What career advice is there for someone with the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern?

It is advisable to avoid highly competitive industries, those reliant on official connections, or those requiring substantial capital turnover. Consider fields that depend on professional skills (represented by 'Shi Shang') or knowledge and learning (represented by 'Yin Xing'), such as technology, arts, or education. This approach can help resolve the difficulties stemming from the weakness of wealth and authority stars in this pattern.

How can a person with the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern improve their interpersonal relationships?

Pay special attention to managing relationships with superiors, colleagues, and partners to avoid conflicts arising from speech (related to 'Shang Guan') or interests (related to 'Bi Jie'). Seek more guidance and mediation from elders or mentors (represented by 'Yin Xing'), and cultivate a humble and sharing attitude in social interactions.

What is the difference between the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern and the 'Shang Guan Jian Guan' or 'Bi Jie Duo Cai' patterns?

'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' is a combination of two unfavorable situations: 'Shang Guan Jian Guan' (Hurting Officer seeing the Officer) and 'Bi Jie Duo Cai' (Peers Robbing Wealth), leading to simultaneous and severe damage to both the authority star and the wealth star. The latter two patterns may occur individually, with a relatively limited scope of influence, and their severity is generally not as profound as that of the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern.

If the 'Yin Xing' (Seal Star) appears in the Luck Cycle, can it completely resolve the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern?

The 'Yin Xing' in the Luck Cycle primarily helps resolve the 'Bei Lu' (Hurting Officer overcoming the Officer) aspect, protecting the authority star and stabilizing one's career. However, if the 'Zhu Ma' (Peers chasing the Horse/Wealth) issue remains inherent in the original chart, there may still be pressure regarding wealth. A combined influence from a 'Shi Shang' (Food and Injury) luck cycle is often needed for a more comprehensive resolution.

Will the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern improve when encountering Wealth or Authority stars in a specific year?

The appearance of weak, 'floating' Wealth or Authority stars in a specific year has limited effect and may instead trigger competition from peers ('Bi Jie') or suppression from the Hurting Officer ('Shang Guan'), leading to temporary gains and losses. Substantial improvement typically occurs only when the year strongly supports the chart's rescue elements (like 'Yin' or 'Shi Shang'), or when the Wealth/Authority stars gain a strong rooting in the earthly branches.

What health indications might this pattern suggest?

Damage to the authority star may hint at issues with stress management, the immune system, or bones. Damage to the wealth star could be associated with the digestive system or nutrient metabolism. Attention should be paid to physical and mental fatigue resulting from prolonged mental distress ('Bei Lu') and material depletion ('Zhu Ma').

Is a person with the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern suitable for starting a business partnership?

Extreme caution is required. Since 'Bi Jie' (peers, partners, competitors) are themselves the unfavorable elements causing 'Zhu Ma', they can easily lead to profit disputes and financial loss. If a partnership is necessary, one should choose partners of the 'Shi Shang' type who can support the wealth star, and clearly define rules of responsibility and rights.

How can home Feng Shui assist in adjusting the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern?

Strengthen the directions and elements representing 'Yin Xing' (e.g., study, cultural decorations) and 'Shi Shang' (e.g., creative workspace, technical tools). Simultaneously, avoid over-emphasizing areas or elements representing 'Bi Jie' (e.g., gym, competitive decor) and 'Shang Guan' (e.g., sharp objects, overly flamboyant layouts).

Does encountering a 'Cong Ge' (Follow/Comply Pattern) change the nature of the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern?

If the wealth and authority stars in the chart are extremely weak, and the Day Master has no support, potentially forming a 'Cong Wang' (Follow Prosperity) or 'Cong Qiang' (Follow Strength) pattern, then it is no longer considered 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma'. In this case, the unfavorable elements transform into favorable ones, and life's trajectory follows the rules of the 'Cong Ge'. However, the conditions for this transformation are stringent and require detailed professional analysis.

For a woman with the 'Bei Lu Zhu Ma' pattern, what impact might it have on marriage and relationships?

Damage to the authority star (which can represent the husband) may affect relationship stability or the spouse's fortune. Attention should be paid to communication styles to avoid 'Shang Guan' (hurting officer) speech or behavior. Damage to the wealth star may also suggest significant financial contribution to the family. Seeking a partner whose chart has strong 'Yin Xing' or 'Shi Shang' elements may have a complementary and harmonizing effect.

Backing Away from Fortune and Chasing Wealth (背禄逐马) — A Pattern of Hardship

In BaZi (Chinese astrology), the pattern known as "Backing Away from Fortune and Chasing Wealth" (背禄逐马) is considered a hallmark of a life marked by hardship and poverty. Here, "Fortune" (禄) specifically refers to the Executive (正官), symbolizing status and authority; "Wealth" (马) refers to the Earner (正财), representing financial resources and prosperity. "Backing Away from Fortune" means the Executive is damaged, turning one away from the path of career success and officialdom. "Chasing Wealth" means the Earner is seized, dispersing the source of wealth accumulation. The core of this pattern is that both the Executive, which represents social achievement, and the Earner, which sustains life, are simultaneously weakened or severely harmed in the birth chart. This leaves the individual feeling trapped in life, unable to find a path to success or accumulate wealth.

How to Identify This Pattern

The key to identifying this pattern is determining whether both the Earner and the Executive in the birth chart are damaged. This manifests as both stars being in a state of "Decline, Illness, Death, or Tomb" (休囚死绝), or being fiercely attacked by their natural enemies (the Executive by the Maverick, the Earner by Peers and Rivals), with no effective force in the chart to reverse the situation.

Specific signs can be broken down into two aspects:

Signs of "Backing Away from Fortune" (Damaged Executive):
- Executive Loses Seasonal Power: The Executive's element is born in a month where its power is weakest. For example, if the Day Master is Jia (Yang Wood) and the Executive is Xin (Yin Metal), being born in spring (Wood strong) or summer (Fire strong) puts Metal in a state of "Death" or "Extinction."
- Maverick Meets Executive: The Maverick (伤官) star is very strong in the chart and directly overcomes the already weak Executive.
Signs of "Chasing Wealth" (Damaged Earner):
- Earner Loses Seasonal Power: The Earner's element is born in a month where its power is weakest. For example, if the Day Master is Jia (Yang Wood) and the Earner is Ji (Yin Earth), being born in spring (Wood strong) severely restricts the Earth.
- Peers and Rivals Seize Wealth: The chart has many Peer (比肩) and Rival (劫财) stars that directly compete for and seize the already weak Earner.

Real-Life Impact of the Pattern

Individuals with this pattern in their birth chart often experience a life path filled with obstacles and setbacks, making it difficult to achieve significant success. Because of the "Backing Away from Fortune," they may miss opportunities in career development and interpersonal relationships, have difficulty getting along with leaders and authority figures, and face many barriers to promotion. Because of the "Chasing Wealth," they struggle to hold onto their finances, often encountering unexpected losses or being implicated by siblings, friends, or competitors, leading to money that comes and goes quickly. This situation, where both the Executive and Earner are ineffective, leaves life without clear goals or stable support, as if trapped in a dead end, often leading to inner confusion and anxiety. This is why it is seen as a classic sign of a poor and lowly destiny. The only hope for this pattern lies in finding a "savior." If the birth chart itself or a subsequent Luck Cycle introduces a powerful element that can resolve the crisis, there may be a chance for a turnaround.

Favorable and Unfavorable Factors and Turning Points

This pattern is like a "serious illness." The core of its favorable and unfavorable factors lies in finding the right "medicine" to cure it:

Favorable (The Remedy):
1. Mentor Protects Executive: If the "Backing Away from Fortune" is caused by the Maverick overcoming the Executive, the most favorable scenario is the appearance of a strong Mentor (正印) or Mystic (偏印). The Mentor can subdue the Maverick, while also supporting the Day Master and protecting the Executive, forming a beneficial "Maverick with Mentor" (伤官佩印) structure, thus resolving the crisis of the damaged Executive.
2. Talent or Maverick Generates Earner: If the "Chasing Wealth" is caused by Peers and Rivals seizing the Earner, the most favorable scenario is the appearance of a strong Talent (食神) or Maverick (伤官). These can drain the excessive energy of the Peers and Rivals and transform it into a source that generates the Earner, acting as a mediator and alleviating the plight of the seized Earner.
3. Luck Cycle Rescue: If the original chart has a deep "illness" but only a weak remedy, the most favorable scenario is a Luck Cycle that strengthens the "savior" (Mentor/Mystic or Talent/Maverick). During this Luck Cycle, the individual may temporarily escape the predicament and gain a chance to breathe and develop.
Unfavorable (Aggravating Factors):
1. Unfavorable God Strengthened: This is the most important situation to avoid. If a Luck Cycle strengthens the Maverick or Peers/Rivals (the root cause of the problem), it will make a bad situation worse, potentially leading to very unfavorable outcomes.
2. Earner or Executive Clashed: If the already weak Earner or Executive has its only remaining root in the Earthly Branches clashed or harmed by an Annual Cycle or Luck Cycle, it's like being "uprooted," destroying the last glimmer of hope.
3. No Remedy in the Chart: If the chart shows both the Earner and Executive are damaged, and there is no sign of a Mentor/Mystic or Talent/Maverick to act as an "antidote," this is the worst manifestation of this pattern. Life will likely have no significant improvement.

Classical Text Discussion

"San Ming Tong Hui" (三命通会)

Backing Away from Fortune means, for example, Jia (Yang Wood) takes Xin (Yin Metal) as its Executive and Fortune. If Jia is born in spring or summer, Metal is in a state of extinction, so there is no Executive. This is called "Backing Away from Fortune." Chasing Wealth means, for example, Jia takes Ji (Yin Earth) as its Earner and Wealth, but it is seized by Yi (Yin Wood) or the Hai-Mao-Wei (Pig-Rabbit-Goat) combination. Jia has no Earner, so this is called "Chasing Wealth." Other Heavenly Stems follow this logic. For example, the chart: Ren-Zi, Ren-Zi, Ding-Wei, Yi-Si. Ding (Yin Fire) takes Ren (Yang Water) as its Executive and Fortune. Ren is in the Official stage in the Hai month, but Ding is born in the Zi month, where Gui (Yin Water, the Warlord) is strong. Ren's Fortune stage has passed, so this is "Backing Away" (facing the strong stage means having Fortune, turning away means no Fortune). Ding takes Geng (Yang Metal) as its Earner and Wealth, but in the Zi month, Geng is in the Death stage. This constitutes the "Backing Away from Fortune and Chasing Wealth" pattern. Even if this person encounters a Warlord Luck Cycle or a Wealth-seizing cycle, they will not prosper because the Earner and Executive have no root and lack fundamental support. As the "Luo Lu Zi" (珞琭子) says: "Those who back away from Fortune and chase Wealth will be trapped in a dead end, feeling desolate and fearful."

Modern Interpretation: The classical text explains that "Backing Away from Fortune" is like a Jia Wood Day Master taking Xin Metal as its Executive (Fortune). If Jia Wood is born in spring or summer, Metal energy is weak and extinct, so the Executive is powerless, hence the name. "Chasing Wealth" is like a Jia Wood Day Master taking Ji Earth as its Earner (Wealth), but it is taken away by Yi Wood (Rival) or the Hai-Mao-Wei Wood combination (an alliance of Peers), damaging the Earner, hence the name. Other Heavenly Stems follow this pattern. For example, the chart: Ren-Zi, Ren-Zi, Ding-Wei, Yi-Si. The Ding Fire Day Master takes Ren Water as its Executive (Fortune). Ren Water is in the Official stage in the Hai month, but Ding Fire is born in the Zi month, where Gui Water (Warlord) is in power. The prosperous stage of Ren Water has passed, so this is "Backing Away" (facing the prosperous stage means having Fortune, turning away means no Fortune). Ding Fire takes Geng Metal as its Earner (Wealth), but in the Zi month, Geng Metal is in the Death stage. This constitutes the "Backing Away from Fortune and Chasing Wealth" pattern. Even if this person encounters a Warlord Luck Cycle or a Wealth-seizing cycle, they will not prosper because the Earner and Executive have no root and lack fundamental support. As the "Luo Lu Zi" says: "Those who back away from Fortune and chase Wealth will be trapped in a dead end, feeling desolate and fearful."

Common Questions

What exactly does the "Backing Away from Fortune and Chasing Wealth" pattern mean?

It is a BaZi configuration that primarily signifies a life of hardship and poverty. It refers to a situation in an individual's birth chart where both the Executive (representing career and social status) and the Earner (representing wealth and resources) are severely damaged. This means the individual may face major obstacles in both career advancement and wealth accumulation throughout life, making it an important reference for judging the level of one's destiny.

How can I tell if my own BaZi chart has this pattern?

To determine if your chart has this pattern, you need to examine whether the Executive and Earner are both in a very weak state of "Decline, Illness, Death, or Tomb," or if they are being fiercely overcome by the Maverick or Peers/Rivals. You also need to see if there are elements like the Mentor/Mystic or Talent/Maverick that can mediate and transform this unfavorable situation. A comprehensive judgment can be made by analyzing the strength of the Five Elements in the birth month, the support from Hidden Stems in the Earthly Branches, and the direction of the Luck Cycles.

Why are people with this pattern said to be prone to poverty?

Because this pattern simultaneously damages the two key elements representing career development (Executive) and material foundation (Earner). A weak Executive means few opportunities and little support at work, and a tendency for strained relationships with superiors. A seized Earner means money is hard to keep, with unexpected losses or being taken by others. With both damaged, life is like losing both direction and foundation, making it easy to fall into a dual predicament of financial and career difficulties.

If my chart has this pattern, how can I use Luck Cycles to improve it?

The hope for improvement mainly lies in Luck Cycles that can activate or strengthen the "savior" in the chart. If the original chart has the Maverick overcoming the Executive, a Luck Cycle in a strong Mentor/Mystic phase can subdue the Maverick and protect the Executive. If the original chart has Peers/Rivals seizing the Earner, a Luck Cycle in a strong Talent/Maverick phase can drain the Peers/Rivals and generate the Earner. When a Luck Cycle provides energy to these favorable elements, the individual may break through the predicament during that period and achieve a temporary turnaround in career or finances.

Under what circumstances is this pattern almost impossible to reverse?

When the chart shows both the Earner and Executive are damaged, and there is absolutely no Mentor/Mystic or Talent/Maverick to act as a mediator and protector, this pattern reaches its extreme. If the Luck Cycles throughout life also fail to introduce or activate these key saving forces, then the individual may lack the foundation and opportunity to change their destiny for a long time, making life exceptionally difficult with little hope of a turnaround.