How to read a Zi Wei Dou Shu chart
Find the Life Palace first. Its position gives you a starting point for reading the twelve areas of life around the board.
Follow one palace
In the example chart for May 15, 1990, at 1:15 p.m., the Life Palace is at Xū. Its two major stars are Zi Wei and Tian Xiang. Read the stars as a pair in the context of the Life Palace.
Tap the palace to see its stars. The earthly branch gives the cell’s location on the board.
Match the labels on another chart
- Life Palace
- Look for Life, Ming Gong or Destiny House.
- Body Palace
- Stellix marks it with B on one of the twelve cells. The cell can also have its own palace label, such as Travel.
- Four Transformations
- Read the badge beside the star. Stellix uses P for Prosperity, A for Authority, R for Recognition and O for Obstruction.
Follow a ten-year period
A ten-year period may also appear as an age range printed in a palace. In Stellix, choose a period in the Ten-year view to highlight its palace and see its Four Transformations. Return to Birth chart to see the natal positions.
When the birth time is uncertain
On May 15, 1990, two clock times 30 minutes apart fall in different traditional hours.
- Life Palace at Hài, with Tian Liang.
- Life Palace at Xū, with Zi Wei and Tian Xiang.