To appreciate fully the qualities of the Number 1 White Water Star, we must look at the qualities of water in nature: on the one hand the lively, fresh mountain stream epitomised by waterfalls and activity, and on the other the deep, slow, calm qualities of ponds, lakes and oceans. Many 1 Water characters fall into one or other of these categories. The spirited, youthful nature of a fresh mountain stream brings out a spirit of adventure. One of water's qualities is its natural exploratory tendency, always looking for the next opportunity to move on in search of the sea. This argument is borne out by the number of famous explorers born under this sign. Water also needs some kind of container, from a glass to the banks of a river. Without this containment its free-spirited nature can result in individuals being chaotic and undisciplined. The opposite quality also holds true: from time to time, the Number 1 Water type can seem too disciplined and too rigid - for example, the Ayatollah Khomeini. The sensitive, philosophical and intuitive side of water's nature is exhibited in the many artists, writers and composers born under this sign. This brooding, reflective quality is similar to the energy of deep water. The trigram K'An, which represents the Middle Son, brings out the diplomatic quality in some White Water stars. You could be a good arbitrator or lawyer as well as being a good listener within the family and community. Although you may seem quiet on the surface you hear all sides of the argument and will often come up with a win/win situation. Two contemporary examples are Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Clerk, who worked out a win/win situation for the peoples of South Africa. Such people are the deepest thinkers within the 9 Star Ki astrology system, and are perhaps the most intense and spiritual. They generally find listening easy, and written communication comes naturally to them.

The maternal quality that this trigram reveals best serves 2 Soil individuals when they are in a position of service to others. They are not natural born leaders, but work away in the background and quietly get thejob done. For steadiness and reliability the Number 2 Soil is unbeatable. The quality of soil represented here could be described as sand or compost, which gives us the image of its nurturing, helpful nature. The earthly and maternal nature that the 2 Soil possesses is expressed not only within the individual's family but within the larger family of humanity. There are many examples in history and in the present of leaders whose main aim was or is to serve others. Number 2 Soil individuals are not aggressive by nature and have a strong, patient quality. They are generally sociable and public-spirited and make excellent teachers or organisers. Busying themselves by helping others gives them great satisfaction. They need to be within a group, whether family, workplace or elsewhere: without the support ofan organisation they can lose direction and spirit. These types tend to be over-fastidious and fussy in their working methods, which can cause them to get bogged down in detail and irritates others. On the plus side, as representative of `mother' and `birth' they derive great strength from using their natural talent for diplomacy. King Hussein of Jordan is a fine example of the Number 2 Soil `diplomat', frequently reported in the media as endeavouring to create solutions in the Middle East that are acceptable to both Arab countries and Israel. The Number 2 Soil person often feels at home on the land or in the woods. Gardening or walking in the country are good forms of recreation.

These individuals are born with the full force of spring within their nature. Like the season, they are endowed with plenty of vitality and energy and are capable of strong, powerful action. They are very positive and optimistic, going about their tasks vigorously and expecting others to keep up. In their pursuit of growth or new pastures they may lead the way and leave the details to others. The symbolism of thunder has an explosive and awesome quality. As in nature, thunder indicates that some change is about to occur. People who dislike change and interruption in their lives dislike the vigorous and optimistic nature of the 3 Tree. They are open and honest, and can be unerringly frank to the point where they alienate friends and colleagues. They like to get their point of view across first, and only then will they listen to the thoughts and opinions of others. These strongly opinionated people can have grandiose ideas, but if they can complement this by working with others who can `ground' their vision they can be one of the most creative of the 9 Star types. As the Eldest Son of the 9 Star family, 3 Trees are likely to be precocious. Many bom under this sign have early success in their lives and move on as soon as they become bored. The full energy of spring that the sign represents also gives 3 Trees a strong, virile nature, and many figures in the entertainment world who have this sign are regarded as pinups or heart-throbs. Many people born under this sign are humorous and outspoken and frequently get themselves into trouble through their direct and honest sense of humour. Fortunately their articulacy can just as easily get them out of such situations! Spontaneity, humour and charm are amongst the strongest assets of a 3 Tree.

The Number 4 Tree has a nature that, from a Western astrological point of view, is governed by `air'. The trigram wind can denote anything from stillness to a full-fledged hurricane, and as a result the Number 4 Tree is one of the most emotional of the nine signs. While at times appearing gentle and easy-going, these individuals can change their moods quickly and can become stubborn and impulsive. Although they share the tree-like nature of number 3, they are a lot more practical, thoughtful and reliable. They have great common sense and sensitivity to others. This can work both for and against. Sensitivity, when combined with good listening skills, can make for an excellent counsellor, but on the other hand it can make these people easily influenced by more powerful individuals. This trusting quality, innate to 4 Trees, can make them gullible. Their sensitivity makes them deeply appreciative of poetry, painting, music and other arts. Their best form of communication is conversation, and they can be very charismatic orators, leaders or political figures. The natural element of wind can cause them to change their minds frequently, also their direction in life. On the other hand, the gentle quality of wind can allow their influence to pervade their work, their direction and their relationships. The trusting nature of 4 Stars can cause difficulties in relationships as they regard everyone as trustworthy. It is a good idea to seek the advice of a friend or confidant before embarking on a long-term commitment in a relationship. The facial expression of 4 Stars, in particular the eyes, appears very open; this is a sign of trust rather than intrusiveness.

Being at the centre of this system of astrology, as a 5 Soil you will always find yourself at the centre of what is going on. At work you will frequently be at the hub of discussions or arguments and will probably feel left out if this is not the case. In family life you will let your opinions and needs be known to those around you. You have a great capacity to control situations and are likely to take the lead. People often look to you for leadership and guidance. While at times this can be fulfilling and exhilarating, friends could lean on you and take advantage. If you are off your guard or not feeling well you could ftnd this a drain. At these times you need to protect yourself from being exploited in this way. The 5 Soil House in 9 Star astrology is symbolic of the beginning and end of a cycle. In relation to your principal nature this could be defined as a life of ups and downs, which in some situations could be quite extreme, involving success or failure. However, you should not take this negatively as 5 Soil people have great resilience and bounce back in times of difftculty. It is not unusual for S Soil individuals to make similar mistakes throughout their lives, but their resilient natures help them deal with challenges far more quickly than any of the other eight characters. Your ideas and style may appear unorthodox, and you need to guard against being over-ambitious or too impractical. You tend to take criticism or advice as a threat, which can make you either defensive or even more determined. You are bold and determined, sometimes aggressively so, and can bring about enormous change through reinvention or the destruction of old systems or patterns. Being outside the `family', symbolic of the so-called Seventh Child, gives you a tendency to learn in life from outside the family from your own difficulties and experiences. As a result it is not unusual for you to develop and stabilise later in life. Perhaps the best image of the 5 Soil nature is a toddler. If you watch children of two or three explore and experience the world it can be fascinating and frustrating at the same time. They wander around the home like a miniature sumo wrestler, wide-eyed, determined, inquisitive, with a tremendous strength in their belly as they totter from one activity to the next. Yet there is no weakness in their gait all toddlers are very resilient and centred. They carmot be held back as they explore, make mistakes and bounce back from some new discovery that turned out to be painful or frightening. They look as if they own the world. ln relationships, since you are at the centre people will naturally gravitate towards you - and you enjoy having that attention focused on you. As a result you may find yourself in unusual circumstances - for instance, being involved with someone much older or much younger. There may be further complications in the relationship due to divorce, stepchildren and so on. Similarly, you may find yourself in some kind of love triangle. Health Potentially you have the constitution of an ox, which gives you the greatest capacity to bounce back from stress-related problems and general health problems. However, for the same reason you must remember to exercise and challenge yourself. As with any complex machine, unless you use it to its full potential it is likely to seize up through inactivity: Avoid being lazy about exercise, and make the effort to stimulate your circulation vigorously at least three times a week

The most obvious trait is that of natural leadership and authority. This can be in the field of politics and militarism or fashion and the arts. Many 6 Metals have broken new ground and paved the way for future generations. Examples include the inventors Sir Clive Sinclair, the breaker of the monopoly of international airlines Sir Freddie Laker, the surgical transplant pioneer Dr Christiaan Barnard, the Regency arbiter of taste and fashion Beau Brummell, and the eighteenth-century landscape gardener Capability Brown. With the full force of heaven present in your trigram, as a 6 Metal you can be extremely moral, direct and noble. The consistent nature of the three lines can make you rational, careful, sometimes even rigid. You are active and sociable, but more reserved than the Number 7 Metal. You tend to be a perfectionist and are quietly self-critical. The worst mistake that anyone can make with a 6 Metal friend is to criticise them. Most five Metal types place a lot of emphasis on family values. You are natural leaders in the family and the community, and will often give up your outside interests to return to the home if that is what the situation warrants. If you do not have a family of your own you may well be at the hub of activity in the workplace. You are a born leader in most situations. Many captains of international sports have been 6 Metals. In relationships you are the most loyal of all the nine types and are at your most comfortable in a relationship where you can take the lead. Despite the fact that you are governed by the full force of yang the opposite side to this nature can come through, showing up as a strongly intuitive individual with a rational, wise approach to family and relationship problems.

The time of year associated with the 7 Metal is late autumn, when farmers traditionally celebrated the harvest with relaxation and enjoyment. Number 7 Metal types are great pleasure-seekers who, more than any other of the nine stars, enjoy spending money on fashion, entertainment and eating out. At the table you make a great host, with a capacity to listen and be receptive to others. You often dress and appear younger than your natural age. Like the 6 Metal you have leadership qualities, but these are displayed in the advice you give others or the direction you sul;gest in the workplace. You are charismatic, flamboyant and graceful in nature. You have a great sense of fun and optimism and are endowed with a good sense of humour. With your free and independent nature you are not keen to be drawn into long-term commitments at work or in relationships. l;Being the Youngest Daughter, you have the accumulated experience of the rest of the family to help you. Your articulacy and sense of timing make you an exceptionally good speaker, and many 7 Metal politicians were famous orators. Number 7 Metal individuals often exhibit a swing in character between their outgoing, fun-loving, sociable side and a deeper, reflective, spiritual nature.

As the Youngest Son, the Number 8 White Soil has the combined experience of the older brothers and sisters. You have a good natural sense of investment and frequently accumulate wealth when young, through either your own hard labour or an inheritance. If your investment or business fails before middle age, you are quite likely to succeed again. Your success in achieving material wealth tends to be achieved more through your single-mindedness than through any subtlety, charm or creative talent: Alan Bond and Ronnie Biggs are two examples. The most yang of the three soil types, you tend to move slowly and persistently and to gain from your experiences.The mountain imagery shows you to be a strong, stable char- acter with enormous reserves of energy - although you need to retreat into your `cave' from time to time, which gives the impression of being reserved and cool in most situations. Of all the nine signs you are perhaps the hardest to get close to: you generally conceal your feelings and only display them when provoked. When you are challenged, you can dart out of your `cave' and deliver a powerful argument. You have a strong sense of what is right and just, and many 8 Soils have been involved in human rights. The mountain, combining qualities of strength and contempla- tion, can bring about change and revolution in people's lives. Hut you can be resistant to change not initiated by you. Your main asset is your composed, solid nature that can ride out most difficulties in life. Your experience and hidden strength can be of enormous help to family, friends and colleagues.

The Number 9 Fire person has all the qualities that the sun can bestow - inspiration, enlightenment and clarity. These types have an enormous capacity to see the obvious and steer a path through troubled waters. In politics, particularly in times of change and revolution, they can inspire a nation. Their natural active energy attracts them to situations that are in a similar state of flux, or, conversely, their natural strong charge attracts them to situations of stagnation that require major change. Mother Teresa and Florence Nightingale are two examples of this category. Of all the nine stars this is the one most at home in the field of communication - especially when it concerns emotions and personal experiences. These traits, along with your warm, passionate nature, can make you successful in theatre and film. The enlightened liberal views of 9 Fires are well represented by the poet and artist William Blake, but 9 Fires can equally be proud, vain, sophisticated and critical. The sensitive nature that underlies your strong, successful surface image can erupt stormily, but of all nine types you are the quickest to forgive and forget. Like your brother the Middle Son (1 White Water) you do not like to have your space invaded, and as a result have few close friends but plenty of contacts. Your capacity to see clearly and understand the big picture does not help you deal with the practical problems of day-to-day living such as repairing the washing machine or changing the oil in your car! Appearances are important to you. In clothes, cars and the contents of your home you pay considerable attention to detail and dislike individuals who seem sloppy or untidy or who display poor manners. The world would be a poorer place without the colourful, sophisticated, inspiring Number 9. You lift the spirit and inspire us with your performance, and you are certainly not going to be forgotten overnight.

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