Cycle 25 # Day 26

i know i'm not supposed to.... but try tell a dog not to bark.....

Cycle 25 @ day 23......

Time seemed drifting by faster and more meaning for September and October as i've enrolled myself in an Advance Diploma in Psychology Counselling and attending classes on every Saturday. The past third week was exceptional busy in preparing examination papers as well as reserach reading. Whow...its been a long long time since i left schooling. Getting back on felt weird at the beginning. But the Singaporean leacture Henry Tan was admirable. Aside from being a full time licensed senior counselor at Singapore HIV center, he teached colleages and an active Christian preacher. The commendable aspect of him was that he carried counseling not the religious way, but the universa way. I totally missed him as a preacher if he did not extend his namecard at the end of the module 1. Applaudable.

Tomorrow class resumes after a week Deepavali break. I managed to catch up back on some blogging. My fertility treatment remains regime despite busier time table. And Dino dad remains hardworking in making himself a father. Its good to keep myself busy. I am less stressed up counting days and pleasantly moderating my moods.

What that...i've got hits of big visions of my destiny choices the next 3 years. I've better get working on this visions than to count.

To clash or not to clash

By Mastery Academy

This week, let's take a look at the concept of the "clash" of the Earthly Branches in BaZi. Recall that each natal BaZi chart contains four Earthly Branches -- namely the four animal signs in the Year, Month, Day and Hour Pillars (in addition, there are the Earthly Branches of the Luck and Annual Pillars). A clash to the Earthly Branches means that one (or more) of the Earthly Branches encounters a direct, opposing branch. This can occur within the natal BaZi chart itself or between the branches in a natal chart with the Luck or Annual Pillars.

Now, the main thing is that a clash of course is not to be feared and does not necessary mean a bad thing! In general, however, clashes do indicate changes, usually abrupt and obvious ones. As clashes indicate head-on changes, their effects are obvious and typically obviously felt - so it is a good idea to usually prepare ourselves when we predict a clash occurring either in the Luck or Annual Pillars.

Whether a clash is deemed good or not is usually dependent on how "favourable" the victorious element of a clash is. For example, in the clash of a Rat (Water element) and a Horse (whose main Qi is Fire), the victorious branch is typically the Rat (as Water puts out Fire). This is one determinant. We also have to examine whether the more favourable element is removed or introduced. Continuing with the Rat/Horse example, let's assume that there is a Rat branch in a natal BaZi chart and a BaZi evaluation tells us that the element of Ding fire is needed. In the Luck Pillar of the Horse, generally the introduction of Fire via the Horse, even though it is "rejected" by the Rat (hence, manifesting as the Rat/Horse clash), is good for the person in question. There will be unsettling changes in store of course ... but the discomfort will be beneficial for the person's life.

For today's article, let's also examine the effects of the clash to different parts of the BaZi chart. As the Year Branch indicates the external-most part of the chart, a clash here indicates a change in the external environment of the person in question. These external changes can manifest in circumstances as relocation, migration or travel for the person undergoing the clash. A Clash in the Year Branch can also mean accidents or mishaps which hurt the external body. As the Year Pillar also denotes the relationship with one's grandparents and childhood friends, a clash here may also mean separation from (or in some cases, the death of) such parties.

The Month Branch is the foremost indication of one's key character since it denotes the immediate family environment when one is growing up. As such, any clash here means not only a crucial change in the person's key attitudes but possibly a change in the parental home or parental relationship. In addition, as the Month Pillar is also an indicator of one's immediate work environment and relationship with the superior, a clash here denotes such a corresponding change - he or she may be transferred to a different department or alternatively, his or her superior may be replaced!

A clash to the Day Branch is usually much-feared as it typically denotes marital or spousal problems. However, a clash to the Day Branch could simply mean a change in residence or renovations to the home. Alternatively, it could also mean hurting the lower part of the body or perhaps even surgery.

Parents especially, should be wary of a clash to the Hour Branch as this denotes issues (for example, separation) with one's children. As one's subordinates are also akin to one's children, a clash to the Hour Branch can also denote a turnover in subordinates or even the type of work that a person does. Besides these, a clash to the Hour Branch can cause a feeling of unease and unsettling thoughts for the person experiencing the clash.

Toh Kong Eu
MA Instructor

Day Pillar = All in a day's work

By Mastery Academy
Like all other jobs out there, Feng Shui consulting has its ups and downs - braving the tropical weather in formal attire, inflicting soil and mud upon leather shoes, and having to quickly recover and look cool while heading back to the office. One of the most important lessons I've learned is this: always start your day with a healthy hearty breakfast.

No. Just joking. What I mean to say is, don't embark on crucial activities (all my site-visits are crucial to me, later you will understand why) on a Day that clashes with your Day Pillar.
Now, of course sometimes we do not get to choose the best time to go out - always bear in mind what's happening to your house's dynamic Feng Shui. Dynamic what? I'm going to assume that since this newsletter is reaching you, you must be an ardent observer of Feng Shui - and therefore, by default you must have a 'Bright Hall' outside AND inside your main door.
(If you really have no idea what a 'Bright Hall' is, you have no choice but to get this book.)
Back to dynamic Feng Shui - I was referring to the annual and monthly Flying Stars at your main door. Why? This is a good indicator of your wealth prospects for the month:
Month Star produce Annual Star: Expect some financial gains. Clients will be very friendly and cooperative.

Month Star the same element with Annual Star: Maintained status quo. Extremely lovely clients.

Month Star counters Annual Star: Some wealth gains. But cranky clients.

Month Star depletes Annual Star: Client requires 'a lot of persuasion.'
Month Star countered by Annual Star: Client will Feng Shui his/her own house.

The 'Host and Guest' relationship between two Stars (or Star and Palace) is often discussed in Xuan Kong Feng Shui. We often generalize that Star combinations like 8-9 and 1-4 are good stuff, but fail to see that sometimes, the good stuff happens without truly 'benefiting' us! For example, if your Annual Star is #9, and the monthly Star that flew in is a #8, you have a case of Fire 'producing out' to the Earth. What this could mean is that, while yes, you will experience a 'happy event' (#9 is the Happiness Star), and money is involved (#8 is a Wealth Star), but because of this 'produce outwards' relationship - it looks like you'll be spending money at someone else's wedding or charity ball instead!

During a Feng Shui corporate training session last week, one female participant asked, "What does it mean if I have too much Fire in my BaZi chart?"

My answer was, "Drink more water then."

They all laughed at me.

Hmm... Fire represents passion. Too much Fire means over-passionate. When you are constantly over-passionate you tend to work your body a lot, move a lot, and talk a lot. So you get dehydrated easily. After 10 years of constant dehydration your kidneys (Water element) might start to fail. Not to mention your skin condition (Earth element) might be beyond SK-II repair.

Another smart aleck retorted, "Doesn't Fire grow Earth, thus improving your skin?"
My reply was, "Would you take a cooked chicken and stick it in your oven again?" Too much of anything is never good. After all, Feng Shui is fundamentally the study of Yin-Yang balance.
For example, before moving out to seize the day (Yang), always fill yourself with a hearty breakfast (Yin).

Sherwin Ng
MA Instructor

Thriving through the rest of the ox year

By Mastery Academy

Time sure flies, even in this plodding Earth Ox year! We're already almost in the last quarter of this Chinese Solar Year and initial plans are already afoot to welcome the upcoming Metal Tiger year from the perspective of astrology and changing Feng Shui energies. The Earth Ox year has certainly been a challenging and confusing year for many. Alas, the reality is that we still need to face the remainder of the next four months; so let's revisit some key reminders (mostly based on simple 5 element deductions) on how we can make the best of the next 4 months or so.

The Earth Ox year is best visualized by a pile of cold, stacking earth. Hardly a picture of growth, rosy health or clarity in thought! The excess of the earth element is difficult for most of us in terms of BaZi; even those whose favourable element is earth have likely found this a challenging year. The year has brought with it the danger of disease, natural disasters and slow growth in the world economy. While most of us can't really expect to achieve successful fruition of our endeavours this year, nonetheless we should think long term. This is a good year to start new endeavours andinitiate new ideas and goals. The earth allows us to "germinate" and "seed" new projects and take a new direction in life.

However, as plants take time to grow, we should also guard against having too high expectations of quick success and achievement. In fact, if you haven't already discovered by now, longer term visions, goals and plans work much better this year than endeavours that thrive on rapid turnover and quick results-this is a good way to work with the earth element. Also, any endeavour that involves the wood element such as teaching, designing, agriculture- most of anything that involves growth and creativity-- will thrive. A dose of creativity in any endeavour will ease any blockage or obstacle that we encounter.

As fire energy is outwardly weak this year, using the qualities of fire will also help. The fire element will warm-up the cold earth, making it slightly easier to manage. So, we should stay passionate and joyful. Look for and do things that make you happy. Stay happy! As the Ox (being a graveyard animal sign) also makes us more contemplative and inward, this provides a great opportunity to explore spirituality, or perhaps even religion (since these belong to the fire element). Invest in self-cultivation and study. Look for ways to improve your life and its current circumstances, to the extent of maybe even taking a new direction if such a time has arrived!

The excess earth not only makes us contemplative but also blurs communication while causing excessive stress and worry. This is especially so with charts that already have an excess of metal and water. In addition, those with excess earth will also feel pressured and misunderstood; even to the extent of being paranoid and suspicious. As one key benefit of understanding astrology is taking stock of what is happening internally, those afflicted with such excess earth should always look at the brighter side of things and acknowledge that most of one's fear, suspicion and negative thinking this year can be mostly or perhaps even entirely baseless. As the Earth Ox is hardly conducive for clear communication, it is better to be open, clear and forthright when communicating since the chance for miscommunication is already so high.

Lastly, we need to be continuously mindful of health as the Ox has brought increased health risks and higher mortality rates. We should observe good personal hygiene, take precaution of health risks (such as H1N1), eat healthy, and also get adequate exercise and sleep. To stay psychologically healthy, we also need to be physically healthy!

Toh Kong Eu
MA Instructor

30-9-09 - Bye Bye Legal Ah Long

Its official! We have settled our first home loan with Standard Chartered Bank and today is history.

Finally. We are elated. We are floating in euphoria, literally.

To celebrate our release, hubby and i patted each other's back and yamseng-ed teh tarik at Nainas mamak nearby our house.

We cheered to our record time in finishing the loan in just 12 years instead of 30 years. We cheered to all of our hard work and perseverance paid off. We cheered to our decisions on no-LouisVutton-for-now. We cheered to our choice on traveling everything low-fare and low-budget. We cheered to our decision to postpone wedding to 6 years later. We cheered to our decision to defer ownership of our desired Period-8 home 7 years later. We cheered to our reluctance but still serviced someone else's house with a non-refundable sum of RM76,800. We cheered to our prudentially guided lifestyle. And lastly, we unanimously cheered to ourselves for truly owning a piece of mid-end condominium in the heart of Kuala Lumpur to our names rightfully and legally.......haaaaaaaaaah.......what a blast......

And now, we are getting ready to be bombarded with our first pot of gold in real hard cash by end of November. Life is certainly rewarding to those, that meant us, who'd slaved with two to three jobs at a time for more than 10 years. Yeh!

Cycle # 25 - Day 1 - Another fail attempt

....period came.....