The Concept of Destiny
The natal chart represents my life, while the twelve houses narrate the story of my surroundings and me. Therefore, the characteristics of the stars within the twelve houses, along with their corresponding stems and branches, as well as the interactions between the houses, signify celestial manifestations.
However, this is merely a manifestation; it does not inherently indicate fortune or misfortune because it is simply a spatial manifestation. Yet, during periods of movement (transits), it can reveal fortune or misfortune due to the influence of specific years. This is because movement is tied to time; thus, only when time combines with space can events occur.
Since events occur only when time combines with space, everyone must have a basic understanding that there must first be a dangerous spatial manifestation before one can seek out explosive years during transit times. Conversely, if there is no dangerous spatial manifestation, even if one encounters it during transit times, its explosive potential will be minimal. Similarly, the rules for major life cycles and annual charts follow the same principles; just remember that the manifestations in your natal chart are indicators of whether an explosion can occur and how powerful it will be. While major life cycles also have manifestations, they fall within the framework of your natal chart; likewise, annual charts also have manifestations but are contained within the framework of major life cycles—this is crucial to remember!
Furthermore, it should not be difficult for everyone to notice that individuals who come for readings may exhibit slightly different personalities and thoughts over time. This variation is due to changes in time and space. Therefore, when analyzing a querent’s personality, one should consider the characteristics associated with their current year; similarly, when discussing their thoughts, one should incorporate the four transformations relevant to that year for a more accurate reflection of their current state. However, never forget that their fundamental nature remains rooted in their natal chart—this is an important point to keep in mind.
Excerpt from Dou Shu Arena