Divination Glossary

Bazi, also called the Four Pillars of Destiny, is a Chinese metaphysical system that analyzes the year, month, day, and hour of birth as eight characters (four heavenly stems and four earthly branches) to map a person's character and life trajectory.

The Five Elements (Wu Xing) — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — are the fundamental energies in Chinese philosophy that interact through cycles of generation and overcoming.

The Ten Heavenly Stems (Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui) are the yang-oriented characters paired with Earthly Branches to mark time in the sexagenary cycle.

The Twelve Earthly Branches (Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai) pair with Heavenly Stems and also correspond to the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

The Day Master is the heavenly stem of the day pillar — considered the core of a Bazi chart representing the person's essential self and dominant personality traits.

The Ten Gods (Shi Shen) are ten relationship archetypes derived by comparing the Day Master's element to every other character in the chart, revealing career, wealth, and relationship dynamics.

Zi Wei Dou Shu, or Purple Star Astrology, is a sophisticated Chinese destiny system that plots 108 stars across a twelve-house chart to interpret fortune, personality, and life events.

The Major Luck Period (Da Yun) is a decade-long fortune cycle in Bazi that shifts the elemental influences acting on the native as they age.

Annual Luck (Liu Nian) refers to the elemental and branch influences of a specific year, used together with the Major Luck Period to forecast yearly trends.

Yin and Yang are the complementary opposite forces — dark and light, passive and active — that underpin Chinese cosmology and balance every metaphysical system.

The Chinese Zodiac (Sheng Xiao) is a twelve-year cycle of animal signs — Rat through Pig — assigned by birth year and believed to shape personality and compatibility.

The Four Pillars are the four pairs of characters representing year, month, day, and hour of birth that form the foundation of a Bazi chart.

The Noble Person (Gui Ren) is a supportive star in Bazi and Zi Wei Dou Shu that signals helpful people and fortunate turns during challenging periods.

Element Balance describes the relative strength of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water in a chart; a harmonious distribution is traditionally associated with smoother fortune.

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards used for divination and self-reflection, combining symbolic imagery with intuitive reading to explore questions and possibilities.

The Major Arcana are the 22 trump cards of the Tarot (The Fool through The World) representing major life themes, spiritual lessons, and turning points.

The Minor Arcana are the 56 remaining Tarot cards divided into four suits — Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles — reflecting everyday events and practical matters.

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese oracle that consults 64 hexagrams formed from broken and unbroken lines to offer guidance on change and decision-making.

A Hexagram is a six-line figure in the I Ching made of solid (yang) and broken (yin) lines, each of the 64 combinations carrying a distinct oracular meaning.

Runes are the letters of ancient Germanic alphabets, cast or drawn for divination; each symbol carries a meaning drawn from Norse mythology and nature.

Oracle cards are themed decks — broader and more flexible than Tarot — designed for guidance, affirmation, and intuitive messages on specific topics.

Cartomancy is the practice of fortune telling using a standard deck of playing cards, with suits and ranks assigned symbolic meanings.

A pendulum is a weighted object on a chain used for dowsing and yes/no divination, relying on subtle muscular response to pose questions.

Clairvoyance is the claimed ability to perceive information beyond the ordinary senses, often used in psychic readings to "see" events or auras.

The twelve Zodiac signs are segments of the ecliptic named after constellations, each linked to personality traits and associated with one of four elements.

The Sun sign is the zodiac sign the Sun occupied at birth — the most commonly referenced sign in horoscopes and a core indicator of identity.

The Moon sign is the zodiac position of the Moon at birth, reflecting emotional nature, instincts, and subconscious needs.

The Ascendant, or Rising sign, is the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of birth, shaping outward personality and first impressions.

A Birth Chart (natal chart) is a snapshot of planetary positions at birth across twelve houses, used to interpret character and life patterns.

The twelve Houses divide the birth chart into life domains — such as self, wealth, relationships, and career — where planetary energies express themselves.

Aspects are the angular relationships between planets in a chart (conjunction, trine, square, opposition) that indicate harmony or tension between energies.

Retrograde describes the apparent backward motion of a planet from Earth's view, traditionally associated with delays and review in the planet's domain.

Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19) is the first fire sign, ruled by Mars, associated with initiative, courage, and a pioneering spirit.

Taurus (Apr 20–May 20) is an earth sign ruled by Venus, linked to stability, sensuality, and a love of comfort and beauty.

Gemini (May 21–Jun 20) is an air sign ruled by Mercury, known for curiosity, adaptability, and expressive communication.

Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22) is a water sign ruled by the Moon, associated with nurturing, sensitivity, and strong emotional bonds.

Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22) is a fire sign ruled by the Sun, linked to confidence, creativity, and a natural flair for leadership.

Virgo (Aug 23–Sep 22) is an earth sign ruled by Mercury, known for analytical thinking, precision, and a service-oriented nature.

Libra (Sep 23–Oct 22) is an air sign ruled by Venus, associated with balance, harmony, and a strong sense of justice.

Scorpio (Oct 23–Nov 21) is a water sign ruled by Pluto, linked to intensity, depth, transformation, and magnetic focus.

Sagittarius (Nov 22–Dec 21) is a fire sign ruled by Jupiter, known for optimism, exploration, and a love of freedom and philosophy.

Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19) is an earth sign ruled by Saturn, associated with ambition, discipline, and long-term responsibility.

Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 18) is an air sign ruled by Uranus, linked to originality, independence, and humanitarian ideals.

Pisces (Feb 19–Mar 20) is a water sign ruled by Neptune, associated with empathy, imagination, and spiritual sensitivity.

The Life Line curves around the base of the thumb; in palmistry it is read for vitality, general well-being, and major life changes rather than literal lifespan.

The Head Line runs horizontally across the palm and is interpreted for intellect, thinking style, and decision-making approach.

The Heart Line sits above the Head Line and reflects emotional nature, relationships, and how a person gives and receives love.

The Fate Line, when present, runs vertically toward the middle finger and is read for career path, external influences, and life direction.

The Mounts are the padded areas of the palm named after planets (Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, etc.); their prominence is interpreted as emphasis on related traits.

Palmistry (chiromancy) is the practice of reading the lines, shapes, and mounts of the hands to gain insight into personality and potential.

Feng Shui is the Chinese art of arranging spaces to harmonize people with their environment, directing the flow of Qi to support health, wealth, and well-being.

Qi (Chi) is the vital life force or energy that flows through all things; in Feng Shui the goal is to cultivate and guide its smooth circulation.

The Bagua is an eight-trigram map in Feng Shui used to analyze a space and link areas to life aspects such as wealth, health, and relationships.

The Compass School (Li Qi) is a Feng Shui tradition that uses precise direction, magnetism, and time-based formulas to determine auspicious placement.

The Form School (Xing Shi) is a Feng Shui approach focused on the visible shapes of land and buildings — mountains, water, and surrounding structures.