Seles did have a problem with binge eating disorder. Not really disciplined with food when alone, outside the court and professional support system.

She only spent 1 year on the tour before breaking through the rankings in 1989 (Ji Si). Officially became the youngest ever No. 1 player in March 1991 (Xin Wei).

And then instantly fell on 30 April 1993, when she got stabbed by a psychotic tennis fan.

She was absent for more than 2 years after the incident, indulging herself with food.

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Yeah, that's why one needs Pian Guan in the Heavenly Stems (in the Hour or Month Stem) for self-discipline. Bi-Jie without an Officer is a sand castle waiting to collapse for similar reasons. Even though I didn't really know who she was, just from her chart, I suspected she didn't last long in her field.

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Yes, Seles chart contains seal and hurting officer. No wealth at all.

Nin99 chart contains wealth and eating god. No seal at all.

Even if the comparison is not exactly similar, I can see how:
- Seles chart is set up to achieve the best result with Officer and Seal
- Nin99 chart prefers to work with Shi-Shang, not Officer and Seal ---> this is evident from his tendency to look for shortcuts and unwavering desire to make big profit on his own terms.
- Seal vs Wealth in stems are the worst.

In the context of mutual generation and mutual control, one should focus primarily on the Heavenly Stems, not the Branches. The effects of the Branches occur regardless of human intention or effort. This is true for the Heavenly Stems as well, since they govern the social circumstances beyond our control. But the Stems also represent one's mind and life-long aspirations, and thus have a far greater likelihood of manifesting than the Branches. That is why the Heavenly Stems are crucial when determining one's structure, for structure reflects one's social role. Conversely, the Branches in social contexts represent the people around us, not the self.

He keeps asking everyone whether to choose business or academic path in the last 5 years. Yesterday he told them about studying medicine, today is radiology, tomorrow is oncology, rinse and repeat.

I'm not sure what he's actually doing, but it's clear that his desire isn't supported by current circumstances (luck cycle) and he appears to lose touch with reality.   

The first 20 years of his luck cycles is a big red flag: Seal vs Wealth. Definitely bad for his unprepared self, leading to daddy issues and chronic depression.

Did he tell you about the drama with his rich father yet? This is how their bazi charts influence each other: https://bazi-calculator.com/?licz=1&y=1987&m=12&d=10&h=06%3A00&g=0&l=0&lon=-37.8136&y2=1949&m2=7&d2=18&h2=6%3A00&g2=0&l2=0

Nin99's Hour Pillar is Bing Chen, not Yi Mao, at least according to him.
He's probably doing okay career-wise, but not so much personally because the Gui Day Master is not supported by Geng Metal or protected by Ji Earth. Gui Water needs Geng Metal to stay pure and wise and Ji Earth to maintain its form. Without either, it disintegrates, especially when the Yang energy is strong, as it has been since 2024, and it will only get worse. Fortunately, his chart forms the Water triad, and his current Luck Cycle is Wu-Shen, which completes the Water triad and helps him maintain his sanity.

His father has an Indirect Officer structure, protected by a strong Indirect Seal against the powerful Eating God. He is a successful man and a stern father. In his eyes, his son lacks many qualities.

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@eveereads

I notice a pattern as observed from his details above.

His good moments are associated with cold. His bad moments are associated with heat.

Good:
- Daughter birthday: September 2018
- Son birthday: September 2022
- Family reunion: December 2021
- Landing a job with good salary: October 2012

Bad:
- Death of a loved one: 17 June 2012
- Separation: February 2021
- Betrayal: March 2024
- Divorce: 09 January 2025

Regardless the structures, I think wood should be controlled or remain weak. Not grow or take roots.

Not sure how to interpret this in his real life.

I agree with your view.
As I mentioned earlier, Fire brings Metal both social elevation and financial advancement, yet at the same time it inflicts mental strain and emotional hardship. Wood grants Metal individuality and a sense of autonomy, but because Wood also generates unpredictable events and elements of social disorder—things that conflict with Metal’s inherent attachment to structure and norms—Wood, like Fire, becomes a source of psychological stress.

Metal represents intellectual and spiritual development; naturally, it seeks Water to reach intellectual and spiritual resolution, and through that, a sense of inner freedom and peace.

But the idea that Wood and Fire are “bad” for Metal, and therefore must be subdued or disabled, is not only incorrect from the standpoint of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, but also impossible by human effort.
We can neither destroy Wood simply because we wish to, nor can we grow it at will.
Every character in the chart expands or diminishes according to the Luck cycles, and accordingly, we experience emotional and situational changes.

Furthermore, the weaker and smaller a particular element is in one’s chart, the more precious and deeply longed-for it becomes to the chart holder. Without realizing it, a person will attempt to nurture that very element, cherishing it all the more. Yet the weaker it is, the more it remains an ideal rather than reality—something that exists only in the mind.
Thus, when the energy of that purely mental element grows under certain Luck, the dominant forces within the chart react against it, attempting to control it. This clash often manifests as painful emotional or physical events.

In other words, when Wood becomes strong (from January into spring and summer), Metal pushes back and strikes Wood. This can manifest as the death of loved ones, conflicts with them, or other painful disruptions.

But it is not the case that Wood, being Indirect Officer, is “someone else,” and that Metal is “me.”
People often misunderstand Metal-controlling-Wood as two separate entities in conflict. That is not so.
When Metal controls Wood within one’s own chart, it means I am simultaneously Metal and Wood.
Within a single second, I enact both Metal and Wood.
This is the nature of Yin and Yang—Body (Ti) and Function (Yong) moving together within the same person and the same life.
In other words, it is not Wood that causes the chart holder’s grief; it is Metal itself.
And in this, we return full circle to the fundamental principle that all things—whether joy or sorrow—ultimately arise from within me.

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Quote from: eveereads on November 20, 2025, 11:54:23 AM

From my view, this chart is strong in Metal and Water, while Wood is weak, but because the Luck Cycle moves backward into Fire Luck, significant growth occurred. Both Metal and Wood experienced substantial growth.

Wood, if it goes into Water Luck, snaps and dies, but if it goes into Fire Luck, it becomes protected and thrives.
In this chart, Wood is originally weak, but because the Luck moved into Fire, Wood grew and survived.

But from the perspective of Metal (which represents his body), it is uncertain whether this is truly good. For Metal, the rise of Wood means not only an increase in responsibilities and workload, but also more situations that may wound the heart.

AFAIK, it's considered good as long as there's a bridge between wood and metal = water (wealth) element.

As a follower type, wood luck cycle could be the pinnacle of his life. Output, wealth and officer all have strong presence.

Start from 7:10, if you would like to skip:

Hey coldpillow,

Thank you for sharing that helpful video.
Personally, I don't believe in Follow structures. The reason is that the energy surrounding us shifts constantly, twenty-four hours a day, affecting our natal energy and continually shaking our emotional state.
Even the purest Follow structure can't remain pure because of this. And the true meaning of a Follow structure is that you don't live by your own will; instead, you're being used by the people around you as if you were an object or a tool. Even if a person doesn't consciously realize this under normal circumstances, when the Luck shifts and they suddenly recognize it one day, the shock and emotional wound are indescribable.

When I said that this particular chart “followed,” I meant that only the mind (the Yong) follows; it is not something that has fully materialized. The native's body (Ti) and the mind (Yong) are acting separately, and that imbalance cannot be resolved no matter what kind of Luck arrives. Especially when the body is this strong, and the purpose/mind (Yong) expands, the bigger the Yong becomes, the wider the gap grows between Ti and Yong, and this leads to significant psychological and social stress.

You mentioned that the presence of Water means Metal and Wood can be bridged. For Water to link Metal and Wood, however, there must be Fire in the natal chart so that Metal generates Water, and Water generates Wood in a connected cycle.
But this chart has no Fire.

Also, because Water is in the Year Pillar, it belongs to the outer world, while the chart owner is represented by Metal and Wood. In other words, the surrounding people operate on a Metal–Water cycle (as seen in the Year and Month Pillars), while the individual himself operates on a Metal–Wood pattern.

When Metal in peak season enters Wood Luck, if there is Fire present, Metal generates Water and becomes a Water source that nourishes the surrounding Wood, living peacefully in harmony with them.
But without Fire, the Metal directly clashes with Wood (Metal controlling Wood), which can draw criticism and blame from others.

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Quote from: proletar on November 10, 2025, 08:05:02 AM

As the Bing Chen 10 LP years arrives, you can imagine my desperation. With two children, one of whom has physical limitations, I feel the weight of everything. I am enduring, but I look to the universe and ask: when will my time come? 

Personally, your chart is easier to understand as a normal chart: https://bazi-calculator.com/?licz=1&y=1983&m=9&d=18&h=2%3A00&g=0&l=0

Chou-You combo may not be enough to form a special structure called Follow Output/Children. The requirements are much stricter than that. I raised this issue in your previous topic just to ignite a discussion, which didn't happen.

I think @eveereads knows better here.

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As a normal chart, the structure is called 'Eating God Generating Wealth'. However, it's broken because 7K appears in hour stem.

Fire luck cycle doesn't help you control 7K, it just make things murkier with opposing elements. Obviously, wood luck cycle looks even worse.

On the bright side, your children's chart is filled with metal + earth and both of them are Geng daymaster, which can be used to remove/control the 7K in your chart.

As I understand them, the basic principles of Cong structures (Follow structures) are as follows:

1. The Day Master must be a Yin stem.
A Yin Day Master submits to the dominant force of the chart, whereas a Yang Day Master, no matter how weak, will not fully follow the mainstream qi.

2. The natal chart must not contain more than three distinct Five Elements.
This includes the Hidden Stems within the Branches.
(In other words, the elemental spectrum must be simple and unified for a true Cong structure.)

In addition to this, what I understand is:

1. When the Day Master is rooted and strong, it seeks to take on the role of the Officer/Killing.
In such cases, if the Day Master is Yin, it will inevitably follow the Officer/Killing.

2. If the Day Master is Yin and has no roots and no Resource, it follows the Output (Shishang).
For example, Yi Wood follows Bing Fire, and Xin Metal follows Ren Water.

Now, applying this specifically to this chart:

This is a male chart, and the Day Master is Yin, has a root, and there is Killing present, so he follows the Killing.
But the dominant force in the chart is actually Output (Shi). Thus, his body (Ti) follows the Output, while his mind/spirit (Yong) follows the Killing.

As a result, outwardly, he behaves according to Output, but inwardly he sees himself as Sha.
Therefore, he constantly feels that women (Output Stars) look down on him or treat him with contempt, and in real relationships, he repeatedly finds himself in situations that confirm that perception. The son's physical disability symbolically reflects the Day Master's wounded self-esteem.

From my view, this chart is strong in Metal and Water, while Wood is weak, but because the Luck Cycle moves backward into Fire Luck, significant growth occurred. Both Metal and Wood experienced substantial growth.

Normally, during the Metal peak season, if the Luck flows forward into Water, the native meets people of lower status than himself, earns less money, but lives with peace of mind. If the Luck flows backward into Fire, he meets people of higher status, achieves success, and earns more money, but becomes mentally unsettled.

Wood, if it goes into Water Luck, snaps and dies, but if it goes into Fire Luck, it becomes protected and thrives.
In this chart, Wood is originally weak, but because the Luck moved into Fire, Wood grew and survived.

It appears that during the Bing-Chen Luck Cycle, Yi Wood will grow the most. At that time, the native will achieve the greatest accomplishments in society and as a man. If this is what the chart owner desires, then the Bing-Chen Luck Cycle will be the most favorable.

But from the perspective of Metal (which represents his body/Tǐ), it is uncertain whether this is truly good. For Metal, the rise of Wood means not only an increase in responsibilities and workload, but also more situations that may wound the heart.

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According to the chart provided (thank you, smsek!), the Month-command (月令) is a storage branch that holds the Indirect Resource (Pian Yin). Since the Month Branch forms the Fire Triad (Yin–Wu–Xu), the chart converts into an Indirect Officer (Pian Guan) structure.
In terms of the chart's Strength and Weakness, Prosperity and Decline (旺衰强弱), the Indirect Officer is weaker than the Pian Yin as there is no Indirect Wealth (Pian Cai) present in the natal chart.

In essence, this is a Pian Yin Month-command chart, operating on the "Killing-Generate-Resource (殺印相生)" cycle.

Under a Pian Yin Month, the "Killing-Generate-Resource" pattern means the native constantly scans their surroundings and stabilizes crises before they escalate, as life is spent in environments where danger and pressure are always present.
Since the native is male and the Hour Pillar holds Pian Guan, he has a clear ambition to go out into the world and accomplish something significant. But, before the Yi-Wei Luck Cycle, no one truly recognized or backed that aspiration.

During the Yi-Wei and Jia-Wu Luck Cycles, Peer Stars (比劫, Bi-Jie) fight over Wealth, which rescues the Indirect Resource from being consumed by Wealth. Meanwhile the Officer star suppresses the Peers, thereby saving the Wealth.
In other words: in Yi-Wei and Jia-Wu, the native receives proposals involving competitive profit or becomes personally interested in such things. Because this is a Pian Yin-type chart, there is a meticulous, long-prepared plan in place. Advance planning gives the native a head start in the competition, and since the Officer star subdues the Peers and claims the Wealth, the native ultimately secures the profit.
But both Yi-Wei and Jia-Wu are Wealth-Officer cycles in which Peer Stars cannot truly run wild. In short, the native’s competitors are not impressive.

Looking at Annual Luck: from Yi-Si year through Ding-Wei year (a three-year span), this is a bright Yang-Ming (陽明) phase in which Xin Metal is at its greatest risk. Without Ren Water, Xin melts and disappears; the technical skill, reputation, or professional life one has built up can dissolve.
If Xin lacks Ren Water, there should at least be Geng Metal to supply support, or Wu Earth to have already prepared a career pivot. In this chart, the self is Geng Metal and the outside world is Xin Metal. For the next three years, people whose ideas or resources are exhausted will come seeking help from the native.
Xin Metal especially transforms into Yi Wood when it encounters Wu Earth, and the current Luck Cycle is Yi-Wei. This indicates a period when someone, having hit a dead-end, turns to the native looking for an alternate path.

The Month-command Pian Yin is backed by a robust Corresponding Spirit (相神), so the family background is good. The native also holds academic and professional credentials that already secure an advantage over others.
Internally, the mind dreams of expansion and scaling up, but the true nature is more focused on maintaining what is already possessed rather than expanding. He is more accustomed to following someone else’s lead than spearheading personally.
So, before saying yes to any business proposal, he needs to consider not just the idea itself, but why the friend is making the offer, which one of them will lead, which one of them will support, and whether the returns will genuinely satisfy his personal standards.

Bing-Wu and Ding-Wei are "Corresponding Spirit" years for this chart. It is the time to show the world "what I'm made of." So, it is indeed a phase worth acting with confidence.
But still, next year is an Indirect Officer year, which means difficulty and unpredictability. At least until Mu-Shen year, the native will have to sweat physically and hustle hard. But the main pattern of this chart is "Metal in peak season, Fire-controlling-Metal." The native values efficiency and dislikes meaningless effort. Therefore, the real question is whether there will be enough sustained effort to produce visible results by Mu-Shen year.