What Exactly is "Mutual Harm" in BaZi? The 3 Key Points You Must Know

As a practitioner with years of experience in BaZi (Four Pillars of Destiny) and Chinese Astrology, I often get asked, "Teacher, if my BaZi chart has 'Mutual Harm', does it mean I'm destined for a bad fate?" Today, let's demystify this perplexing and often worrisome concept of "Mutual Harm."

What is "Mutual Harm"? What Are the Six Mutual Harm Relationships?

"Mutual Harm" is a type of relationship between the Earthly Branches in BaZi analysis. You can think of it as a covert form of discord and disruption. Unlike "Clash," which is overt and intense, "Mutual Harm" is like undertows, hidden conflicts, or long-term drain.

The six mutual harm relationships are:

• Zi-Wei mutual harm (Rat and Sheep)
• Chou-Wu mutual harm (Ox and Horse)
• Yin-Si mutual harm (Tiger and Snake)
• Mao-Chen mutual harm (Rabbit and Dragon)
• Shen-Hai mutual harm (Monkey and Pig)
• You-Xu mutual harm (Rooster and Dog)

What is the Principle Behind "Mutual Harm"? Why Does it Have an Impact?

The formation of "Mutual Harm" is usually based on two logical approaches. Let's use contemporary language to explain:

1. Five Elements Contention: Resource Conflict

It's like two highly capable people in an office, whose overlapping duties cause internal friction. For example, Zi-Wei mutual harm:

• Zi (Rat) belongs to Water, representing fluidity and adaptability
• Wei (Sheep) belongs to Earth (inherently containing Fire, Earth, and Wood), representing stability and inclusiveness
• Water and Earth are naturally incompatible, much like two people forced to work together despite their differing personalities
• The result is mutual exhaustion, leading to no winners

2. Disruption of Harmony: Relationship Interference

It's akin to a stable triangle relationship being disrupted by external factors. For example, Mao-Chen mutual harm:

• Mao (Rabbit) and Xu (Dog) are originally harmonious partners in "Liuhe" (Six Harmony)
• However, the presence of Chen (Dragon) disrupts this harmony
• This results in tension within an originally good cooperative relationship

How Does "Mutual Harm" Manifest in Real Life?

From my extensive consultation experience, the impact of "Mutual Harm" often manifests in the following ways:

In Personal Natal Charts:

1. Marriage Palace Harmed (Day Branch mutual harm):

   • Strained marital relationships
   • Difficulty in communication
   • Small issues build up into significant problems

2. Career Palace Harmed:

   • Internal conflicts in the workplace
   • Obstacles in promotions
   • Being undermined by covert antagonists

In Interpersonal Relationships:

• People with mutually harmful sign interactions feel more fatigued in their interactions
• Likely to unintentionally hurt each other
• Inefficient cooperation, putting in more effort for lesser outcomes
• Requires greater patience and understanding

How to Properly View and Address "Mutual Harm"?

This is the part I want to emphasize the most: Astrology is a holistic analysis, and one cannot simply judge fortune based solely on "Mutual Harm."

1. Holistic Perspective is Key

• Whether a BaZi chart contains "Mutual Harm" doesn't directly determine good or bad fortune
• One must consider the overall balance of the Five Elements, Favorable, and Unfavorable Elements, and Destiny Patterns
• If the mutually harmful elements happen to be the chart's "Unfavorable Elements," such "harm" may result in positive outcomes

2. Placement Determines Impact

• Mutual harm in the Year Pillar: May affect family relationships
• Mutual harm in the Month Pillar: May affect career development and social relations
• Mutual harm in the Day Pillar: Mainly influences marriage and spouse relationships
• Mutual harm in the Hour Pillar: May affect relationships with children and later life

How to Alleviate the Impact of "Mutual Harm" in Modern Life?

I believe "Mutual Harm" serves more as a psychological prompt, reminding us to approach certain relationships with greater wisdom and patience.

1. Adjust Perception

• Accept Differences: Acknowledge that differences between people are normal
• Enhance Communication: Engage in proactive communication to avoid built-up misunderstandings
• Set Boundaries: Learn to say "no" when necessary
• Seek Balance: Find a mode of interaction that both parties can accept

2. Practical Action Suggestions

• At Work: If working with colleagues of mutually harmful signs, clearly define roles to minimize overlap
• In Marriage: If spouses have mutually harmful signs, cultivate common interests to increase positive interactions
• Among Friends: Maintain appropriate distance to avoid over-dependency
• During Cooperation: Draft detailed agreements to clarify responsibilities and benefits

3. Utilize Modern Analytical Tools

Nowadays, many intelligent BaZi analysis tools, like the Beidou Nine Calendar system, can help us understand our BaZi characteristics more scientifically and provide personalized advice.

Summary

"Mutual Harm" is not a curse of fate but a warning signal on life's path. It urges us to pay attention to potential risks in interpersonal relationships and to handle complex relationships using more wisdom.

Remember: Destiny is in our hands. Understanding Chinese Astrology is meant to enhance our life, not to confine it. When faced with "Mutual Harm," what we need is not fear but more understanding, patience, and wisdom.

If you're interested in BaZi and want to delve deeper into your BaZi chart, we welcome you to explore our intelligent life pattern analysis system. Let's use modern technology to decode traditional wisdom and navigate our lives effectively.