Ba zi is a complex system of destiny analysis based on the date and time of your birth. This ancient Chinese practice utilises the 5 elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal, believed to be the fundamental components of the Universe itself.

These elements work together in a cycle of production demonstrated on the right: water gives birth to wood, wood gives birth to fire, fire gives birth to earth, earth gives birth to metal and metal gives birth to water. Each of the elements are naturally drained by this process.

The cycle of destruction sees water destroying fire, wood destroying earth, fire destroying metal, metal destroying wood and earth destroying water.

A Ba Zi Consultant is able to determine the exact configuration of these 5 elements at any moment in time, enabling them to draft a 'four pillars of destiny' chart or ba zi. The most important aspect your consultant will focus on is your self element and how it relates to the other elements in your chart. So, you may already know that your year pillar is an earth Dog or a fire Snake, but your birth chart contains four of these pillars (sometimes more). This interrelation creates a much more accurate picture, revealing a number of ways to move forward and take control of your destiny.

An in-depth knowledge of the cycles, outlined above, provides your practitioner with a wealth of information about your personality, relationships, family, potential, finances and can even uncover aspects of your character that give you a greater sense of clarity and purpose.