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 celebrated in nearly every country on earth. In China, many cities present a series of Mother’s Day activities that feature the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water; group dances; tree planting; a delicate feast and ceremony called Thanksgiving Mother that lays out children’s responsibility to be good students who are kind and able to live in peace and harmony with others.
In the US, we’ve got Cinco de Mayo on the 5th, Mother’s Day on the 9th, Armed Forces Day on the 15th, and Memorial Day brings the month to a close on the 31st. May also features some silly celebrations like Lost Sock Day followed by Lost Sock Memorial Day and health-related events like Melanoma Monday on May 3. Skin cancer is a reminder that even though Fire and the sun can be warming and nurturing, it can also be dangerous and destructive.
May is named after the Greek goddess Maia, the daughter of Atlas, the lover of Zeus, and the mother of Hermes. Maia was a nurturer; her name is an honorific term for older women, mothers, and midwives. As Fire energy begins to warm the earth, we need to refresh our stash of sunscreen and dig out our sunglasses and summer hats.
The Fire Element is spunky—it is both creative and destructive—it can nurture us with its warmth or burn our forests and our skin with its heat. The wisdom of the I Ching can help us know what to expect in this phase of rising Fire and have a look at what’s in store for you in the merry month of May.
Physical Health
Your element’s energy organ system is the lungs, followed by the skin. We do hope that you do not suffer from allergies but if spring blossoms and tree pollen are making you suffer, breathe through your nose and not through your mouth; wear a mask, dark glasses, and a hat to keep pollen out of your nose, eyes, and hair when you are outside; shower and shampoo before you go to bed at night as a simple natural remedy.
Emotional Health
Rising Fire energy should be making you feel pretty darned good about yourself. We’re not talking about narcissism; we’re referring to your own sense of wellbeing and happiness. The nice thing is that the better you feel about yourself, the better able you are to accept, ignore, or be amused rather than annoyed by the idiosyncrasies of others which is a win/win for everyone concerned.
Relationship Health
Speaking of others, Metal people like you can be a little bit shy but go ahead… tell someone near you what you appreciate about them. When you cultivate a circle of positivity and encouragement, you open yourself to the possibility that someone will return the favor when you need it most. Believe it or not, your acceptance and appreciation of others will make you a warmer, fuzzier, and happier human being.
Financial Health
Pick one thing you have been meaning to do to achieve financial health, and then just get it done. For most of us, creating a budget and keeping track of our money is challenging and difficult, but for Metal people like you, creating budgets and keeping track of money is one of your natural skills. If you haven’t set up a budget yet, this is the perfect time to do it. In challenging times like these, it something we all need to do.
Career Health
Rearrange your workspace in a way that makes you feel more comfortable. Metal people function best in a clean, clear environment but ironically Metal people often have piles of paper and objects lying around because they have difficulty letting go. Use May’s rising Fire to help you organize and clear out your workspace so you can concentrate and think clearly, know where everything is, and everything has a place.
Discover More from Infinichi to Support Your Element
