The year of 2 Earth Star

Chinese spring season began on February 4th at 18:14, Beijing time. This marks the beginning of the 9 star astrological year. The Lunar new year starts at the new moon on February 8th.
In relation to western astrology, the Chinese spring season always begins at 15 degrees Aquarius, or exactly mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In the context of the I Ching, this year's beginning of spring gives us Hexagram 53, line 1.
Hexagram 53 is Jian, Gradual Progress. It says, the maiden marries. Good to persevere. Line 1 encourages us to make long range plans before beginning any enterprise.

This year, in 9 star astrology, is the year of 2 Earth Star. The stars in 9 star astrology are 1 Water; 2 Earth; 3 Wood; 4 Wood; 5 Earth; 6 Metal; 7 Metal; 8 Earth; and 9 Fire. These stars rotate every year around a system of houses corresponding to the trigrams of the I Ching, and giving a yearly personal prediction for everybody, as everybody is born under one or another of the stars as you will see below.

2 Earth star, since this is 2 Earth star year, affects the whole world both positively and negatively. 2 Earth is the star of the Mother. It favors women. 2 Earth is productive, down to earth, receptive, caring, honest, and tenacious. It's concerns include home, children, food, clothing, medicine, and care of the needy. It is slow to decide, careful, and protective. While its positive qualities, in addition to the above, include trustworthiness, steadiness, sympathy, reliability, faithfulness, and moderation, its one big negative quality is worry. Anxiety is a big problem for people. It adversely affects the health. Problems having to do with hunger, starvation, disease, and homelessness will come to the fore as they are to do with 2 Earth star. There will be some large earthquakes and probable crop failures ass well.
According to the way this system is used in fengshui, the unlucky directions to move in this year, if you are thinking of moving house, are northeast and southwest. Northeast is the worse direction. If your door faces northeast, put 5 metal coins under the doormat in an inverted V formation, the point of the V pointing out the door to ward off the shar, or evil, of this direction this year.

The stars are calculated opposite for men and women. The following will help you find your birth star. 

2016, for males is 2 Earth, and for women is 4 Wood.
2015 for males is 3 Wood, and for women is 3 Wood.
2014 for males is 4 Wood, and for women is 2 Earth.
2013 for males is 5 Earth, and for women is 1 Water.
2012 for males is 6 Metal, and for women is 9 Fire.
2011 for males is 7 Metal, and for women is 8 Earth.
2010 for males is 8 Metal, and for women is 7 Metal.
2009 for males is 9 Fire, and for women is 6 Metal.
2008 for males is 1 Water, and for women is 5 Earth.

Add multiples of 9 to your birth year until it comes to one of these years (2008 - 2016), noting that the beginning of the 9 star year is always on or about February 4th. If you were born between January 1st and February 4th calculate from the year prior to your birth.
For example, if you were born in 1970, after February 4th, you would add 45 (9 x 5) to come to 2015, which for both men and women is a 3 Wood star year.
If you were born in 1970, before February 4th, noting that the 9 star year begins on February 4th, you would add 45 to 1969 to come to 2014, which for a man is 4 Wood, and for a woman is 2 Earth.
If you were born in 1955, you would add 54 (9 x 6) to come to 2009, which for men is 9 Fire star, and for women is 6 Metal Star.

The following are the prognostications for the 9 stars. 

1 Water is in the house of wind. This can be a productive year. It favors all business activities, traveling, communicating, making new contacts, and making financial gains. It is also good for learning new things. Be flexible and adaptable to changing conditions. For this position of 1 Water, Confucius says in Analects IV:13, "If you are able to govern with courtesy, what trouble will you have? If you cannot govern with courtesy, what good will the rules of proper conduct do?" The key word for you is courtesy.

2 Earth is in the pivotal house. This year marks a critical turning point in your affairs. Something begin in the past will come to a head for good or ill this year. What is begun this year can last a long time. What comes to crisis will end. Be patient and cautious, and careful in dealings with others. Misunderstandings can put you at a serious disadvantage, while cooperation will ensure your success. For this position of 2 Earth, Confucius advises, in Analects VIII:24, to weigh your conduct against these four things: "erudition, ethics, devotion, and truthfulness."

3 Wood is in the house of heaven. Opportunities abound. Take advantage of them. This is a fortunate year. It favors moving up in rank, expanding your business activities, taking on greater responsibilities, making investments, making money, traveling, meeting new people, improving relations especially in business. Be careful not to step on anyone's toes. You could easily incite the enmity of others if you pursue your aims more forcefully than you normally do. For this position of 3 Wood, Confucius says, in Analects IV:12, "He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against." It helps to be considerate.

4 Wood is in the house of the lake You are in a period when over-expansion and unrealistic expectations of windfalls and big profits could spell big headaches. Nevertheless, this is your year for financial growth through, especially through intelligent interactions with others, and by forthright and honest communication. Pay attention to details to avoid misunderstandings. Partnerships and contracts could fail unless everything is spelled out and made clear. To freely express your talents will win the admiration of others, and may lead to a desired promotion. For this position of 4 Wood, Confucius says in Analects VII:22 "Heaven produced virtue in me. What can my enemies do to me?"

5 Earth is in the house of the mountain. You are in a transitional time that calls for crucial decisions and possible corrections. Avoid too much stress, as that can affect your health. Some activities may come to an end or take on new directions, while other activities or interests that have been dormant may come back to life. You are turning a corner. This is a good time to save up money, and to keep secrets. Follow the middle course and be cooperative with others to be successful. Exerting undue pressure on others will bring up resistance. Exercise self-restraint, and don't overreach your proper boundaries. For this position of 5 Earth, Confucius says in Analects VII:26, "The master fished with a pole, but not with a net. He shot, but not at the birds that were nesting."

6 Metal is in the house of lightning, This may be a year of surprises, favorable and unfavorable. Matters previously kept secret from you will come to light. Your secrets may be made public as well. Unexpected trouble can come up. On the other hand, your work, especially if you are an artist or creative thinker can win you acclaim. This year could bring about an unexpected love affair, or bring a relationship to its end. At work, you could make rapid progress and be promoted. Documents, signatures, meetings, and partings of the way are particularly significant. Avoid pretense and greed. For this position of 6 Metal Confucius in Analects IV:5 says, "If riches and honor cannot be obtained in the right way, they will be lost. If poverty and meanness cannot be overcome in the right way, they will not go away. Never act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, cling to it. In times of danger, cling to it." The Chinese character for virtue means action upon looking directly into the heart.

7 Metal is in the house of the abyss. Best to keep within your limits and adapt to pressures in this uncertain and potentially stressful year. This may not be the easiest time for your work, and for affairs that are in beginning stages. Stick to routines and avoid entanglements. You can be very productive if you are content in your situation. Avoid confiding in the wrong people. Quarrels can bring bad luck. When experiencing difficulties in communication, be patient. For this position of 7 Metal, Confucius says in Analects XII: 23, "Faithfully encourage your friend and guide him skillfully. If you find him resistant, stop. Do not disgrace yourself."

8 Earth is in the house of the valley. This is a good time to be patient. Invest your money conservatively while taking time to work out your plans for the future. Do not over-reach yourself, or have pie in the sky ambitions now, because you could fall into a hole if you do. Forcing your way will bring bad luck. Cultivate discernment. For this position of 8 Earth, Confucius says in Analects XVII: 8, "The love of goodwill without discernment leads to folly. The love of knowing without discernment leads to mental dissipation. The love of sincerity without discernment leads to an injurious disregard of consequences. The love of straightforwardness without discernment leads to rudeness. The love of boldness without discernment leads to insubordination. The love of firmness without discernment leads to recklessness."

9 Fire is in the house of thunder. Aim high. This is a year for rapid growth that could bring you to great success or failure depending on how clear you are about what you are doing. Be ready for surprising developments along the way. This year favors making decisions, taking initiative, and entering new territory. Creative projects can flourish, and you may make surprising gains, financial or otherwise. When seeking help, use only the best for the best results. For this position of 9 Fire, Confucius says in Analects II:19, "Choose the upright and set aside the crooked, then the people will agree. Choose the crooked and set aside the upright, then the people will not agree."

Chinese new years predictions for the lunar new year, 2/8/16 will be posted at that time.

Raphael gives in-depth Chinese and western astrological readings, psychic readings, and fengshui consultations. For information visit  www.raphaelsimons.com

Raphael's book on fengshui, Feng Shui Step by Step, is reprinted and available at Amazon and  www.createspace.com/3472024