The new week begins with Great Post Earth — the soil of broad roads — solid, wide, carrying all things. The 21st of the sixth lunar month, four days before the Beginning of Autumn, the energy of heaven and earth is shifting from “peak heat” toward “autumn approaching.” Earth remains solid, but metal energy has quietly emerged from within. Today carries the steadiness and openness of Great Post Earth — good for “gathering” — pulling scattered thoughts together, finishing half‑done tasks, and tidying up the tail end of summer.

Yellow, brown, beige (Earth colors), with white or gold (Earth feeds Metal). Avoid green (Wood overcomes Earth).

Root vegetables (potato, sweet potato, carrot), millet porridge, pumpkin soup. Warm, solid foods that comfort like the earth. Avoid raw, cold dishes.

Do a “week‑opening stocktake”: list what you left unfinished from last week. Earth's energy is “gathering” — bring scattered things together.

Use a Three Powers Ruyi Covered Bowl to brew ripe pu'er or liubao tea (Earth nature). Earth's power is “carrying.” Pour slowly, watching the dark tea swirl. Place a Five Paths of Wealth Incense Holder beside you, unlit, sitting steady like a solid foundation stone on the post road.

Be like Great Post Earth — unhurried, yet paving every step to where it needs to go.

Hairpin Metal is gold set in hairpins — delicate, valuable, used for adornment, not conquest. Today energy shifts from Earth to Metal — from the solidity of Great Post Earth, the lightness of Hairpin Metal rises, like a delicate flower blooming from the earth. The 22nd of the sixth lunar month, metal energy begins to show — thin yet leaving a lasting impression. Good for “refining” — not drastic change, but adding a touch of refinement to life.

White, light gold, silver, light gray (Metal colors), with yellow or brown (Earth feeds Metal). Avoid red, purple (Fire overcomes Metal).

White foods (tofu, white radish, lotus seeds, snow fungus). Light and simple. A little sweetness is fine (Earth feeds Metal). Avoid grilled or deep‑fried foods.

Do one small “embellishing” thing: tidy your desk, arrange some flowers, or finally write that card you've been meaning to send. Hairpin Metal's energy is “adorning,” not “transforming.”

Use a Golden Light Ruyi Covered Bowl to brew aged white tea or high‑mountain oolong. Its silver accents glimmer in the tea's light, echoing Hairpin Metal's refined energy. Place a Wenchang Incense Holder beside you; light a stick of sandalwood, letting it burn slowly, unhurried.

Be like Hairpin Metal — in the roughness of life, preserve a touch of refinement for yourself.

Hairpin Metal continues, today the metal energy remains clear and bright, on a Xin Hai day — a day of settling, with Bright Hall in command. The 23rd of the sixth lunar month, the energy carries the refinement of Hairpin Metal and the stability of “settling.” A day for “settling” — setting plans, setting direction, settling the mind. Though thin, Hairpin Metal can define the shape of a thing.

White, light gold, silver, light gray, with yellow or brown. Avoid red, purple.

White foods as the base, with a little sweetness. Avoid grilled or deep‑fried foods.

Set a “small direction” for the next phase — not necessarily grand, like “go to bed ten minutes earlier every day this week” or “finish one book this month.” Hairpin Metal's energy is “settling,” not “moving.”

Continue with the Golden Light Ruyi Covered Bowl, today you can switch to a light oolong. Place a Haosheng Incense Burner beside you, unlit — emptiness is also metal's attitude: refinement doesn't always need fullness; empty space itself is a form of stillness.

Be like Hairpin Metal — in a bustling world, hold your own shape.

Mulberry Wood is the wood of mulberry and catalpa trees — flexible, practical, endlessly renewing. Today energy shifts from Metal to Wood — from the refinement of Hairpin Metal, the flexibility of Mulberry Wood rises, like the first yellow leaf of autumn, gently landing on your shoulder. The 24th of the sixth lunar month, wood energy recedes but remains flexible — good for “softening” — not forcing change, but gently adjusting. Mulberry Wood knows when to bend and when to stand straight.

Green, dark green, cyan (Wood colors), with black or dark gray (Water nourishes Wood). Avoid too much white or gold (Metal overcomes Wood).

Leafy greens (spinach, lettuce, pea shoots), yam porridge, mung bean soup. Light, cooling foods. Avoid greasy, heavy meat.

Do something that requires “flexibility”: send a greeting to someone you haven't contacted in a while, or look at a stuck situation from a different angle. Mulberry Wood's energy is “soft,” not “hard.”

Use a Square and Round One‑Mouth Cup to brew jasmine tea or light oolong. Wood stretches naturally; floral scent opens the chest. Place a Bamboo Leaf Incense Holder beside you, unlit — emptiness is also Wood's attitude: giving air and mood space to adjust.

Be like Mulberry Wood — flexible when you need to be, resilient when you need to be.

Beginning of Autumn (Liqiu) arrives at 3:53 PM. Mulberry Wood continues, today the wood remains flexible, on a Gui Chou day — a day of holding, with Bright Hall in command. The 25th of the sixth lunar month, the day of Beginning of Autumn, the energy of heaven and earth shifts from “summer growth” to “autumn harvest.” Mulberry Wood carries autumn on its branches — at the entrance of autumn, wood energy still holds the lingering warmth of summer. Autumn calls for “harvesting” — not a sudden tightening, but a slow, gentle gathering of summer's warmth into the heart.

Green, dark green, cyan, with black or dark gray. Avoid too much white or gold.

Leafy greens, pea sprout soup, yam porridge. Light meals to give your body a sense of transition. Autumn calls for “gentle nourishment,” not heavy supplementation.

Autumn calls for “harvesting” — write down three things you accomplished this summer, even small ones, like “kept up a morning routine” or “went to the beach once.” Mulberry Wood's energy is “storing” — gathering summer's fruits into autumn's basket.

Use a Celadon Cup to brew silver needle white tea or aged white tea. Celadon's warmth echoes the flexibility of Mulberry Wood, and white tea's sweetness is like the first autumn breeze. Place a Wenchang Incense Holder beside you; light a stick of sandalwood, letting it burn slowly, unhurried.

May your Beginning of Autumn hold summer's lingering warmth and autumn's quiet grace.

Great Stream Water is water from the mountain stream — clear, flowing, unhurried. Today energy shifts from Wood to Water — from the flexibility of Mulberry Wood, the coolness of Great Stream Water rises, like a stream after autumn rain. The 26th of the sixth lunar month, a day of breaking, the energy carries the “breaking” momentum of Great Stream Water — good for “breaking” — shedding old habits, breaking through stagnation, washing away obstacles. Great Stream Water doesn't rush to the sea, but it never goes around a stone.

Black, dark blue, navy (Water colors), with white or gold (Metal generates Water). Avoid yellow, brown (Earth overcomes Water).

Black rice porridge, lotus root soup, pears or water chestnuts. Today is for sipping water slowly. Avoid raw, cold, spicy.

Do one “breaking” thing: delete unused apps, leave a group chat you never read, or say “no” to something that has been troubling you. Great Stream Water's energy is “breaking through,” not “entangling.”

Use a Water‑Lily Mouth Cup to brew aged white tea or white peony. The cup's shape recalls a water vessel, carrying water's gentleness. Place a Wenqu Crown Incense Burner beside you, unlit — just smell the tea fragrance. Water doesn't like to be disturbed, but water is not afraid of stones — stillness itself is a form of breaking through.

Be like Great Stream Water — flow around stones when you can, and rush through them when you must.

Great Stream Water continues, closing the week with water, on a Yi Mao day — a day of caution, with Vermilion Bird in command. The 27th of the sixth lunar month, Great Stream Water turns wide and steady, like a great river entering the plains — unhurried, yet carrying the power of gathering. Sunday carries the clarity and “gathering” momentum of Great Stream Water — good for review, summary, and preparing for the week ahead. A day for guarding rather than attacking — first gather this week's harvest.

Black, dark gray, navy, with white or light gray. Avoid bright yellow and brown.

Black rice porridge, lotus root soup, pears or water chestnuts. Gentle nourishment — not heavy, just a warm closing. Avoid raw, cold, spicy.

Write down three things you accomplished this week — even small ones, like “made a list on Monday,” “set a direction on Wednesday,” or “wrote three things for autumn on Friday.” Great Stream Water's energy is “closing,” not “beginning.”

Continue with the Water‑Lily Mouth Cup, today you can brew silver needle white tea. Place a Wenchang Incense Holder beside you, unlit, letting its shape quietly accompany you. The lines of the holder themselves flow like ripples, calming the mind just by looking at them.

May this week leave you with clarity and flow, not stagnation and buildup. Next week, carry the ease of Great Stream Water and the flexibility of Mulberry Wood.