The Yi Jing Zodiac


It is not uncommon for attempts to be made seeking out or imagining correlations between eastern and western astrologies.

When it comes to daoist cosmology, we start from the core and spread out into the ten thousand things.

So it is important to remember that the core is what matters, and what serves as a foundation for the myriad. Within the myriad may be found any of it, in any combination. They are multiples of the principles of the core.

We can see this principle applied in how the Yi Jing is merged with Tropical Astrology in Human Design.

However, if we want to seek out true correlations, we need to look toward the core, without relying on multiplications. Then we may see how two systems are sharing the same underlying principles at their core.

This can be done with the sovereign sequence of Yi Jing hexagrams, and the Tropical Astrological Zodiac.

The Sovereign Sequence of the Yi Jing Hexagrams

This sequence of 12 hexagrams simply tracks the growth of yang and yin throughout any cyclical process:

The most common cycles are:

• The Yearly Cycle beginning with the Winter Solstice
• The Daily Cycle beginning with Solar Midnight
• The Lunar Cycle beginning with the New Moon
• The cycle of breathing

This is a simple cycle to understand.

Yang returns at the beginning and begins to grow. Continuing to grow until it culminates. Then yin is born and in turn it begins to grow. Until it too culminates and yang is born again.

Calibrating the Western Astrological Zodiac

Western Astrology is also called Tropical Astrology, because it is based on the seasons. Zero degrees of Aries always begins at the moment of Sunrise on the Vernal Equinox.

In recent years this has brought people to challenge Western Astrology, because it says that the meaning behind its Zodiac Signs comes from the constellations of the Zodiac. Which makes sense. There is an Aries Astrological Sign and a Constellation named Aries.

However, due to the Earth's Axial Precession (opens in a new tab), the Constellations are not fixed to our seasons. Rather they shift slowly over time. Because thousands of years have passed since the birth of the Astrological Zodiac Signs, the constellations in the sky no longer match the seasons. Thus people have challenged the validity of Western Astrology.

Which is fine, because in the end it is understood that Western Astrology is rooted in the Seasonal cycling, and not the Constellations.

This then raises another issue. Because there are sidereal Astrologies, like Vedic Astrology, that accommodate for the shift in the seasons. What is important to understand here is that we don't know when these Constellation based Zodiac signs would begin and end. Vedic Astrologers came up with several possible rectifications to adjust and one was chosen in the 60's, but what is their basis? Moreover, it would appear that the original Vedic alignments were also calibrated (opens in a new tab) to the sunrise at the vernal equinox.

So at least with the calibration of the Astrological Signs to the Seasons of the Year, there is a consistent principle to base their meaning off of.

However, such a meaning has never been applied, because for millennia Astrologers have said that the personalities and the archetypes described by the zodiac have come from the constellations and their energies. The stars fit together in the sky to make a picture and are given a story. That story then explains the meaning of the Astrological Sign.

Or more specifically, why when people are born under a certain sign they can be observed to behave similarly to others born under that sign.

In other words, much of what we understand to come from the constellations about these character archetypes, actually comes from observation of patterns.

So we know that we have these sets of observed patterns and we also know that these patterns are linked not to the stars, but to the seasonal cycle.

And yet we still have no understanding of WHY the seasonal cycling creates these particular changes.

Would it not be quite incredible if another system that tracks the principles of seasonal cyclical change could be shown to give principled reason for why these archetypes have been observed so consistently by astrologers for millenia?

The Sovereign Cycle of the Hexagrams does just that.

And this is nothing new, the Yi Jing is quite old. It is rather that much of its understanding has been lost. Its principles needing to be reasoned out.

Calibrating the Eastern Solar Calendar

Just like with Western Astrology and the Axial Precession, we need to take a moment to explore the nature of the Chinese Solar Calendar.

People in the west are most likely to be familiar with the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac:

• Tiger Rabbit Dragon
• Snake Horse Sheep
• Monkey Rooster Dog
• Boar Rat Ox

These 12 are applied in a Yearly, Monthly, Daily, and Hourly sequence. Most people are familiar with the animal of their Chinese Year. However, the monthly cycle is important as well, and the monthly energies are considered to be the strongest sequence.

Above we begin with Tiger, because this aligns with the birth of Wood energy at the Chinese New year. Wood represent growth and expansiveness. This is why it was chosen as the new year.

However, the Chinese New Year used to be in the Rat month. And this was designed such that people would be able to tap into the return of the yang energy that occurred during this month.

But there is another thing to be aware of.

While the Western signs are calibrated to begin and end at the moment of the equinoxes and solstices, the Eastern signs are calibrated to have their middle points align with the moment of the equinoxes and solstices.

Thus, our Rat energy begins not at the moment of the Winter Solstice, but two weeks before it.

There is a reason for this that makes sense energetically. If we only tap into the return of energy on the moment of the Winter Solstice, we have not had time to prepare for its coming. This is a rather subtle, but also very important principle energetically.

And so when we look up modern alignments of the sovereign cycle of the I Ching | Yi Jing, we can see that they are often aligned with the Chinese Zodiac. This simply makes sense for keeping things simple.

However, this creates somewhat of an issue when we examine the principles.

These two hexagrams ䷊䷡ represent the moment when yang grows to the point where it becomes larger than yin. In the yearly cycle, this is the moment of the vernal equinox. And in the daily cycle, this is the moment the sun rises. Before the sun rises there is dawn. After the sun rises everything becomes bright.

And when we apply these hexagrams to the Chinese Zodiac months, they align with Tiger and Rabbit. However, the equinox and sunrise do not occur until half way into the Rabbit month and day. This does not make sense from the perspective of what is happening in nature.

Given the principles we are working with, it is easy to simply align the sequence to begin at the winter solstice. After all the principle of yang returning at the winter solstice is one of the foundations of daoist cosmological understanding. And is spoken of in many classical texts.

Thus we have the two seasonal systems calibrated to each other and can examine their similarities.

The Seasonal Breath

Further, in astrology there is a system that divides each sign into twelve parts.

This is called dwadasamsas (or dwads for short), or dodecatemoria.

In this system, we have our primary sign, and twelve equal parts within it. If our primary sign is Aries, the first part is also Aries. It continues in sequence until the sign before Aries: Pisces. The next sign, Taurus, is the same. So we go straight from pisces to Taurus, and continue to the sign before Taurus: Aries.

When we apply the twelve part system to the hexagrams, a complex graphing of the breath of the seasons is produced.

Because each sign begins with itself, and ends with the sign before it, we end up with a "jump" when we go to the next sign. Initially, this may seem artificial. However, when we consider that the energy of the primary sign or hexagram is more substantially present than the substance of the 12 segments, we end up discovering the key that makes this system work. The twelve part energies then become our way to track how the energy of the primary sign develops and matures, so as to fully embody its potential before transitioning to the next energy.

For example, in Capricorn we have the energy of one yang returning below 5 yins. And this is embodied by the first 12th part. The yang continues to grow until it culminates. However, beyond the first line this yang energy cannot truly grow. So its growth represents the growth that more fully establishes this first line's foundational energy. Consequently, after yang culminates, the 12th part representing one yin beneath 5 yins is born. But if yang has been adequately established, that yin is not going to take it away. Rather it represents the test for that yang to stand on its own merit, without capitulation. And so each subsequent line representing the growth of yin tests this first yang line's foundation, until there are 6 yin lines. At this point, the solitary yin line of Capricorn's returning energy has established what it is made of, and this is the foundation that is established for the second yang line to build upon with the Aquarius energy of hexagram 19 with 2 yang lines beneath 4 yin lines.

Thus is revealed an important principle behind the growth of yang and yin energies.

Further, a second important principle is revealed in this system.

Half way through each sign's energy, that energy's opposite manifests. At this point the energy has transitioned through a full stage and subsequently will navigate the opposite sequence of energies.

And it is with this that we see the connection to the energy system of the Chinese Twelve Earthly Branches. As Qi Gong practitioners who spend time with the energy outside every day will know, the energy palpably changes at these junctures. These changes represent the beginning of preparation for the next major transition of energy.

Again using Capricorn / hexagram 24 as an example, when the sign reaches its half way point, we now have one yin beneath 6 yangs, representing the opposite set of energies. Now the foundation of yang line 1 begins undergoing its test, and the seasonal energy changes. The Zi water that underwent preparation for 2 weeks before the Winter Solstice, and emerged strongly at the Winter Solstice to begin development now transitions into its next phase. The earth energy of the Ox month begins, and the water that has been established and developed is gathered into potential energy for use, by mixing it with soil. This reflects the idea of the yin rising through the developed yang and testing its energetic integrity. As Aqauarius begins, now the energy that has been stored up within something that has more substance to it - soil - can now begin to be charged up as the yang energy returns with its building pressure.

Thus we see how the hexagrams may be used for a deep understanding of the combined energetics of both these seasonal astrological systems - western tropical astrology as well as Chinese BaZi astrology's Earthly Branch system.

This also gives nuance to the Chinese system of 24 solar terms. This system marks these same 24 seasonal junctures marking the fluctuations in temperature and the nuances involving crops for a tropical climate.

This combined system is represented by the chart below:

However there are some issues with this representation. The yin and yang symbol in the middle of the outer rings expresses the idea of mutual exchange. As one energy grows, the other is stored. This balanced approach creates sustainability.

Yang represents life force, and yin represents capacity. It is by mixing together that they can create lasting sustainability.

But here in this first diagram, in the outer rings we do not see that sustainability. In the beginning of the year we have waves of yang rising until they culminate, interspersed with waves of yin also rising. With the yang life force energy full, it then begins to wear away. For in the second part of the year waves of yin rise to eat it up, until nothing is left.

This is the cycle we see in annual species of plants. They grow through one cycle of life and death, putting everything into their seeds, and then wither and die.

If we want to last, we need to consider how to store this energy up like the yin-yang symbol in the middle does.

There are several principles from the daoist classics that we can use to reframe our understanding and create sustainability.

• There is a common notion in daoist cultivation: 进阳火，退阴符 Advance the yang fire, withdraw from the yin response.

• There is also the notion that when yang is born it moves forward from the bottom, and that when yin is born it comes down from above.

• Then in the I Ching there is the principle where when one sign reaches its limit (the top line) it transforms to its opposite, but via a process of overturning.

• And in the Xici Zhuan (one of the ten wings of the I Ching) there is the idea that Bian (change that brings alteration) advances, while Hua (change that transforms or transmutes) withdraws.

When we adapt these principles to the hexagrams:

We arrive at this:

The first half we are advancing, and the second half we have overturned, and the energy is withdrawing. This change from advancing to withdrawing makes everything different. For example at the culmination we go from hexagram 43 ䷪ to hexagram 1 ䷀, and reach the limit of yang's advance. So now the yin token arises at the top and we experience the natural growth of yin, as yang withdraws. So even though we have what looks like ䷪ again, this is not hexagram 43 again. This is now 44 ䷫, it is just flipped upside-down.

This idea of overturning creates a natural spiraling phenomenon, and also allows us to see that the hexagrams are written from the perspective of preserving yang's life force energy. Proper use of capacity is vital for this as well, but the idea is to nurture the yang, within the capacity of yin. If we are not careful, we can exhaust our life force within capacity that is external to us. Sustainability come from storing up our life force by withdrawing it from erosion by external sources.

Ultimately, when we are centered we can merge yin and yang together within us to return to the formless energy that all things emerge from. This is how we escape the idea of division between yin and yang. And bypass the division of cycles of life and death to link up and return with the source of all existence. It is the matter of refinement of yang and yin together. But first we need to find the way to advance and withdraw so that we achieve sustainability.

This principle thus applies in two ways:

• The advance of yang from the Winter Solstice to the Summer Solstice, and the advance of Yin from the Summer Solstice to the Winter Sostices.

• And, to the same advance and withdrawal we find within each seasonal month.

Putting it together we end up with this diagram, which more fully reveals the seasonal breath:

Exploring the Yi Jing Zodiac

Capricorn ♑︎ - ䷗ The Return

The symbol for Capricorn is that of a goat with a tail. It represents how the Capricorn rises from the depths to climb to the heights. As goats are well known for being able to climb straight up cliffs and may be found making their homes in the mountains.

This also symbolizes how Capricorn natives are often seen as starting from nothing, but over time maturing slowly until they have achieved success. They are focused soley on that work, often while ignoring all else. They don't have time to play, because they know too well what it is like to start from nothing. And that every penny counts.

They often are slow to find their way, known as 'late bloomers,' and have a dry sense of humor. It is common for them to become business people, where they can practice the art of investing in careful progress. They may not find it easy to get away on vacation because they need to be there keeping up with the work.

With hexagram 24 we have the return of yang following the culmination of yin.

However, line 1 is only representative of a beginning point. A beginning has not established itself yet, but is doing the work to create a foundation. Thus it may be a strong or a weak beginning, but it is only a beginning.

The Return symbolizes not just the return of yang energy, but also the principle of continuously returning to something. As we look at each line above line 1, we see they are all looking toward the first line except the last, where it begins to lose track. Thus almost every dynamic within this hexagram is aware that as we leave the moment of the return, it is wise to stop and move back into accord with the return.

Having a beginning, we may move off into another paradigm, only to realize that where there is something to work on is back there with line 1's beginning.

It is easy to see how the principle here goes hand in hand with the observed manifestations of the Capricorn archetype. They do not travel far from what is seen as their important work. They uphold the motto "practice makes perfect", as this embodies the principle of the return. When we repeatedly return to something, we get better and better at it, and learn to master it. Thus the potential of this beginning is sculpted into something powerful. Such a one can learn to become independent anywhere over time and know they have the skill to survive and be OK starting from nearly nothing.

Aquarius ♒︎ - ䷒ Overseeing

The Symbol for Aquarius is water, because Aquarius is the water bearer. This represents the carrying of water, or other resources, to where it is needed. It is an act of distribution and sharing equally.

Pisces ♓︎ - ䷊ Tranquility

Aries ♈︎ - ䷡ Great Strength

Taurus ♉︎ - ䷪ Resolve

Gemini ♊︎ - ䷀ Yang's Limit

Cancer ♋︎ - ䷫ Encountering Yin

Leo ♌︎ - ䷠ Withdrawing from Yin

Virgo ♍︎ - ䷋ Navigating Obstruction

Libra ♎︎ - ䷓ Contemplation

Scorpio ♏︎ - ䷖ Stripped Away

Sagittarius ♐︎ - ䷁ Yin's Limit

Planetary Correlations

Astrology has associated the zodiac signs with the planets.

How do the principles of the Yi Jing resonate with these planetary associations?

The Sun

The Sun is associated with Leo, in regards to its radiance and mighty center. And yet it is hardly able to contain itself, such that it beams photons outward throughout the universe. Thus we have the principles of "Withdrawing From", hexagram 33.

Advised to withdraw from and maintain its center, and yet we see how its power is ever challenging to contain. And so it fuses and burns.

The Moon

The Moon is associated with Cancer, in regards to its emotional influence and its gravity that pulls on our tides. It is not difficult to see how the wobble the Moon induces upon the Earth's axis pulls us to and fro. In hexagram 44's Meeting with Yin, there is a knock on the door and someone or some thing wishes to vie for our attention. Their presence is very potent and really draws us out of sorts. Emotional. How fitting, for the Moon's pull to be likened to the allure of a new invitation - to feel, to emote.

From the perspective of Astrology, every two and a half days the Moon changes zodiac sign. If 0 degrees of Aries is Sunrise at the Vernal Equinox, then if a planet were above the earth in that position at that moment, it would be