The Method of Overlapping Houses
In Zi Wei Dou Shu, besides the 12 houses of the original natal chart, there are also 12 houses for major periods, annual cycles, monthly cycles, daily cycles, and hourly cycles in the exploration of one’s fortune.
Therefore, in practical application, there will be instances of overlapping houses. For example, if a Yang male has his second major period in the Parents’ House, it indicates that the major period’s Life Palace overlaps with the Parents’ House, the major period’s Siblings’ House overlaps with the Life Palace, the major period’s Spouse House overlaps with the Siblings’ House, the major period’s Children House overlaps with the Spouse House, the major period’s Wealth House overlaps with the Children House, the major period’s Illness House overlaps with the Wealth House, the major period’s Migration House overlaps with the Illness House, the major period’s Friends House overlaps with the Migration House, the major period’s Official Position House overlaps with the Friends House, the major period’s Property House overlaps with the Official Position House, and finally, the major period’s Blessings and Virtue House overlaps with the Property House. This illustrates how both charts—the Major Period Chart and Natal Chart—overlap.
Similarly, when an annual cycle lands on one’s natal Parents’ House, it means that this year’s Life Palace overlaps with Parents’ House; this year’s Siblings’ Palace overlaps with Life Palace; this year’s Spouse Palace overlaps with Siblings’ Palace; this year’s Children Palace overlaps with Spouse Palace; this year’s Wealth Palace overlaps with Children Palace; this year’s Illness Palace overlaps with Wealth Palace; this year’s Migration Palace overlaps with Illness Palace; this year’s Friends Palace overlaps with Migration Palace; this year’s Official Position Palace overlaps with Friends Palace; this year’s Property Palace overlaps with Official Position Palace; and finally, this year’s Blessings and Virtue palace overlap with Property palace. This illustrates how both charts—the Annual Cycle Chart and Natal Chart—overlap. Generally speaking in Zi Wei Dou Shu applications, most often three-level charts are used simultaneously. Therefore, one must clearly understand which house corresponds to one’s original natal chart and which house corresponds to either a Major Period or an Annual Cycle. Only by doing so can one apply them flexibly in practice. Thus carefully comprehending The Method of Overlapping Houses will be a stepping stone to entering deeper into Zi Wei Dou Shu. Please take note.
Excerpt from Dou Shu Arena