As the Lunar World Turns
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
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| [a] Cat Preview ("What...double red ink?") RF |
Day Personality
(Section Five—Characters Six and Seven)
Today's "constellation personality" is Eastern Wall (壁). Calendrical interpretations stress that it presages ample returns and bountiful treasuries. Building and digging projects are auspicious, and children born of marriages on this day will make their parents proud. Not bad for a little eastern wall huh?
The jianchu "personality" is Open (開). This is one of the best-of-the-best. It's a good day to, well, be open. Weddings, receiving guests, tallying accounts, and (of course) studying—not to mention meeting friends, and perhaps studying with them—are all bountiful. Be open.
Lucky Stars
(Section Two)
There are four beneficent asterisms today: Generational Branch (歲支), Virtuous Days (德日), Generational Branch (歲支), and Six Linkages (六合). Yesterday had three linkages; today has six. Not bad. And, no, I don't know why Generational Branch is repeated. I think that I have seen it before, but I can't remember when. It is quite odd.
Auspicious Times
(Section Three)
There are four inauspicious (凶) two-hour periods, three in-between (中) times, and five auspicious (吉) times. Not bad.
Things to Avoid
(Section Four)
It's a bad day for Planting and Cultivating (栽種), Boring Wells (穿井), Opening Ponds (開池), and Tailoring (裁衣). Think about these. They span the day's activities from inside to outside (and from land to water. Do your best to keep those wells' attention (maybe a little Agatha Christie instead of Hegel today).
Just Plain Counting
(Section Four—Characters 1-4)
It is the ninth () day of the fourth lunar month. The cycle of sixty character is #54: yimao (乙卯). The days cycle—1, 2, 3, 58, 59, 60, 1, 2, 3...—in perpetuity.
(Section Five—Characters Six and Seven)
Today's "constellation personality" is Eastern Wall (壁). Calendrical interpretations stress that it presages ample returns and bountiful treasuries. Building and digging projects are auspicious, and children born of marriages on this day will make their parents proud. Not bad for a little eastern wall huh?
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| [b] Eastern Wall RF |
The jianchu "personality" is Open (開). This is one of the best-of-the-best. It's a good day to, well, be open. Weddings, receiving guests, tallying accounts, and (of course) studying—not to mention meeting friends, and perhaps studying with them—are all bountiful. Be open.
Lucky Stars
(Section Two)
There are four beneficent asterisms today: Generational Branch (歲支), Virtuous Days (德日), Generational Branch (歲支), and Six Linkages (六合). Yesterday had three linkages; today has six. Not bad. And, no, I don't know why Generational Branch is repeated. I think that I have seen it before, but I can't remember when. It is quite odd.
Auspicious Times
(Section Three)
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| [c] Opening Ponds RF |
Things to Avoid
(Section Four)
It's a bad day for Planting and Cultivating (栽種), Boring Wells (穿井), Opening Ponds (開池), and Tailoring (裁衣). Think about these. They span the day's activities from inside to outside (and from land to water. Do your best to keep those wells' attention (maybe a little Agatha Christie instead of Hegel today).
Just Plain Counting
(Section Four—Characters 1-4)
It is the ninth () day of the fourth lunar month. The cycle of sixty character is #54: yimao (乙卯). The days cycle—1, 2, 3, 58, 59, 60, 1, 2, 3...—in perpetuity.
Elemental (and Phased)
(Section Five—Character 5)
Today's
slice of the "Five Phases" (sometimes called the "Five Elements") is Water (水). Ordinarily, the Five Phases weave their way, two-by-two, through
the calendar. Yesterday was Water. Today is Water, and tomorrow is Earth.
Appropriate Things
(Section Six)
It's a solid day for sixteen different things, including Studying (入學), Meeting Friends (會友), Marriage (嫁娶), and Moving Households (移徙). If you think about those four items in narrative sequence, they could constitute a story prompt. Click the link for the other twelve. They share the narrative potential of this bustling, active day.
(Section Five—Character 5)
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| [d] Studying RF |
Appropriate Things
(Section Six)
It's a solid day for sixteen different things, including Studying (入學), Meeting Friends (會友), Marriage (嫁娶), and Moving Households (移徙). If you think about those four items in narrative sequence, they could constitute a story prompt. Click the link for the other twelve. They share the narrative potential of this bustling, active day.
Wednesday's Lunar Calendar
We
are in the eighth of the twenty-four fifteen day solar periods (the
二十四節氣), which
began on Monday, May 21 and runs through Monday, June 4. It is called
Grain Full (小滿). We are in the twenty-first of the seventy-two
five-day
solar micro periods (the 七十二候). It is called Bitter Herb Grows Tall
(苦菜秀). It began on Monday, May 21, and runs through Friday, May 25.
Solar Periods
(Section Six—Upper and Middle)
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| [e] Long Star RF |
Fear Your Unlucky Stars
(Bottom of Section Six)
The baleful asterisms (the bottom of section six) are Lower Amputee (下兀), Classified Balefulness (班煞), Heavenly Fire (天火), and Yang General (陽將). The big, bold, baleful centerpiece is Long Star (長星). That always reminds me of Texas (and the joke only works in English). As my wife always tells me, it's a long way across Texas (and is farther from Texarkana to El Paso than it is from El Paso to Los Angeles. That's the Long Star state, people.
Miscellaneous Omens and Activities
(Sections Seven and Eight)
Today's miscellaneous omens are Person (人) and Person (人). Yes, I think that we have a day of repeats. The miscellaneous activities are Gate (門), Mortar (磨), and Pestle (碓). Nobody knows what they mean (and that not-really-glib assessment is based on thirty years of calendrical fieldwork).
See You Tomorrow
So, people, it is time to luxuriate in red-ink auspiciousness. Enjoy it while you can, and I will see you back here on Wednesday night for a preview of Thursday in Lunar World.
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