Something big happened last year. Over many millennia, humans have experienced change. The Ancient Chinese noticed the ebb and flow and the peaks and valleys of all aspects of human development. There are many ways they measured this change, but perhaps the most notable is the method used in Feng Shui 风 水 of 20-year cycles in the Xuan Kong 选 空 or Flying Star School. We enter a new period on February 4, Li Chun, the first day of the Solar New Year although some scholars feel we entered the new Period in 2020.

The cycle consists of 180 years divided into 3 parts of 60 years each, Middle, and Lower. Each period is numbered 1 through 9, referred to as Stars and corresponding to the 8 Sectors of the Hou Tian Bagua, 后 天 八 卦。 After the 9th period, the 180-year cycle begins again at 1. Each year changes in energy are represented by the 12 Animals of the Zodiac and the 5 Elements, Wu Xing, 五行. Last year was the year of the Yang Wood Dragon Jia Chen甲 辰. 

The 20-year cycles roughly mirror the path of the planet Jupiter around the Sun. 2024 marks the transition from Period 8 艮 Gen to Period 9 离 (Li) and the impact is a shift from Earth to Fire, from the Youngest Son to Middle Daughter, the most auspicious direction becomes South/North, and the interpretation of the numerology of the Flying Stars will shift.

We move from a period of Earth to a period of Fire. White Earth Star8 is an Earth Star originating in the North East. Period 9 Purple Star is the Fire Star, originating in the South. Fire signifies everything bright, happy, and optimistic. It is symbolized by the Sun, daylight, and brightness. Whereas Period 8 was symbolized by a Mountain, Period 9 is the hot, fast, moving energy of Fire. Fire energy is passion, enthusiasm, sophistication, and courage.

Period 8 relates to the Youngest Son while Period 9 relates to the Middle Daughter. Middle Daughter also represents the energy of a middle-aged woman who will come into power in the next 20 years is all areas of politics, industry, and culture. The youngest son is very yang energy and can be impulsive and impetuous, while the middle or older daughter acts in a more measured way. Because her position is in the middle, she has an interest in relating to both the older and younger sisters. This can bring a more cooperative and equitable solution to issues that are present in society. In ancient China, the Oldest daughter often received the best marriage possibility and the younger sisters were left to either be married as a second wife with the oldest daughter or to marry into a lesser family. This circumstance required great strength and selflessness from the Middle daughter. She is less likely to use violence and war as a tool to get her way and seek cooperation and reconciliation to resolve conflicts.

Fields of industry requiring more speed and adventure will be born and will succeed. This includes AI technology, digital media, beauty and cosmetics, and Digital banking. But with Fire being dominant, Global Warming will be kicked into high gear unless we humans find ways to mitigate the changes.

Cultural Changes
Period 9 is characterized by a significant shift in cultural dynamics. The shift is toward more connected, collaborative, and global endeavors. Knowledge sharing across nations and cultures will be the norm rather than the exception. Supported by social media platforms and online communities of all sorts, we can achieve interconnections that will spark innovation to solve global challenges as a collective.

Period 9 is the harbinger of significant social and cultural change. We began to see these changes manifesting in late period 8 in positive ways related to gender equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, racial justice, inclusiveness, diversity, and social justice. But we are also seeing the old guard tightening its grip on cultural norms of not just the past decade but the past century. Those who insist upon maintaining the norms of a century ago will ultimately fail but they are using political power, violence, and pseudo-religion to hold on to the last vestiges of an old and antiquated way of being. Period 9 works in favor of change. Fire is quick. It burns the dross of materials and ideas that are no longer needed.

Health
Fire governs the heart, eyes, blood, cardiovascular system, psychological health, and the brain. It will be critical to watch for trends in a rise in heart disease and set upon the task of creating lifestyle changes as well as medical advancements to assist humanity through new risks of disease.

Mental health concerns will move into a new era as social media and online interactions have created a new field of concern with issues of anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem. The solution may lie in the attitudes of a mature woman – stable in who she is, having secure boundaries, knowing the importance of self-care, and being willing to negotiate rather than fight. These are attitudes that can result in a person who becomes an active, responsible partner in taking care of herself, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Areas of energetic psychology will blossom and become mainstream as people seek to find new methods of self-care.

Fire has often been associated with metaphysical endeavors and spirituality of all kinds. Spiritual practices may increase in Period 9. As a hallmark of inclusiveness and cooperation, insular cult-like groups will likely lose their attraction in favor of more accepting and inclusive beliefs. Most importantly, the Fire of Period 9 can help attract humankind to ideals and goals aimed toward the greater good rather than ones that tend to separate and divide.

In Chinese Medicine, the Heart governs the emotions of anxiety, too little or too much joy, insomnia, long-term memory, and depression. The virtue of the Heart is Order. Through creating Order in one’s life, you can overcome many emotional challenges. A picture or metaphor to explain how the Heart creates Order is to imagine a campfire. The Fire will burn in an orderly manner according to the path of its fuel. If the fuel is removed, the fire goes out. If fuel is everywhere, the fire becomes out of control. The fire burns along the path of its fuel. What are you doing to fuel the warmth of your heart’s fire?

Technological Changes
Technological advancements will assist these changes. Emerging technologies such as advanced robotics, AI, Quantum computing, and machine learning are already reshaping the world we live in and will continue to do so for better or worse in the future. These advancements will touch all areas of life from healthcare to manufacturing to transportation. These advancements will lead to increased efficiency, productivity, and connectivity. If you imagine these industries in 2004 as compared to now, you can begin to grasp the level of progress that another 20 years into the future will bring.

Climate/Environment
Climate change will be ever more challenging and urgent. Wildfires, melting polar ice, and deforestation will necessitate a truly global response to these problems. All nations are responsible in one way or another and what happens affects the entire earth. It will take a combined effort toward eliminating the causes of global warming and at the same time provide sustainable substitutes for energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric. Coupled with these efforts will be the herculean task of conservation. We will need the best minds to develop ways to reuse, recycle, and upcycle to slow the consumerism that is polluting the earth. Finally, we will need to use this Fire energy to develop ways to mitigate the pollution already created. How can we clean the rivers oceans and lakes? How do we tackle the landfills and dump heaps in a way that helps break down the refuse in an environmentally safe way?

The Economy and Workforce
The rapid technological advancements of Period 9 will by its nature change the landscape of the global economy and the Workforce. As automation and AI replace some jobs, new job roles are emerging and up-skilling and re-skilling are necessary to adapt to this change. The flexibility of remote work is more commonplace and easier to accomplish but with it comes new challenges of job security and worker’s rights. Digital money will become more usable and prevalent and Period 9 progresses.

Each year is ruled by a powerful deity called the Grand Duke Jupiter, Tai Sui. There are 60 such deities （JaiZi), one for each of the Animals in the Chinese zodiac paired with the Yin or Yang polarity of the 5 Elements.

Click here to read about The Grand Duke Jupiter, Tai Sui.

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