Monday 3/7 :: Lunar 2/5 :: Goat Day :: Settle :: The Bow/Deer :: 34 Great Strength/49 Molting

Today’s hexagram describes three kinds of change: excruciating, magical, and political. Excruciating change comes as a result of resistance. Magical change occurs when a shaman puts on a mask, shape-shifts, or goes into trance. Political change means revolution. Each kind of change releases power for renewal the way a forest fire cracks open conifers. Today is favorable for massive transformation. Prepared action works. Don’t procrastinate. Go for it and simultaneously surrender. “Success is very costly. Determined to go forward, against the odds, you experience great losses, but win. You accept the losses without regret.” Today’s constellation describes a successful hunt, and governs feasting, chefs, and food preparation. Auspicious activities include revolution, makeovers, moving, making your case, tests, commerce, initiation, new ventures, industry, production, purchasing property, giving money to temples and communities, giving gifts, cleaning the house, anything with the family, cooking, parties, and weddings.

common butterfly
the chrysalis splits into
a revolution

Tuesday 3/8 :: Lunar 2/6 :: Monkey Day :: Maintain :: The Wings/Serpent :: 34 Great Strength/30 Oriole

The daily hexagram shows us the sun at noon—the height of success means the gate of decline. Generosity slows the descent, but nothing bright can last. Allies appear from all quarters to help establish a new state. The Wings’ deity is a court musician with a bamboo flute, who plays ritual music at the assembly where leaders administer honors and retributions. To experience the bright side of the day, have good manners, be radically inclusive, and show loyalty to your friends and family. Breaking taboos and excluding people brings retribution. Move slowly and deliberately, and the snake won’t strike. Forcing anything costs a lot today: “You miscalculate the use of force and, injured by your own violence, fail to win freedom […] but your wounds heal, and you do survive.” Auspicious activities include staying home, working around the house, entering retreat, receiving news from afar, signing contracts, finalizing divorce, relying on superiors, acknowledging helpers, taking office, consulting a doctor, harvesting a garden, routine study, and enjoying music.

summer solstice sun
a desiccated lizard
clings to his outpost

Wednesday 3/9 :: Lunar 2/7 :: Rooster Day :: Destroy :: The Chariot/Earthworm :: 5 Waiting/55 Abundance

“No matter what the situation is, waiting is auspicious.” Timing is everything. If today calls for a delay, trust that it’s for the best. We may also experience a magnitude of abundance we can’t take credit for. The daily hexagram describes an enormous windfall, harvest, or fated reward that comes and goes naturally. Celebrate with an open heart, and share the bounty. The solar index tells us to be smart with generosity, rather than wasteful, selfish, or extravagant. I am generous like a cow, giving its milk indiscriminately. Liu Ming was always smart with his generosity, seeding projects and people who would carry his (energetic and monetary) investments to fruition. The lunar mansion shows us the orbital patterns of all the stars in the sky, the flight of birds, and how things naturally move from place to place. Travel, wind, and wealth express the auspice. Pay raises, promotions, fundraising, investments, and funding the arts and community organizations go well today. Other auspicious activities include housecleaning, leisure, gift-giving, entering retreat, commerce, purchasing property, digging a well (or doing research), starting school, taking office, paying debts, enjoying the arts, and feng shui adjustments.

Ukrainian scarf
the flag of my grandmothers
is filled with flowers

Thursday 3/10 :: Lunar 2/8 :: Dog Day :: Danger :: The Horn/Crocodile :: 5 Waiting/Consult the Oracle

“No exertion required, as you are fated to succeed.” Return to the state of trust that enables synchronicity. Consult the oracle, or let the oracle find you (listen to what the day brings). Doing only what needs to be done goes best. Today’s deity stares down the demons who thrive on untimely events like premature birth and death. The practitioner’s strong will keeps the demons in check to ensure everything comes in its correct time. We can use this trick, too. When we get an urge to undermine ourselves or others, “stare it down,” and say no. This builds our Yi (will) spirit and strengthens our kidneys. Because negative forces are in check, Spring arrives on time and so do healthy babies. It’s the perfect day to garden or give birth. The Nagas (water spirits that keep the health of communities/ecosystems) are awake. Be respectful near small bodies of water, and don’t kill snakes. Offending the Nagas can cause a backlash of skin disorders and other misfortune. Auspicious activities include postponement, caution, leisure, entering retreat, study, research, buying property, wearing new clothes, sewing, moving, travel, planting trees and gardens, midwifery, and artwork.

creation story
from the depths of the loom comes
a baby blanket

Friday 3/11 :: Lunar 2/9 :: Pig Day :: Complete :: The Neck/Dragon :: 5 Waiting/37 Household

It’s a great day to just hang around at home. Support the women in your household and/or the maternal line that brought you here. You know how you can take a plant cutting, stick it in the ground, and it will just... grow? That’s women. Women are the ground. The daily hexagram describes well-ordered supportive families and family-like groups that have a collective purpose. Work in the background to generously support the women and non-binary leaders in your family and the world. Ask them how they’re doing and what they need. Do some chores without being asked. All group efforts go very well as long as you don't lead a charge. Being unsung keeps us out of trouble in general and especially today. ‘[We are] vulnerable to interference, loss, and attack. Wait cautiously for the danger to pass.” Auspicious activities include housework, paying bills, giving gifts, planning, distant communication, subordinating, doing nice things for them, making art, planting trees, and consulting a doctor.

Navajo blanket
an old woman says thank you
to her flock of sheep

Saturday 3/12 :: Lunar 2/10 :: Rat Day :: Harvest :: The Root/Badger :: 5 Waiting/63 Already Across

Fearlessness makes today an adventure. Google a picture of Padmasambhava and buck up. The almanac has asked us to wait for the past several days. Now it’s time to escape and cut our losses. We may need to make difficult decisions and compromises. Don’t blame other people, especially not your family. When we cross the finish line of our goal, we realize it’s another beginning and there’s still a lot of work to do. New resources and friends come forward when we stand back. Remember where you come from, and you will be blessed. The world needs a generous perspective, which comes easier when we don’t feel alone. Put yourself in the good hands of your ancestors and ecosystems. Nurture the perspective that knows we’re a team. Today is good for endings, stepping down, inheritance, traveling to familiar places, marriage, industry and production, negotiating contracts, bank deposits, collecting accounts receivable, spending savings, entering school, digging, gardening, initiating austerities (bathing, fasting, abstaining), cleaning, divorcing, moving, and making resolutions.

even during war
no mistakes, no enemies
—Padmasambhava

Sunday 3/13 :: Lunar 2/11 :: Ox Day :: Open :: The Room/Hare :: 5 Waiting/22 Ornament

According to the almanac, this is the first easy day we’ve had in a while. I love when all the indicators work together to express one message. Today it’s simplicity. “When you assume power, practice sincerity not extravagance. Simplicity and frugality can express power.” Let yourself feel it. We are not “influenced by” astrology. We are time itself unfolding. Today is auspicious for everything but endings. Make offerings, consult oracles, build, practice ritual and meditation, move house, begin construction, add on to homes and shops, receive medical treatments, make investments, take exams, perform, travel, see your doctor, recover, take herbs, and buy homes, cars, and property. It’s even a good day to get married. Go where your heart takes you.

neurodivergent
my daughter gathers walnuts
deep in her own groove

Thank you for reading, and have a good week. As always, you can find this information on the DYC Tongshu app for Apple and in Changing by Liu Ming.