(266) The significance of reading your fortune
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By Janet Shin
As a saju practitioner, I put a special emphasis on forecasting the year’s fortune. It is not only because people are inquisitive but because there is an academic implication. It indeed is an attraction of saju reading but more importantly, it indicates the changeability of our destiny and explains why saju is called the study of time.
Saju palja in Korean represents destiny. When people say it, there is an impression of fatalism. As a matter of fact, saju reads both fixed and variable aspects. The other word, un-myeong, which literally stands for destiny, has ‘un’ as a chance and ‘myeong’ as a life. Consequently, saju teaches us how to gain fortune within the context of innate fate In what theoretical background, can saju explain them?
It is deeply rooted in the ancient philosophy of yin, yang and the five elements and has relevance to astronomy and statistics. You will find it very logical and rational as you study. Nevertheless it is still considered as something similar to witchcraft or a superstitious belief. It is frequently confused with jeom (or divination) and gut (or exorcism). Several people acknowledge that saju has nothing to do with them but they are still not clear about how saju reads one’s life and foretell the future.
Due to the misconception that it is a harmful vulgar belief and would delude people, it became largely ignored as Korean society went through its post-war reconstruction and development. It became the preserve of a handful of low-rent fortune tellers. Consequently, it has lost the chance of academic evolvement.
I have repeatedly said that saju is not a superstition. The reason why I practice, write and teach it in English is to retain its rationality and logic. Of course, I expect this will help to globalize saju ultimately.
In regards to the debate between saju and other false beliefs, I often present its repeatability. Saju is not a trick. Without individual data, a consistent consultation should be adduced by a saju practitioner.
We can also distinguish saju from others, such as tarot and jeom. The latter is usually carried by rice and coins.
The results turn out differently as they draw. You may remember Paul, the Octopus oracle that used to predict the results of football matches for the 2010 World Cup. It sounds ludicrous now but it caught people’s attention and is still utilized in many countries.
Compared to other forms of established fortune telling, such as astrology, saju provides much more numbers of cases. While horoscope or the zodiac sign classifies them into 12, saju may have up to 259,200 types.
Going back to the original agenda whether it tells innate or acquired, it is true that the eight letters from birth influence one’s entire life without alteration. Then how can we explain the kaleidoscope life. It is by the every coming year’s energy.
That’s why saju reading at the beginning of the year is so important.
One may regard it as ‘tojeong-bigyeol’, but they are not totally distinct. For your reference, tojeong-bigyeol has 144 cases.
Saju is constantly referred to as the given destiny, yet there is some variable subject to one’s situation and time.
Once the New Year’s energy emerges, individual saju produces certain chemical interaction. It is a moment each letter responds to the incoming energies, which is sometimes fortunate and other times unfortunate. Owing to this fact, some call it oju (five pillars) instead, and this is the major reason why saju explains both the nature and nurture facets of destiny.
Why don’t you read your year’s fortune for 2014? You may get priceless information to detect transitions in your life.
The writer is the author of “Life’s Secrets”.