Today is the 20th day of 11th month of the lunar calendar
And the fifth day of the Winter Solstice so far
Submitted to the power of the Winnowing Basket (qi)
The Lucky sign, Water, Wednesday, Mercury, Leopard. . .
This constellation has always been called the Winnowing Basket,
But in some works of reference about the winter tools
The original name of it was the 'dung basket.'

As in many countries of the world,
Dung was a valuable commodity,
The only known fertilizer and a source of fuel.
Its position at the tail of the dragon is self-explanatory,
As long as a new period of 4.5 days named Circling (Zhou)
Correlates with the Fire phase, reflecting the image of Fu (24),
Symbol of reversion and return of the Yang energy,
Formed by the trigram representing Earth and
That for Thunder underneath it. The new piece of time
Unfolds, starting from the second half of today.

There was a special rite connected with the gathering
And spreading of manure. The wide-mouthed basket
Became the symbol of a large mouth and evil tongue;
The spreading of gossip and slander; malicious rumors,
And by extension, adultery and harlotry so far.

The modern significance for this constellation
Is quite different from the old one; it presages
A year of good fortune for those who undertake
New designs today, as a reward for the industrious.
New property is acquired, and the silkworms
Become very active from now, forecasting good profits.

Opening a new door (institution) doubles one's fortunes,
With granaries gorged with rice, and official honors
Being heaped on the head of the fortunate person
Indicated by these portents; indeed, all the family
Will participate in these extraordinary demonstrations
Of favor. The dead also may be interred with impunity.

Speaking from the point of today’s stellar indication,
Which emerges from the ancient Book of Rites (Li ji),
The lodestar of today is Arrangement (ding)
Which indicates еhat the Emperor on High (di)
Has placed everyone in the appropriate seat.
The Five Grains are in abundance. Cutting, planting,
Managing, organizing weddings, driving,
Digging the ground, opening up wells are all
The auspicious jobs. Avoid making accusations; that’s it.

The lost revelers can still carry on carousing,
While the more determined can go ahead
And get back to work. This is the day
For all kinds of activity. Keep busy,
And mind your own business; that way,
Everyone will get their work done quicker.

The First Half of the Day under the Metal Element

As the Canon of Triad speaks of today,
Having reached the peak of its course,
The heavenly spirit (Yang) transforms
Into its earthly analogue (Yin); --
In this world there is only time itself,
Which is beyond any ruin and change.

We see now that the first piece of time (4.5 days)
After the Winter Solstice is coming to its end.
In accord with the common belief,
The vital energies combined together
With psycho-physical substances make
The human being.

The Second Half of the Day under the Water Element

How far he can go overstepping his authority
In his overwhelming desire to return
To his native home, his parent's house above the head?
This or that way, but his return is blocked at all,
And so, he cannot be on his wings in reverse.

The reason why his return to Lares and Penates
Is put under a ban is of his parent, who cannot
Forgive him his desertion to the opposite entity so far,
Under the mastership of whom this point of time
Is running unstoppably. . . Time and again, he goes thru
The recurrent dream about the Heavenly spirit falling. . .