A cosmic portal hangs in the ether. When an electional chart of merit is on the horizon, news feeds are regularly awash in the western astro community. Rightly so, as invocations for all manner of petitions opens a time sensitive portal. And skilled talismanic makers make haste in the cosmic window of opportunity. It’s less common to see the Chinese astro fraternity highlight upcoming charts of note. So if talismanic amulet making is your wheelhouse, and you’ve noted 18 February alignment then hats off to you. It’s a Rare BaZi chart, but do you know why such charts were prized?

WHAT MAKES THIS CHART UNUSUAL?

Early last year, this rare chart caught my eye when I started researching what 2022 astro had to offer. Since then I’ve been referring to Four Fine Felines, as - THE QUAD - my name, not an astro term.

To the untrained eye, Chinese characters can look one in the same; like astro glyphs in western astrology. BaZi or Four Pillars is a branch of Chinese Astrology. A standard BaZi is made up of eight charters, four top line heavenly branches (HS), and four Earthly branches (EB) below; the lowest line shows Hidden Stems and as the name suggests, not always shown. You may know the EB as the 12 Chinese zodiacal animals. Both the HS and EB are classified by element - in this example, all Water HS and Wood EB. A chart can have a mix of eight different characters. So what are you looking at in the above chart? Eight main characters; four identical pillars, two primary elements, four duplicating stems and four matching branches.

While the phenomena of identical pillars isn’t unusual; some folks may have two matching pillars in their Natal Chart- a Year and Hour pillars for example, or side by side in the Month and Day pillars. Others may have three duplicate pillars but four is less common. Periodically such alignments of identical pillars occur - 1989 in the month of May, when four Yin Earth, Yin Fire Snakes 己巳 pillars duplicated. Such pillars are called ‘Fu Yin’ pillars and oft described as unfortunate and less auspicious events happening, this is not exactly true. For it depends on the strength and dynamic of the pillar, that dictates the luck bestowed - favourable or unfavourable.

SO WHAT MAKES THIS RARE?

A full BaZi analysis isn’t in the remit of this piece but key signatures will suffice. All pillars are Yang; including the Hidden Stems. Yang implying a hive of activity, strength, movement, up tempo, ascending, energetic, even Heavenly. Pillars are read top to bottom, so Yang Water (HS top character) sits on top of a Yang Wood Tiger 寅. This arrangement of elements follows the generative/productive cycle — Water feeds Wood — a desirable cycle. The Tiger is revered for it’s fierceness and represents loyalty, power and courage and attacking prowess. With Yang Water 壬 on top it makes the Tiger 寅 even stronger. Keen BaZi aficionados will know it’s also an auspicious Symbolic Star. It relates to Academia; and bestows scholarly knowledge and wisdom. It also forms another Symbolic star, but more on that later.

WHY DO TALISMAN MAKERS REVERE THIS CHART?

The key is the Tiger 寅. Firstly the above chart has occurred twice before in C20th in 1962 and 1902. It’s repeated over former centuries but this chart forms the only pillar arrangement that SUPPORTS the Earthly TIGER Branch. If it were Yang Wood HS on top it would strengthen the Tiger. This rare occurrence and it’s favoured use, can only happen in a Tiger Year. The talisman caveat — Four Tigers need to line up — Year, Month, Day and Hour. For example 12 years ago in 2010, there was two opportunities to imbue a charm when four tigers lined up. Yes, astro readers will note the familiar Jupiter cycle. Interestingly the Tiger is classed as Wood element and Jupiter aligns with Wood in Chinese metaphysics. However, the pillars were not identical, only four tigers were needed to forge such talismans. The ‘Fu Yin’ nature of the above chart is unusual, with only one day in 2022 to forge under this duplicate arrangement. A total of three days occur in Tiger Month 2022, when a specific caveat occurs to forge a specific item.

WHAT EXACTLY WAS FASHIONED?

The roots of this talismanic tradition come from Korea. Specifically popular during the Josean dynasty, the last and longest-lived imperial dynasty (1392–1910) of Korea. Under the auspices of a BaZi chart containing Four Tigers a prized and highly sought after sword was forged; a Sainchamsageom - meaning ‘Great Four Tiger Sword’. Such a Sword fashioned under the aforementioned conditions was used for ceremonial purposes and Shamanistic rituals as it possessed strong spiritual powers to defeat evil. An ‘ingeom’ (Tiger Sword) was usually of the same design, but differed in strength. Other examples include Three and Two Tiger Swords- presumably neither fashioned under denoted auspices. A geom (sword) was seen as a status symbol rather than a weapon - often heavily decorated with engravings and inscriptions on its blade. Culturally the Tiger hold a strong military alliance.

Korean swordsmanship also notes a Byeol-ungeom, literally meaning ‘cloud-splitting sword’. Only two such swords exist and were fashioned exclusively for Monarchy, wielded by two of the King’s bodyguards who stood guard on either side of him. One side of the blade is inscribed in ancient Sanskrit and the reverse shows a constellation inlaid in gold- the Big Dipper (Northern Ladle) asterism. The characters 四寅劒, is also inscribed meaning four tiger sword. The Big Dipper and Pole Star plays a vital role in Chinese cosmology and Feng Shui.

Ancient Luopan’s (Chinese compass, pic below) were made with lodestone which aligns itself with the Earth’s magnetic north-south polarity. The flat Brass (non magnetic) square-shaped plate was representative of Earth. In the center a circle, representative of the Heavens and the mineral magnite (lodestone) was fashioned into a separate ladle — it symbolizied the The Big Dipper, part of the larger constellation, Ursa Major. The ladle was placed in the centre and when it rested, the handle of the ladle always pointed towards South, Li trigram - a South-Seeker.

Granted contemporary Tailsmanic makers may have little need, desire or skill to forge sword amulets. Veteran Swordsmiths are highly skilled artisans and wait years to forge these auspicious amulets. Korean swords are limited, given the unique forging conditions; rarity has a price. In Feng Shui a lesser known or utilized Feng Shui countermeasure is the ‘coin sword’ made from antique Chinese coins assembled in the shape of a sword, also used as a protection sword against evil forces. Authentic coin swords are also a rarity as the era of coins used helds additional significance. Objects of destruction, can under specific circumstances and correct placement make powerful countermeasures. No doubt with reverent pondering, those seeking to fashion a symbolic amulet or charm under unique Tiger auspices will channel a special petition token.

WHEN IS THE EXACT COSMIC WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY?

Timing is key. And early birds catch the worm. The window of magic is between 3-5am on 18, February 2022, when Yang forces are said to be strongest. Yes, that’s a two hour window. If you’re a stickler for metaphysics, then Chinese midpoints are most powerful, so 4am* is optimum. The Tai Sui is in NE3 in 2022, the position of the Tiger, and it’s best to avoid FACING this direction when crafting your token, especially if there’s a great deal of noise created, during your under takings.

So talisman makers, what’s on your bench? What will you imbue with Tiger energies? I noted earlier the hidden stems in this specific BaZi chart. Keen students of Metaphysics know of the five elements - the 18, Feb chart is made up of Water, Wood and hidden Fire and Earth and additional Wood. Adding Metal to the mix would complete a suite of elements**. A sword fashioned from metal completes this elemental scenario. Noting a sword is designed to sever evil forces. But since swordsmithing isn’t a likely option for most, ask yourself what’s the purpose of your amulet?

PERSONAL MUSINGS

While modern monarchs don’t wield swords as weapons of war it’s worth noting the previous 1962 occurrence of four duplicate Tiger pillars, saw an American designed Conair B-58 Hustler bomber jet, set three new records by flying from LA to NY and return in record time. The sonic boom, from the jet's speed broke multiple windows in four locations. It was the first bomber, incidentally carrying a nuclear warhead, to operate at Mach 2. In layman’s terms that’s supersonic- ‘when white cloud forms as a result of the supersonic expansion fans dropping the air temperature below the dew point’ - literary splitting clouds!!! Hello modern day Byeol-ungeom sword! In 1902, in the remaining years of the Josean dynasty, the same BaZi election occurred on Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Speaking of clouds, to serious devotees of metaphysics, assessing Qi starts by observing the sky and its cloud patterns (heavens). Unique to this chart (it doesn’t happen in every Four Tiger chart), is the second Symbolic Star referenced earlier. It’s ties to clouds, specially ‘Red Cloud’ also called ‘Cascading clouds’. Sounds pretty benign but it’s not so favourable, That said, knowing how to ‘use’ a symbolic star is key. For the negative nuances of this star are accidents, issues with sharp objects and also called a Blood star, as blood shed is likely . . . things we’d like to avoid. However if you were to wield a symbolic Sainchamsageom then energetically cutting, severing, wounding or slaying negative forces would be the desired intent. The Symbolic star also speaks of sudden and unexpected events occurring; a skill chief among warriors, attack when least expected.

Chinese metaphysics has long been used in war strategies. The Tiger is positioned on the Chinese Luopan at specifically NE3. On Ancient lodestone Luopans no degrees were shown, eight trigrams and 24 mountains. The NE is governed by GEN Trigram, Mountain ☶, representative of keeping still. GEN is made up of one ruling line ⚊ and two subject lines ⚏. The way of the superior man united under one ruler. In the Early Heaven Sequence (BaGua) the NE is underpinned by Trigram CHÊN same lines ☳; but in reverse. CHÊN trigram is Thunder- to surprise, a prized skill in the art of war.

For the record Feb 2022 chatter of Russian/Ukarine hostility coming to ahead in coming days has dominated headlines. Less chatter about US, Japanese and South Korean talks in Hawaii to discuss nuclear-armed North Korea’s series of missile tests. North Korea has paused tests during the Winter Olympics; China’s is considered their most important ally. Under 1962 conditions the Russo-Japanese War was brewing. And given we’re in the Year of the Tiger, my eyes are on the NE. The term Northeast Asia was coined in the 30s and typically refers to a region which includes Northern China. The Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia defines the region as Russia, Mongolia, Japan, Korea and China. . . . . As I mentioned earlier I’ve personally, been calling this chart the QUAD, which brings a few other countries into the mix . . . . I’ll leave it there.

Happy Tailsman making folks, whichever day of Tiger you choose.

“Living eye to eye with environmental wisdom ”

— FENG SHUi iSM

*Note if daylight saving is observed and Local time adjustments.

** Adding Metal to the mix would complete a a suite of elements; but it’s also deemed an unfavorable element in this specific chart. Other tiger day charts may see Metal as favourable.

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