The month of the Fire Dog arrives today bringing us to the final month of the autumn season. The Dog Zodiac sign, is one of four ‘Graveyard’ signs as it represents the ending of the autumn season and particularly this year warns that winter is coming. This sign also known as Aries, does not bring quiet endings but conclusions borne out of destruction and battle. The predominant theme of this month is Yang Fire which represents the energy of the Sun which is exalted in the sign of Aries giving it particularly strong power even though the daylight at this time of year is weakening. The image of the the Fire Dog represents one who is raging at the dying of the light and putting up a good fight on its way out. An interesting image in the context of the transformative fiery energy of Period 9.
The world as we know it is ending, and old paradigms are in their death throws as a new way of being is trying to emerge, just what that new world will be we cannot yet see as it depends entirely on the free will actions of human beings which is always impossible to predict. The prominent theme of Fire this month tells us that the transformative themes of the Snake year will likely find a more robust expression this month. Given that this Fire arrives with the warlike Dog means that conflict will likely be the main mode of transformation that occurs this month. So much conflict is already underway in our world and things may escalate this month before circumstances move in a new direction.
This month doesn’t just transition us to winter, it is also an important turning point in the year as this is the month when the upcoming year of the Fire Horse begins to ascend making its presence known by influencing the current year’s energy and events. Pay close attention to what shows up for you this month as it may offer insights about what next year has in store.
How does one prepare to meet these moments of immense and often overwhelming change? The wisdom of the I Ching hexagram for this month has some helpful advice. The hexagram for this month, #53, is called Mountain which is comprised of the Mountain trigram atop the Mountain trigram. This gives us an image not just of a mountain but a very large and powerful mountain. In nearly every culture on Earth, humans have climbed mountain heights to get closer to the creator, to meditate, and to pray. The mountain trigram is representative seeking stillness, to find stability and calm. It is from the height of the mountain and the clearer vantage point that meditation and stillness offer that one can see more life more clearly. The doubling of the mountain trigram in this hexagram paints a picture of absolute stillness and complete non-action. When events around us are beyond our ability to either direct the course of change or to contend with them, it becomes imperative to pause and to become still so as to remain out of danger. The best advice for this month is to slow down and become still not to hide but to become grounded and centered. The question to ask this month is where can you slow down and do less? This month less is really more helpful. 
If you found the image of this month’s hexagram useful, you may find 64 such images even more instructive in working with the wisdom of the I Ching. I am thrilled to announce that my Shamanic I Ching Card deck is in the final editing stages and will be released this autumn.
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