There are
two calendars used in Feng Shui and the Four Pillars of Destiny* (also known as
BaZi, Eight Characters or Paht Chee.) One
is the Lunar (Yin) Calendar which is based on the phases of the moon and has an
additional month every three years; the other is the Solar (Yang) Calendar
(also known as the Hsia Calendar) and it follows the seasonal cycles of the
sun.
The Lunar
Calendar is said to have completed a full cycle every 60 years.
*The Four Pillars of Destiny is a Chart created
from the details of your birth date; time, day, month and year. It signifies the position of the stars and
planets at your moment of birth.
The first
day of a Lunar Calendar month coincides with a new moon and in general the
fifteenth day of a lunar month coincides with the full moon. When undertaking new projects; such as
work-related projects or home decorating, anything new and important to you, it
is suggested that doing so during the waxing period of the lunar month (up to
the full moon) is a more auspicious time than during the waning or weakening period.
The Solar
Calendar changes on February 4** each year and this date is also known as the
Lap Chun; the first day of Spring.
**This may vary by the odd day in some years so
for an accurate changeover date the 10,000 year Calendar should be consulted.
As an
example of a difference between the two Calendars: the Solar Calendar date of January 1 2013
equates to a Lunar Calendar date of November 20 2012.
In Feng
Shui terms the system of timekeeping combines both the Lunar and the Solar
Calendars. This combination which manages
the passage of time is known as the Lunisolar Calendar. The combined Calendar records months that
track the movement of the moon, and years that follow the seasons of the sun.
The date
for the annual Chinese New Year uses the Lunisolar Calendar as follows. It is calculated by using the date of the
second new moon following the Winter Equinox; the day closest to the Lap Chun
and the first new moon day after the major solar season known as the ‘Greater
Cold’ whose date varies between January 21 and February 3.
The Solar
Calendar identifies your Chinese Astrological Animal based on your date of
birth as well as your personal Kua number.
When calculating
your Personal Kua number if your date of birth is before February 4 (the
beginning of a new Solar Calendar Year) your Chinese Astrological Animal will
be that associated with the previous year.
For example, if you were born January 18 1968 your Astrological Animal
will be the Fire Sheep rather than the Earth Monkey and your Kua number will be
6 (male) or 9 (female.)
One of the
more advanced Formulas of Feng Shui is Flying Stars. It is based on the flight of stars (numbers)
around the Lo-Shu Grid.
The Lo Shu
numbers and their positions in the Lo-Shu Grid in each period; year; month; day
and hour are calculated from the Solar Calendar.
The Solar
Calendar is also used to determine each of 24 ‘seasons’ of the year. These are seasonal changes signifying the
optimum time for the planting and harvesting of crops. It is still referred to as the Farmers
Calendar.
Each of the
24 seasons represent the position of the sun as it travels 150
on an ecliptic longitude. They each have
names such as ‘Lesser Cold’ and ‘Grain Rain’ identifying their place in the
year and signifying subtle changes in the annual cycle.
Using the
points of the compass the Spring Equinox occurs on March 21 and is positioned
at ‘0’; the Summer Equinox is June 21 and is positioned at ‘900’;
the Autumn Equinox is September 23 and its compass point is ‘1800’;
the Winter Equinox is December 22 and its compass position is ‘2700.’
To the fulfillment of your
dreams
LynC
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