The drafting of the Zi Wei Dou Shu chart only needs the coordinates of the time, day, month and year of birth. The geographical coordinates of the place of birth are not needed; as mentioned above, this astrology does not work with real stars but rather with energetic symbols, originating from I Ching (The Book of Changes) and from statistics of Taoist masters.

However, in my experience as a Zi Wei consultant, I observe and analyse the place of birth from a cultural point of view, being as it is necessary to consider the culture to which a person is subjected to by birth, as the space factor will undoubtedly have an influence on the individual’s embodiment of energetic potentials.

The chart traditionally has a squared/rectangled format, as the Earth is “square”, or limited; whereas the sky is round, albeit, unlimited. As in Western Astrology, the Zi Wei chart has 12 signs and 12 houses. These signs are translated as what we know as the Chinese Horoscope: Rat (Zi), Ox (Chou), Tiger (Yin), Rabbit (Mao), Dragon (Chen), Snake (Si), Horse (Wu), Goat (Wei), Monkey (Shen), Rooster (You), Dog (Xu) and Pig (Hai). These 12 signs are called the Twelve Earthly Branches. They are positioned on the astral chart in a clockwise and fixed position.

Polar Astrology has 12 houses, however, in this system they are called Twelve Palaces, named as follows: Life, Siblings, Marriage, Children, Wealth, Health, Travel, Friends/Servants, Career, Residence (or Property), Fortune/Virtue and Parents, and they move in an anti-clockwise direction in this order.

Another important thing to take into account when reading the chart is the birth period as it also denotes a cultural tendency which cannot be ignored. Two identical charts, of people born in different times, will be potentially different. Someone born in Brazil in 2006 will certainly have different contributions and ways of expressing themselves than someone born in China in the 100th Century BC.

For example:
MALE BORN ON 05/01/1943 AT 10:30am IN RIO DE JANEIRO.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Chart Reading for Male born on 05/01/1943

In this brief reading of this man’s Life Palace we can clearly see the presence of two main elements of his destiny.

The chart shows two main stars in the Life Palace (the Life Palace rules over our birth, childhood, as well as potentiality and possibility).

The first star is called Qi Sha (Chi Sa) and the second Lian Zeng (Lien Zen).

Qi Sha belongs to the element of metal and symbolises planning and great changes in life. In the imperial palace, Qi Sha was responsible for the logistics of war, and thus carries the symbolism of seven slaughters (literal translation) and is therefore linked to drastic changes in life.

Lian Zeng is a star belonging to the element of fire and a “peach flower”. The peach flower is used in Taoism to express the idea of good taste, seduction, charm… Being of the element of fire, Lian Zeng is emotional, and hence the link between fire and metal. Fire melts metal and softening its solidity.

This man is Brazilian, a retired major from the Fire Department and was frequently requested to take part in the administrative and planning department of his institution. He was basically orphaned from his mother since a young age and had to start working (fighting). Presently retired, he is taking a painting course (art), a wish he had always had and is now fulfilling.