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Chapter 56 of 135
Xing Ping Hui Hai — Compendium of Stars and Zi Ping
While examining the fundamental stars (celestial bodies fixed at birth) in the natal chart is crucial, one must also remain vigilant against potential harms brought by transiting stars (celestial bodies that change annually). If the Lord of the Age (the dominant star of the current major cycle) is both malefic and debilitated, and further compounded by powerful transiting malefic stars, it may even lead to death—a scenario demanding meticulous scrutiny. If the Lord of the Age is strong and only transiting malefic stars are causing trouble, improvement can be expected once these malefic influences pass. Hence, the ancient classic states: Though fundamental stars may bring no major fault, transiting stars fear becoming calamitous. Fundamental stars are like fine wine, superior to delicacies; transiting misfortunes are like rootless accumulated water, transient and easily dispersed.
The Jupiter year is most critical: In ordinary charts, the year star must preside and harmonize with the Grand Jupiter (Tai Sui); if Jupiter dominates, it can bring wealth and honor. If the year lord does not "record" this person, they become a talent of no use. Simultaneously, it is essential to avoid malefic stars damaging the presiding influence. Human life prioritizes the body star and fortune star: having rank without fortune makes it difficult to enjoy the position; having destiny without the body endangers life itself.
Malefic stars should not come into power and favor but should be untimely and weak—for example, wood in spring encountering metal (metal restrains wood), water in winter encountering earth (earth restrains water), etc. When malefics are untimely and the host star is strong, it is auspicious. Specifically: Fire as a malefic is unfavorable for those born during the day; Earth as a malefic is unfavorable for those born at night. Beware of wood malefic in spring, metal malefic in autumn, water malefic in winter, and fire malefic in summer—all reflecting the subtle principle of timely versus untimely influence.
The method of observing stars is similar to reading destiny: one must also consider the trine (120-degree aspect) and opposition (180-degree aspect) to determine fortune and misfortune. Generally, in the trine position, the four emissaries (Rahu, Ketu, etc.) have a lighter impact, while the five planets (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) have a heavier impact; in the opposition position, the four emissaries are heavy, and the five planets are light, as the emissaries belong to stars of sudden and abrupt assault.
Venus in the tail (near the end of a constellation) in the solar palace is called "shining forward"; if it serves as the lord of life and resides before the sun, it is termed "special advance" or "Venus shining upon the sun," indicating authority, wealth, and honor. Before the sun, only the lord of the body degree, the lord of the life degree, and Venus are favored, all considered auspicious. If stars of punishment, bondage, obscurity, or exhaustion are before the sun, it is called "misguided advance" and is inauspicious. If the life lord or Venus is behind the sun, it is termed "delayed advance," and the blessings are halved.
Jupiter conjunct Rahu in the sign of Yin (寅) is auspicious: water rejoices in Yin, Rahu delights in Yin; when these two stars meet in their favorable position, it is auspicious—elsewhere, it is not considered. Mars and Ketu as authority in the upper squares of Mao (卯) and Yin (寅) form a favorable pattern: Mars is exalted in Mao and domiciled in Yin; Yin is the wall of Ketu, Mao is the area of Ketu's strength; the two stars mutually generate, hence indicating authority and rank, regardless of day or night birth—in other palaces, the strength diminishes.
Slow, stationary, hidden, and retrograde are key to the five planets:
Malefic stars untimely can turn auspicious; useful stars untimely and restrained turn inauspicious. If malefic stars are timely and fostered, they cause obvious harm. In calculating the five planets, one must examine slow, stationary, hidden, and retrograde motions: stationary stars manifest during the day, hidden stars are elusive like mirages; each is noted under the star's degree for reference.
General Formula:
The five planets meeting the sun should be hidden; in trine with the sun, they must be stationary.
Opposition signifies retrograde; not meeting the sun signifies slow.
When stars conjunct, sequence matters: malefic stars should lead, host stars should follow. For example, if water and fire conjunct, water restrains fire, so water is the malefic; if water leads, it does not restrain fire, but if fire leads and water follows, the malefic presses upon the body, which is most inauspicious. The same logic applies to other stars. The ancient classic states: Malefic ahead, host behind, may hold the power of prime minister; malefic behind, host ahead, fear suffering exile or hardship.
General Formula:
If body and life are unrestrained, metal should advance toward wood.
If water and fire do not restrain, water gladly advances toward fire.
If earth and moon are without eclipse, most favorable for moon to advance toward earth.
Earth slow, moon swift—without distinguishing sequence, judgment is difficult.
Retrograde motion divides into effective and ineffective:
The subtleties of planetary retrogradation require careful study to comprehend.
Ancient astrology emphasizes dynamic balance: the natal chart (fundamental stars) is the foundation, but transiting stars and the Lords of Ages trigger changes in fortune and misfortune. The key lies in "timely versus untimely" influence—planetary strength aligned with temporal and spatial conditions brings blessings; misalignment brings harm. Malefic stars (negative influences) need suppression, while host stars (beneficial influences) need support. Judgments about life trends are made through position, timing, and interaction.
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