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chinese astrology

chinese astrology
 



Chinese Astrology provides a snapshot of a person's mental blue print. Focusing on the four pillars of chinese astrology, this course provides students with a way to analyse and understand how a person views the world, providing remarkable clarity into their relationships, money, career and health issues. Students are taught to analyse charts in order to advice and guide their clients about career prospects, health concerns, financial and/or relationship dilemmas. The Certificate in Chinese Astrology (Four Pillars) is a part time course made up of four parts that is available via correspondence or on-campus in Melbourne or Sydney. Students may select individual parts out of general interest; however in order to qualify for the Certificate in Chinese Astrology, all four parts need to be completed. NOW AVAILABLE VIA CORRESPONDENCE! (Correspondence students can start any time of the year and will receive DVDs of the lectures in addition to the manual).

Subjects
Subject Costs
Pre-requisites
Correspondence Available
$330
None
Yes
$330
Yes
Yes
$330
Yes
July 2010
$330
Yes
December 2010
Fee Structure
Classes are held in Melbourne and Sydney. A $110 non-refundable deposit is required along with a completed enrolment form in order to guarantee your place in the subject.

Correspondence students can start any time of the year and need to pay for the subject in full before the course pack is sent.

Students will be required to purchase the Thousand Year Calendar book in order to be able to draw people's charts. This is available through the college shop.

To enrol, click HERE.

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What is Chinese Astrology?

The "four pillars of destiny" is a system of Chinese solar astrology that interprets cosmological energy qualities, represented by characters, which are present at each moment of time. It is more complex than the popular animal astrology where analysis is made solely upon one's year of birth. The energetic qualities are interpreted in terms of the system of the five elements, and the twelve animal signs. They represent your year, month, day and hour of birth. Four pillars astrology can interpret many qualities and themes in a person's energetic make up such as relationships, creativity, status, resources, money, career preferences, health, strengths and weaknesses and so on.

The cycles that are encountered over the course of a lifetime are referred to as your "Luck Pillars". They illuminate which cycles are more favourable and which are more difficult, and the prevalent themes of these time periods. With this information, we attain a glimpse as to the likely outcome of a situation and how to negotiate these time periods when they arise. In times of growth, we can proceed more confidently, whilst in challenging times where can proceed with care, caution and discretion.

The influence of each year can also be deduced, 2007 being the Chinese Year of the Fire Pig. This yearly information is also woven into the matrix of analysis. The four pillars also has special emphasis to Feng Shui as a person's favourable elements can be ascertained, this being important in recommendations and choice of colour, décor and furnishings. This knowledge can bring harmony as well as strengthen a person's living environment. Recommendations of an unfavourable element can create imbalance and disharmony. Because it is elementally based and considered to be one of the eight limbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of its strengths is ascertaining health qualities and trends, and therefore recommendations can be made accordingly. Specific healing modalities particular to a client's physical and mental blueprint can also be identified to facilitate the healing process. Four pillars astrology can also be used in selection of auspicious dates to maximise success for example, for opening ceremonies, starting a business, marriage, travelling times, buying homes, and so on. This is a skill highly regarded by the Chinese and involves reference to the Chinese Almanac or ''Tong Shu'' for selecting auspicious dates.

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2009 - YEAR OF THE OX

Written by Vic Ketis (Chinese Astrologer).

This year begins the Chinese Year of the Earth Ox.

Chinese Astrology categorises each year according to an animal sign. There are 12 Chinese celestial animals and the sequence is cyclical. With any Earth year there are three important dynamics present. First the year itself. Secondly the Ox represents the end of the water years which has seen the world dominated with discussion of water issues, management and conservation. Thirdly it represents a transition into the next elemental cycle of Wood which begins with the Year of the Tiger (2010) and Rabbit (2011).

The year of the Rat was the first animal of the 12 year cycle. The Ox being the second carries forward the impulse and changes begun in that year. We can expect the momentum of Global financial and geopolitical changes to continue. So we can expect the Ox will be a busy year, full of change uncertainty, expectation and possibility. Its inherent element of Earth however shows us how to negotiate the year with confidence.

Chinese astrology traditionally considers the energy qualities of the upcoming animal sign of the year. This year is the year of the Ox. This is also called the ‘earthly character’, earthly influence, or earthly ‘Branch’. The Earthly branch is also associated with an element, the Ox being ‘earth’. We can consider this an ‘earth’ year. His will be discussed as the focus of astrology is it energetics as opposed to the quality of the animal sign. The qualities of earth are nurturing, harmonising, centering, and cohering. The Ox picks up where the rat leaves off so we can expect the changes and momentum of 2008 to continue. However the Ox indicates we can approach the year in a stable centred and coherent way to make adjustments and re-orient ourselves for the future when the dynamic impulses of the Year of the Tiger (2010) and Rabbit (2011) come in.

Earth is one of the five elements in Chinese astrology. Earth represents the centre, so there are immediate connotations with re-centering ourselves, assimilating and integrating the changes of the 2008. Earth also encourages us to remain grounded and centered in the face of the challenges we face in the current and upcoming years. The earth, its archetypal and energetic qualities properly understood can also help us psychologically negotiate the demands of the time periods we face in the upcoming year. We are also transiting the bigger 20 year cycle from 2004 till 2024 called the Age of 8 which is also an earth element time period so we could say that the year of the Ox will also reflect the energy of this larger time period.

‘The principle energies of Earth represent stability, coherency and centering. The year of the Ox gives us the chance to consolidate and integrate the changes of the previous year, the Rat. It can also be a year of planning of new strategies that can be implemented in the following years of the Tiger (2010) and rabbit (2011). These years represent creativity, new growth, implementation of new strategies and paradigms. The Ox being earth represents patience, endurance, and sustained effort toward a goal and adopting these qualities will help us negotiate the continued challenges of the year. The changes on the earth will continue however by remaining centered and focusing on an internal spiritual centre will enable us to effectively operate in the world.

The earth traditionally represents stability, groundedness, coherence, the resistance to change. However, rather than being an inert mass of soil, mud rocks, sand, minerals and geological substance, the earth is alive. Alive, physically and energetically. Physically as deep within the earth are tremendous forces creating construction and destruction that are constantly driving the earth in its evolution. There will be continues changes this year in the areas of finance, business, jobs, education etc as was catalysed last year. 

In an earth year and time period we should become more aware of the ancient earth sciences such as Geomancy and Dowsing, perhaps even geology, to give us knowledge and insights about the earth, its complexities and mysteries. Tuning into the earth’s wisdom if you will. This would contribute to solving the environmental and climatic crisis that faces us. It seems that the crisis may also propel research and insight into these fields that will reveal more of the earth’s secrets and mysteries. This is very much the theme of an earth year in an earth Age. This could thereby catalyse solutions to the problems and bring healing that is required on the grand scale now demanded. One of the major leaders in this field is anticipatory design scientist Bill Mc Donough. As Time Magazine’s man of the year in 1999, he remains on the leading edge of eco sustainable design and his work demands attention.

We cannot look at the year of the Ox without first reviewing the Year of the Rat. Traditionally the Rat is the first animal of the twelve year cycle of animal of the Chinese Zodiacal system. Therefore it represents birth of the new or rebirth from the remnants of the old. The Year of the Rat is one of two midpoints of the Yin Yang cycle. We have reached the darkest point of the cycle, the place where Yin energy reaches its height of the intense concentration of internality. It can be represented also as midnight when it is at its darkest and the sun is on the other side of the globe. Thus the Year of the rat represents endings and rebirth within the bigger 20 year cycle of the Age of 8. This age is the last 20 Year age in a 180 Year cycle therefore also representing endings and rebirth. Therefore the Year of the rat represents a year of endings and rebirth in a cycle of endings and rebirth and that is what we have seen.

We are moving into a transformational time period akin to the 1960’s. The 60’s were the time of greatest social, cultural, political, sexual revolution that the world experienced in the last century. It went from the year of the Rat, 1960, with the election of John F. Kennedy who was the first catholic president ever elected, to the next year of the Rat, 1972. Kennedy’s election also represented the change of order and the impulse of the new which was to become known as the 60’s replacing the incumbent retiring Eisenhower and defeating the Republican candidate Richard Nixon. His election marked the beginning of a new era. We are now also at the beginning of a significant new era with the election of Barack Obama. But as with any beginning the direction and future remain uncertain.
 
The year 2008 has seen a tremendous year of change highlighted by the impact of the Global financial crisis and the election to Presidency of Obama. The change of cycle correlating with the end of the old order and the birth of the new. This is also evident in that in the last year to 18 months there have been changes of leadership in nearly every major government in the world, often with a fresh new face replacing an older long term leader of out dated vales and ideas. Bush, Blair, Chirac, Howard, Clark (NZ), Castro, Mbeki, 2 Japanese Prime ministers being replaced by Obama, Sarkozy, Rudd,  etc. The world financial structures have also collapsed showing their inadequacies. This is catalysing enormous change. The Year of the Ox will encourage us to re-evaluate our direction goals and motivations. The impulse of the Earth Ox is a humanitarian one. We can harmonise with the impulse of the year by making choices about our life direction that are an expression of our deeper essential soulful values and heart felt impulses.

Businesses and projects that can be successful are ones that are service and humanitarian oriented. They are harmonising with the energies of the time. Those not in harmony with the energies such as purely profit based enterprises, unethical and immoral money making schemes and fast money seem limited. More of these kinds of enterprises will be exposed.

At this point it would be remiss not to acknowledge the passing in December 2008, of the designer of Sydney Opera House, Danish architect Joern Utzon. The most Iconic building of the contemporary era and now widely appreciated and admired, the Sydney Opera House design incorporates archetypal and esoteric themes in its structure, orientation and design, the influence perhaps not even fully understood to this present day. Interestingly Utzon was often seen referring to 10 ancient Chinese building design books (Feng Shui?) from the Sun Dynasty in the midst of his work, particularly when a difficult problem presented itself. The great tragedy was that he was not understood at the time, a dilemma often experienced by revolutionary and innovative thinkers. His work will be increasingly acknowledged not only as a building but as an art form for years to come when the esoteric significance of the design is identified.

Another earth science of particular relevance that also has a cosmological connection is Feng Shui. Feng Shui application to building whether existing or for new designs is also evolving. The subtleties of space, color, shape, dimension, alignment etc, are being further explored through the sciences of sacred space and geometry. Why is it that Feng Shui, an ancient science of thousands of year has only recently surfaced and become prominent? The impulse of the time and the age and as we approach the transition of the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius (2150) demands deeper soulful and spiritual alignment. Our buildings then also have to have alignment to the forces of influence. A building is the interface between man and the cosmological forces. We can use the Year of the Ox to bring our homes and workplaces into greater harmony and alignment. The movement toward sustainability and harmony is gaining momentum as we are feeling the need for our buildings to support us.

Being an earth year (in an Earth cycle the Age of 8!), perhaps there will be new information revealed about the Earth and the secrets and mysteries. We can also listen to the artists, poets, writers and musicians of our time who often have the ability to tap into the collective material and illuminate the way ahead.

The earth Ox represents humanity, so family and social values are highlighted here. The effort should be made for reconciliation and harmonization if possible. The earth represents healing so advance in this area are catalysed this year. Interesting Barack Obama’s inauguration speech very much represented this where he offered negotiation and engagement with those countries previously considered enemies. Obama and his values represent the impulse of the time and his inspiration has touched us all. We can help him by holding him in our thoughts and adopting his philosophies. However the year of the Ox is not considered a favorable one for Obama. It brings him challenges so it is expected that his first year may not be so smooth and be fraught with challenges.

Interestingly the trend of new world leaders is moving away from the dictatorial power dominated paradigm. What are emerging are leaders of intellect and vision such as Obama, Rudd and Sarkozy.

The nature of the movement of the earths force is centripetal, this means directed toward the core by gravity. A centering force if you will. As our physical body is represented by the earth element in an earth year, we can harmonise with the energy by doing Centering exercises physically and psychologically. For example in the practice of Tai Chi, Aikido and many martial arts the emphasis is to the focus energy internally to our physical centre or Hara as we move, interact with partners and do Jo, Sword, kata or movements. The Hara, also called the Tai Chi is the physical centre of the body and is located approximately 3 inches below the navel. Centering is done through conscious movement, concentrating our energy in the body at this point. As this is done it harmonises the body as it creates a fulcrum around which the rest of the body moves. The consequence is an ease of movement and consciousness becomes meditative and centred. We feel in harmony, centred and the energy is out of our heads and lower in the body. We learn to use our Chi or Ki as it is termed in Japanese. There are some schools which teach disciplines of mind-body centering.  True adherents of the martial arts spend a lifetime developing this as the energy deepening the training. It is an infinite process and the internal universe is also infinite, awaiting discovery and unfoldment. Deeper potentials can be identified and accessed in an earth year.

Centering in all its facets, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually are the themes of the year as externally we are still up for more change to stimulate transformation.  To be psychologically centred also follows being physically cantered. This could be discussed in many ways and much material devoted to the study. Suffice to say in an earth year the emphasis is to develop our sense of physical, psychological and spiritual centeredness. Undergoing a spiritual practice such as Tai Chi, Aikido, or Yoga will put us in resonance with the rhythms of the year. More moderately a holiday retreat or walk in the country is also highly recommended. This is beneficial anytime of course but in an earth year, the body, which represents the earth, is emphasised.

Eating centering earth quality natural soulful food is also recommended. Healthful foods including grains and vegetable that assist us in being calm and centered and assist the assimilation and integration, and transformation of life experiences. There can be great gains with focused attention to health improvement this year.

The Lunar New Year begins on January 26th and the Solar New year on February 4. As with 2008 the Lunar New year correlates with an Solar Eclipse followed by a lunar eclipse on February 10th. An eclipse usually brings change either external or internal, triggering emotional, spiritual, physical shifts. The purpose of which is to show more clearly the souls intentions and the possibilities of the future. Eclipses usually involve letting go of something but its difficult to predict what that will be. But it’s often of something that is no longer appropriate, very much in the vein of the current cycle of years. However it is wise to proceed with caution, centering and patience through an eclipse cycle.

In conclusion the Year of the Ox represents a year to consolidate, digest, integrate the changes of 2008, as well as move and remain centred with the ongoing necessary shifts that are emerging. It is wise to be patient and develop well thought out strategies and projects that can be implemented in 2010 and 2011, the year of the Tiger and the Rabbit. We are in an era where the old structures that are no longer serving us are being broken down. The answer is not to save the old but create new paradigms for the new emerging humanitarian world that can take form in the next few years.

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TSUNAMI TRAGEDY (December 26, 2004)

Written by Vic Ketis (Chinese Astrology lecturer).

At each moment in time, the energies that are affecting the planet can be listed and their qualities and dynamics interpreted. Events can also be interpreted such as September 11, the sinking of the Titanic, stock market crashes and the Tsunami disaster.

The Four Pillars on Boxing Day 2004 @ 7.59am Banda Aceh Indonesia was:

Hour Day Month Year
Earth Earth Fire Wood Heavenly Stems
Dragon Rabbit Rat Monkey Earthly Branches
(Earth) (Wood) (water) (metal)

At each moment of time there are Four Pillars of information. This is represented by eight characters ie four combinations of Stems and Branches. From the Four Pillars on this day, a number of things can be deduced that reflect the events:

1. The three strongest Pillars, the Year, the Month and the Day are all in elemental clash between the stem and the branch indicating a day of disharmony and instability

2. The strongest element in the chart is the Rat, because it is the element of the season. It is strengthened by the yearly metal branch of the Monkey. This indicates that water is very strong in its influence and it comes from underneath

3. The water influence is stronger still as the Dragon also combines with the Rat and the Monkey as part of the water combination of elements

4. The Rat and the Rabbit side by side in this configuration are also a clash or penalty situation reflecting disharmony

5. The Earth element (representing the earth) is very weak as it is under attack from the strong Wood element and weakened by the strong Water element. It has no support from its elemental foundation of Fire. In this situation, the Earth is weak, active and unstable. Unstable earth is frequently seen on days of earthquakes and is particularly prevalent on this day

6. Two Earth elements in the stems indicate more than one land mass is affected

In conclusion we can see an imbalance of Water element, unstable Earth and huge clashing elements in the chart triggering an earthquake as the Earth element is weak and unstable. The instability comes from beneath and rises up. The dominating Water indicates the tidal wave. For those interested in the western astrology interpretation, Mars which represents accidents, was in a conflict aspect with Uranus (representing sudden unexpected shocking events like earthquakes), on a day of the full moon when the logical mind is in deficit. Much has been said of the lack of warning even though the signals were there. Chiron (the planet of wounding and healing) is in tight aspect to Pluto (destruction) and Saturn (rebuilding) at this time as well.

This event is also consistent with the age we are in. Chinese Astrologers also look at cycles of time according to twenty year periods. This is used predominantly in Feng Shui and the current time period which started in 2004 is represented by the Earth element. This means a greater increase in earth quakes and shifts to the land mass as whenever there is an increase in Earth, there is a disaster possible. The current era also relates to children and the theme of children has been prevalent around this disaster. As has the issue of spirituality, which the disaster has raised. People are asking how can God allow something like this to happen, how can God allow so much suffering. Whether these questions can be answered is a deeply theological one but that the question has been asked is what’s important. It may not be a question that can be answered, but the questioning and engagement into the theme can guide us into the mystery, take us into a deeper experience of the spiritual realms. Here there are not so much answers but deeper illuminations, insights and perhaps further questions into the realm of human destiny and experience. It is interesting to ponder that the word ''disaster'' means ''against the stars''.Also the disaster has galvanised governments and people to come and work together in aid, medical service and relief, which is very much a spiritual theme.

It is difficult to say why and what triggers the events on this day as there can be many days like this that have similar qualities, some perhaps even worse. What is the trigger for this day in particular? This is one of the mysteries as predictive astrology, which can indicate trends, but we never know exactly when or how the energy will manifest itself.

It is interesting to ponder the work of David Suzuki. He has spoken of the relationship between energy in a molecule. If the path of an electron is artificially altered then another electron in the same molecule will alter its path to compensate. I believe this translates to all levels of energetic life. For example if there is a bomb dropped somewhere on the globe then there will be an adjustment somewhere else to compensate such as an environmental or human tragedy. The world can be viewed as a living connected energetic unit. The natural state of the universe is unfoldment, evolution, and balance and the universe will seek to restore balance.

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