Challenging Patterns: a Warning from the Classics, Not a Verdict

The classics can be severe about these patterns, some lines speaking of death and injury outright. We do not quote those lines: old verdicts rarely fit modern life, and a chart shows tendencies, not a sentence to fear. This page gives each pattern’s conditions, its source and the tendency it points to, together with the way-outs the classics themselves leave open.

One number first: about 26.5% of charts in our sample have at least one challenging pattern, the most common being Di Kong or Di Jie in the Life Palace (about 13.7%). Challenging and favorable patterns often share a chart; they describe things to watch, not a conclusion about the whole chart. The helpers listed under each pattern are what the classics call its relief.

Yang and Tuo Flanking Ji

Lu Cun is always flanked by Qing Yang ahead and Tuo Luo behind; with Hua Ji in the same Life Palace, what you want to keep is pulled at from both sides. The reminder: know your limits, avoid being tied up by obligations, and be sure what you are holding on to is worth it.

All five sources agree; only whether Hua Ji opposite counts varies, which we mark as an extended form. Structurally each stem allows just one combination: Jia, Tai Yang at Yin; Yi, Tai Yin at Mao; Bing, Lian Zhen at Si; Ding, Ju Men at Wu; Wu, Tian Ji at Si; Ji, Wen Qu at Wu; Geng, Tian Tong at Shen; Xin, Wen Chang at You; Ren, Wu Qu at Hai; Gui, Tan Lang at Zi. The Complete Book’s example is the Geng-year Tian Tong.

In our sample about 1.4% of charts meet Yang and Tuo Flanking Ji.

Example chart: born 28 January 1960 in the Wu hour (a Geng-Zi year), Life Palace at Shen with Tian Tong and Tian Liang. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Zuo Fu, Wen Chang, Lu Cun, Tai Yin Hua Ke. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Huo Xing, Ling Xing, Tian Tong Hua Ji, Tian Liang (dim).

Sword at the Horse’s Head

Qing Yang is a fierce Sha star; in the Life Palace at Zi, Wu, Mao or You it brings a fierce, decisive character. The reminder: use that drive for good ends and watch the sharp edges in dealings with people.

The classics disagree with themselves here: the Tai Wei Fu reads it as favorable, the Gu Sui Fu harshly (not quoted here). We judge two forms: Tan Lang or Tian Tong–Tai Yin at Wu with Qing Yang in a Bing or Wu year, shown as the favorable “arrow” reading; and Qing Yang alone in an empty Life Palace at Zi, Wu, Mao or You with no helpers, shown as Qing Yang alone. The Ding Gui Ju defines it as “the horse with a blade”, but Tian Ma only occupies Yin, Shen, Si and Hai and Qing Yang never does, so the two cannot share a palace; that line remains unresolved.

In our sample about 0.2% of charts meet Sword at the Horse’s Head.

Example chart: born 20 February 1966 in the You hour (a Bing-Wu year), Life Palace at Wu with Tian Tong and Tai Yin. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Tian Tong Hua Lu, Tian Ji Hua Quan. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Qing Yang, Huo Xing, Ling Xing, Di Kong, Tian Tong (dim), Tai Yin (dim).

Punishment and Prison around the Seal

Lian Zhen is the prison, Qing Yang or Tian Xing the punishment, Tian Xiang the seal. It reads as a strong sense of principle and right and wrong, suited to law, audit or disciplined work, with a need to keep carefully to the rules.

Two schools: one compilation and another source use the Qing Yang version (Lian Zhen–Tian Xiang at Zi or Wu with Qing Yang); the Complete Book’s Ding Gui Ju and iztro use the Tian Xing version, and the Complete Book even files it among the favorable patterns. We judge both. A third form with Tian Xiang Hua Ji cannot occur under the Complete Book’s transformations used here.

In our sample about 1.0% of charts meet Punishment and Prison around the Seal.

Example chart: born 14 July 1962 in the Wei hour (a Ren-Yin year), Life Palace at Zi with Lian Zhen and Tian Xiang. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Zi Wei Hua Quan. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Qing Yang, Huo Xing, Di Kong, Di Jie, Wu Qu Hua Ji.

Ling, Chang, Tuo and Wu

Thought and action tend to pull against each other, and setbacks can lead to overthinking. The reminder: ask for help when stuck rather than grinding it out alone.

Conditions vary: one source wants Wu Qu alone at Chen or Xu with Ling, Tuo and Chang around it; iztro only needs all four in the trines and opposite; the original line actually speaks of a luck period, not necessarily the natal chart. We use all four in the trines and opposite.

In our sample about 1.7% of charts meet Ling, Chang, Tuo and Wu.

Example chart: born 6 February 1960 in the Hai hour (a Geng-Zi year), Life Palace at Mao with Zi Wei and Tan Lang. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Wen Chang, Wen Qu, Tian Yue, Wu Qu Hua Quan. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Qing Yang, Tuo Luo, Ling Xing.

Ju Men, Fire and Ram

Ju Men is analysis and speech; with Huo Xing and Qing Yang, emotional pressure tends to build up inside. The reminder: learn to talk things through and find an outlet.

The Complete Book gives only the verdict, no palaces. We judge Ju Men in the Life Palace with Huo Xing and Qing Yang in the same palace or the trines; a dim Ju Men is noted, as is Zi Wei or Lu Cun restraining it (following “without the emperor to restrain it”).

In our sample about 0.9% of charts meet Ju Men, Fire and Ram.

Example chart: born 11 April 1960 in the Mao hour (a Geng-Zi year), Life Palace at Chou with Tian Tong and Ju Men. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Wen Chang, Wen Qu, Tian Kui, Tian Yue. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Qing Yang, Tuo Luo, Huo Xing, Ling Xing, Tian Tong Hua Ji, Tian Tong (dim), Ju Men (dim).

Emptiness in the Life Palace

Di Kong and Di Jie stand for the unconventional and a disregard for material things: idealistic, with a light touch, not easily accumulating money. The reminder: build a steady saving habit. The two stars are also common in creative and philosophical people.

Di Kong and Di Jie only share a palace at Si or Hai (about 1.2%), and can only flank a Life Palace at Si or Hai (about 2.7%); one compilation’s “only at Zi and Si” is wrong. One of the two alone in the Life Palace (about 13.7%) is listed too, but it is a very common placement.

In our sample about 17.8% of charts meet Emptiness in the Life Palace.

Example chart: born 23 October 1960 in the Hai hour (a Geng-Zi year), Life Palace at Hai, no major star. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Wen Chang, Wen Qu, Tian Yue. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Tuo Luo.

Peach Blossom on the Water

Plenty of romantic appeal and playfulness; the reminder is to keep a sense of proportion in love and socialising. The classic itself notes that with helpers it is good.

The Tai Wei Fu only needs Tan Lang at Hai or Zi; volume 3 and another source add Yang or Tuo. We use volume 3; since Qing Yang never enters Hai and Tuo Luo never enters Zi, only Tan Lang at Zi with Qing Yang or at Hai with Tuo Luo is possible.

In our sample about 0.1% of charts meet Peach Blossom on the Water.

Example chart: born 8 June 1962 in the Wu hour (a Ren-Yin year), Life Palace at Zi with Tan Lang. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Zuo Fu, You Bi, Wen Chang, Zi Wei Hua Quan, Zuo Fu Hua Ke. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Qing Yang.

Romantic Staff

Strong charm and a busy social life; the reminder is that romance or favours can stir up trouble, so choose words and actions carefully.

Volume 3 uses Tuo Luo (Tan Lang at Yin with Tuo Luo, Yi years only), the Tai Wei Fu uses Tian Xing with Tan Lang. We judge both.

In our sample about 0.8% of charts meet Romantic Staff.

Example chart: born 8 March 1960 in the Si hour (a Geng-Zi year), Life Palace at Xu with Tan Lang. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Wu Qu Hua Quan. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Di Kong, Di Jie.

Lu Broken

Gains in hand are easily worn away. The reminder: be conservative with money and promises, and do not count resources before they arrive.

Readings vary widely: the Ding Pin Jian Ju has Lu in emptiness meeting Kong, Jie and Sha; one compilation adds the void stars; another treats it as a synonym for Yang and Tuo Flanking Ji. We use the common modern reading: Lu Cun or Hua Lu in the Life Palace with Hua Ji, Di Kong or Di Jie in the same palace, or Hua Ji opposite. This site does not place the void stars, so they are left out, and Yang and Tuo Flanking Ji is listed separately.

In our sample about 3.4% of charts meet Lu Broken.

Example chart: born 9 February 1960 in the Wu hour (a Geng-Zi year), Life Palace at Shen, no major star. Helpers in the trines and opposite: Zuo Fu, Wen Chang, Lu Cun, Tai Yang Hua Lu. Sha stars, Hua Ji and dim stars: Huo Xing, Ling Xing, Tian Tong Hua Ji.

Other patterns