Author: Stephanie Stewart

12 Animal Fortunes for the Fire Pig Month

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Fire Pig 丁亥 Month
November 7th 12:04 – December 7th 05:04

Here are the Animal Fortunes for the month of the Fire Pig. 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

亥 Pig
Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
Month: November roughly.
Whatever is going on with you this month, please know that the revolution is assisted by you being cared for. Just ask and set the tone of generosity.
Hint: If you want change, don’t go without.

子 Rat
Years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
Month: December roughly.
Rats are ready to flood the zone. They’re making pre-emptive and/or preparatory moves to spread information in the revolution. Debunk please!
Hint: Be the strategist you are.

丑 Ox
Years: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
Month: January roughly.
It’s a wave of personal success for you but it might feel out of control. Is anything pure anymore?! All these mixed emotions.
Hint: The revolution is not over yet, but in a few months you can be in a different role.

寅 Tiger
Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
Month: February roughly.
The Tiger’s work on behalf of justice in the revolution will continue in 2026. Expect to be prominent. This month’s injustices will reveal which way to go.
Hint: I know you can see where to apply the destruction.

卯 Rabbit
Years: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
Month: March roughly.
Let the Pig take the wheel why not! Maybe this month is best spent in creativity – a little sheltered and in familiar territory.
Hint: All the things you do that you call small support the revolution too.

辰 Dragon
Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Month: April roughly.
Best believe that Dragons are in the early stages of a new phase. Whatever you see them doing now is part of their next iteration.
Hint: Don’t forget the revolution is still happening. We still need you.

巳 Snake
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Month: May roughly.
Getting clashed back now. Whatever you’ve sown this year with your behavior, now you reap. If you did it right, you’ll come out of this more powerful than ever.
Hint: The revolution is for the common good, not for the rich to get richer.

午 Horse
Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Month: June roughly.
The question is: are you taking danger seriously enough? Or might you be taking it too seriously? This will be an important theme for you next year in the revolution – how to be consistent.
Hint: Get more widely known for your work now.

未 Sheep
Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
Month: July roughly.
Are you starting to realize that everybody wants you? Sheep like to be included but not when they are being pulled in every direction. Someone is nearby to help. Will you accept?
Hint: The revolution is uncomfortable when there are so many demands for your assistance.

申 Monkey
Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Month: August roughly.
If you’re a Monkey looking for work, I think you’ll find some prospects this month. You know, there are actually some jobs in the revolution that are fun.
Hint: Spread the word and find what you want. It’s also good timing to apply for benefits if needed. (crazy right?)

酉 Rooster
Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
Month: September roughly.
Roosters are learning not to get into silly arguments, due to their participation in the revolution. Not everyone deserves an explanation or even a kick in the behind.
Hint: Keep your mind open, keep talking. Don’t waste your time.

戌 Dog
Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
Month: October roughly.
Winter begins and it’s time for Dogs to be at home, dreaming of a favorite treat: the satisfaction of defending the Land Back movement in the revolution next year.
Hint: Share your dreams.

I hope you enjoyed these monthly forecasts. For daily forecasts, follow the Serious Dailies.

Bazi of Zohran Mamdani

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Zohran Mamdani is currently running for Mayor of New York City. Right now, he is in the lead. The election will be held on Tuesday November 4th, when we will still be in the Fire Dog month. This is important to note because the Bullying Punishment is in play and Zohran has all three signs in his natal chart: 未 Sheep, 戌 Dog, 丑 Ox. Obviously this doesn’t sound good.

But what if…the element of the “punishment” is helpful for him? What if experiencing the Bullying Punishment is how you learn to take away its power? It looks like Zohran has some special expertise in that and by his actions he has already shown he is not the bully.

We talked about Zohran Mamdani’s bazi during the Monthly Meetup for the Water Sheep month (last July). Now that we’re close to the election I thought I’d take another look at his natal chart and the election date. The bazi of Election Day is near the end of this post.

I think this is just the beginning of a very important phase for Mr. Mamdani. When your Big Fate matches your Life House, it’s a chance to live in the qi of your purpose for ten years. This is a special time. When your Big Fate also includes your success element and your Nobleman that combines with you, you’re very lucky! He just began his current Fate in 2024.

Speaking of Nobleman, Curtis Sliwa, a 1954 Wood Horse, seems to be helping Zohran though that may not be his goal. You’ll notice that his year pillar matches Zohran’s Ten Year Luck. Maybe they should work together in some capacity after the election. These times call for moving with others who are going in the same direction that you want to go.

Bullying Punishment

In the years since 2015, I’ve noticed the prevalence of the Bullying Punishment in the context of so called world leaders and governments but it’s been going on much longer than that and it’s everywhere.

You can see the Bullying Punishment, sometimes called the Earth Punishment or Penalty, in someone’s natal chart, but also in the charts of countries, cults and corporations. You can see it on a map too. It’s a big subject to tackle but one day I may write about what I see with the Bullying Punishment in history and the present.

For now, let’s focus on the bazi of Zohran Mamdani who was born in Kampala Uganda. I mention that because I think people who weren’t born in the United States might be quicker to understand that community is safer than rugged individualism for everyone. It’s a generalization but there’s some truth in it and we could really use a sense of caring for the collective now. A Sheep will naturally bring that to their work.

Ba Zi of Zohran K. Mamdani
b. October 18th 1991 at 01:15 am
Life House
Yang
Wood
甲
午
Horse
Hour
Yin
Earth
己
丑
Ox
Day
Yin
Metal
辛
酉
Rooster
Month
Yang
Earth
戊
戌
Dog
Year
Yin
Metal
辛
未
Sheep
Big Fate
Yang
Wood
甲
午
Horse

To beat a bully, unfortunately it’s helpful to have some experience in being bullied. What you learn from dealing with bullies is your practice and that is how you might become good at neutralizing them. With 未 Sheep, 戌 Dog, 丑 Ox Zohran Mamdani has the three signs of the Bullying Punishment.

He has experienced it, his ancestors have experienced it, it’s built into his work/workplace. He thinks about it quite a bit and he’s smart. It seems to me there are three possibilities in the Bullying Punishment: be the bully, be the victim, or break the pattern. I think Zohran Mamdani might be a pattern breaker.

Breaking the pattern requires resisting the way the bullies pit us against each other. They try to manipulate our ideas about the morality and values of others so that we completely miss what we have in common, and what would be best for all of us. They portray and create shortages to turn us against each other. They try to subdue us with the shock and awe of their boundary incursions.

In these situations we may become suspicious of what/who we can trust. We might “trust” the bully blindly because the punishment (or potential punishment) for questioning the status quo feels overwhelming. We might hope the bully cares about us, or curry their favor hoping they will help us. This is the pattern that calls for breaking.

Phew! I won’t call that a digression, but let’s get back to the bazi of Zohran the pattern breaker.

When Your Supporters Have Been Bullied

With all that Earth, Zohran has a lot of supporters and he speaks for their benefit. Coming into this Horse Big Fate he has more fame (Fire) than usual. Obvious right? Fire is Zohran’s power/influence element. Other than the Earth and Fire, what else does he have going?

Did you notice the Metal Rooster in Zohran’s day pillar? This is also key to his success. The Rooster is directing the energy of 2025; the Rooster is running things which may not be the Rooster’s preferred situation.

Rooster Business

In any year though, the Rooster is going to find a way out of being bullied one way or another. It turns out best when they realize that they pack a punch. Though they may need to apologize for something they said later, in the moment they usually do exactly what is needed. This is the Rooster’s gift. It also gets the Rooster into troublesome or strange situations. Zohran’s love of music is a Rooster thing.

The sign of Rooster also relates to Zohran’s beautiful wife. In the Monthly Meetup discussion someone smart asked how Zohran’s wife felt about his career and we figured that with the Horse in his luck she likes who he is associating with more these days.

So what would be a concern about this bazi? It has a lot of resource and sometimes resource is the element that shows up when people are imprisoned or confined. More so I think when your resource is Earth. Too much resource can mean being stuck. On the other hand, if all else fails and you have resource, that could save you.

Note that these generalizations are non-transferable. Every bazi is different. And just to make it more confusing, if I were to recommend an amulet for Zohran to carry this year it would be the Dragon. More Earth.

New York City Mayoral Election

Before concluding, let’s take a look at the Election Day chart.

Ba Zi of New York Mayoral Election Day
b. Tuesday November 4th 2025
Hour
?
Day
Yin
Fire
丁
丑
Ox
Month
Yang
Fire
丙
戌
Dog
Year
Yin
Wood
乙
巳
Snake

Can Zohran Mamdani defeat Andrew Cuomo? Who does this day favor more?

The Election Day chart indicates a strong self supported by friends for Zohran, and power/influence. If the vote is tabulated without interference, I’m feeling optimistic for Zohran Mamdani, and grateful that people like him would take on the risk the job entails in this political climate. If he doesn’t win this one, I know we haven’t seen the last of him.

Andrew Cuomo

What about Andrew Cuomo? Does he have a chance to win?

Ba Zi of Andrew Cuomo
b. December 6th 1957
Hour
?
Day
Yang
Water
壬
子
Rat
Month
Yin
Metal
辛
亥
Pig
Year
Yin
Fire
丁
酉
Rooster

Andrew Cuomo was born in 1957, a Fire Rooster year. His day pillar is Water Rat, his month is Metal Pig. These times are challenging for a strong Water day master and the Fire Horse year looms.

Election day brings a lot of resource, and turns success to output (more work?) for Cuomo. It’s the Year of the Wood Snake, and Snake is a Nobleman for him but I think it sometimes marks endings too. Andrew Cuomo’s current Ten Year Luck cycle is also  Wood Snake. The Rooster in his year pillar combines with the Snake of the year and the Ox of the election day. Could it be enough to help him win? What we can say for sure is that the Nobleman brings a lesson and for him this might be a lesson about wealth and success. I hope it’s something he hasn’t learned before.

In life there’s always what you want and what you don’t want, but I try to see beyond that. It’s hard to be objective sometimes.

Side note: Why is the swearing in of Adelita Grijalva being delayed? In her bazi we can read it as the Bullying Punishment, which can also look like exclusion.

Monthly Meetup – Fire Pig Month

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

JOIN US!

The Fire Pig month opens on November 7th 2025 and the Monthly Meetup will be held on Saturday November 8th from 9-10 am GMT-8 (Seattle time). Read more about the Monthly Meetup and how it works or sign up here.

Every month my Monthly Guide is the jumping off point for discussion but we are not limited by that. Bring your questions.

Potential topics include the nature of the month, Hexagram 16, the clash of Pig and Snake, Flying Stars, Tai Sui, Sui Po, San Sha, construction at the White House, and how your Ming Gua influences your experience of the year.

The Guide for the Fire Pig 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 November 7th.

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

Bazi of D’Angelo

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

D’Angelo was a popular and talented R&B artist, producer and member of the Soulquarians who possessed (was possessed by?) a supernatural talent. He could feel what you feel, and make you feel some kind of way with his music. He was good at organizing independent artists; metaphorically herding cats!

When you hear his music, you know it’s him. His vibe comes through regardless of who he’s working with. D’Angelo was working from a place of emotion and spirituality. He was also a stickler for rhythm. I think his elegance with this sometimes goes unnoticed, kind of like Val Jeanty. D’Angelo’s magic connects in such a way that people felt like they were on intimate terms with him whether they knew him or not. That must have been such a strange experience for him to meet people who had certain expectations about what he might want to do with them.

The paradox of D’Angelo’s life is that he is a yin Water person, and yet, he can easily kindle. This brings a lot of success and other rewards but maybe it also means he would go through long periods without creating new music. His creativity could protect him from being transformed to Fire but it couldn’t prevent it completely.

Probably the most fascinating thing to me about his bazi is the huge amount of talent D’Angelo possessed and how fame interfered with his creativity. Unfortunately, this is a common experience of people with talent. Maybe if you can keep your fame smaller you’ll be healthier? Is it possible to keep a conflagration small (and alive) once it’s started? Is there privacy anymore?

D’Angelo recently passed at the age of 51 due to pancreatic cancer. He was in a specific timing of the Earth Punishment when he passed in October. His favorable elements are pretty clear I think. I’ve done some reverse engineering based on his death date to verify. D’Angelo’s current Fate of 辛未 Metal Sheep started in 2022, a 壬寅 Water Tiger year.

I have estimated his birth time to be in the Horse hour.

Ba Zi of D'Angelo
b. February 11 1974 午 hour | d. October 14 2025
Life House
Yin
Water
癸
酉
Rooster
Hour
Yang
Earth
戊
午
Horse
Day
Yin
Water
癸
未
Sheep
Month
Yang
Fire
丙
寅
Tiger
Year
Yang
Wood
甲
寅
Tiger
Big Fate
Yin
Metal
辛
未
Sheep

How Does It Feel?

What this bazi says to me is that consciously or unconsciously, D’Angelo was enlisted (signed up?) to deal with an ancestral situation. In some ways, it is his job to “hurt the officer”, to go against enforcement, rules and limits on how much space he should take up on behalf of pleasure. D’Angelo’s music was sexy and sexual, this was part of his brand that may have led some people to take him less seriously as an artist. We are easily distracted by the physical and probably rightly so.

Being a 癸 yin Water person, he had an element of spirituality that was heightened by the 未 Sheep in his day pillar. Water Sheep knows things even without you telling them. They have prophetic “dreams”. They have a storehouse of creativity that comes out when they are clashed – when they get shaken up by life. There is only one water element in the bazi and that’s him, suggesting a feeling of loneliness in life. For an artist, this could be their preference. They want to keep space for the creativity.

I think this bazi would like to follow or feed Wood, and that any element weakening wood could be problematic. Wood was always asking for D’Angelo’s attention, asking him to give more. He did not have the capacity for that. In the times when his self element turned to Fire, his creative flow to Wood was obstructed. There are times when Metal would be a favorable element, but not always. D’Angelo himself said he would have dry spells with his creativity and in his natal chart you can see how that works.

Looking at his ten year timings in his life, and other signs, there may have been something related to 1993 which was the beginning of his illness. I don’t see the physical disease process as being unrelated to genetics, epigenetics, trauma and environment. We are not separate from our bodies, at least while we are incarnated, our bodies are not separate from our spirit and emotional body.

Death Date of D’Angelo
October 14 2025 午 Horse Hour

Hour
Yang
Wood
甲
午
Horse
Day
Yang
Fire
丙
辰
Dragon
Month
Yang
Fire
丙
戌
Dog
Year
Yin
Wood
乙
巳
Snake

As seems to be the case for some artists, an excess of Fire (fame) can be bad for your health, regardless of your self element. Of course this isn’t true for all creative people.

I hope he is at peace now.

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.