lost in the technical stuff, it’s important to remember that Feng Shui is all about relationships. Stick to first principles. If you want to know how the energy moves around, it’s elemental and elementary.

The annual calculations are expressions of the relationships of elements. They point out the Tai Sui, Sui Po, and San Sha: the relationships that may need more of your attention in any given year. You can think of them as roles we may be called to play.

Guidelines for 2021

  1. Don’t face NE, meaning the Ox who is centered at 30 degrees. You can spend time in the NE location of your house but don’t face that direction. Having your back to the NE is fine with the exception of Tiger (see caveat 2 below). Don’t activate this area without professional advice.

  2. Avoid Rabbit (E2) and the areas directly adjacent. The scope of the San Sha covers Tiger-Dragon (52.5-127.5 degrees). Avoid digging, drilling or other activations in this area. Keep it quiet. Otherwise, consult a professional (like me) who can tell you what to do, when, and where.

  3. If your house faces NE or SW it would be helpful to consult a professional to evaluate your home and mitigate any potential issues, especially if a door is located here. I’d recommend the same if your house faces NW or SE.

  4. You can spend time in these locations of your house: W, NW, NE, SW, S and N. These locations can be fine tuned further by applying Ba Zhai (8 House or 8 Mansions). In 2021 there’s more support for West Group houses and people.

Flying Stars

Flying Stars is a system used to identify energy pockets within a building, city, country…The base energy for each area is indicated by the traditional Lo Shu where Star 5 is in the center:

SE S SW
4 9 2
E 3 5 7 W
8 1 6
NE N NW

In addition to these base stars which are static, each house has it’s own collection of Flying Stars, which some would say is similar to a natal chart. The best results come when you’ve understood and dealt with these static and underlying energies first.

Once you’ve done that, there are the annual stars which move each year to play with. There are also monthly Flying Stars and daily Flying Stars which you may be familiar with if you read my daily forecasts.

Each star corresponds to a trigram from the Later Heaven Bagua and so each one also has an elemental nature. Some stars naturally pair up. Some stars play well together and some don’t. Some are helpful and some not so much. I won’t try to explain it more here.

The map below will tell you the locations of the annual Flying Stars within your home for the Metal Ox year. They will interact with the monthly Flying Stars in a guest/host relationship. This interaction of the annual and monthly stars is used for forecasting.

Annual Flying Stars for Metal Ox 2021

SE S SW
5 1 3
E 4 6 8 W
9 2 7
NE N NW
  1. As a general practice, we want to avoid the annual Wu Huang or 5 yellow, so don’t spend time in the SE location of your home. That’s 112.5-157.5 degrees on the compass. Keep it as quiet as possible. No activations here.

  2. The 6 star is in the middle (the home of base star 5). Authority and Fathers with a capital F are the center of attention. There’s significant power to work with here if you know how.

When to Act

Moving things around the house, changing rooms, and placing Feng Shui cures and enhancements is best done between December 21st 2020 and February 3rd 2021. You can maximize results by using date selection. If you want help with that, I invite you to subscribe to my monthly newsletter or, contact me to find a date that’s specific to you and your house.

If you’re familiar with applying Feng Shui you can use the information in this article to set up your house. You’ll also need to know your Ming Gua to make the most of the energy of 2021. Just compare your good directions with the “rules”. And of course I’m available if you want to enhance or mitigate rather than simply avoid.

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