The characteristics of NUMBER 1! If you are a ‘1’ person, you are a natural leader with strong analytical skills and great creativity. But you may be overconfident at times and easily hurt others due to your bad temper. A challenging career is what you desire and jobs that require creativity and good planning are best suited for you. 

Everyone has a Life Symbol [命卦]

Recently attended a seminar, and one of the highlights was Life Symbols [命卦], which teaches the audience how to calculate their own Life Symbol and decipher the meaning behind each numeral, 1 to 9, excluding 5. 

How do we calculate our Life Symbol?

First, we need our year of birth. Note that 4th Feb is generally regarded as the “cut-off” date between two consecutive years, but a 10000-Year-Calendar would be the best guide if you want to be more precise.

For example, if your birthday falls on 2nd Feb 1980, your actual year of birth is 1979, because it’s before 4th Feb-commonly known as Beginning of Spring [立春].

The way to calculate Life Symbol differs for male and female and we shall begin with the ladies. Add up all digits of your year of birth until you reach a single digit. Add 4 to the result and you’ll get your Life Symbol!

Example, a lady born in 1982 has the Life Symbol 6, which corresponds to Qian [乾]. 

Calculation

1 + 9 + 8 + 2 = 20

2 + 0 = 2

2 + 4 = 6

Do take note that if you derive at 5, your Symbol is 8.

Gentlemen, are you wondering how to calculate your Life Symbol? First, add up all digits of your year of birth until you reach a single digit.

Subtract the result from 11 and you’ll get your Life Symbol! Example, a gentleman born in 1951 has the Life Symbol 4, which corresponds to Xun [巽].

Calculation

1 + 9 + 5 + 1 = 16

1 + 6 = 7

11 - 7 = 4

Do take note that if you derive at 5, your Symbol is 2.

Next, we shall look at the characteristics of each Life Symbol….

Refresher on 10 elements

We have come to the end of the 10 heavenly stems, lets refresh the most significant character of each element. When we see each element what do we relate them to :

Yang Water (壬)

 壬：妊也，陽氣潛伏地中，萬物懷妊。
Rén represents the image of that which is fruitful, fertile, productive. Yang energy hides in the middle of the Earth and the Ten Thousand things are made fertile.

Just like waters of rivers and sea flowing continually everywhere, and drawn into various kinds of things. It also indicates the presence of plants and other vegetation. It is akin to the special universe of a lowing river which flows on irrespective of obstacles in its way or changes of seasons.

In its zenith yang water people can be rather destructive so it must be controlled and its energy must be exhausted. Otherwise it will not only destroy itself, it also sweeps others along with it. The destructive power of water can be dangerous 

Yang Water people are worry free and optimistic, they don’t mind the past and are filled with courage to move on. They show enthusiasm in whatever they do, they like to help others and don’t mind hardships. They enjoy social activities with full of spirits, and become noticeable to others, highly adaptable to any change on circumstances.

Yang Water People are also quick to grasp and will not miss any good opportunity that comes along. Once the drive kicks in, they will overcome all difficulties to meet their objective or reach their goal. They are clever, intelligent and full of inspirations. They can be endowed in both civil and martial virtues, has leadership qualities, and able to outshine and surpass themselves from others.

Though they have a rounded personality, they are willful, can be lazy and this caused them to be dependent on others easily. Yang Water people are very fond of freedom, dislike to be restrained or controlled and due to this, they are not able to hold on to the last minute at times. They are also easily affected get entangled in love relationships.

Yin Metal (辛)

Posted 5 months ago

 辛：金味辛，物成而后有味，辛者，新也，萬物肅然更改，秀實新成。 

Yin Metal represents the metallic flavor which is coarse and pungent. Things ripen and then they are endowed with flavor. Yin Metal is the resulting thing which is different.  The Ten Thousand Things change in amazing ways, and when they refine and ripen themselves, they end up being something different from what they were initially.

We can associated Yin Metal people with precious gold; ie metal which has been worked on and changed into objects of value. They tend to be elegant and charming but they tend to place great importance on material possessions. As such, they can exhibit a rather greedy and acquisitive disposition. 

Yin Metal people have very strong self respect.They love new things, indulge in vanity, and hence can spend unwisely most of the time. They have very fine feelings, and have unique opinions. They are very sharp and quick in thinking, have fine morals and are very attractive, attracting attention wherever they go. They are very sociable and can get into or maintain good friendships., however, they will be able to differentiate good and bad distinctly.

Yin Metal people mind very much about their exterior looks to make sure they look presentable at all times. They likes to ensure the best of circumstances and situations. They are seldom unbending but are less able to cope when obstacles materialize in their life.

Yang Metal (庚)

Posted 5 months ago

 庚：更也，秋收而待來春。 

Gēng: represents the image of a night-watch, it is the time for the autumn harvest and the vigil for the arrival of Spring.

Yang Metal people connotes weapons of destruction such as tanks and guns and like a sword being sharpen for war - tough, unbending and killing. They are strong when compared to others of the same nature. They are sharp, determined, straightforward, strong-willed, does not admit failure easily. They can take any hardship and turn it into success. Friendship and brotherhood are very important to them.

Yang Metal people will come across as direct, resilient, stiff and determined to appear strong and tough. They show much enthusiasm and determination in whatever they do, may be too excited and rash at times. This is because they would not like to waste time thinking and contemplating, and once decided they will action without any hesitation.

Yang Metal people generally exercise great comprehension, and will spare no effort in order to upgrade oneself. They can be proficient in a skill most of the time; apply and reap benefits from what they have studied or learnt.

They have a strong sense of justice, is disagreeable towards unfairness or hypocritical behavior. They also have a chivalrous heart, when they see others suffering from injustice, they will stand up to speak for those suffered with their eloquence.They can also show no mercy for people whom they don’t like.

Yang Metal people are often ruled by the belief systems and the principles which have been ingrained into them either since their childhood or systematically schooled into them. They will tend to reject change and do not look kindly on compromise.

Yang Metal people are considered as hard rather than tough, unbending rather than stubborn.

Yin Earth (己)

 己：起也，紀也，萬物抑屈而起，有形可紀。 

Jǐ represents the image of something being established or disciplined. The Ten Thousand Things are restrained and humbled and, in this manner, they rise and become established. All which is endowed with a form or shape can be forged and disciplined.

Field earth or rich earth is sufficient to absorb adequate moisture, and is a depository for various kinds of nutrients, it is the place for cultivating various plants. 

Besides rich field, Yin earth has soft, flexible comfortable nature. Therefore they know very well on when to retreat or advance at different circumstances or situations, has very high adaptability and hence will be entrusted frequently to handle difficult problems.

Like the soil which transforms water and minerals into nurturing plant food for all the plants in the world, especially their children, employees. So there is a very fierce manifestation of mother instinct. In other words, Yin Earth person are likely to be possessive, rather motherly and automatically taking on the matriarchal role in any situation.

Yin Earth people are usually understanding, learning and grasping of knowledge is rapid, in other words, they are very versatile. Majority of Yin earth people are very steady and kind. However, their heart is very complex, and they may not be as good as they appear to be. They are considerable hardworking, will often notice to substantiate and improve themselves, hence the appraisement that they get can be very high.

However Yin Earth people, their concentration level are not that high, are rash at times, tend to compromise easily on decisions made and will also be taken for granted by other people at times.