The Chinese Five Elements Oracle & Chinese Astrology
How oracle cards work and how they can relate to Chinese metaphysics.
Oracle cards are card decks that feature a cohesive collection of illustrations and messages, designed to offer observations, information, insight, or all of the above depending on your aims.
Are you interested in tuning into the Cosmos to gain energetic information for your specific intentions? Chinese metaphysics and oracle cards can help you!
“The roots of oracle cards can be traced to ancient civilizations, where divination was a revered practice for tapping into the unseen realms. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in China, where the I Ching, or Book of Changes, served as a divination tool as far back as 1000 BCE. In ancient Egypt, priests used symbolic imagery on papyrus scrolls to interpret messages from the divine. These practices laid the foundation for the diverse array of oracle cards we encounter today.”
Source: Holisticallyteri
Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and we find the Tarot emerging in Italy as a potent divination tool. The modern oracle card movement gained momentum in the 1970s, driven by the New Age spiritual resurgence. Visionaries like Doreen Virtue and James Van Praagh contributed to the popularity of oracle cards by creating decks that delved into angelic guidance and spiritual realms.
The Chinese Five Elements Oracle card deck by Vicki Iskandar is based upon the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar and its reference to cycles of 60 (sixty) years. The lunisolar calendar has months that are lunar, but years the are solar. Its year consists of 12 months of alternately 29 and 30 days, equal to 354 days, or approximately 12 full lunar cycles.
The Chinese Five Elements Oracle card deck is a beautiful card deck of 60 oracle cards that can be used to tune into the archetypes or messages carried by the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar.
This and other oracle card decks let you tap into messages from archetypes (primordial and universal concepts) OR from your Soul, from Source or the Angelic realm.
One card can be randomly drawn for general guidance or more than one card drawn for a broader reading.
Oracle cards have been used for eons of time as visual captures of ideas and energies that can help us navigate our lives. The images and messages of oracle cards have been carefully developed over time, using knowledge about energetic correspondences and themes, gathered reliably by the cards designers.
Since I was a University student, reading Tarot cards for my friends, I have been fascinated by oracle cards. The use of oracle cards transcends mere fortune-telling; it is a transformative tool for introspection and self-discovery.
When a person selects a card, she/he clears her energy field, purposely connects to her/his Soul and to Source (God) and shuffles and selects a card or cards.
To understand the specific value of the Chinese Five Elements Oracle, we need to look at Chinese Astrology and the Lunar Calendar. Oracle cards can be used to do a reading for oneself or for another person or to share collective energies.
The origin of time cycles in Chinese culture dates back to 2,576 BC: the calendar used was the Hsia calendar, based on sexagesimal cycles, i.e. 60-year cycles.
The Chinese calendar operates on a 60-year cycle primarily due to the combination of the 10 Heavenly Stems and the 12 Earthly Branches. Here’s how it works:
Heavenly Stems: These are a set of 10 characters:
- 甲 (Jiǎ), 乙 (Yǐ), 丙 (Bǐng), 丁 (Dīng), 戊 (Wù), 己 (Jǐ), 庚 (Gēng), 辛 (Xīn), 壬 (Rén), and 癸 (Guǐ).
Earthly Branches: This set consists of 12 characters:
- 子 (Zǐ), 丑 (Chǒu), 寅 (Yín), 卯 (Mǎo), 辰 (Chén), 巳 (Sì), 午 (Wǔ), 未 (Wèi), 申 (Shēn), 酉 (Yǒu), 戌 (Xū), and 亥 (Hài).
Cycle Formation: The combination of these two sets creates a cycle of 60 unique pairs. Each year is denoted by one of the Heavenly Stems and one of the Earthly Branches, resulting in a sequence that repeats every 60 years.
Cultural Significance: This 60-year cycle is significant in Chinese culture and is often associated with astrology, oracle-telling, and the cyclical nature of time and life.
Each year in the cycle corresponds to one of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) paired with either Yang or Yin.
Overall, the 60-year cycle of the Chinese calendar is a sophisticated system that reflects ancient Chinese cosmology and philosophy, intertwining timekeeping with cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Source: Quora
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-Chinese-calendar-on-a-60-year-cycle
The ten Heavenly Stems represent heaven's chi and "providence".
They are arranged according to the Five Elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, and are subdivided into Yin and Yang polarities.
Yin is linked to darkness, femininity, passivity, coldness, and receptivity, and contrasts with Yang, which represents light, masculinity, activity, warmth, and assertiveness. These forces are inseparable and continuously interact, maintaining a dynamic balance.
Yang wood (Jia)
Yin wood (Yi)
Yang fire (Bing)
Yin fire (Ding)
Yang earth (Wu)
Yin earth (Ji)
Yang metal (Geng)
Yin metal (Xin)
Yang water (Ren)
Yin water (Gui)
There are five elements of the Chinese zodiac: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. These are derived from the Five Elements Theory—or Wu Xing—a philosophy used to describe the relationship and interdependence between all things.
This teaching is all about finding balance and embracing the process. As one energy waxes, another wanes.
All elements are interconnected and there is no hierarchy. This theory forms the basis of not only the Chinese zodiac but of other Eastern traditions like feng shui, holistic medicine, acupuncture, divination (such as the I Ching) and martial arts.
Wood – Benevolence
People born during wood years are patient, compassionate and understanding. When too focused on winning, they can become intrusive and disrespect others’ boundaries.
Fire – Propriety
Creative and persistent, these people are deeply passionate about life. Fire people are extremely motivated, and once their spark is ignited, they won’t stop until they get what they want or they’ve burned their options. They can suffer from anxiety and insomnia if they’re not careful about regulating their nervous system.
Earth – Fidelity/Honesty
Those born during earth years are natural peacekeepers. Responsible and justice-oriented, these people are the mediators of the world. Though they are expert problem solvers and crisis managers, earth types can sometimes go too far with their power and become a bit self-centered and controlling. Earth people should make time for meditation and stillness, to attain and sustain clarity.
Metal – Righteousness
Metal types are disciplined and have high moral standards and though that’s something to be respected, they also can be judgmental and controlling. They are humble through recognizing that they are a part of something larger than themselves. Because they can have trouble letting go, they should find ways to calm and balance themselves.
Water – Wisdom
Water types are sensitive and introverted, typically needing lots of time for self-reflection. They like to stay away from drama and observe from the sidelines. But Water people will step into stressful situations when they know their voice needs to be heard. Empathetic, water types can sometimes let their loved ones take over their lives and can lose themselves in others’ stories. Or they can isolate themselves to protect themselves and become too passive or self-indulgent. To find balance, people born during water years need a calm environment. They also should push themselves to socialize because they are fueled by others being around.
Source: https://www.purewow.com/wellness/chinese-zodiac-elements
The cycle of the Five Elements goes in a specific order and can be remembered through noting the different processes of creation and destruction through them.
The creating (generative) interactions are:
Wood starts a Fire
Fire creates Earth
Earth holds Metal
Metal carries Water
Water feeds Wood
The destruction (overcoming) interactions are:
Fire melts Metal
Metal chops Wood
Wood separates the Earth
Earth absorbs Water
Water puts out Fire
In the Five Elements Theory, “creation” and “destruction” are complementary processes in which the ultimate goal is harmony.
The "Earthly Branches" are the commonly known twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac or horoscope.
They represent "Earth Luck", meaning nature or destiny, and enable a person to be in the right place and, with "Heaven Luck", at the right time.
The Earthly Branches are combined with the Five Elements and their Yin and Yang polarities.
The Twelve Earthly Branches comprise the Chinese zodiac signs of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig, and should always be written in this order.
The Earthly Branches show the rise and fall of chi or qi, life force energy, throughout the year or 12 lunar months.
The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are paired, for example, the Year of the Rat (Earthly Branch) is paired with Yin wood (Heavenly Stem).
As there are 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches, each year of 12 months has two of the ten Heavenly Stems (Elements) repeated.
The page linked below gives a detailed Table showing cycles of 60 years and their corresponding Animal and Element.
Chinese 60 year cycles from 1924 to 2044
So, in a 60 year cycle, the 12 animals appear 5 times, each time in combination with a different element.
The same combination of Animal and Element occurs only every 60 years!
For example, I was born in 1963, the Year of the Yang Water Rabbit. My Element is Water and my Animal is Rabbit. The variable polarity in 1963 was Yang or masculine. So, my influences characterize me as a modest, gentle, introverted, empathetic and sensitive person (Water Rabbit) with ambition and drive (Yang influence).
The latest Yang Water Rabbit year was 2023 (my 60th Anniversary, yay). The most recent Yang Water Rabbit year before I was born was 1903.
The Chinese Five Element Oracle Card deck contains a wealth of energetic influences based upon the Chinese 60 year old cycle of the flow of energy.
This deck is great to use for a three card reading, such as to look at past, present, and future influences, or at strengths, blessings or opportunities, and challenges or focuses.
With the pure intention of the person drawing the cards, the cards that are drawn will show the influences of the pillars of Chinese metaphysics on what you are asking.
Every year has its fixed Chinese components of Animal, Element, and Polarity, featuring energetic influences and impressions readily available that year.
For example, 2024 is the Year of the Green Wood Dragon.
People born as Dragons are said to be comfortable with the use of power. The wood element is a nuance making people born in the Year of the Wood Dragon forward focused on growth.
When we view the year or energy that we’re in, from the Chinese cycles of time and energy, we have opportunities to harness the dominant energies or influences strongly associated with a particular time period.
The 60 combinations in the Chinese Five Elements Oracle card deck can be used, with good intent, to ascertain or find the energies that are best paid attention to or used to assist us on our journeys.
The choice of card or cards will be “divinely” assisted, returning a reading encapsulating the five elements of Nature, aligned with the properties or qualities of a representative of the animal kingdom, i.e. of Earth.
The Oracle uses the wisdom of the Tao, or the void of possibility, from which Yin and Yang come. Yin and Yang are always in motion and merging with each other, creating the 5 elements. The Heavenly Stems (Elements) are said to contain messages, elemental frequency and guidance from “Heaven”, i.e. from Source or God.
I find Chinese astrology and metaphysics fascinating.
Did you know that each Animal sign has a fixed element, one of metal / water / wood / fire / earth, and a fixed polarity, being either Yin (feminine) or Yang (masculine)?
For example, the fixed element of the Rabbit is Wood and the fixed polarity is Yin. Combining this with the Yang Water energies that I was born under, denotes harmonious natural or organic relationships with all, because water helps wood (helps trees grow). And the Yang polarity of the variable year 1963 with the fixed polarity of Yin for “the Rabbit” nicely gives balance to the gentle and humble rabbit!
Also, colors are associated with the elements. Green for Wood, Red for Fire, Brown for Earth, and White for Metal. And every 2 hours of a 24-hour day has an Animal associated with it. For example, I am a Yang Water Rabbit born in the Hours of the Horse.
You can see how many different iterations or combinations there are, using the Chinese Five Elements Oracle cards.
Oracle cards can be used by an intuitive person to breathe her/his intention into selecting cards from an oracle card deck. And by connecting to Source, the card reader can accurately discern the properties of life and the human qualities and environmental conditions that are impacting or that can influence human experiences at particular times.
I am experienced at reading oracle cards and currently have 8 decks of cards.
I can do a general reading around the open question, “What is my Soul asking me to continue with or to do today?”
Or I can look at the past, present, and future influences or at strengths, opportunities, and challenges.
Shao Yung (1011-1077 A.D.), of China, one of the most important masters in history, developed an in-depth method of analyzing time cycles. Shao was a Chinese cosmologist, historian, philosopher, and poet who greatly influenced the development of Neo-Confucianism across China during the Song dynasty.
He decided there were bigger cycles of time.
If you would like an information sheet about Shao Yung’s time cycles, please like this article and comment that you’re interested in the information, and I will message you a link to the information sheet.
Using Oracle cards are a fascinating way to “divine”, i.e. ascertain energies that you can tap into or reflect over, in order to level up your life. If you’re looking for new ways of positive living, don’t hesitate to connect with me for card readings.
By Grace Hanna - all rights reserved. No part of this post or the whole of this post can be reproduced or broadcast without permission of the author. Your Likes and Comments will help my articles be more visible, thank you!
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Thank you for such a fascinating and insightful read into oracle cards Grace.