August and the Yang Fire Monkey
The month of the Yang Fire Monkey (Bing Shen) arrives on August 7 in the Chinese solar calendar. It runs through September 7 and this ‘Monkey on the Mountain’ promises a visible shift from July’s gentle Yin Wood Sheep. Monkey represents the arrival of the Metal element, the symbolic arrival of the Autumn season and the qualities of agility, intelligence and individualism that can contradict everything you thought you knew. A shrewd and inquisitive problem-solver, Monkey thinks and moves quickly with actions (and outcomes) that are often unexpected.
The element of Yang Fire in August mirrors the energy of the year’s Yang Fire Horse and the last gasp of blazing energy before the sun sets in the evening heat of late summer. The combination of Monkey’s Metal and Yang Fire elements can be destructive, but fire is necessary to forge metal into useful implements, refine and strengthen. For that reason, the Fire Monkey’s entrepreneurial spirit brings the potential for new and innovative ideas through non-traditional means. As an agent of change, he arrives with the reminder that time is a thief and it is prudent to harvest what you’ve planted this year while the season allows.
Last month’s Yin Wood Sheep grazed predictably close to the earth, but the arboreal Yang Fire Monkey dwells in treetops and is adept at changing both speed and direction when winds shift or circumstances change. This is a reminder to greet each day refreshed and ready for just about anything. August is also a Traveling Star month that encourages movement and change. Cultivate your resources and use them to prompt your actions in a way that is unique and fresh. Assess risks and recognize potential opponents before they are upon you, but don’t linger over decisions and opportunities as they too will be fleeting.
Like the seasons, change is inevitable and can be unsettling. As always, if you are feeling overwhelmed, let me know if I can help.
Wishing you the wisdom of the Monkey, flight of the Horse and safe passage,
Diane