Author: Stephanie Stewart

Announcing the Fire Horse 2026 Almanac!

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart
Back Cover and Front Cover

If you can’t read Chinese, but you work with Chinese metaphysics or medicine, the Fire Horse 2026 Almanac will help you bridge the gap and apply your knowledge in real time. It’s an English Language Chinese Almanac. I’m offering both a print and digital version this year.

Each year I compile the Almanac from various sources. The structure is based primarily on the lunisolar Hsia calendar, and the Tung Shing or Annual Chinese Almanac. I started publishing the Almanac because I use it! I had been making it by hand for myself for years. It’s the backbone of my practice and now I’m sharing it with you.

WRITE IN THIS BOOK. The Almanac is a reference tool, calendar, and learning journal. If you’re not familiar with Chinese Astrology, all of the information you need to navigate the Almanac is included before the calendar portion:

Part One

Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
Elements
The Chinese Calendar and Cycle of 60
Chinese hours, days, months, seasons, and years
Date Selection Tips
Noblemen
Flying Stars (Period 9, Annual, Monthly)
Trigrams and Elements
Annual Hexagram

Part Two

Part 2 consists of one year’s worth of Gregorian calendar overlaid with the basic Chinese Astrology framework used for forecasting and date selection:

Day Pillar Stem and Branch
Daily Hexagram
Daily XKDG numbers
Daily Flying Star
Day Officer
Lunar Mansion
Monthly Flying Stars
Month Pillar
Solar Fortnight
Lunar Cycle/Month
Eclipses
Seasons
San Fu Tian Treatment Dates
Special Days
Ratings for the general auspiciousness of each day

For those interested in taking my Date Selection classes, you’ll want to know the Almanac is the text for the class. It will also be the text for a new class I will teach in 2026 which is a free class for you if you purchase the Almanac. The class is called Daily Flying Star Calculation : Two Methods.

NOTE: The Fire Horse 2026 Almanac begins with the Rat month of December 2025 and ends with the Pig month of November 2026.

Hexagram 52 艮 : Mountain

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

At the Threshold

Hexagram 52 correlates to the Fire Dog pillar. It’s also the Tidal Gua for the Lunar month of Pig which starts November 19th this year. The Pig month is where winter begins, and so it is a stopping point in a very real sense, one that we can experience in our bodies as well as through observation. In a sense we might interpret this Hexagram as covering the time from now until mid-December. We’re at a threshold.

In the sequence of Hexagrams in the I Ching, Gen or Stillness (52) follows Thunder (51). A general interpretation of Thunder might be that it presents an opportunity to see how you work through anxiety and fear, or you might interpret it as a time for action. We can interpret Hexagram 51 as where we are coming from/where we are now. Hexagram 52 is where we will be in the lunar month of Fire Dog.

That would make Still or Mountain the aftermath of Thunder, meaning now it’s time to take a breath, at least a moment of stillness will help you assess the situation because things have changed. We’ve made it past some sort of tension release and I hope you’re feeling it. Any time you’re unsure about when to take action or when to be still, the Universe is usually providing some helpful clues and the I Ching is just one way to access them.

A general interpretation of Hexagram 52 would be don’t leave your own place. Don’t leave your home area. It’s not the best time to travel, but some will need to travel and can plan accordingly. You may want to allow for or build some stillness into your journey. Plan for delay or moving slowly. Since this Hexagram is describing multiple types of stillness, it suggests knowing when to speak and when not to speak is important too. Safety comes from these moments of recognition. It’s like magic.

On the top and bottom of Hexagram 52 we see the Gen trigram, the Youngest Son. This Trigram is associated with a mountain, hands, prayer, meditation, withdrawal, or a religious or spiritual existence just to name a few things. These are things that ask us to be still.

Visually, this mountain on top of a mountain looks like double doors to me – a door on top of a door. Do you want to go low or go high? When speaking about the compass, the Dog is sometimes called Heaven’s Gate(!) and where would that be unless it was very high up? I’m just throwing these ideas out to see if they evoke anything for you – don’t take it too seriously. I work in metaphors most.

The element of Hexagram 52 is yang Earth as is befitting for a Mountain. The symbol is so clear about indicating a stop. If you’re traveling, when you come to the mountain, you go over, around or through. You could turn back, but in life is that really an option? We can’t go back to the actual past, even though some of us are still stuck there. What often works best is seeing what opportunities are available in the moment and following them.

In the case of Hexagram 52 maybe your situation seems insurmountable, there’s a mountain on top of the mountain. There are two doors to choose from but you have no idea which is the right one.

Maybe we all could use a moment to let the message come, before we know what action to do next. We might be less attached to or anxious about an outcome if we understand that the signs will point the way at the right time. Just stay open to them and trust yourself.

The text for Hexagram 52 is available here.

12 Animal Fortunes for the Fire Dog Month

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Fire Dog 丙戌 Month
October 8th 08:41 – November 7th 12:04

Here are the Animal Fortunes for the month of the Fire Dog. To get the most out of the fortunes you’ll want to know all four of your pillars which are based on your birth year, month, day and time.

If you don’t know your Four Pillars, just ask! Each of the four animals of your BaZi correlates with an aspect of your life. Start with that interpretation.

If you’d like to know more about how bazi works, take a class with me. If you want to know more about your own bazi, book a reading here. You can book a reading for 2026 now.

Pillars and Fortunes

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

戌 Dog
Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
Month: October roughly.
Your heart is showing. What will people see? What do you want them to see? Let it be you bestowing the warm soft landing you also want for yourself in this revolution.
Hint: What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?

亥 Pig
Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
Month: November roughly.
Unlikely coconspirators are here. Plan and execute a dethronement within the next two months. The revolution is both personal and political. There’s no difference.
Hint: As I’m sure you already know, violence is not the way.

子 Rat
Years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
Month: December roughly.
Dare to push yourself when it comes to seeking the future you desire. Otherwise, what would be the point of the revolution? Water can be diminished but never eliminated.
Hint: You’ll know you’re in the flow when you make life grow.

丑 Ox
Years: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
Month: January roughly.
Find ways to align with others like you, even though they may not look like you or act like you. In the revolution, this the main way we defeat bullies.
Hint: Focus on your resourcefulness.

寅 Tiger
Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
Month: February roughly.
The Tiger may find this month too obvious, easy, and therefore boring. If that’s you, maybe you would like to work for the revolution? Don’t let all that easy success go unappreciated.
Hint: Travel may not be as satisfying as usual – for now.

卯 Rabbit
Years: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
Month: March roughly.
Let’s make a deal? With your Secret Friend who is the unlikely friend of a friend present, be ready to meet spontaneous opportunities. Communicate & network.
Hint: Working for the revolution might deplete, it can also enrich you.

辰 Dragon
Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Month: April roughly.
If you want to stay human in this revolution and you have a lot of power maybe it’s helpful to have an occasional setback that keeps you humble.
Hint: Those boundary signs you are seeing do apply to you too.

巳 Snake
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Month: May roughly.
Maybe you’re thinking you’ve had enough revolution now that it’s getting cold but it could be you’re too exposed to hibernate yet.
Hint: Even if you’re feeling uneasy, you’re probably safer than you think, as usual.

午 Horse
Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Month: June roughly.
You may feel more competitive this month, but maybe that’s just because suddenly there’s a mountain of success to be had.
Hint: Practice working as a team if you want to be part of the revolution.

未 Sheep
Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
Month: July roughly.
If a relationship is ending this month, how will that affect your ideas about the revolution? I suggest you and the Ox find your common ground when it comes to bullies and tyrants.
Hint: Put aside the small differences to make the resistance solid.

申 Monkey
Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Month: August roughly.
New doors are suddenly open for the Monkey. Try to look beyond the anxieties and stress of this year and see the resources the revolution offers you.
Hint: Consider sharing your process or decision with others who want to support you.

酉 Rooster
Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
Month: September roughly.
Finite projects are the most satisfying for a Rooster, but the revolution is a long term proposition. Take a break once in a while and you’ll enjoy life more.
Hint: Write things down, wrap things up.

Monthly Meetup – Fire Dog Month

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

The 丙戌 Fire Dog Month opens on Wednesday October 8th. We’ll be meeting on Saturday October 11th from 9-10 am GMT-7 to talk about what the month holds for us. You can find more information or sign up here.

As usual, we will use my Monthly Guide as the jumping off point for discussion but we are not limited by that.

Some possible topics include Hexagram 52, elemental growth stages, the Fire Dog pillar, real estate, boundaries, doors, gates, thresholds, health tips, travel and timing. Questions are always welcome!

I hope you’ll join us. The Guide for the Fire Dog Month, along with the Zoom link for the meetup, will go out by email prior to the meetup. The Zoom link will be in your inbox on Friday October 10th.

If you have any questions please email me through my site.

Hexagram 33 遯 : Retreat

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

When I think of Hexagram 33, I often remember this quote from Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House which I think describes its energy very well :

“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality.”

There comes a point where retreat beckons, when retreat will preserve us and we can make efforts at a more auspicious time. When you realize you’re surrounded by creeps, maybe don’t linger?

Hexagram 33, called Dun or Retreat, is the hexagram that corresponds to the Wood Rooster solar month. Hexagram 33 is also the Tidal Gua for the lunar month of Sheep. This year, there was an intercalary lunar month, so some of my current interpretation will be shaped by events that happened between June 25th-August 22nd. Solar and lunar work together like yin/yang.

The text for Hexagram 33 is available here.

The hexagram consists of Gen the Youngest Son on the bottom. Gen is the Mountain. Qian the Father is on top. Qian is Heaven. We are talking about high places. This arrangement suggests a younger man is coming up, literally. In the future, he will be “on top”. He has a youthful qi that is dedicated to spiritual or religious matters. He is coming into power while an older man (on top) is phasing out. This has some interesting parallels to what might be happening in January and February of 2026. It’s not too much of a leap to interpret this as a reference to JD Vance.

Let’s look at Hexagram 33 and what it can tell us about the Wood Rooster month. From this perspective we could say the Rooster month (September) contains a peak of energy – energy that was born in May. This Rooster month sets up the Ox month (January) as a completion or finale. In a Snake year, it seems kind of inevitable that January 2026 marks an important ending.

The signs of Snake, Rooster and Ox are some of the most affected/empowered by this year and they will work together to make 金 Metal. Metal and Water seem to be the most unfavorable for Trump and we’re currently in Metal season, headed toward the Water season. Rat, whose month is most of December, is a yang nobleman (probably male) for Trump, but it doesn’t seem to bring good luck. Rat is his success element but he doesn’t seem able to experience it – he is never satisfied. JD Vance has a Wood Rat year but Trump doesn’t seem to appreciate him. Does he ever say thank you?

Timing

The first two lines of Hexagram 33 are broken and as Daoist scholar Alfred Huang says regarding interpretation:

“This is a situation where inferior persons were multiplying and increasing in power. It is time for the wise to retreat.”

Recent resignations at the CDC come to mind.

The broken lines one and two (on the bottom) could be where the most action is this month. In terms of time, that would cover approximately September 7-17. Expect the boastfulness of the Trump administration to expose more deceit and create chaos. They like to talk about their crimes openly.

This exposure or self exposure then spurs more withdrawals or resignations of personnel from government agencies from approximately September 18th- October 8th, leaving no one left to hide behind or blame.

I’m hopeful that some of the withdrawals we see will be due to people getting ready to exert their influence at a more auspicious time. The gist of Hexagram 33 right now might be that something (someone?) big is about to go down and there are people in high places who will retreat from being associated with it. Like rats (again) leaving a sinking ship. You could take a personal perspective on this too – is there anything/anyone you need to retreat from?

One image that comes to mind for me with Hexagram 33 is the way that the ocean retreats before the tidal wave comes. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. You don’t have to believe in physics to experience it. Liu Ming calls Hexagram 33 “the story of a successful comeback”. This makes me so curious about who or what could be coming back, but that won’t happen until later.

Any gains that can be made this month are likely to be small, but don’t take that to mean they are not important. Sometimes gains consist of not losing. This is a description of where we are now: continue your work, don’t strive or strive for attention. By “your work”, I mean relationships as well as your career.

In the sequence of hexagrams, after Hexagram 33 comes Hexagram 34 which is called Great Strength or Great Invigorating. This is a natural response to retreating. Nothing lasts forever. Winter is coming and spring will follow.

As a Tidal Gua, Hexagram 34 corresponds to the lunar Rabbit month, which suggests that about halfway through March 2026 our government’s current structure is inverted. You can read the text for Hexagram 34 here.

Instead of continuing to portray himself as a young religious man, I think from now on we will see a different presentation of current Vice President JD Vance.

Zhen on the top of Hexagram 34 is the Eldest Son, the one who takes over for the Father the way a Vice President will take over for a President. He is the successor. Watch for JD Vance to make this his new message now to set up for later. The position of Zhen on the top is a reminder that JD Vance will also phase out. Nothing lasts forever.

12 Animal Fortunes for the Wood Rooster Month

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Wood Rooster 乙酉 Month
September 7th 16:52-October 8th 08:41

Here are the Animal Fortunes for the month of the Wood Rooster. To get the most out of the fortunes you’ll want to know all four of your pillars which are based on your birth year, month, day and time.

If you don’t know your Four Pillars, just ask! Each of the four animals of your BaZi correlates with an aspect of your life. Start with that interpretation.

If you’d like to know more about how bazi works, take a class with me. If you want to know more about your own bazi, book a reading here. You can book a reading for 2026 now.

Pillars and Fortunes

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

酉 Rooster
Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
Month: September roughly.
Don’t let your craving for peace outweigh the clear cut opening for a new way of being in this revolution. I encourage you to take that as a serious proposition this time. Lead.
Hint: Logic only offers things you already know

戌 Dog
Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
Month: October roughly.
Feeling a little suspicious of your neighbors in the revolution? Some third-party energy could be wearing away the relationship. This can be solved through clear and amicable boundaries. Communication is your success.
Hint: Move your stuff.

亥 Pig
Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
Month: November roughly.
You’ve made it to the point in the year of the Snake where it’s time to be open about what you want in this revolution, and do what is needed to make it happen. Make trades. Get paid.
Hint: Invite support.

子 Rat
Years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
Month: December roughly.
Relationships come back into balance for now – more so if you share your plans for the revolution. Talking will help.
Hint: You are not at a disadvantage. Act accordingly.

丑 Ox
Years: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
Month: January roughly.
Team energy and routine – these are things that the Ox can enjoy this month. Do what you like for a moment in this revolution.
Hint: So called obligations are more flexible than usual.

寅 Tiger
Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
Month: February roughly.
This is the revolution. Decisions have been made. This month’s challenge is to be ready to respond quickly when you see the right moment to act, or to direct others.
Hint: Then, disappear until the next time.

卯 Rabbit
Years: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
Month: March roughly.
Feeling exposed much in this revolution? Don’t make that literal. Stay in safe places to mitigate potential setbacks. Know what you know about where the trouble is.
Hint: Don’t go there.

辰 Dragon
Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Month: April roughly.
Pulled back into the body by the revolution, it may be more difficult to maintain your usual distance. There are things your body wants and things your body needs.
Hint: Pay attention to appearance too.

巳 Snake
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Month: May roughly.
The Snake experiences a peak of success in this first year of revolution; a milepost in a long term process. Indications of the final outcome are everywhere.
Hint: Gas up.

午 Horse
Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Month: June roughly.
How’s life in the future? Pay attention to a shorter timeline. Surrender to the schedule proposed by the Universe and the revolution.
Hint: Rewards are available in the present.

未 Sheep
Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
Month: July roughly.
Sheep: extend the hospitality of the revolution. Make it personal. Seek and support your people. Organize and facilitate food and housing.
Hint: What good deeds could you accomplish in a single day?

申 Monkey
Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Month: August roughly.
Take a little time off from the revolution Monkey. That is, the hands-on part. Continue other ongoing work as you are able. Hopefully you were able to avoid injury last month.
Hint: You’ll start something new later.

Monthly Meetup – Wood Rooster Month

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

The 乙酉 Wood Rooster Month opens on Sunday September 7th but we’ll be meeting just a bit early on Saturday September 6th from 9-10 am GMT-7. You can find more information or sign up here.

As usual, we will use my Monthly Guide as the jumping off point for discussion but we are not limited by that.

Some possible topics include Hexagram 33, the triple combination of Metal and what that could mean in your life, strategy, “seeing things”, robbery sha, self penalties, and the bazi of Debbie Harry who was born in a Wood Rooster year (1945).

I might talk a little about the relationship of Zi Wei Dou Shou astrology and Ba Zi too.

I hope you’ll join us. The Guide for the Wood Rooster Month, along with the Zoom link for the meetup, will go out by email on on Friday September 5th.

If you have any questions please email me through my site.

If you’d like to receive notifications about Monthly Meetups please subscribe to my Substack.

Wood Monkey Month : Decisions Press

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

What happens when Wood and Metal get together? This is what we could learn this month.

We might summarize the conflict of 木 Wood and 金 Metal as the interplay of elements. For the Wood, the Metal provides an unforgettable intrusive experience, literally leaving a scar. The Metal is offended by the space the Wood demands, as well as its expression (words or 火 Fire).

Metal finds the words of Wood offensive and wants to negate them. Wood finds the words of Metal (that is, 水 Water) make it want to take up more space. Both Wood and Metal are shorthand ways of describing process or movement. Wood expands, Metal contracts.

This conflict dynamic between Wood and Metal can be understood as an elemental cycle where the missing element is Earth. So maybe what is missing is loyalty, reliability, and stillness.

The Sheep is yin Earth technically, but it is the last month of the season of Fire. After Fire season, Metal season comes. The missing link is Earth again. The contrast between Sheep month and Monkey month feels like going down a step that is slightly disporportionate with the others in the staircase. It startles the nervous system.

There are four pillars that embody this Wood/Metal conflict energy: The Wood Monkey, Wood Rooster, Metal Tiger, and Metal Rabbit. If you read bazi, you know that wherever this pillar appears there is some inherent conflict in that part of the person’s life. Some people seem to “suffer” from the conflict while others will surprise you with creativity and transformations.

yang Wood yin Wood yang Metal yin Metal
甲 乙 庚 辛
申 酉 寅 卯
Monkey Rooster Tiger Rabbit

Each of these pillars has an energetic signature so to speak. For example, the Wood Monkey is a decision maker. In the year pillar, it might indicate a person who was charged to take care of a family at a young age. It’s overwhelming and this may reinforce the Monkey’s tendency not to reveal their plans due to feeling like when they do, they get thwarted by responsibility.

The Wood Rooster has a similar experience, but they might be more prone to negotiating a better outcome than the Monkey would. The Rooster will want to handle things in a more subtle way, maybe even seeking religion or other ways of anchoring their ethics to practical matters.

The Metal Tiger is maybe the harshest one, but if you’re Metal sitting on Wood, it might feel like you have to be that way to survive. With the Metal Tiger it controls from the top down. The Wood Monkey is trying to control what heaven has given, the Metal Tiger is trying to control things on earth. These are just a few ways to think about these pillars.

In reading bazi, I like to always remember what these symbols are trying to say. For example, yes you could interpret yang Wood as a tree, and yang Metal (Monkey) as an axe. Wood and Metal clash, but when we see these characters together the first thing you might notice is how similar they are.

甲申

When you see this pillar, you know right from the start that discernment is needed; this person is going to need to be discerning. This is a theme of their life, but in the lens of yin/yang they might be very careful, or they might be very careless!

The Wood Monkey pillar is often the sign of an important decision that is pressing and I think we are all feeling that in August 2025. This pillar can also indicate a person who has to make important decisions.

For example, Harry Truman, who was the 33rd US President, authorized the use of the atomic bomb in 1945. He was born in a Wood Monkey year. He made the authorization in a Wood Rooster year, close to the start of a Wood Monkey month. His year pillar and month pillar match Giuliani’s and maybe this is a testament about how one person having too much power can lead them into doing things that they might avoid otherwise; things that they might profoundly regret.

This is a challenging year for the Wood Monkey because it’s a Wood Snake year, and the Monkey and Snake have a unique kind of relationship. Elon Musk has a Wood Monkey day pillar. As such a public figure we know quite a bit about his antics so he’s a good case study.

You see, Monkeys tend to have problems with third party relationships in a Snake year, and that’s Elon for sure. The 申 Monkey may or may not know about the third party. A Monkey might be the third party, but this is true for 巳 Snake and 寅 Tiger too. The so called Fire Penalty only exists in the context of relationships. That means it can be influenced by our behavior.

Monkey and Snake are Secret Friends, and they also carry each other’s breakup sign. This is sometimes called a Destruction in a bazi. It’s complicated.

The last Wood Monkey year was 2004, so 21 year olds like Millie Bobbie Brown* are impacted by the Snake this year, as well as 81 year olds like Rudy Giuliani.

Ba Zi of Rudy Giuliani
b. May 28 1944 at 14:30
Life House
Yang
Earth
戊
辰
Dragon
Hour
Yin
Fire
丁
未
Sheep
Day
Yang
Water
壬
辰
Dragon
Month
Yin
Earth
己
巳
Snake
Year
Yang
Wood
甲
申
Monkey
Big Fate
Yin
Fire
丁
丑
Ox

In 2001, a Metal Snake year, Rudy Giuliani was the mayor of New York city and was thought to be a hero. That was his last year in office. The Snake is not kind to him as you can see if you look at his career history. Each time a Snake comes, he experiences endings.

His experience of the Snake is magnified by the Snake in his month pillar. Do you see how it combines from top to bottom with the year pillar? An interesting feature of this is that his output (Wood) can be transformed to his officer (Earth). Unless he is careful, his words and deeds can get him in trouble with authority. This might be more problematic for a Water day master than any other. I think when there are Earth signs in the stem or branch Rudy Giuliani gets some consequences and health issues too.

Mr. Giuliani kicked off the Year of the Wood Snake in the Tiger month with the Fire Penalty, which for him involves his money element.

He is a Water person, so his money and success element is Fire. In February 2025 he settled a lawsuit where I’m sure he lost a big chunk of change, but I’m thinking he didn’t lose as much as he could have even though he committed serious violations of ethics. Why? Probably because he is a strong Water guy.

His powerful day pillar of Water Dragon is the same as Putin’s year pillar, and it clashes top to bottom with Trump’s year pillar of Fire Dog. My take on Rudy is that when he fell in with the wrong “friends”, his career tanked. I don’t think Water is a helpful element for him. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024. I think you can see the potential for this in his bazi.

While bazi is often calculated using solar timings, you might decide to use the lunar calendar instead. From that perspective, Rudy Giuliani was born in an intercalary lunar month. I picked up on this because this summer I have been learning Zi Wei Dou Shu, which is calculated with lunar timings. I haven’t done enough research yet to tell if there might be something significant about being born in an intercalary month.

If you are interested in a Zi Wei Dou Shu reading, I will be offering it as a service soon. Watch for an announcement here on the blog, or receive a notification in your email by subscribing to my Substack.

I wish you (and Rudy) well in this month where decisions are pressing in. Let your relationships guide your actions. Where do you want to be this winter? Who else will be there?

*Born in a Tiger month, Millie Bobbie Brown is experiencing the Fire Penalty this year too. Based on her life, I suspect Fire is a favorable element for her.

12 Animal Fortunes for the Wood Monkey Month

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Wood Monkey 甲申 Month
August 7th 13:51-September 7th 16:52

Here are the Animal Fortunes for the month of the Wood 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 year, month, day and time.

If you don’t know your Four Pillars, just ask! Each of the four animals of your BaZi correlates with an aspect of your life. Start with that interpretation.

If you’d like to know more about how your natal chart works, or what to expect in 2025, you can book a reading here.

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

申 Monkey
Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Month: August roughly.
Prepare yourself and welcome the truth. What I can tell you for sure is that it’s not going to be as bad as you imagine. I know how you think.
Hint: The revolution was always personal.

酉 Rooster
Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
Month: September roughly.
Take this month to shift stagnation in your environment. Make open space for the future to enter.
Hint: Clear out on behalf of the revolution. What do you have that others could use?

戌 Dog
Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
Month: October roughly.
The Dog realizes the full extent of what this revolution has brought so far. There is so much work to do but it’s probably what you want.
Hint: Where do you want to be in October? How soon can you go?

亥 Pig
Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
Month: November roughly.
Maybe it’s really your revolution Pig. What if this month you’re supported to act – without getting too much attention? Blockages melt away.
Hint: Make plans and deals for winter months.

子 Rat
Years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
Month: December roughly.
The Wood Monkey puts the Rat into a state of creative flow for the month. As the strategist for this revolution, you might use that support to defuse conflict.
Hint: See both sides.

丑 Ox
Years: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
Month: January roughly.
The Ox may have a new boss, as well as a load of work to do. Plan for short, intense efforts. The “work” may relate to family too. Be in the moment.
Hint: In the revolution, everything will get done on time.

寅 Tiger
Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
Month: February roughly.
If you’re used to being a predator, then you know what it’s like to be prey too. This healthy perspective supports the revolution. Let roles shift and changes happen.
Hint: Tigers are easy to spot this month. It may be you are exposed.

卯 Rabbit
Years: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
Month: March roughly.
Some of the most changing years are coming up for the Rabbit. Maybe this month is a marker of where your role pivots in the revolution.
Hint: Seek equity in partnership and shape your future.

辰 Dragon
Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Month: April roughly.
Dragons find engineers and other makers to bring their ideas further into the tangible world. You could easily recruit on behalf of the revolution.
Hint: It’s not beneath you.

巳 Snake
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Month: May roughly.
One of my first teachers said that the Snake, unlike other signs, reaps the consequences of their deeds during this lifetime. This month that could be particularly impactful.
Hint: The question of the revolution is: what are you learning and what will you do differently?

午 Horse
Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Month: June roughly.
Feel the uneasiness – it’s not fear this time is it? The smoke is in the air in this revolution now and you know which way to go. Not everyone will follow you.
Hint: You can lead a Monkey to safety but you’re not in charge of making them think.

未 Sheep
Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
Month: July roughly.
Like the Ox, Sheep has a lot of work to do – from now until a possible reunion in November when you reap some of the rewards of this revolution.
Hint: You may benefit from a low profile for now.

Group Class offering for September 2025

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

I’m offering the first class in my BaZi Intro Series as a group class on Sunday September 14 2025 from 9-10 am GMT-7. Tuition is $27.00 and all are welcome. If you’ve been thinking about working with me but you’d like to get to know me first, please join us. You can sign up here.

Roots, Stems and Branches of Ba Zi is for anyone who wants to learn more about Ba Zi or Chinese Astrology. You don’t need any prior knowledge or training. If you’d like to take other classes with me and you have no prior experience, start here. This is foundational knowledge.

TOPICS

  • What is Ba Zi?
  • Identifying 10 Heavenly Stems & 12 Earthly Branches
  • Basic symbolism/meanings of Stems and Branches
  • Cycle of 60 and Patterns

Visit these links if you’d like to learn to write the Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches prior to the class.