I use the Four Pillar Method
For those of you who are not familiar with Four Pillars here is a brief description:
There are two functional systems in a Four Pillars horoscope; the Heavenly stems and the Earthly Branches. The 10 Heavenly Stems represent the transformation of Chi as is goes through the yin and yang phase of each of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). The 12 Earthly Branches represent the energy cycles linked to the archetypes of the Asian zodiac and the element associated with each (Rat, Ox, Tiger, etc).
Knowing the time, place and date of birth of the subject is necessary to create the natal chart. There are ways to determine the time of birth if it is not known. Four pillars are generated; one for the year, one for the month, one for the day and one for the hour. Each pillar consists of a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch. There are also hidden elements associated with some of the Earthly Branches.
The Heavenly Stem found in the day pillars is known as the Self Element or Day-master. It is the single most important aspect of the chart and is the primary nomer for the subject of the chart.
Information can be derived by studying the relationships between the other elements in the chart and the Self Element. By observing their favorable or unfavorable interactions with the Self
Element we are able to assess the condition of the subject’s Ch’i at the time of birth and thereby access a lot of useful information about the person’s life.
Each of the four Earthly Branches brings an animal archetype to the natal chart. Together they reveal the personality and character of the subject. The year animal carries the greatest weight with the hour animal second in line; month and day follow. Each Branch also brings a fixed element to the pillars exerting its influence on the Self Element. Some branches also contain hidden elements that have a less pronounced effect on the chart.
For each animal the fixed element is always the same. The twelve zodiac animals and their fixed element are Rat-water, Ox-earth, Tiger-wood, Rabbit- wood, Dragon-earth, Snake-fire Horse-fire, Sheep- earth, Monkey-metal, Rooster-metal, Dog-earth, and Pig-water. There are five versions of each of these; one for each of the five elements, indicated by the stem sitting above it.
eg: For the Rat – Wood Rat, Fire Rat, Earth Rat, Metal Rat, Water Rat.
The fixed element always remains the same and is considered part of the Earthly Branch.
eg: Wood Rat Water (Rat is always water).
Each animal is also either Yin or Yang and causes its attached Heavenly Stem (the element that precedes it) to be Yin or Yang.
eg: Yang Wood Rat Water (Rat is always Yang) or Yin Wood Ox Earth (Ox is always Yin).
We now have a cycle of ten (Yin and Yang of the Five Elements) and the cycle of twelve (the twelve animal archetypes) that have been nicely integrated with each other and are central to the calculation of the charts.
The month pillar has a special significance since it indicates the season of birth. Depending on the Self Element this can be favorable or unfavorable and can strengthen or weaken the Self Element Four Pillars uses the Solar Calendar. This sets it apart from other types of divination and creates several advantages. Like other Daoist modalities Four Pillars has a strong linkage to the movement of the Sun and especially the seasons. The Solar calendar makes it possible for the year to begin at the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox; two very important events in our annual cycles.
adapted from Yasha Jampolsky – practices and teaches Four Pillars Astrology |
