Eternal Chaos of the Monkey Mind – Monkey Month Bulletin 2020

Rats (1948, 60, 72, 84, 96; births in December* 11pm-1am & on certain days#). The Rat is the accomplice of the Monkey, offering strategy and articulacy but generally only in a constructive context and under the eye of the Dragon. Monkeys tend to the flaky otherwise.
Hexagram 27: the corners of the Mouth – for a 3^nd month. Getting the message?

Ox (1949, 61, 73, 85, 97; births in January*, 1-3am & on certain days#) Slightly at a distance, your word is law but not easily enforceable during the time of the anarchic Monkey.

Tiger (1950, 62, 74, 86, 98; births in February*, 3-5am & on certain days#) Time for a break. Things are getting convoluted and there are many demands upon you. Take all the time you need to respond.

Rabbit (1951, 63, 75, 87, 99; births in March*, 5-7am & on certain days#) Monkey plays tricks on you and you tend to fall for them. Don’t be bored; stay on message and on track.

Dragon (1952, 64, 76, 88, 2000; births in April* 7-9am & on certain days#) You work well with the Monkey who is almost as unruly as you are. Throw away the manual, listen to your body and your inner voices.

Snake (1941,53, 65, 77, 89; births in May*, 9-11am & on certain days#) Your nemesis and true partner, Monkey times are maddening and stimulating but they will draw reluctant candour from you both.

Horse (1942, 54, 66, 78, 90; births in June*, around midday & on certain days#) Chaotic; too much Water may leave you demotivated. Seek the Sun and your own space to explore ideas.

Sheep (1943, 55, 67, 79, 91; births in July*, 1-3pm & on certain days#) A little bereft. Enjoy your own company, revise, review, study. You’ll be stronger if you can stand it.

Monkey (1944, 56, 68, 70, 82; births in August*, 3-5pm & on certain days#) Make hay while you’re unsupervised and nobody knows the rules. But stay focused or you’ll regret the wasted time.

Rooster (1945, 57, 69, 81, 93; births in September*, 5-7pm & on certain days#) Fewer let-downs. Things settle into some sort of manageable shape finally and routine returns

Dog (1946, 58, 70, 84, 96; births in October*, 7-9pm & on certain days#) Monkey wears you out usually. Accept, rest and be.

Pig (1947, 59, 71, 83, 95; births in November*, 9-11pm & on certain days#) Last month’s gains solidify. Avoid defending the indefensible on someone else’s behalf.

* Remember Chinese Months start a little later than European ones.
# You’ll need help and/or a Chinese Calendar for this.

Eternal Chaos of the Monkey Mind
This Wood Monkey Month – a few Notes.
This is the month of the decision maker; the two characters making up Wood Monkey look like almost the same, just a single stroke of difference.. Not easy to distinguish. To many Ba Zi Masters (of either gender) this implies a need for decisions to be made. When this Pillar (ie one character on top of the other) rules in the crucial Year or Day of a Ba zi (that is, for simplicity’s sake, a Chinese Horoscope) it implies a maker of decisions. This is a month when far-reaching decisions are made.

The 7^th of August also marks a turbulent change of season. It may be 30˚ outside but today is Lap Chow, the Beginning of Autumn. The transition from Summer to Autumn, ie from Fire to Metal is technically a clash. That is to say it is explosive; events in Beirut this week will have alerted you to that already, two World Wars have started at about this time.

The Monkey is as you’d imagine, tricky. Journalists call this the “Silly Season”. Watch the headlines for “Elvis found on the Moon” or “Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster”. The Monkey is the sign of the stand-up but also of a certain deception. He or she is a bundle of laughs but that laugh may be at someone else’s expense. With their close associate the-even-trickier Snake they bring a what-you-see-is-not-what-you-get to proceedings. Xi Jinping is currently the world’s most notable Snake.

This is a 2 Month. At the centre of August’s lo shu or magic square, you’ll notice a 2, representing Kun The Mother, relationship, empowerment and the Earth herself. Pay special attention to the tai chi, the geometric heart of your space that she is visiting briefly. With each gesture of respect you are offering the same to the only world we have. Yin is referenced in the Book of Changes as “gentle and thorough but ultimately adamant” but Kun like Shiva, is both creator and destroyer. It may be that at this critical time in history we can choose. There’s a question awaiting a decision.

The Annual San Sha, Three Calamities or Three Inconveniences traditionally foul things up where they land. In 2020 they are to the South. One traditional counter is extreme yang. Which would mean attention, occupation and activity in that sector. While it shines the Sun may be taking care of this but be very gentle with the South when the rain returns. Likely consequences otherwise are unwanted revelations and subsequent embarrassment and er…inconvenience.

This month’s Hexagram from the Yi or Book of Changes is Heaven over Earth, Pi, Stagnating. Heaven rises, Earth falls, which speaks of separation, withdrawal, prosecco, ice cream and binge tv. No change there then.

Where to be in August.
Summary: gain.
South West, Accumulation: Year Star 4 Month Star: 8.
8: attention upon gain. For a spark, move here or spring clean the South Western Rooms, perhaps even orient your bed South West for now. Not for children but suits most Horses (Southern third) and Dragons (Western third). Possible finger, hand & back problems – think of your body as a tree that needs to balance enough Water with all that summer sunshine without swamping – but locating here boosts business either way.
Enhance: Water – Fire if the weather fails. Gentle fountain is good anyway.

Where not to be in August.
Summary: nasty.
North East, Wealth Star: Year Star:1; Sun (Ox NE1) Month Star: 5.
The 1 and 5 Stars are a toxic combination, said to invite a variety of nasties – mainly relating to the stomach. The solution is Wood; line the windowsill with lush plants.
Salvage: Wood: ie plants; three is ideal.
Richard Ashworth ©2020
www.imperialfengshui.info