(The Weekly Weather is currently paused.)

If you are not curious about where the Weekly Weather comes from, skip these paragraphs. For those who want to know more, here is an incomplete explanation:

Many forms of astrology exist in China. The Chinese Almanac, called the Tong Shu, is mostly based on a mathematical cycle called Celestial Stems (yin/yang and 5 elements) and Earthly Branches (12 animals). This cyclical sequence expresses theoretical increments of transformation, rather than planetary observation. The 28 lunar mansions combine with the 10 Solar Indices to produce the “fate-qi” quality of each day, along with the weekly and daily hexagrams, open acupuncture points, and more. This combination is one of the oldest astrological day evaluation systems in Asia, predating the notion of “China” by more than 3000 years. We are not influenced by this sequence. We are this sequence. The Tong Shu has served emperors, priests, farmers, and physicians for millennia. This set of cyclical calculations enables people to fulfill their respective roles with elegant precision.

Time is a science in all of our indigenous traditions. In the Celtic sagas, queens consult Druids for the best hour to conceive a child, and warriors ask for the best day to embark on a raid. The Nuragic megalith builders of pre-Ireland archived the interplay of land and sky in extremely sophisticated and accurate calendar-portals. Time was so central to my ancestors’ way of life that ritual and royal burial took place within actual, physical calendars.

One way to study ourselves-as-time is to keep a journal that notes our experience against the auspices. I kept a journal for two years during Liu Ming’s Mantic Arts course and have been studying this material off and on for just over 15 years. Toward the end of his life, Ming generously wrote up the weekly auspices for his students on Facebook. They helped me so much that I began to do them for myself and my family, using the TongShu app that my husband built for Da Yuan Circle. And I thought, if I'm doing this, why not share it? I stick closely to the source material in hopes that I do not cause harm or mis-represent the teachings, but I am definitely a beginner. Other capable calendar lovers are also doing this work, such as Scott Zook of Zhen Wu Astrology. I am sure many more Chinese practitioners are working in their own tradition, but I have not found any offering calendar write-ups in English.

Why bother, you might ask. Well, mostly to save us some trouble. Timing is everything. Synchronicity emerges from timeliness. Awareness of ourselves as a calendar helps us stay in the pocket of “success” (synchronicity) rather than struggle against the auspices in exhaustion, or worse. As we soften into cyclical time, our sense of self gives way to simple continuity. That said, I do find this process of synthesizing, writing, generating haiku, mining relevant imagery, and finding artists who are willing to let me use their work exhausting. Between teaching, writing, childrearing, moving (again), and practicing acupuncture (soon), I may need to take a break at some point. As always, feel free to share these posts with anyone who might appreciate them. They take me 10 - 15 hours each week, and readership is one thing that makes it worthwhile.

This week’s image shows Zhang Daoling riding a Tiger. In the Daoist tradition, Tigers represent everything that is unpredictable and out of control. Riding the Tiger does not mean you have control over the Tiger; it means out-of-control does not bother you. Anyone who can ride a Tiger is fearless. This is one broad underpinning for our auspices of each week in 2022, Year of the Yang Water Tiger.

Now for the Weekly Weather: If you’ve got big plans, use Wednesday and Friday. Thursday is a potential landmine, so apply good judgment.

Monday 3/21 :: Lunar 2/19 :: Water Rooster Day :: Destroy :: The Roof/Swallow :: Hexagram 35 Advance/3 Sprouting

Today is favorable for the young and the awkward. Unpretentious leadership and experienced advice help a delicate, new situation. Inexperience is the basis for today’s difficulties; there are no outside obstacles. Protect your resources, repair your homes, and comply with wise people. We may not be certain how to act, but we catch on quickly and avoid misfortune. Auspicious activities include housecleaning, leisure, entering retreat, gift-giving, buying property or clothes, gardening, outdoor activities, and feng shui adjustments.

spring training rivals
blue jays take the orioles
at the bird feeder

Tuesday 3/22 :: Lunar 2/20 :: Dog Day :: Danger :: The House/Pig :: 35 Advance/27 Jaws

What we lack in grace, our ancestors make up for in guidance. Our maternal line shows up to help and heal us. Sometimes they can possess the people around us to say just the thing we needed to hear. Let them help you through today’s setbacks. Nothing good will come from pressing forward with excess ambition and selfishness. It’s auspicious to build, remodel, make feng shui adjustments, negotiate contracts, be generous, show caution, move house, postpone, acknowledge helpers, and have fun.

family picnic
my grandma comes to visit
as a cardinal

Wednesday 3/23 :: Lunar 2/21 :: Pig Day :: Complete :: The Wall/Porcupine :: 35 Advance/24 Return

Your reputation for integrity pays off. Allow fate to deliver the success you are due. Our hard work comes to fruition, and life is looking up. Rest in the good hands of your helpers and keep the long view. In the cyclical nature of reality, success and decline are like inhale and exhale. Neither is sought or feared. My teacher Liu Ming was born on a Wall/Porcupine day. He exemplified the auspice of rallying people and drawing on collective human wisdom and innovation. This is wealth. Go to the library, study the classics, enjoy the arts, and team up. If you enter retreat today, do so with the millions of other people who are also on retreat, and those who have done so for millennia. Revel in connections, even if you're alone.

courtesy notice
I renew the Iliad
for the fifteenth time

Thursday 3/24 :: Lunar 2/22 :: Rat Day :: Harvest :: The Stride/Wolf :: 35 Advance/44 Meeting

“Stealing what will be given to you is disgraceful.” Ill-gotten gains seed danger and resentment in our communities. Withdraw and cut your losses. These auspices can generate sexual assault, extramarital affairs, and other poor choices. Entanglements will run deep enough to cause rot and ruin. We may be tested by seduction. Just… give it a day. Keep your pants on and guard yourself. We have excellent resources today, but we might need them. Fearlessness, wisdom, and ease are also available to us, especially if our worldview and behavior (view and method) cultivate stability. Auspicious activities include bank deposits, entering study, gardening, economizing, taking herbs, doing laundry, sewing and repairing clothes, complying with medical treatments, planning, and negotiating contracts.

date with Medusa
St. Patrick acknowledges
his gift is a curse

Friday 3/25 :: Lunar 2/23 :: Ox Day :: Open :: The Mound/Dog :: 35 Advance/28 Excess

“Grace and fate sustain you.” We move beyond the need for approval and reward. Progress comes naturally, and things turn out well even if we feel overextended. Collaboration works best today. Joint effort and coordinated community action create the world we want to inhabit. Today’s benefit comes from a long line of causes. Build and add on to homes and families (new baby, new bride). Great day for celebrations. Everything but retreat is indicated. Go for it!

woven line by line
the story of my people
highland wool blanket

Saturday 3/26 :: Lunar 2/24 :: Tiger Day :: Shut :: The Stomach/Pheasant :: 35 Advance/50 Tripod Vessel

Shut days seem inauspicious to capitalist cultures, but they are very auspicious for retreat, nourishment, and inner experience. Getting things done can work today, but it will cost a lot. People often feel exhausted on shut days, and worldly progress just doesn’t seem to go smoothly. Better to put resources in—eat soup, drink tea, make bank deposits, etc. We have a lot of support and opportunity available to us which can show up as good news, clarity, and revelation. It’s good to be with people and team up in a relaxed way. Education, spirituality, and material success are highlighted. The way we work matters. Even if we’re doing manual labor from 9 - 5, we can stay gentle and centered. The auspices are portable.

dressing the scarecrow
for three months of hard labor
I choose a soft shirt

Sunday 3/27 :: Lunar 2/25 :: Rabbit Day :: Design :: The Watchers/Cock :: 17 Pursuit/32 Constancy

Stick with routine work and constancy. What endures is also flexible, sensitive, and generous. The Watchers (Pleiades) can deliver a harsh fate, including contagious diseases, especially during Spring. Wear a mask in crowded areas. Premature death from war is also more likely. Pray for the people who have no choice but to fight, and for those who have chosen to put their lives on the line. Today is good for editing and entering retreat. Positive events that occur today are likely to have negative consequences. (Marriage ends in divorce, your new car turns out to be a lemon). Travel is ok. Other auspicious activities include studying, taking stock, planning, and relying on superiors.

foul territory
spring training begins amidst
the perils of war

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

As always, you can find this information in the DYCTongShu app for Apple, and in Changing by Liu Ming.