For thousands of years, the I Ching has provided guidance for decisions about our health, relationships, financial matters, work, and play. Predictions from the I Ching follow the lunar year and are based on multiple, overlapping cycles that govern the heavens and earth. A variety of stems, branches, directions, and phases also have their say, each creating a trail of portents, probabilities, and possibilities… so let us begin.
In the lunar calendar, May is positioned right between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is the time of soft yin as the Fire Element warms us and begins to exert its energy on our lives. May is further represented by the Chinese character Sze 巳 which translates to “preparation for ripeness,” an indication that emerging possibilities are beginning to come our way.
Mother’s Day is observed in nearly every country in the world and in the U.S. it will be celebrated on Sunday, May 10. On Chinese Mother’s Day, some families commemorate Meng Mu, the mother of Meng Zi, the most important Confucian scholar after Confucius himself. Meng Fu emphasized the importance of her son’s education, and appreciation for the sacrifices made for their education earns the devotion of sons and daughters to their mothers even today.
Mother’s Day was inaugurated by Anna Maria Jarvis in 1908, three years after her mother’s death. She held a memorial ceremony for her mother and all mothers, using it as a platform to remind her audience to write and thank mothers for all they do for us. Ultimately Jarvis boycotted the greeting card industry because she was so upset that they commercialized her idea and sentiment for their own financial gain.
Memorial Day has been observed since the civil war, this year it occurs on the 25th and is celebrated in remembrance of the 1.8 million American men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Flags will be flown at half-staff until noon in their honor, and then it is raised to the top of the flagpole to remind us of the importance of continuing the fight for justice to all.
The Fire Element is spunky—it is both creative and destructive—it can nurture us with its warmth or burn us with its heat. The I Ching has many comments about what we can expect in this phase of rising Fire, so here they are for you to consider.
Physical Health
A cooling Mediterranean diet is natural for your element; it emphasizes colorful fruits and vegetables, dark leafy greens, whole grains, legumes, and nuts and replaces butter with olive oil. Natural flavors are enhanced with herbs rather than salt, which is good for promoting healthy blood pressure and a heart. And after all… the heart is what your element is all about!
Emotional Health
Metal people like being numero uno, and why not? The rub occurs when you want to rule the roost and get active pushback from your troops, whomever your troops might be. Letting go isn’t easy, but sometimes you’ve got to be willing to let go of a bit of your position to be a friend. You may find that it is easier to be emotionally engaged if you part of your tribe rather than the head of it.
Relationship Health
Metal energy is what makes you decisive and that is why you are so certain of the right way to do things. The catch is that sometimes you think that yours is the only way, and that explains why so many Metal people have tense relationships with their children. You’ve got to respect their life choices in order to have a healthy relationship with them, or they may very well rebel.
Financial Health
You are very organized, self-motivated, and excellent at pursuing your goals, but make certain that your partner’s goals are in alignment with your own. If both of you are on the same page, go ahead and play your cards because you play them well. Fortunately, Metal people can manage temporary setbacks, and you are likely to encounter them along the way. Stay calm and carry on!
Career Health
The I Ching says that Metal people should keep the hexagram Qian in mind: “A gentleman should constantly strive for self-perfection and should hold the outer world with a broad mind. In their careers, Metal people are usually a bit vain so they generally have no problem with striving for perfection, but they also need to learn to be open-minded rather than judgmental and critical of others.
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