A Clean Sheet: the Month of the Wood Rat

A 7 month                                         brings Fire & Metal
A typical Rat Month                     offers meetings and discussion.
Where not to be this month:   East, tai chi.
Where to be this month:           South West, South.
Favoured Animals:                      Monkey, Rat, Dragon, Ox.
Especially challenged:             (in order) Horse, Sheep, Rabbit.
The Hexagram* (above):          Kun, Earth, Earth over Earth, the Receptive.
Summary:                                        Connecting.

*I am now listing the Hexagram corresponding to the particular month in question rather than the generic Tidal Gua. Put simply, Kun corresponds specifically to a Wood Rat rather than to just any Rat.

This month’s Hexagram Kun the Receptive, is made up entirely of Yin, that is broken lines. She is said to rule over The Tao of Humanity, that is to say how we behave in relation to each other. Those Yin lines offer examples of life’s pitfalls, the essential message being to avoid extremes: of dependence or independence, willfulness or compliance, certainty and doubt. And then sometimes one or other may prove inevitable or preferable.

I remember long ago reading in the Dhammapadda that “the middle way is easy for the man with no preference” (presumably also true for other genders) and thinking “Oh that’s easy then, I’ll have no preference” and then realising that every action I take involves a decision. I express preference by opening my eyes in the morning. I express preference by selecting a pair of socks. Throughout the day I am making decisions to do that thing rather than this one.

This month’s Stem and Branch or Pillar is the Wood Rat. The Wood Rat opens the sequence of sixty Pillars and is generally reckoned to indicate beginnings. So in some sense the New Year has come early. The Rat is Yang Water meaning that he tends to attract discussion, disclosure and the emotional. One of these can so easily turn into another and the tao of the moment may well indicate letting them do just that.

At the centre of the month’s Lo Shu or “magic square” is a 7 which is one of the most troublesome of the cyclical Stars. 7 has aspects of both Fire and Metal and is often associated with plausibility, theft and burglary. This month may feature just such inconveniences and if you are in a house with certain patterns of Stars it would be a good idea to take precautions.

The coming Dragon is likely to change so much. Right now is like the stillness before the tsunami when the tide has receded too far and the sea seems to be holding its breath. Appropriate behaviour has never been more important.

I’m teaching approaches to the Book of Changes by examining the Hexagram corresponding to each month as they arise. The plan is to examine every one of them both as an indication of the state of play in the world and of how to approach Hexagrams if we simply cast them. That’s about eight years work but you can join for a year at a time. The ones we have looked at so far are posted on my YouTube Channel. https://imperialfengshui.info/book-of-changes-series-of-workshops-2023-onwards/

If you’re interested in learning Qi Men Dun Jia drafting and basic interpretation, I’m teaching just that via a one day via Zoom on the 16^th March 3pm – 9pm GMT – timing to suit my US students and those in other time zones . Process is often as important as outcome which is why whether it’s ba zi, Flying Stars or Qi Men Dun Jia I draft by hand. Mastering these skills will also save you being dependent upon expensive software. https://imperialfengshui.info/starter-qi-men-dun-jia-zoom-day/

We’re toying with a weekend residential transformational workshop diving deeper into the remarkable things we can do with ba zi. That would be in April at Fintry an extraordinary house in the Surrey Hills stuck in an Edwardian time warp. We only do these things if the universe appears to want them so if you’re interested, do let us know rapidly. I will be teaching the Cloud of Unknowing as part of this.

We hope to see you. Meanwhile have a wonderful winter!
© Richard Ashworth 2023 

The Month of the Wood Rat, Animal by Animal:
Different nuances for Year, Month, Day or Hour Animal & Life House.

Rats (1948, 60, 72, 84, 96; births in December* 11pm-1am & on certain days#). Reconciliation. Lots of talk, a chance to remake contacts that matter to you. Don’t expect gratitude.

Ox (1949, 61, 73, 85, 97; births in January*, 1-3am & on certain days#) Cyclical power comes to you. Use it well, it may wane quite quickly.

Tiger (1950, 62, 74, 86, 98; births in February*, 3-5am & on certain days#) More input than is comfortable, take them one at a time.

Rabbit (1951, 63, 75, 87, 99; births in March*, 5-7am & on certain days#) Value what’s valuable, gratitude is the key to joy this month.

Dragon (1952, 64, 76, 88, 2000; births in April* 7-9am & on certain days#) Things are easier than you expected. Relax.

Snake (1941,53, 65, 77, 89; births in May*, 9-11am & on certain days#) A quieter time than usual.

Horse (1942, 54, 66, 78, 90; births in June*, around midday & on certain days#) Slower going than may be comfortable.

Sheep (1943, 55, 67, 79, 91; births in July*, 1-3pm & on certain days#) arguments may arise over things that don’t matter and you don’t really care about.

Monkey (1944, 56, 68, 80, 92; births in August*, 3-5pm & on certain days#) Fun.

Rooster (1945, 57, 69, 81, 93; births in September*, 5-7pm & on certain days#) Energy may flag, take it easy.

Dog (1946, 58, 70, 82, 94; births in October*, 7-9pm & on certain days#) Surprisingly profitable.

Pig (1947, 59, 71, 83, 95; births in November*, 9-11pm & on certain days#) Watch for overwhelm and take things one at a time.
* Chinese Months start later than European ones.
#You’ll need help or a Chinese Calendar for this.

A Helpful Day
Saturday 16^th December, Earth Monkey, Foundation, Success (7) ***** Excellent
Some digging. What’s hidden may emerge and re-frame everything today. Immediate positive results. Fine for placing Water.
Activity: maintain balance.   
Enhanced: Monkey, Rat, Dragon, Snake.
Especially empowered: Wood(1944, 2004) Fire(1956) Earth(1968) Metal(1980)Monkey; Earth(1948) Metal(1960) Water(1972) Rat; Wood(1964) Dragon; Wood(1965) Fire(1977) Earth(1989) Metal(1941, 2001) Snake. Use power wisely.

Not so Helpful
Sunday 24^th December, Fire Dragon, Void, Stable (8) delicate
Take care to navigate around others’ toes. For some a time of contemplation; for others desolation. Breath through to the other side. Little change today. Could be hard to see ahead.
Activity: Rat due North for company and understanding.
No favourites:

A Helpful Location
North East, Beginnings and Endings: 7 Month Star: 1.
Better times, the uppity 7 either drained or expressed, dependent upon surroundings, context and your viewpoint, by the eloquent 1. If you have a talk to prepare or deliver, here’s where you’ll gain an edge. Be clear of your point.
Encourage: Water: a bowl of fresh Water changed daily.

Not so Helpful
East, Ambition: Year Star: 2 Month: 5. Tai sui (Rabbit) or Year Star; Month Wu huang
2 & 5 together are a delicate pair; treated with respect they speak of burgeoning power; surrounded by mess and pointless noise they can backfire. Chaos makes for chaos.
Settle: t’ang lung
© Richard Ashworth 2023 

Richard Ashworth is one of the most respected Western Feng Shui Masters.  A good taster of his approach may be found on Audible . You can also see him at work on tv’s Housebusters Most Thursdays and Fridays he is to be found teaching both feng shui and ba zi  one-to-one online (times by mutual arrangement) with students from Seattle to Belgium,

Richard has worked from Lebanon to Bermuda, in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and with stars such as Naomie Harris, Kelly Hoppen and Gillian Anderson. Unusually for a Western Master, he has addressed the Grand Masters at the International Feng Shui Conference in Singapore.

Every month we send (at a modest fee) retainer clients a more comprehensive monthly bulletin than this one, covering in detail right places to be (and when) as well as the most helpful days Animal by Animal and much more from the Chinese calendar.
Subscriptions (and further info): Sheilaashworthfengshui@gmail.com

Richard Ashworth©
www.imperialfengshui.info