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Auspicious Stars

Auspicious stars are symbolic star (Shen Sha) that represent favorable energy in date selection (Ze Ri). When certain auspicious stars fall on a given day, undertaking corresponding activities on that day will proceed more smoothly. Mastering the meanings and lookup methods of common auspicious stars is an essential foundational skill in date selection.

The Most Important Auspicious Stars

Tian De (Heavenly Virtue):

• The grace of heaven; favorable for all endeavors
• Corresponds to one Heavenly Stem or Earthly Branch per month
• All the more potent when accompanied by the Heavenly Virtue combination
• A day bearing Heavenly Virtue can mitigate and transform certain inauspicious stars

Yue De (Monthly Virtue):

• The grace of the month; second only to Heavenly Virtue
• Has a fixed directional position each month
• When Monthly Virtue and Heavenly Virtue fall on the same day, it is called the "Dual Virtues of Heaven and Moon," which is highly auspicious

Tian En (Heavenly Grace):

• Days bearing Heavenly Grace are suitable for praying for blessings, submitting memorials, and bestowing favors
• Each of the four seasons has its specific Heavenly Grace days
• Performing good deeds on a day bearing Heavenly Grace yields doubled efficacy

Overview of Common Auspicious Stars

Tian Xi (Heavenly Joy): A star of celebration, favorable for marriages and festivities. Tian She (Heavenly Pardon): A day of celestial amnesty, free of all taboos. There are only a few Heavenly Pardon days each year, making them exceptionally precious. Tian Yuan (Heavenly Wish): Signifies the fulfillment of heavenly desires, favorable for making wishes and praying for blessings. Tian Yi (Heavenly Physician): An auspicious star for medical matters, favorable for seeing a doctor, undergoing surgery, or taking medication. Yi Ma (Post Horse): Favorable for travel, relocation, and long journeys. Lu Shen (Prosperity Star): Favorable for seeking wealth, seeking employment, and gaining income. Wen Chang (Literary Star): Favorable for exams, studying, and handling documents. Gui Ren (Nobleman): A day graced by the Heavenly Yi Nobleman is favorable for seeking assistance from benefactors. San He (Three-Harmony): Three-harmony days are favorable for cooperation and forming alliances. Liu He (Six-Harmony): Six-harmony days are favorable for marriages and agreements.

Lookup Methods for Auspicious Stars

The lookup methods for auspicious stars vary:

• Some are derived from the year's stem and branch (e.g., the Heavenly Yi Nobleman)
• Some are derived from the month (e.g., Heavenly Virtue and Monthly Virtue)
• Some are derived from the day's stem and branch (e.g., the Prosperity Star)
• Some have fixed dates (e.g., Heavenly Pardon days)

Combinatorial Effects of Auspicious Stars

When multiple auspicious stars fall on the same day, their favorable effects accumulate. The optimal combinations include:

• Dual Virtues of Heaven and Moon + Heavenly Pardon = supreme auspiciousness for all endeavors
• Heavenly Joy + Six-Harmony = the optimal day for matrimony
• Post Horse + Heavenly Yi Nobleman = the optimal day for travel

Important Considerations

Although auspicious stars are beneficial, one must not focus solely on them while ignoring inauspicious stars. If a day bears both a major auspicious star and a major inauspicious star, the relative strength of the two must be weighed. Generally speaking, the Dual Virtues of Heaven and Moon can mitigate and transform the majority of inauspicious stars, but avoidance is still necessary when encountering overwhelmingly powerful inauspicious stars.