four cardinal seasonal periods can also be ex- plained as follows. After the Winter Solstice, around December the sun moves on its ecliptic (the Yel- low Route) from the South northward. Around March the sun crosses the equator (the Red Route); this time marks the period of the Vernal Equinox when the sun is directly over the Red Route and day and night are equal in both hemispheres. As the ancient book says, “Yin and yang appear and exit, moving upward and downward.” When it comes to the “Equal Division of Spring,” yang is directly in the East and yin is di- rectly in the West.
Spring Equinox. is more commonly known as After the Spring Equinox, the sun moves northward until it reaches the Tropic of Cancer around June
At 23
degrees 26 minutes and 59 seconds, the posi- tion of the sun is at the most northern point of the Yellow Route (ecliptic). This is called the Summer Sol- stice. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. In theem Hemisphere, the reverse is true.
After the Summer Solstice, the sun moves south- ward from the north It crosses the Red Route again around September which is the time of the Au- tumn Equinox. On this day the sun shines directly above the Red Route and the day and night in both
of the Sky 89
hemispheres are equal again. The ancient book says, ‘Yin and yang appear and exit, moving upward and downward.” until the “Equal Division of Autumn” when yang is directly in the West and yin is directly in the East. Because yin and yang are equally divided. the heat and cold of the year are evenly divided.
The Winter Solstice is at the southernmost point of the Yellow Route. When the sun reaches the southern lati- tude of 23 degrees, 26 minutes and 59 seconds at the Tropic of Capricorn, which is around December it is the shortest day in the Northern hemisphere and the longest in the Southern hemisphere.
D. The Cyclic Relationship Among the Earth, Sun
and the North Star in Seasonal Expressions
As the earth revolves around the sun, it goes through twelve seasonal changes which interact with the corres- ponding sun cycle. Each seasonal variation has two days ascribed to it (See Figure 84). because the beginning of each season varies according to whether it is a leap year or not. The twelve seasonal periods that mark the begin- ning of each energy month are the seasonal periods of the earth. The other twelve, which appear in the latter part of each month, are the sun moving to its new position and creating a new harmonious relationship with the earth. (Notice that the energy month is not the same as the lunar cycle.)
The Stems and Branches are hypothetical symbols whose subtle power and distinction come from the heavenly bodies and natural energy phases which they represent. These natural symbols have become active and effective characteristics in the natural and human multiple spheres.
Figure 94 above expresses the relationship between the different energies symbolized in the sun and earth cycles as follows. When the earth moves to Tze, the spoke (A-B) from Polaris, it is conjunct with the The seasonal period that is expressed is the Solstice. In the cycle the phase is while in the sun’s cycle the phase is
When the earth moves to the second spoke of Polaris, it is conjunct with the sun, and the seasonal period expressed is Severe Cold. In the earth’s cycle the phase is while in the sun’s it is
When the earth moves to Em, the third spoke of Po- laris, it is conjunct with the sun, and the seasonal period expressed is Water. In the earth’s cycle the phase is while in the sun’s it is
When the earth moves to Mao, the fourth spoke of Polaris, it is conjunct with the sun, and the seasonal period expressed is the Vernal The earths cycle is Mao, and the sun’s is Shu.
When the earth moves to Chen, the spoke of
it is conjunct with the sun, and the seasonal
period expressed is Gram Rain. The earth Chen, and the sun cycle is
the earth moves to the sixth spoke of is conjunct the sun, and the seasonal period expressed is Gram Buds. The earth
Spiritual of the Sky 91
This process continues until the earth makes a rota- tion through all twelve seasonal variations, thus
one full year.
In Figure 95 below, one can see how the ancients made Polaris the center of the earth and sun cycles. Through the intermingling of these two great cycles, all seasonal changes occur. (The outer triangles read counter-clockwise, while the inner triangles read clock- wise.) Although the North Star is considered the un- changing center amongst all this change, it must be remembered that even its position fluctuates.
The North Star will eventually be replaced by anoth- er star called the Wolf, which will usher in a new era. The true governing power of life, however, is the subtle law which balances all extremes.