The Lunar Calendar is calculated using the rotation of the moon around the earth. It takes on average, 29.530589 days to complete one synodic lunar cycle, the equivalent to one month. So if we divide the number of days in an average solar year, 365.2425, by the number of day in an average lunar month we end up with a grand total of 12.463108951818218112468176192567 lunar cycles per year! Unfortunately this makes matters even more complicated, as this is not whole number. So with every year there are some discrepancies between the lunar and solar calendars. The ancient Chinese cleverly solved this conundrum, by adding in an extra 13^th intercalary lunar month in seven out of every 19 years to coincide with the solar calendar. Even though the Chinese lunar calendar does works sufficiently, it is not a well-designed system! It can be confusing and frustrating when the year has 13 months, and to top it off, the 13^th months take on the name of the 12^th month prior to it! As a result, the Chinese lunar calendar is more arbitrary as well as chaotic, and does not reflect the orderly influence of nature upon humankind. For that reason, many Chinese metaphysical philosophies, including Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology, Yi Jing (I-Ching), etc. implement the lesser-known Chinese Solar Calendar.

The Chinese Solar Calendar or the Hsia Calendar, as it was extremely prevalent during the Hsia Dynasty (2205–1765 BCE), has immensely influenced Chinese Astrology to a greater extent. The Chinese Solar Calendar is also known as the Farmers Calendar, as it regulates agriculture, in view of the fact that the sun is most influential in determining specific seasons, which also plays a significant role in Chinese destiny analysis. The Solar Calendar is more of a precise timekeeper, because our planet earth rotates around the sun in a systematic constant length of time of 365.2425 days, with the discrepancy of adding a leap year every 4 years. Hence it reveals a more logical and practical astronomical reality, as it is based on the relationship between the sun and the seasons of the year. But most importantly with the coming of every season, the philosophies of Yin & Yang and the Five Elements manifest, as Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water each officiate over one of the four seasons, while Earth supports them all. This is essential for accurate calculations in Feng Shui and Four Pillars of Destiny (Ba Zi); the Solar Calendar MUST be utilized as opposed to the Lunar Calendar.

Four Pillars of Destiny (Zi Ping Ba Zi) is a form of what is commonly referred to as Chinese Astrology. It is an ancient Chinese system for constructing a personalized astrological horoscope that determines the elemental constitution and time cycles of luck for an individual. It encompasses the energetic permutation of cosmological cycles that are absorbed during the mother's gestation period, and at the moment of birth this astrological blueprint immediately starts to take effect with the first breath that is taken in, essentially inhaling one’s destiny.

It is a highly sophisticated method of fate calculation based on analyzing and interpreting the Five Elements present at the time birth. Its influence involves four components or “Pillars” of time – the Year, Month, Day and Hour of birth, which are translated into eight distinct Chinese characters (or Ba Zi). Each pillar is comprised of a pair of Chinese characters, a Heavenly Stem on top and an Earthly Branch on the bottom, hence the term Four Pillars of Destiny. The Five Elements configuration within the natal chart (static) and the influence of time cycles of luck (dynamic) helps accurately predict possibilities, not certainties, in an individual’s life path.

It is an excellent method for predicting and revealing life potentials such as, career prospects, marriage opportunities, health indications, wealth fluctuations, etc. A qualified astrologer or Feng Shui expert is able to calculate an energetic blueprint of a person’s life and advise them on proper planning and how to execute the right decisions that will bring them to the best possible outcome during various phases of their life.

Four Pillars of Destiny complements the practice of Feng Shui, as it is also employed to personalize the Feng Shui for an individual, which allows a Feng Shui expert to tailor their advice on very specific recommendations geared towards the individuals needs, such as, lucky elements, colors, Feng Shui cures, suitable environments, directions, auspicious & inauspicious timing, names, etc.

The Natal Chart is a "snapshot" of when you were born. It consists of your constitutional strengths and weaknesses as well as your characteristics, such as dynamics of your personalality. Within this energetic matrix there is an abundance of information that pertains to certain aspects in one's life, such as resources, expression, wealth, power, relationships, health and much more.

Chinese Astrology Software - Ziping Ba Zi 
by David Twicken - www.healingqi.com

The 10 Year Luck Pillars are also known as Life Pillars. They represent the influences over your life and the way your life unravels as well as what dynamics are going on for you now and in the future to come. One is under the influence of these specific luck pillars for a 10-year duration.

The 10 Heavenly Stems are the Yin & Yang manifestations of the Five Elements, 5 Elements x 2 Yin & Yang = 10 Heavenly Stems. They represent the Yang influences and energies we receive from the cosmos (Heaven Qi). The ancient Chinese used the word “Heaven” to signify “Time”; it denotes the dynamics of Qi within the universe. As the Heavenly Stems progress through the passage of time within the seasons of a year, it demonstrates how the Five Elements fluctuate from positive (Yang) to negative (Yin) polarities and vise versa. The Yang Qi Heavenly Stems progress and grow and then decline while yielding to the Yin Qi Heavenly Stems. The purpose of a categorizing the Five Elements into Yin & Yang forms is to differentiate between stronger and weaker characteristics.

Yang Wood (Jai): comparable to a big tree - upright, sturdy, stubborn, and unbendable. These characteristics can be compared to a yang wood person’s principles, which are a bit inflexible.

Yin Wood (Yi): comparable to grass, bamboo or tree branches -  may seem fragile but is very flexible, resilient, and adaptive.  Yin wood people are more likely to accept opinions and are more open to change.

Yang Fire (Bing): comparable with the sun - warm hearted, open-minded, popular, and aggressive. They can be explosive and hot tempered as they do not accumulate anger nor do they hide their feelings well.

Yin Fire (Ding): comparable to a candle flame – flickering and unstable. Yin fire people are sensitive, emotional and introverted, and as such they can accumulate their anger to the point where it can be explosive.

Yang Earth (Wu): comparable to a mountain or hill – sturdy and dependable. Yang earth people are earthly, firm, steady, and reliable people. Most are physically strong and heavy weight.

Yin Earth (Ji): comparable to sand, dirt, or a garden – constructive and malleable. Yin earth people are graceful, modest, and intellectual. They are strong and consistent yet they are vulnerable.

Yang Metal (Geng): comparable to weapons – rigid, diciplined, destructive and impossible to influence. Yang metal people are efficient, determined, strong-willed, and like power, which makes them natural born leaders.

Yin Metal (Xin): comparable to jewelry - beautiful, charming, elegant and sociable. Yin metal people are congenial, fashion concious and love luxury, they also often have fair skin and have an attractive look.

Yang Water (Ren): comparable to the ocean - dymanic, forceful, turbulant and impulsive. Yang water people are full of drive, they like to stir things up and may need boundries in order to keep focused.

Yin Water (Gui): comparable with morning dew or rain – humble, secretive and intelligent. Yin water people will often seem harmless and pleasant, but they are a force to be reckon with and are capable of incredible feats.

The 12 Earthly Branches correlate with the seasons on Earth, 4 Seasons x 3 Months = 12 Earthly Branches. They represent the Yin influences and energies we receive from our planet Earth (Earth Qi). The ancient Chinese used the word “Earth’ interchangeably with the word “Space”, it denotes the movement of Qi in a given direction on Earth.

The 12 Earthly Branches are commonly referred to as the “12 Zodiac Animals” of popular Chinese astrology. Each Branch is associated with a particular season and is referred by its animal name rather than its element because each branch is comprised of one or more of the Five Elements, sort of as a recipe or an amalgamation of energies; collectively they are called the “hidden elements”.

Rats are known to be very crafty; great puzzle solvers, and can easily adapt to change. They love the pursuit of money and have the mental capacity to handle large work forces making them great CEOs. Rats never want to miss an opportunity and can get information and gossip for everywhere. They also live for the moment and seldom plan for the future.

Oxen’s are tireless workers as they work hard to accomplish set goals. They are conservative, traditionalist, obedient and rational. They appear to be modest but are intense; they have terrible tempers and at times can be very stubborn. Oxen’s need to pace themselves, have boundaries, and learn not to make work the focus of their life, but instead make themselves the focus.

Tigers always like to be in charge, and are often the head of the pack. They are future-orientated and are also trendsetters. They have quick minds, which makes them great sales people as they can sway a crowd. Tigers are very courageous, overly competitive, and often times will say or do things without giving any thought, this leads to many regrets. They need to think before the leap!

Rabbits are extremely sweet, kind, caring, graceful and sensitive. They are people-orientated and are excellent at being the center of a social circle. Rabbits tend to be lucky with business as well as with money. They are one of the most sexual signs in the Chinese zodiac. Since rabbits are sensitive to criticism they need to learn not to take things so personally.

Dragons are known as bringers of good things. They make great leaders; they are energetic, zealous and have the potential to accomplish great feats. Dragons are also egotistical and demanding as well, and as such they can be insensitive to those around them. They set high standards for themselves and will exhaust all resources before they admit failure.

Snakes are difficult to “read”, their mantra is privacy. They wont let you know much as they do not share themselves easily, they believe this makes them vulnerable. Snakes have a mysterious attractiveness, the women are often very beautiful and the men are often very powerful. They are very tenacious and shrud in business; careers and financial matters always come first.

Horses are a bundle of energy. They are cheerful, popular, quick-witted and love the social life. They need to be constantly stimulated, this can lead to difficulties relaxing and they may suffer from insomnia. Horses also have a sense of unfulfillment and move on to the next project before they are done with the first one. They need to learn to stop and smell the roses!

Rams are compassionate, easy-going and are the good Samaritans of the Chinese zodiac. They prefer to be in groups and follow, as they are not good at decision making. At their best they are creative & artistic, and at their worst they are emotional & introverted. Rams enjoy a peaceful, comfortable life; they are family-orientated and make their home-life top priority.

Monkeys are highly intelligent, clever, witty, and adventurous. They are extremely versatile are able to maneuver successfully around tricky situations. Monkeys lose focus easily and are always “jumping” from one thing to the next. They are born with superiority complexes and any lack of recognition often leads to frustration.

Roosters are all about display, especially when it comes to themselves. They are very talkative, opinionated, judgmental, and have a tendency of blurting things out. Roosters are perfectionist and whatever they do is never quite good enough. They are great at managing finances and are puritanical about sex and affairs of the heart.

Dogs are caring, kind, unselfish, and life-givers. They have an enormous amount of common sense and are always “on guard”. Dogs have a tendency to worry unnecessarily and be pessimistic by nature. They need to hear “everything will be ok” from time to time. They are known to be honest, straightforward and fight for justice as well.

Pigs are fond of luxury, romance, pleasure and comfort. They are outgoing, sincere, charming, and diplomatic. Pigs expect honesty and seek universal harmony. Problems can result from their overgenerous nature and they are always surprised when someone has done something wrong to them. Pigs are very lucky with money and usually have all their needs met easily.