Fortune's Folly (背禄逐马)
Fortune's Folly (背禄逐马) is a Bazi Pattern that signifies a life marked by hardship and struggle. In this context, “禄” refers specifically to official rank or career prospects (represented by the Executive, i.e., the Direct Officer star), while “马” symbolizes the wealth horse (the Wealth star). “Turning one’s back on fortune” (背禄) means the Executive (Direct Officer) is damaged, signifying a loss of status or distance from positions of authority. “Chasing the horse” (逐马) means the Wealth star is taken away, representing the loss or expulsion of financial resources. The essence of this Pattern lies in the simultaneous decline and injury of both the Executive (Direct Officer) and Wealth stars within the chart, leaving the individual with neither a clear path to career advancement nor a reliable avenue for wealth.
How to Identify Fortune's Folly
This Pattern is defined by the simultaneous weakening of both the Wealth and Executive stars in the natal chart. Specifically, both stars are found in states of “Rest, Imprisonment, Death, or End” (休囚死绝), or are severely attacked by their natural adversaries—namely, the Executive (Direct Officer) is overcome by the Maverick (Hurting Officer), and the Wealth star is seized by the Rival (Rob Wealth)—with no effective means of rescue present in the chart.
The breakdown is as follows:
Signs of Turning One’s Back on Fortune (Executive star is damaged):
- Executive Loses Seasonal Advantage: The Executive star’s element is born in a month where it is in “Death” or “End.” For example, if the Day Master is Jia (甲) and the Executive is Metal, but the chart is born in the spring or summer when Fire and Wood are strong, Metal is at its weakest.
- Authority’s Bane (伤官见官): The Maverick (Hurting Officer) is strong in the chart, directly attacking the already weakened Executive star.
Signs of Chasing the Horse (Wealth star is damaged):
- Wealth Loses Seasonal Advantage: The Wealth star’s element is born in a month where it is in “Death” or “End.” For example, if the Day Master is Jia (甲) and the Wealth star is Earth, but the chart is born in the spring when Wood is strong, Earth is at its weakest.
- Rival’s Greed (比劫夺财): The chart is dominated by Peer (Friend) and Rival (Rob Wealth) stars, which directly seize the already weak Wealth star.
Meaning of the Pattern
Those whose charts fall into the Fortune's Folly (背禄逐马) Pattern are likely to experience a life of obstacles and limited achievement. Due to “Turning one’s back on fortune,” opportunities in career are scarce, connections with authority figures are weak, and conflicts with superiors or those in power are common, resulting in a turbulent professional path. Because of “Chasing the horse,” wealth is difficult to accumulate, often lost through misfortune or drained by siblings, friends, or competitors—money comes and goes. With both career and wealth undermined, life lacks clear goals and reliable support, leaving one feeling trapped and anxious, as if stranded at a dead end. This is considered a fate of poverty and hardship. The only hope for change lies in the presence of “rescue” elements; if the natal chart or major luck cycles introduce powerful rescuing stars, there is still a chance for improvement.
Favorable and Unfavorable Factors
This Pattern is considered a “serious illness,” and the key to remedying it lies in finding the right “medicine”:
Favorable Factors:
- Mentor (Direct Resource) Protects the Executive: If “Turning one’s back on fortune” is caused by a strong Maverick (Hurting Officer), it is most beneficial to have a robust Mentor (Direct Resource) star to subdue the Maverick and protect the Executive. This is known as “Tempered Genius (伤官佩印),” which can alleviate the predicament.
- Wit to Wealth (食伤生财): If “Chasing the horse” is due to the dominance of Peer (Friend) and Rival (Rob Wealth) stars, it is most helpful to have strong Talent (Eating God) and Maverick (Hurting Officer) stars to mediate, redirecting the energy of the Rivals and thus supporting the Wealth star, resolving the difficulty.
- Rescue in Major Luck Cycles: If the original chart is severely afflicted and the remedy is weak, it is advantageous if major luck cycles bring forth the rescuing stars (Mentor or Talent), allowing for a temporary escape from hardship during those periods.
Unfavorable Factors:
- Empowering the Unfavorable Stars: This is the greatest taboo. If major luck cycles further strengthen the Maverick (Hurting Officer) or Rival (Rob Wealth)—the sources of the “illness”—it only worsens the situation, indicating great misfortune.
- Wealth and Executive Stars Suffer Further Disruption: If the already weakened Wealth and Executive stars are further uprooted by clashes in the Earthly Branches during annual or major luck cycles, it is akin to “pulling up by the roots,” extinguishing all hope.
- No Rescue Throughout the Chart: If both Wealth and Executive stars are damaged and there is not even a hint of Mentor (Direct Resource) or Talent (Eating God) as rescuing stars, this is the most unfavorable form of the Pattern, making it nearly impossible to turn things around in life.
Classical Texts
From San Ming Tong Hui (《三命通会》):
背禄者，甲以辛为官为禄，甲生春夏，金绝则无官矣，故为“背禄”。逐马者，甲以己土为财为马，被乙及亥卯未劫夺，甲无财矣，故为“逐马”。余例推。如壬子、壬子、丁未、乙巳，丁取壬为官禄，壬亥月建禄，丁生子月，癸旺是杀，壬禄已过为背，向者有禄，背者无禄；丁取庚为财为马，子月庚死，此为背禄逐马，逢杀运，行劫地，亦不发福，无根元故也。《珞琭子》云：“背禄逐马，守穷途而凄惶。”
Explanation: “Turning one’s back on fortune” means, for example, Jia (甲) Wood takes Xin (辛) Metal as its Executive (Direct Officer) and source of fortune. If Jia (甲) is born in spring or summer, Metal is in its “End” phase, so there is no Executive star, hence the term “Turning one’s back on fortune.” “Chasing the horse” means Jia (甲) Wood takes Ji (己) Earth as its Wealth star, but if it is seized by Yi (乙) Wood and the Hai (亥), Mao (卯), and Wei (未) Wood group (Rival/Rob Wealth), then Jia (甲) is left without Wealth, hence “Chasing the horse.” The same logic applies to other Heavenly Stems. For example, in the chart Ren Zi (壬子), Ren Zi (壬子), Ding Wei (丁未), Yi Si (乙巳): Ding (丁) Fire takes Ren (壬) Water as its Executive (Direct Officer), Ren (壬) Water is in its prime in the Hai (亥) month, but if Ding (丁) is born in the Zi (子) month, Gui (癸) Water is strong, representing the Warlord (Seven Killings), and Ren (壬) Water’s prime has passed—this is “turning one’s back.” (Facing the prime is “having fortune,” turning away is “lacking fortune.”) Ding (丁) Fire takes Geng (庚) Metal as its Wealth star, but in the Zi (子) month, Geng (庚) Metal is in its “Death” phase. This is Fortune’s Folly (背禄逐马). If this person then enters a major luck cycle of Warlord (Seven Killings) or Rival (Rob Wealth), they will not prosper, as there is no root to support them. As Luo Lu Zi (《珞琭子》) says: “Those who suffer Fortune’s Folly (背禄逐马) are doomed to remain stranded at a dead end, filled with sorrow and anxiety.”
FAQ
What is Fortune's Folly Pattern in Bazi astrology?
Fortune's Folly (背禄逐马) is a Bazi Pattern that represents a life marked by hardship and struggle. In Bazi astrology, this pattern occurs when both the Executive (Direct Officer) and Wealth stars are simultaneously weakened or damaged in the natal chart. This means career prospects and financial resources are both undermined, often resulting in limited achievement, unstable finances, and ongoing obstacles. People with this pattern typically face difficulties with authority figures, unstable careers, and frequent financial setbacks. The Fortune's Folly pattern is considered one of the most challenging formations in Bazi readings.
How to identify Fortune's Folly in a Bazi chart?
To identify the Fortune's Folly (背禄逐马) pattern in a Bazi chart, examine the strength and status of the Executive (Direct Officer) and Wealth stars. The pattern is present if both stars are in states of “Rest, Imprisonment, Death, or End” (休囚死绝), or are severely attacked by their natural adversaries—such as the Maverick (Hurting Officer) attacking the Executive, and the Rival (Rob Wealth) seizing the Wealth star. If neither star has effective rescuing elements in the chart, and both career and wealth indicators are weak or under assault, the Fortune's Folly pattern is confirmed.
Why is Fortune's Folly considered a serious problem in Bazi readings?
Fortune's Folly is considered a serious issue in Bazi readings because it signifies simultaneous setbacks in both career and wealth, the two main pillars of stability in life. When the Executive (Direct Officer) and Wealth stars are both damaged, individuals struggle to advance professionally and face recurring financial losses. This often leads to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and a lack of clear life direction. The pattern is seen as a “serious illness” in Bazi, making it critical to find effective remedies or rescue elements to improve one's fate.
What are favorable factors that can help overcome Fortune's Folly pattern?
Favorable factors that can help remedy the Fortune's Folly pattern include the presence of strong rescuing stars in the Bazi chart or during major luck cycles. For example, a powerful Mentor (Direct Resource) star can subdue an aggressive Maverick (Hurting Officer) and protect the weakened Executive star, a solution known as “Tempered Genius (伤官佩印).” Additionally, elements that nourish the Wealth star or suppress its rivals can also provide support. The introduction of these balancing forces can ease career and wealth difficulties associated with this pattern.
When does Fortune's Folly pattern have a chance for improvement?
Fortune's Folly pattern has a chance for improvement when the natal chart or major luck cycles introduce strong rescue elements, such as the Mentor (Direct Resource) or other balancing stars. These elements can mitigate the damage to both career and wealth indicators, offering relief from ongoing struggles. Improvement is most likely during periods when favorable stars become dominant, either through the natural progression of luck cycles or through strategic actions that harness supportive energies indicated in the chart.