Multiples of Nine

Multiples of [Number] Nine (dgu mig)

• When a given element coincides with a multiple of nine diverse portents are suggested, particularly when calculations are made concering obstacle years. In natal horoscope also, there are specific portents for households in which childbirth coincides with multiples of nine (skyes mtshang gnad kyi mig).
• The multiples of nine may be calculated on the basis of a solitary sign (rkyang), combined signs (sbrags), trigrams (spar), numeric squares (sme ba), or constitutional types (rus khams). For example, when the calculation is based on a solitary sign, in the case of a male subject, it begins from the mouse, conjoined with his destiny element, and in the case of a female subject, from the bird, conjoined with her destiny element. Counting backwards in multiples of nine, according to the subject's age, the calculation fixes successively upon one of the four adversarial year signs (gshed bzhi), i.e.- the ox, dragon, sheep or dog, in the ninth, eighteenth, twenty-seventh, thirty-sixth, forty-fifth, fifty-fourth, sixty-third, seventy-second, and eighty-first years.
• When the calculation is based on combined signs, the count is also made in reverse. In the case of persons born in the mouse, ox, dragon, sheep, dog or pig year, one should count backwards nine places from the mouse and fix upon the dragon. In the case of persons born in a tiger or hare year, one should count from the hare and fix upon the sheep. In the case of persons born in a horse or snake year, one should count from the horse and fix upon the dog. Then, in the case of persons born in a bird or monkey year, one should count from the bird and fix upon the ox. The fifth year following the year from which the count begins is deemed an "accursed" year, and if this also coincides with one of the four tomb signs in the subject's ninth, twenty-first, thirty-third, forty-fifth, fifty-seventh, sixty-ninth, or eighty-first year, it becomes the "crucial multiple of nine".
• When the calculation is based on trigrams, the multiples of nine are counted from Li in the case of males, and from Kham in the case of females. When it is based on numeric squares, the multiples of nine are counted from the subject's natal numeric square (skyes sme), a new cycle beginning after every ninth numeric square. Finally, when the multiples of nine are calculated on the basis of constitutional types, the count should be made in reverse, starting from the mouse in the case of those of the water ('u) and earth (kungs) constitutional types, from the hare sign in the case of those of the wood (keg) constitutional type, from the horse in the case of those of the fire (ji) constitutional type, and from the bird in the case of those of the iron (shang) constitutional type. It will be inauspicious if a multiple of nine coincides with a tomb sign. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)