Monday December 13 :: Lunar 11/10

Whatever it is, we can do it, but it will take some tending. Routine work brings unexpected(ly good) results today. Creativity, patience, and perseverance help us mine the treasures of an uneven life. Today’s constellation shows us a successful deer hunt. Afterward, everyone bonds at the banquet. Deer symbolize longevity because their gentleness fosters a long life, and they led us to “immortal” herbs like mushrooms, goji berries, and ginseng. Today is good for feasts, weddings, and get-togethers. Chefs and food are highlighted. Auspicious activities include Christmas shopping, acquiring luxuries, doing anything in the kitchen, and being generous.

the golden stubble

little pedestals that hold

up the western world

Tuesday December 14 :: Lunar 11/11

Let success unfold naturally—no need to go out of our way to make anything happen. Moving slowly and predictably keeps us safe on a snake day. Mishaps are directly related to ignoring family, breaking taboos, or flaking on commitments. Given that, most things are bound to flourish. Auspicious activities include playing music, attending concerts, hanging out with family (chosen or bio), knowing your place, cooking, and gardening.

winter rainbow

the frown beneath which

everyone smiles

Wednesday December 15 :: Lunar 11/12

The almanac advises us to curb our enthusiasm, which can be difficult on a very “red dot day.” On days with lots of red dots (the notation for worldly progress), forward momentum is assured. Sometimes what has been stagnant is flushed forth. Blockages are released, whether we’re ready or not. Exaggeration, overstatement, and gushing are likely, but these “up and out” behaviors can unseat us. When today’s daily hexagram (10/Lu) is divined, it’s good to develop a clear plan before we take action. Awareness of our physical and energetic environments keeps the qi in the channels. Action based on attention to the right information shields us from risk, in general, and today especially. Pretty much everything is auspicious today except retreat. Ground your enthusiasm, go forth, and be artfully of the world.

flash flood zone

I can’t fit in

my body

Thursday December 16 :: Lunar 11/13

Today the almanac asks us, “What do we do when things go well? When things go badly?” The Zhou Yi advises us to return to center, where we have the opportunity to encounter fearlessness even amid the most extreme circumstances. Finding our balance when pain and death arrive, or windfall and fame do—that’s today’s medicine.

keeping an eye on me

hurricane

Friday December 17 :: Lunar 11/14

The qi slams on the breaks. After two very productive days, this can register as exhaustion or frustration: “Everything was going so well. Why can’t I get anything done today?” Because nature hit pause. Honestly, just don’t bother. Literally every auspice says to withdraw. Even small efforts can feel Herculean, so do only what needs to be done. Auspicious activities include anything that nourishes you or your resources: eat well, drink tea, rest, take a bath, make bank deposits, do art, receive massage or medical treatment, etc.

shooting star

an exclamation point

on the silence

Saturday December 18 :: Lunar 11/15

Today is complicated and precarious. It’s a very good day to acknowledge and appreciate where we come from—homelands, ancestors, teachers, the natural world. We’re wise to consult those (people, plants, books, spirits) who know more than we do, and appreciate how little we know. Don’t get married or go to the wedding. Instead, clean house, renew commitments, study, listen to your doctor, and stick with your routine. If you go out, wear a mask.

crane

a feather pressed thin

in a big wing

Sunday December 19 :: Lunar 11/16

Make offerings to ancestors, and consult the oracle. Back in the day, this didn’t make you a mystic—only practical. Blessings hunt us down today. We experience reciprocity for what we have shown the world. We don’t need a literal ancestor altar (though I choose to keep one); the way we move in the world is altar enough. Our ancestors can experience resolution through our basketball skills. We make them proud in myriad ways, and they like when we take it in. Imagine hugging someone you love when they’re not paying attention. It’s like hugging a post. Listen with your body for when your ancestors feel proud of you. (It’s often.) Hug them back. It’s a good day for medical treatments and Christmas shopping. Consult the oracle for more information.

corduroy stubble

the swish of her royal thighs

over the farmland

Thanks for reading, and have a great week.