Imagine you are walking along, and suddenly, you find your path blocked by the biggest and rockiest mountain ever! After an understandable bout of cussing, what are you going to do?
Bust out a sledgehammer and start chopping through the mountain? Too difficult!
Start setting up dynamites? You carry dynamites when you’re out on a walk?
Try to climb the mountain? Possible, but arduous.
How about making a tactical retreat and then re-approach from a different angle?
The Retreat hexagram is a call to get back to basics. In a negative sense, it can be called ‘quitting’. But quitting is not necessarily a bad thing. Are there some negative parts in your life that you can call it quits in 2023?
Could it be a toxic relationship? Could it be a way of thinking? Certain habits? Netflix? (lol!)
A time of retreat is not a time of stagnation. Because retreat is not giving up. During more war-like days, when armies retreat, that is the time for healing the injured, getting fresh supplies, and creating new strategies. Retreat is conserving energy so that you can better position yourself for future moves. Therefore, retreat is a time for strategy and self-improvement.
The arrival of Star 8 into a Star 9 life also brings the promise of happy events that promote better emotional health. Therefore, the Retreat hexagram can represent a calling to get back to your roots and focus on what is the most important fundamentals in your life.
The Small Livestock hexagram is like a bright blue sky on a scorching, stifling summer day. The Xun (Wind) on top, the Qian (Heaven) at the bottom. Plenty of puffy white clouds, a tiny breeze is blowing, but not a drop of rain in sight.
This hexagram represents a period of time when the wind is ebbing, when it does not even have the momentum required to gather the clouds together. This is a time to focus on the small details, as opposed to pushing for a big move. This is the time to put the final details of your plans together, small tiny successes that pile one on top of each other until eventually the momentum starts to pick up.
Please do not underestimate the power of these small successes. One small success every day will culminate inn 365 successes by the end of a year.
It’s obvious by now that you won’t be the ‘rainmaker’ this year. You may not have the resources on hand to take sweeping actions. The solution: collaborations and partnerships.
Therefore, this is the year for a Star 7 person to employ the power of subtle influence and gentle persuasion.
When you find yourself caught in a maelstrom, the first thing to do is not to panic!
The arrival of the Consistency hexagram in a Star 6 life can be a little unsettling. It brings about a rapidly changing external environment coupled with an internal feeling of helplessness. Yes, it’s a feeling much like being sucked into a whirlpool – helpless! You see the world changing around you, but you are locking yourself into a position where you cannot move.
The Consistency hexagram is a lesson in adaptability and flexibility. We can stay true to our goals, while changing our methods. That’s the message from the Consistency hexagram with Zhen (Thunder) at the top, and Xun (Wind) at the bottom.
Consistency is achieved through constant motion. It’s not a state of inactivity. This hexagram is encouraging you to be flexible in your approach to life, but always with your eyes firmly on the goal. There are many paths to reach a destination.
But what if you have not decided on your destination? The arrival of the Consistency hexagram will require that you dig deep to tap into your own sense of purpose and find your anchor.
“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills
Chinese proverb
Something that you have started is beginning to gain momentum. The winds of change are shifting, and it would shift to your favour if you use this opportunity to uplift and improve the lives of people in your orbit.
Propelled by this momentum, this is the best time for you to take the necessary steps to start building your tribe and following. Upward motion is the key here, moving from a position of obscurity to becoming a person who is able to enlarge your sphere of influence.
Think about the impact of your contributions. Search for creative ways to scale this impact so that you can serve more people.
That’s the external part of the Rising hexagram. What about if we were to internalize it? Let’s start by making the conscious decision to uplift ourselves this year. To change that ‘naggy’ inner voice from one that constantly judges yourself to a gentler and more encouraging tone.
But let’s get real here. There will be days when you will fall off the wagon. It’s ok! No need for self-flagellation. Simply, get back on the wagon and start again. Because when our internal landscape is on the ‘rise’, that’s the beginning of hope!
For those of you with the Life Star 4, 2023 and the arrival of the Beginning hexagram signifies the possibility of a fresh start. This fresh start could happen in various forms – in your career, relationships, health, personal wellness, lifestyle, anything.
But as exciting as a fresh start can be, it’s not without its rough patches. Let’s call them… teething problems!
The Beginning hexagram, with Kan (Water) on top, and Zhen (Wood) at the bottom, represents a tiny new seedling pushing its way up to the surface. This young and fragile seedling needs to make an extraordinary effort to push through the denseness of the earth before it can emerge into the sunlight.
The seedlings that lack the inner will to power past the obstacles will forever remain buried underground. But for the seedlings that make it to the surface, a time of flowering and abundance awaits.
Therefore, the Beginning hexagram is a lesson in perseverance. You’ve taken a bold step to make improvements in your life. But now you are encountering obstacles. And that tiny voice in your head is getting louder, asking you to run back to the ‘safety’ of your comfort zone. Be warned. That way lies stagnation!
Know that the current difficulties you are experiencing are nothing more than a blip in the grander sense of things. They represent a time of trial-and-error. They are… teething problems.
All that’s required, is to be patient, work steadily, have several routes mapped out, give it due diligence and attention, and most of all, be sure to nip the weeds in the bud. Work hard now, be willing to put in the hours, stay focused on your goal. You can enjoy life later.
And most importantly, don’t be shy to ask for a helping hand. The arrival of Star 3 into the life of a Life Star 4 can increase your Peach Blossom luck. So if nothing else, you’re a lot more likable in 2023!
“Keep walking through the storm, your rainbow is waiting on the other side.
Heather Stillufsen
Congratulations! The arrival of the Advancement Hexagram in the Star 3 life promises steady growth and natural progress. Things are moving apace. All you have to do, is participate. So, just keep walking!
It’s not the time yet to look for new directions. Instead, update your internal road-map and plan for step-by-step progress. Progress made through the Advancement Hexagram can be a little slow, a little more gradual. It’s not one for flashy results.
The Li (Fire) at the top, producing the abundant Kun (Earth) at the bottom, is akin to the heavens creating situations that will ultimately benefit you.
However, there is a snarky line in the Secrets of Xuan Kong that reads: When Fire sees Earth: stupid and stubborn clots will emerge.
Therefore, do try not to be a stupid and stubborn clot! It’s one thing to deal with stubborn fools, it’s another to adopt an egoistical and recalcitrant stance. The arrival of Star 2 into the life of a Life Star 3 is sometimes known as the Bullfight Sha which brings about senseless and needless arguments or disputes.
There is a calling to rise above the pettiness. After all, you can afford to be magnanimous. You’re the one who’s making progress!
‘Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread’. They say, ignorance is bliss and happy is the fool. The arrival of the Bliss hexagram in a Star 2 life can be viewed in two different ways.
On the one hand, it represents an opportunity to create an unshakeable inner joy and inner peace, unaffected and unsullied by external events. It’s the ability to still experience peace and joy, despite the problems you are facing.
Yet at the same time, wilful naivety and headstrong rebellion can only carry you so far.
How about we meld those two disparate interpretations together? The Bliss hexagram carries the Gen (Mountain) on top, and the Kan (Water) at the bottom. This hexagram can be visualized as an underwater stream or hidden resources that you can only get to if you dig deep.
Instead of wilful naivety, how about making the conscious effort to cultivate a childish delight and curiosity for learning? Be teachable. Adopt an open attitude towards advice. Be the student who delights in learning, and actively work towards enhancing your awareness.
The arrival of the Bliss hexagram heralds the arrival of teachers and mentors with the knowledge to take you to the next level. At the very least, do your part by seeking them out. Learn something that makes you uncomfortable! Stretch your mind! Get out there and experience something new.
The only caution when Star 1 visits a Life Star 2 life – be very careful with food hygiene.
If you were given a year to master a skill, what would it be? That is the question posed to the Ox in 2023.
ABOUT THE 2023 CHINESE ZODIAC SERIES
In creating this new series, I’ve endeavoured to shift your perspectives of the positive and negative stars. They are neither promises nor guarantees. Instead, these are tools given to you for 2023, and it’s up to you to choose which one works better for you. The results become more obvious when we match our actions to the effects.
And when we learn to use these stars, that is when life happens for you, instead of happening to you.
Therefore, this post will include descriptions of the effects of the stars, followed by some ideas (or suggestions, if you will), on how the stars can be used. Please note that critical thinking is required on your part. Because without looking at the full information from your unique Bazi Chart, the ideas cannot be customized and must be kept as broad as possible.
THE OX IN 2023
In 2022, the Ox had a choice to make – to build in public, or to work silently in the background. If you had been visible, and I’m assuming that you were, the visibility from 2022’s Golden Carriage and Surpassing Path would have brought you some growth opportunities.
Now, with those opportunities in hand, it’s time to focus on the task at hand. When I look at the list of stars in the Ox for 2023, I see a Japanese sword master, spending a year perfecting a single katana. He folds the metal again and again and again, honing the steel into a formidable weapon
This mental picture of a Japanese sword master at work, is the picture I ask you to carry in your head as you go about 2023.
FORTUNE NOBLEMAN AND SKY BRIGHT
The presence of the Fortune Nobleman and the Sky Bright denotes mastery. To metaphrase, the Sky Bright represents fame through one’s talents and knowledge. To attain that fame or recognition, one must first develop those skill and talents.
In many cases, mastery can only be attained when we have time alone – hours upon hours of study, research, practice, and more practice. The Sky Bright is not talking about a hidden talent that suddenly pops up. Instead, the Sky Bright supports the talent that is acquired through dedication and practice.
Therein lies the problem. We live in a world of instant gratification. With the advent of technology, we have lost the ability to wait. And we have forgotten that sometimes, the things that are worth doing, requires time and effort.
LONESOME AND PEELING HEAD
And because we have lost the ability to wait, we get upset when we don’t see instant results. To make things worse, because the process or journey of mastery is a solitary journey, there may be instances when we feel unsupported. This is what the Lonesome and Peeling Head is pointing to. Both are emotional stars, denoting that we feel unsupported in our quest to master this certain skill.
LEOPARD TAIL
Not only are we feeling lonely in this journey, but it seems we also need to learn to deal with naysayers coming in the form of the Leopard Tail. These are like trolls, they’re petty people who seem to take delight in undermining our efforts. Here we are trying to master a skill, and here is this group telling us that we’re wasting our time. What to do about them? Ignore!
FUNERAL GUEST
The Funeral Guest hints at the possibility of hearing bad news. When we see this star, it’s always a good idea to make the effort to re-connect with distant friends or family members. Ironically, the Funeral Guest can sometimes serve as a reminder to us that life is short and it can actually galvanize us into action.
SKY DOG
Finally, the Sky Dog. This is a pretty minor negative star. It means the potential of experience a scar or blemish to our skins. So be careful when handling sharp objects. It can also point to the possibility of loss and wastage caused by defective products. Therefore, make sure to always examine a product thoroughly before you buy.
If you’re planning to buy big purchases like a car or property – make sure to get it independently assessed before making the purchase decision
OX 2023: SUGGESTED CAREER CHECKLIST
Using the Ox stars for career development is fairly simple. Spend the year mastering a skill… not acquiring a new one. An existing skill.
And as for the negative stars? If you feel unsupported, be pro-active about it and seek out the support you need. Perhaps you could buddy up with a friend and act as accountability coach for each other?
OX 2023: SUGGESTED BUSINESS CHECKLIST
For the Business Owners, solopreneurs especially, will be vulnerable to the effects of these negative stars. Because a solopreneur works… alone! We’re the ones delivering the product, we’re the ones doing the marketing, we’re the boss, we’re the cleaner, we’re everything!
But with the coming of the Sky Bright especially, 2023 would be a good year to start assembling your dream team. People will hard skills who can make your life a little easier. They don’t need to be in your permanent employ. They can be talented freelancers!
And as mentioned, get your support network in place!
OX 2023: MENTAL WELLNESS CHECKLIST
Because the negative stars in the Ox for 2023 talks a lot about the psychological issues such as loneliness and depression, here’s some extra content just for the Ox!
One suggestion is to learn to love the journey, not the outcome. When you love the journey, the chances of getting the outcome is higher.
On this note, pick a skill that you want to master. No ‘shoulding’ here. What’s shoulding? ‘ I should do this, I should do that!’ Once the ‘shoulding’ starts, the judging begins, and then maybe the shaming tags along. And what happens to our self-worth when that starts? So pick a skill you want to master so that you can love the journey.
This way, the journey will contribute towards cultivating our self worth. What’s the difference between self worth and self esteem? Simple! Self esteem is reliant on external validations. Self worth is internal – how we see ourselves regardless of what’s going on outside.
And speaking of outside… let’s have a look at where is your Ox?
WHERE IS YOUR OX?
YEAR PILLAR
If you have the Ox in your Year Pillar, it seems like there are unrecognized talents or people in need of support within your industry, friend list, linked in connections, contacts, acquaintances, social media followers.
If you want to use these stars, then your job would be to get out there, network, discover who they are, and first of all, offer your support. Be the friend they need!
MONTH PILLAR
If you have the Ox in your Month pillar that governs career and business, this is a great year to focus on honing your proverbial sword. Gain mastery over a skill that will pay back for years and years to come.
Remember that image of a Japanese swordmaster? Be that! So focused on honing your craft that you are impervious to negative feelings and naysayers. Come 2024, that proverbial sword of yours must be ready to be launched! Because the positive stars will be coming back.
This is about using a year with negative stars as prep year. Some people will wait until the positive stars arrive before they start doing something. By then, it’s too late! If we use a year with negative stars for prep, by the time the positive stars return to our Ox column, the results we get will increase exponentially!
DAY PILLAR
How about Ox in the day which governs yourself, and your personal relationships? Seems like you will feel a little unsupported in 2023. Why not be pro-active about this?
Communicate what you need to feel supported! If Significant Other is unable to provide the support you need, then get your own support network in place. This pillar is not just about your significant other. This pillar can also include your BFFs, or your immediate family.
Or perhaps, your Significant Other may be the one feeling unsupported. Either way, communication is the key.
HOUR PILLAR
Ox in the Hour will govern your children, your staff, investments, ideas, ideals, and ambitions.
Where your children and staff are concerned, this could be the right time to increase their self-worth by encouraging them to master a certain skill.
What about investments? Learn the skills you need to become a master investor! Sky Bright type of mastery requires hours of practice. I can’t stress that enough.
ABOUT ME
It’s been a long article, hasn’t it? If you’ve gotten this far, thank you!
A little about me. My name is Paulynne Cheng and I am a Bazi and Feng Shui practitioner with a bias for career and business development. Mind you, I’m not a business guru or some such. My role, is to interpret the energies of your Bazi Chart and the corresponding 2023 energies for you. To help you identify potential opportunities and possible threats, depending on your goal for 2023.
Should we meet for an onward conversation, my goal is to help you align your actions, not just to the effects of the stars, but also to the flow of energies in your unique Bazi Chart.
When we do that, you really go with the flow and things become easier because you are no longer fighting the energies, but using the energies.
GET YOUR FULL 2023 ANALYSIS
Now, remember! The Annual Auxiliary Stars make up only about 20% of your Year. To understand and create strategies for a successful year ahead, hit me up for a personal consult. Let’s co-create your strategy together and make 2023 your best year yet!
If you have the Rooster in your Bazi Chart, come 2023, it’s time to take on the Year Breaker role.
Since around 2019, the Rooster had been blessed with a run of positive stars. However, in this crucial Year Breaker period, unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of external support. Almost akin to a temporary feast-famine cycle. In other words, without external support, it’s up to you to create your opportunities in 2023.
ABOUT THE 2023 CHINESE ZODIAC SERIES
In creating this new series, I’ve endeavoured to shift your perspectives of the positive and negative stars. They are neither promises nor guarantees. Instead, these are tools given to you for 2023, and it’s up to you to choose which one works better for you. The results become more obvious when we match our actions to the effects.
And when we learn to use these stars, that is when life happens for you, instead of happening to you.
Therefore, this post will include descriptions of the effects of the stars, followed by some ideas (or suggestions, if you will), on how the stars can be used. Please note that critical thinking is required on your part. Because without looking at the full information from your unique Bazi Chart, the ideas cannot be customized and must be kept as broad as possible.
THE ROOSTER IN 2023
YEAR BREAKER
A Year Breaker is but a fancy name for a clash of energies affecting your Bazi Chart. A clash is very straight forward. It simply means, change! Often viewed as a negative, because from the traditional perspective, change is always unwelcome. A good life in the olden days, literally translates into a long and boring life.
But in today’s world, a Year Breaker brings power to propel us out of our plateau. Without change, there can be no growth.
A Year Breaker is only negative when we resist change. If you open yourself up to change, and learn to reframe your perspectives (think opportunities, not problems; think challenges, not obstacles) you may find that 2023 could be an exciting and fulfilling year.
Because this Rooster-Rabbit clash is clashing outwards (your Metal clashing out to the Wood), the good news is, there is some element of control which signifies that you still get to decide which aspects of your life needs changing.
But there are signs that maybe, you will face some internal resistance to change.
OBSTACLES, PRISON INMATES AND SKY SADNESS
Under the influence of the Obstacles star, you may be more easily influenced by the negativity out there. Somehow, you are more willing or susceptible to negativity which may start a downward spiral.
If you find yourself sucked in by the Obstacles star, the Prison Inmates may also be activated. This star describes a feeling of entrapment, of feeling physically, mentally or even emotionally trapped. And that is when the Sky Sadness (representing depression and other emotional issues), comes along to join the pity-party.
Together, the Obstacles, Prison Inmates and Sky Sadness stars combine to form the sunk-cost fallacy. More on this later.
GREAT CONSUMER
The Year Breaker comes hand in hand with its twin, the Great Consumer. It represents an increase in expenses. If the Year Breaker represents problems, then the Great Consumer is the opportunity to use money to resolve those problems. Therefore, it is always best to keep some budget aside for contingencies.
But where could this money possibly be needed? There are some clues.
CALAMITY SHA
The Calamity Sha is a disaster star. It could mean that you somehow find yourself trapped in a disaster area such as floods, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, etc! It could also mean potential damages to your property or home. Therefore, as you begin the year, why not take the trouble to inspect your home for any damages that you can repair immediately. Since the Calamity Sha is in the Rooster, prioritize areas in the West sector of your house.
SALTY POOL
The other way that money could flow out? Salty Pool – the star of instant gratification which translates to money flowing out due to impulse purchases.
However, there is some good news here. The Salty Pool is actually a type of Peach Blossom star. It’s often viewed also as a negative due to its connotations of unbridled lusts or desires. If you are able to control the effects of the Salty Pool, it can act like a Peach Blossom star, and increase your desirability and likability.
JADE HALL AND MONTH EMPTINESS
But is there support? Yes! The Jade Hall signifies that something you own, be it a material thing, asset, investment, knowledge, skill, talent, anything really… has increased in value.
Perhaps more importantly, you also have the support of the Month Emptiness. This is a rather neutral star. What it does is that it connects us to the universal energy. It is, in fact, a wish-fulfilling star. Its presence is asking you to connect to your inner self or higher self.
But why would I describe a wish-fulfilling star as neutral? Shouldn’t they be good? It depends! When given the chance for your thoughts to manifest your reality, it’s only a good thing when you are positive thinker! Negative thinkers will find the reality manifested is as unpleasant as they expected!
WHERE IS YOUR ROOSTER?
YEAR PILLAR
A clash to the Year Pillar is quite easy to deal with. List down all the energy vampires, takers, whiners, and complainers in your friend list… and delete, block, unfollow!
MONTH PILLAR
What if the Rooster is your Month Pillar that represents your career and business? Look for certain parts of your job or business that is now redundant and keeping you tied down. 2023 may be the time to divest and prioritize more time on your core skills or core business.
DAY PILLAR
Because the Day Pillar represents our close relationships, certain parts of your lifestyle or household routine can be changed for the better. A second honeymoon, anyone?
HOUR PILLAR
Rooster in the Hour Pillar which governs our children, employees, investments, ideas or ideals. In terms of employees, your staff could be getting comfortable in their roles and getting set in their ways. Perhaps it’s time for a reshuffle to challenge everyone to take on new growth.
ROOSTER 2023: SUGGESTED CAREER CHECKLIST
The first rule of the Year Breaker, be willing to drop the redundant roles. Remember the sunk-cost fallacy? Sometimes, we cling on to roles that are no longer serving our career growth. Often, we do this for no other reason apart from the fact that we’ve been doing that for years. Perhaps you have outgrown them? Is it time to pass it to someone more junior?
Secondly, of course, please budget for contingencies. If you feel that you can do so, consider allocating some funds to invest in yourself! Maybe it’s time to acquire a different or new skill?
Thirdly, beware the sunk-cost fallacy that could be keeping you tied to a miserable job. It’s up to you if you want to change jobs this year, but at least start taking steps towards changing your perspective of your career.
Finally, with the Jade Hall, identify your super skill. When negotiating for an increment or promotion, this is your leverage!
ROOSTER 2023: SUGGESTED BUSINESS CHECKLIST
For the Business owners, let’s start by looking into the sunk cost fallacy. What is no longer serving your business? Are they projects? Divisions? Clients? Products? Services?
Next, something has grown in value. Your job is to identify what that something is. It could be physical assets such as property that is owned by your business. Their value has matured and this may be the time to divest and keep your cash flow healthy?
Thirdly, with the Year Breaker, be willing to pivot your product or service.
And finally, with the Great Consumer, Calamity Sha and Salty Pool, please keep an eye on your cash flow and stay liquid for any contingencies.
THE ROOSTER 2023 IN A NUTSHELL
When this collection of stars are seen as a whole, they are encouraging a sense of detachment. Mind you, every practitioner will have different interpretations because we all have different perspectives. While the core effects of the stars remain the same, every one of us will have a different view of how to use these stars. To me, they spell detachment.
With attachment, change can be very painful. But here’s the thing, you become very powerful, when you learn to detach. Because in that detachment comes objectivity and rationality. Am I asking you to intellectualize your feelings? Yes, a little! For 2023 at least, for the Rooster, there needs to be a rather zen-like approach to life.
ABOUT ME
It’s been a long article, hasn’t it? If you’ve gotten this far, thank you!
A little about me. My name is Paulynne Cheng and I am a Bazi and Feng Shui practitioner with a bias for career and business development. Mind you, I’m not a business guru or some such. My role, is to interpret the energies of your Bazi Chart and the corresponding 2023 energies for you. To help you identify potential opportunities and possible threats, depending on your goal for 2023.
Should we meet for an onward conversation, my goal is to help you align your actions, not just to the effects of the stars, but also to the flow of energies in your unique Bazi Chart.
When we do that, you really go with the flow and things become easier because you are no longer fighting the energies, but using the energies.
GET YOUR FULL 2023 ANALYSIS
Now, remember! The Annual Auxiliary Stars make up only about 20% of your Year. To understand and create strategies for a successful year ahead, hit me up for a personal consult. Let’s co-create your strategy together and make 2023 your best year yet!
The Monkey in 2023 may not have a whole boat-load of stars, but the good news is, they are all still imminently usable! But before we get any further, how was your Year Breaker in 2022? I hope the changes you made had brought you satisfactory growth. Because with 2023 looming, it’s time to take things to the next level!
ABOUT THE 2023 CHINESE ZODIAC SERIES
In creating this new series, I’ve endeavoured to shift your perspectives of the positive and negative stars. They are neither promises nor guarantees. Instead, these are tools given to you for 2023, and it’s up to you to choose which one works better for you. The results become more obvious when we match our actions to the effects.
And when we learn to use these stars, that is when life happens for you, instead of happening to you.
Therefore, this post will include descriptions of the effects of the stars, followed by some ideas (or suggestions, if you will), on how the stars can be used. Please note that critical thinking is required on your part. Because without looking at the full information from your unique Bazi Chart, the ideas cannot be customized and must be kept as broad as possible.
MONKEY 2023: CAREER DEVELOPMENT
A Year Breaker in 2022 may mean that your job scope has changed in some ways. For some people, it may mean changing your job, for some a change in job scope, for some a promotion, for others who may want to slow down, could be a reduction in responsibilities – it all depends on your objectives and goals at that particular time.
If you work for a large multi-national corporation, the Heavenly Horse may signify opportunity to work with other divisions or colleagues from other countries. Or, if you work in a smaller organization, it could mean that you now have the opportunity to take on some responsibilities that are new and unfamiliar to you. Perhaps those new responsibilities, because this is the Heavenly Horse, could involve more travel or more contact with a different segment of the market. Example: perhaps you are an Engineer. In 2022, you transited to become a Sales Engineer. So now you have two portfolios. You need to sell, and you need to deliver. This new Sales role may require you to travel more, attend more meetings – this now becomes an opportunity for career growth.
Now that you have created the chance to be exposed to a different type of customers, here comes the time to use the two problem-solving stars to identify opportunities in the market. What are the problems they face? How can you, and your organization, solve it? These two stars can also be good for research – because when we research, we are looking for problems to solve!
So now that you have taken on a new role, perhaps some investment in your personal presentation, how you dress and look, is required. Hence, the Lesser Consumer. Because this is a new pivot, keep your plans fluid for the Death Charm. Make time for family. Don’t get so busy working that you neglect your family’s well-being.
The Red Chamber is a star of likability. It’s short-term in nature, but that’s fine. What you could do, is perhaps open up several days in your calendar every month and use those time specifically to do demos or explain your services to potential customers!
But what about the Robbery Sha? In this instance, this could represent someone ‘stealing’ your ideas or even your sales lead. While sharing is caring, please be mindful not to share your secret sauce.
The goal here is to get you flying in your new role and what awaits? National Treasure! The opportunity to be recognized as a talent in your industry. Again… what are we positioning for? In 2024, promotion stars available.
MONKEY 2023: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Regardless if you are own a large enterprise, or an SME, or you operate as a solopreneur. In 2022, changes happened. As difficult as those changes may have been, I hope it led to positive growth for you.
Now that you have pivoted, what now? It’s time to expand or enhance the reach of your product or service. The presence of the Heavenly Horse signifies the opportunity to reach a different market segment. This is not another pivot. This is a tweak. Example: if you are a Wood Day Master, perhaps you can apply your current process or system to a different market?
Next, engage the Earth Relief and Monthly Virtue to find new problems that your product or service can solve. What other type of consumers can use your product or service?
And this is where the Lesser Consumer comes in – investing into marketing campaigns to reach that new market. If money has to be spent, if expenses have to be incurred, spend it wisely!
The Death Charm in your case as a business owner, is a reminder to keep an eye on your cash flow. To stay liquid so that you have the flexibility to respond to changing business environments.
For the business owners, the presence of the Robbery Sha and Red Chamber seems to suggest that it would be better to do this alone instead of partnering up with people. But there’s a better way to use them individually!
The presence of the Robbery Sha may mean that, from your perspective, a lot of new copycat competitors have entered the market. In other words, the barriers of entry into your market has been lowered. But wait a second… what’s the fastest way to enter a new market? Robbery Sha! You model from the existing players in the market and you spot their gap! What about the Red Chamber? You create a line of products or services that can be a one-off use or relationship. That means, your business relationship with your clients is not a long-term relationship. Therefore, your Lesser Consumer marketing dollars is spent to create a constant stream of new customers as opposed to returning customers.
How then to use National Treasure for the business owner? Encourage testimonials and feedback! Offer a small discount for consumer feedback which you can then re-use in your marketing. What are we positioning for? We want to be a market leader in your particular segment come 2024! See?
THE MONKEY 2023 IN A NUTSHELL
The presence of both the Robbery Sha and Red Chamber can indicate the possibility of scams! Depending on where the Monkey is in your Chart, it could be job scams or love scams. There’s an old proverb that says, “Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts”. This refers to the story of the Trojan Horse! So do be alert. If something sounds too good to be true…
So it seems like the Monkey is all geared up for more adventures in 2023! But where are these adventures waiting to happen? To find out, we need to know where is your Monkey?
WHERE IS YOUR MONKEY?
YEAR PILLAR
Since there is a chance to reach to a different market segment through the Heavenly Horse, business owners could consider investing some money into content marketing if you have the Monkey in your Year Pillar. As the first contact between us and the world at large, the Year Pillar can be regarded as our ‘advertising’ pillar. Therefore, this new investment could be geared towards generating a different type of content that is calculated to appeal to a different market segment.
For Career Professionals, you could volunteer some of your time to do knowledge sharing, run workshops, or even conduct internal training within your own industry. Sharing our knowledge or expertise is one way to engage the National Treasure which is all about becoming recognized as a talent in our field.
Alternatively, this can also mean that you may have the opportunity to meet and connect with talented high flyers, provided you take the opportunity to network and build relationships with them. People whom you can observe, and perhaps even model their systems and how they operate.
MONTH PILLAR
For business owners, if the Monkey governs your Month Pillar, you may notice an influx of competitors into your market. Now is the time to stay ahead of the game by identifying new problems to solve and investing some marketing budget into creating new demand for your product or service.
If you prefer to be pro-active, you could make the first move by expanding the reach of your product or service.
For the career professionals, using these positive stars will also require pro-active problem solving. Again, I would not elaborate too much here as I’ve gone into detail in the Career Development segment.
DAY PILLAR
If you are single and looking, and you have the Monkey in your Day Pillar, do be alert for love scams. Of course, this is not a prohibition against dating. It’s just a caution to trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right…
Apart from that, will there be opportunities to meet new people? Yes! The Red Chamber is a star of likability. Use it to create more diversity in your personal circle, go out and meet new people, have fun! But always, make sure to protect yourself and stay safe.
If you want to use these stars for your career growth, personal likability has increased! Allow yourself to voice out more often, contribute more solutions.
For those who are in permanent relationships, use the problem-solving stars to resolve ongoing issues. Don’t allows problems room to fester in the relationship. When things are not resolved, especially in a marriage, and there is this ningling sense of dissatisfaction, it can morph into suspicions.
HOUR PILLAR
If the Monkey governs your Hour, be aware of investment schemes and money games. For Business Owners, this could mean that someone on your staff has the capacity and potential to help you increase the reach of your business. You may want to consider investing into that person’s training.
The Hour pillar can also govern our side gigs or side hustles. Let’s use the Robbery Sha here! What is the one thing you can give away or sell, that never leaves you? Your knowledge! Therefore, consider creating and developing some online courses to take advantage of both the Robbery Sha and the Heavenly Horse.
ABOUT ME
It’s been a long article, hasn’t it? If you’ve gotten this far, thank you!
A little about me. My name is Paulynne Cheng and I am a Bazi and Feng Shui practitioner with a bias for career and business development. Mind you, I’m not a business guru or some such. My role, is to interpret the energies of your Bazi Chart and the corresponding 2023 energies for you. To help you identify potential opportunities and possible threats, depending on your goal for 2023.
Should we meet for an onward conversation, my goal is to help you align your actions, not just to the effects of the stars, but also to the flow of energies in your unique Bazi Chart.
When we do that, you really go with the flow and things become easier because you are no longer fighting the energies, but using the energies.
GET YOUR FULL 2023 ANALYSIS
Now, remember! The Annual Auxiliary Stars make up only about 20% of your Year. To understand and create strategies for a successful year ahead, hit me up for a personal consult. Let’s co-create your strategy together and make 2023 your best year yet!