Wood Monkey: What to expect for the month from August 7th 2015

The (7^th) month of the Wood Monkey 2015.

(August 7^th 18:30pm to Sept 8^th 08:10 inclusive)

Pi

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Hexagram 12

Monkey Month, Animal by Animal.

During this Wood Monkey month:

The Rat may feel supported when outspoken.

The Ox may experience relief, r’n’r, respite.

The Tiger may see opposition.

The Rabbit may be waiting.

The Dragon may gain real confidence.

The Snake may take two steps forward and one back.

The Horse may feel overlooked.

The Sheep may feel disappointed.

The Monkey may be spoiled for choice.

The Rooster is impatient.

The Dog is the source.

and

The Pig sidesteps.

Who’s a higher primate, then?

Wood Monkey month in Wood Sheep year. The Monkey is tricky and the Wood Monkey one of the trickier ones; as you can see, the Chinese characters afor Yang Wood, and Ifor shen the Monkey, are almost indistinguishable. They have however opposite meanings. Ithe Monkey is Metal; agap or chia (yang Wood) is er….Wood. These two Elements enjoy what is called a clash or kun-choi relationship, ie they don’t get on. Furthermore the Monkey lives South West and gap to the East, so they are from very different backgrounds. Wood stands for something like feeling and is ever-expanding, the Monkey is logical and essentially inward-looking – hence “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” When these two apparently similar characters appear as a pair (or pillar), they are often interpreted as” make your mind up.” And this month they’re bound together at the ankles.

Make your mind up about what?

Military action perhaps. What does the gan zhi cycle tell us? The last Sheep year (2003) took British Forces in the teeth of huge opposition, into Iraq. The last Wood Sheep propelled Anthony Eden into Downing Street and those same forces into Suez. Both ill-advised adventures. Time for a different choice perhaps.

The environment maybe? The UK alone in the European Community now allows neo-nicotinoids to be spread on our fields. Such Monsanto minefields have been proven to decimate bee populations and bees don’t get to choose whether we’re in or out of the EU. These hard-working families don’t claim benefits either. Similarly, subsidies for green conversions such as solar panels have been jettisoned as luxuries during the process of wealth being re-distributed to the wealthy.

Early in 2017 by my reckoning the current 8^th Fate Cycle gives way to the 9^th. The departing Fate has been distinguished by the tension between acquisition and spirituality. The incoming one promises to focus on global warming (9 being the number of pure Fire) and of right-brain, intuitive or yin (that is feminine, non-linear) thinking. If where we are now is where logic gets us, it can’t come too soon.

Below is one way through at least.

Where to do what, when and why.

The North West, the place of the Father is helpful again this month. The 9 Star landing there is apt to bring the right kind of attention. If you’re especially ambitious or looking for preferment, sit to the NW, face NW or employ a North Western door. If you can’t do any of this stuff (or anyway) place a few plants here – four of these will tend to empower a woman, especially if they’re beautiful and delicate. Generally the patriarchal quality of North West favours the male. This btw is traditional feng shui not casual sexism. And do let me know.

The Monkey Month in the Sheep Year.

The Monkey is nothing if not playful; (s)he’s no team player which makes Monkeys especially outspoken under the conforming pressure of a Sheep year. The Monkey is the stand-up of the Chinese Zodiac and August can be a month of ironies. Remember the Sheep year 1991 when, just as Russia was beginning to play the game, Gorbachev was ousted? And August of 2007 when Paribas stopped trading bonds precipitating a domino run that took Northern Rock down weeks later followed by most of the banking system? And August 1914 when some trivial local stuff in the Balkans turned nasty?

The Monkey is opposed by the Tiger. Like Shere Khan in the Jungle Book, the mighty Tiger is not always appreciative of levity. Nor is the Pig much amused. The irreverent Monkey threatens the domestic peace of the sty and the Sheep – who chooses sides when neutrality might be smarter – is on the side of the Pig. Not so wise. You might say er… rasher than usual this year. The Rat finds the Monkey’s lightness helpful in a year when lines are being drawn as does the Dragon who has had his hands full arbitrating between Ox and Dog all year, with a peak of turbulence in the Sheep month just gone. And the Monkey is mates of course with the Snake, the seeker after truth; which means he or she may experiment with all sorts of alternatives first. All of which makes for disorder. Oops.

Expect then a month of turbulence and rebellion, when small children refuse their greens and Greeks their humble pie. Expect civil disobedience from Calais to Calcutta and outrage in the House. Remember that the corresponding Sheep year in the early 18^th century brought the First Highland uprising. Just like the Scots to get stroppy when everyone’s looking the other way.

Sheep Pillars; know your Sheep rating.

Birth in the Monkey hour (15:00pm-17:00pm): irreverent children.

Birth in the Monkey month (August*): destined for a career in sales.

Birth on the Monkey day#: not so keen to commit early.

Birth in the Monkey year: a long line of ingenuity.

* Caution, the Chinese month generally starts and finishes a few days after ours.

# Just ask.

Also coming up: