The term "destiny" consists of two parts: "命" (mìng), representing the innate aspect, akin to a precious gold nugget naturally possessed, cherished by all; and "运" (yùn), representing the dynamic aspect, the trajectory of subsequent events. Just like a gold nugget, while one's destiny remains constant, their fortune varies. Some remain buried and undiscovered, despite their value, while others, though perhaps of lesser quality, find significant utility. Thus, while fate may be fixed, one's fortune fluctuates, determining whether life is fortunate or unfortunate.
One's major life cycle spans a decade, hence the saying "a decade of prosperity, a decade of adversity." Understanding when one is favored by fortune or beset by misfortune enables individuals to navigate life's ups and downs, steering toward prosperity and away from calamity. When one's financial and social fortunes peak, it's akin to reaching the summit after relentless effort, offering a sense of unparalleled satisfaction. However, standing still on the summit isn't an option. Progress from that point forward is downhill, signifying a decline in fortune. Conversely, during life's lowest ebbs, moving forward represents an ascent, a chance for a turnaround.
6.1 Arranging Major Life Cycles:
In the Four Pillars of Destiny, major life cycles are determined by the month pillar, with distinctions between genders and directions of counting. The calculation of starting ages also varies between genders.
To calculate major life cycles:
For men and women, arrange the cycles sequentially, starting with the year pillar for men and the month pillar for women. The sequence follows an eight-step pattern. For example, for a man born in the year of Geng Xu, Geng Chen represents the first major cycle, followed by Xin Si, Ren Wu, Gui Wei, Jia Shen, Yi You, Bing Xu, and Ding Hai. For a woman born in the year of Ding You, Wu Yin represents the first major cycle, followed by Ding Mao, Ji Chen, Yi Si, Xin Chou, Gui Wei, Ren Shen, and Geng Zi.
Determining the starting age:
Calculate the starting age based on a three-day conversion to one year, four months per day, or five days per hour. For example, if the starting total is 18 days, divide by 3 to get 6, indicating the major life cycle starts at 6 years. If the total is 19 days, it translates to 6 years and 4 months. Each major cycle spans ten years, with the starting age determined by the individual's birth month.
6.2 Arranging Minor Life Cycles:
While major life cycles span a decade, minor life cycles last a year, providing a more granular view of fortune. These cycles can complement or counterbalance major life cycles, annual cycles, and the pillars of destiny.
Minor cycles are arranged based on the hour pillar, following the same gender-based counting directions as major cycles. For example, for a man born on May 6, 1998, at the hour of Ren Zi, the first-year cycle would be Gui Chou, followed by Jia Yin, and so forth, in a sequential manner. For a woman born on the same day, the sequence would be reversed, starting with Xin Hai.
