Chinese Astrology for Beginners

By Althea S.T.

CHINESE ASTROLOGY FOR BEGINNERS

Health. Love. Wealth.

What’s the secret to finding all three?

The secret is discovering who you are and whom you are not. Once you know more about yourself, you’ll know how to find success and improve your relationships, too.

Learning Ba Zi Chinese astrology can help.

Even if you’ve never studied this art before, you can learn by starting here.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? If you don’t know, then how can you improve who you are or find success in what you do and how you influence others?

Understand yourself and others and develop better relationships. Find the tools that work. The invaluable information included in this book will shed light on your personality traits, increase your chance of success, and help you employ a smoother life.

A few of the topics included are:
•Ten personality types of Chinese Astrology.
•Are you the Artist, the Giver or the Protector? Do you prefer spending time with the Thinker, the Visionary or the Nurturer? Do you relate better to Motivators or Executives?
•How to read and interpret the Ba Zi chart.
•How to discover your luck in the next few years.

Discover your destiny, unleash your potential, and harness your luck.

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Look for more books written by this renowned Chinese Astrology consultant, teacher and award-winning author.

Althea S.T. is an awarded author and renowned consultant and teacher who specializes in Chinese Astrology consultations and Certification courses. Follow her today to learn more about her latest releases tomorrow.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Althea S.T.
• Release date: Aug 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463555798

Althea S.T.

About the Author Althea is awarded author, coach and teacher of Ba Zi Chinese Astrology. Her formal studies carried her through south-east Asia studying with best masters and learning her craft. She worked tirelessly to unpack the ancient knowledge of these systems, which had for so many centuries been carefully concealed. All this time, she put her theory into practice in her own life. One reason the arts of Ba Zi Chinese Astrology was so appealing to the author is their practical functionality in everyday life. These are not philosophical ideals (though in the highest forms they approach such). These are ways to understand and interact with the living world all around us. Althea is an experienced full-time consultant and lecturer at Althea S.T. Consultants and the founder of Ba Zi Chinese astrology, Feng Shui, Yi Jing & Xuan Kong Da Gua comprehensive study programs. Her professional approach across all fields remains open and giving, and her study program is carefully designed to give plenty of practical, useful and authentic information, and to equip her students with everything they might need to establish their own quality practice. After 3 decades of growth, practice, and experience, she offers the personalized approach to understanding the ways of Feng Shui and Four Pillars Astrology in her hardcover books: "A Course in Feng Shui: Make Your Property Work for You, at All Times" (MBS Book Awards Winner, January 2018) and "A Course in Chinese Astrology: Reveal Your Destiny, Harness Your Luck" (MBS Book Awards Finalist), and Kindle Chinese astrology series. However, make no mistake, her texts offer far more than mere philosophy, because these ancient healing arts might become a guiding light on your path to a richer and more fulfilling life here on Earth. To Write to the Author For additional information and resources, please visit author’s website at www.altheachineseastrology.com. If you wish to contact the author or would like more information about her books, services or courses, please write to: [e-mail].

Book preview

Chinese Astrology

We’ve always sought the answers to the mysteries of existence by looking to the skies in wonder, contemplating our lives and the nature of reality. Our Chinese ancestors built their early philosophies around concepts of nature and the Universe; these ideas were the origins of their astrology. Nature was seen as a self-generating phenomenon; a complex structure composed of interacting elements which altered the fabric of experience.

Historically, there were no clear boundaries between astronomy and astrology, like there were no real demarcations between geography and Feng Shui. Much of the population of ancient China depended on the success of their crops, they needed to understand changes in the seasons, weather and the exact timing of the tides. Gazing to the heavens, examining the stars and the skies was crucial to their survival.

This forerunner to contemporary astronomy and meteorology, concerned itself with deciphering the best times to plant and harvest crops. By the fifth century, the Chinese had already catalogued more than 1400 stars; many in the population were committed stargazers.

The ancient Chinese acknowledged everything as an expression of energy, including life itself. The Three Treasures - Heaven, Earth and Human Qi concept weaved a close relationship between their astrology and Chinese philosophy. Therefore, it’s not surprising that Ying/Yang, the Five Elements and the concepts of Heaven, Earth and Man played such an important role in the analysis and interpretation of their astrology.

The indigenous Chinese religion, Taoism, which stressed the value of nature and the importance of natural rhythms and cycles, was also influential. Its metaphysical bent towards the integration of Mind, Body and Spirit, which was seen as a reflection of Heaven, Earth and Man in the microcosm, postulated that everything was (is) connected and acts accordingly. The life of each individual is determined by the person’s deeds (Human Qi), the prevailing energy of the location (Earth Qi - Feng Shui) as well as the individual’s date and time of birth (Heaven Qi).

Ten Stems and Twelve Branches

Chinese astrology differs from Western astrology in many respects.

Several thousand years ago, Stems and Branches were invented for chronological purposes. These Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches were used to address years, months, days, hours and even minutes. Gaining an understanding of these Stems and Branches proved to be quite difficult as people were often illiterate, so animal symbols were soon used to represent the Twelve Branches.

The system of twelve-year cycles was created by Chinese astronomers by observing the orbit of the planet Jupiter. According to a Chinese legend, the sequencing of the twelve Chinese Zodiac signs (Branches) was determined by Buddha himself. Legend has it that during the celebrations of a particular Chinese New Year, all the animals were invited to a meeting but only twelve appeared. Rat was the first to arrive, due to his natural foresight and cunning character. It is even said that he climbed onto Ox’s back and jumped right in front of Buddha, presenting himself as the first animal guest. Ox was naturally the second, with Tiger right behind him, followed by Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and finally… Pig.

Buddha decided to name the years after these twelve animals, and it is generally accepted that people born in certain years adopt the personality traits of the animal representing that year. However, in the practice of Traditional Chinese Astrology, the birth month, day and hour also play an important role. The location of Branches (or animals) and the interaction with other Branches (together with one’s Self and Day Pillar) can only provide the complete picture of each person’s character and destiny.

The Chinese calendar is not only based on animal signs (Branches) but also on ‘sexagenary cycles’, which most likely originated during the Shang Dynasty almost 2000 years BC. These cycles operate not only in years, but also in months, days, hours and minutes. Above every Branch sits a Stem, and as there are Five Elements, each Branch appears five times, on each occasion combined with a different Stem.

The Twelve Branches appear as either Yang or Yin, even numbered years are Yang (2018) and odd ones Yin (2019). Every Yang Branch is also accompanied by a Yang Stem, while Yin Branches are accompanied by Yin Stems. For example, 2017 was an odd numbered year, and therefore it was Yin, its Branch and Stem were also Yin. 2018 is an even year, it consists of a Yang Branch and Stem. Each sexagenary cycle (usually referred to as ‘Sixty Jia Zi’) starts with the Yang Wood Rat and ends with the Water Pig.

Although different schools of Chinese Astrology use the lunar and/or solar calendar to calculate the beginning of the year, in this book I use the solar calendar, which means the New Year always appears at the beginning of February; usually on the third or fourth day of the month, depending on solar longitude. People born between 1st January and 3rd or 4th February, were therefore born in the previous year.

Chinese astrology also deals with the month, day and