The Twelve Palaces

Source: Zi Wei Research Society

The twelve palaces of Purple Star Astrology (Zi Wei Dou Shu) form the basic framework of a birth chart, with each palace representing a different aspect of life. A "palace" is an absolute concept, while a "position" is a relative concept. For example, the Parents Palace is an absolute term, while your grandfather is both your Fortune Palace and the Parents Position of your Parents Palace.

The twelve palaces of Purple Star Astrology are arranged counterclockwise on the chart according to the Earthly Branches, in the following order: Life Palace, Siblings Palace, Spouse Palace, Children Palace, Wealth Palace, Health Palace, Travel Palace, Servants Palace, Career Palace, Property Palace, Fortune Palace, and Parents Palace.

In Purple Star Astrology, palaces can be referred to in two ways: one is by Earthly Branch + Palace (such as Mao Palace, Xu Palace, etc.), which has the same position on everyone's chart; the other is by palace name (such as Life Palace, Wealth Palace, etc.), which varies from person to person.

It should be noted that the palaces described in this article are interpretations from the natal chart, which reflects attitudes or concepts rather than good or bad fortune. To understand the quality of a palace during a specific time period, one needs to consult the fortune chart.

Life Palace

The Life Palace determines the attributes of the chart owner, similar to a character class in a game, showing one's personality tendencies and essential characteristics. The Life Palace represents a person's core personality and most basic character traits.

However, personality is multidimensional, and the Life Palace only represents the essence of the chart owner. What determines fate is not personality, but cognition. People with the same type of personality may have completely different thoughts about the same thing due to differences in cognition.

It's worth noting that for most people, the personality traits that others first encounter are often not those displayed by the Life Palace, but rather those embodied by the Travel Palace.

Siblings Palace

The Siblings Palace mainly reflects the chart owner's mode of interaction with brothers and sisters. Additionally, when distinguishing between father and mother, the Siblings Palace can also show the mode of interaction with the mother.

This is because the Siblings Palace is not only the chart owner's Siblings Palace but also the Spouse Position of the chart owner's Parents Palace. In traditional Purple Star Astrology interpretation, financial fortune is also examined through the Siblings Palace, as it is the Property Position of the Wealth Palace, representing the flow of wealth and reflecting the state of liquid assets.

Spouse Palace

The Spouse Palace represents emotions, showing the chart owner's mate selection criteria and attitude toward relationships. Although it is not within the Three Harmony and Four Support of the chart owner's Life Palace, it is important because relationships and marriage can affect one's entire life.

If you don't know what kind of partner you prefer, or what kind of person attracts you, you can gain some insight by examining your Purple Star Astrology chart.

It should be noted that the Spouse Palace is not the palace for viewing "peach blossoms" (romantic encounters); the palace representing "peach blossoms" is the Children Palace.

Children Palace

The Children Palace not only represents children but is also the "Peach Blossom Palace," derived from the act of "creating little people." Besides looking at children and romantic encounters, the Children Palace can also reflect the situation with business partners, as it is the Servants Position of the Career Palace, representing work partnerships.

Wealth Palace

The Wealth Palace displays the chart owner's attitude toward finances, financial concepts, and material desires. In principle, the Wealth Palace is the chart owner's "nourishment," the palace that maintains their life or survival.

If the Wealth Palace is prominent in the chart, it indicates that the chart owner "consumes resources" more than average, needing more material conditions than ordinary people to live well. Therefore, they tend to be more sensitive to financial management and money-making opportunities than ordinary people. These people often fit the characteristic of "those who know how to spend money know how to make money."

The actual accumulation of wealth, however, is seen in the Property Palace.

Health Palace

The Health Palace governs the chart owner's body and constitution. "Health" not only has the meaning of "illness" but also includes "suffering," referring to the physical condition of the body.

The Health Palace also reveals the chart owner's attitude toward their own body, such as why some people can persist in fitness and manage their figure well, while others "gain weight even drinking cold water." Some clues can be found in the Health Palace.

It should be noted that one should seek medical attention promptly when feeling unwell and should not squander their health just because their Health Palace is "strong."

Travel Palace

The Travel Palace exists in the Purple Star Astrology chart as an "entrance," displaying traits of "disguise" or "packaging." In social interactions, people often say, "He wasn't like this when I first met him," which is because after prolonged interaction, one sees through the Travel Palace to the personality of the Life Palace or even the Fortune Palace.

If the Travel Palace performs "exceptionally well" in the chart, it indicates that the chart owner is particularly good at packaging themselves, relatively good at "creating a persona," and naturally has better public relations. Conversely, if it performs "exceptionally poorly," the chart owner may be unsociable, unkempt, or lacking in affinity, with a casual, unconcerned attitude toward others' opinions, naturally resulting in poorer public relations.

Servants Palace

The Servants Palace, also known as the Friendship Palace, shows a person's social circle and friend selection criteria. Through the Servants Palace, one can understand what kind of friends a person likes to associate with, how they choose friends, and the composition of their friend circle.

Although the Servants Palace has a lower presence (people usually care more about career, relationships, finances, parents, children, health, etc.), it carries the important task of "communication."

Career Palace

The Career Palace, also known as the Profession Palace, shows the chart owner's attitude toward doing things and work. If you don't have a clear plan for your future career, you can refer to your Career Palace, which will at least give you a direction and tell you what type of work suits you.

The Career Palace affects everyone, regardless of whether they have a job. For students, studying is their daily work; for full-time housewives, taking care of the family is their daily work; for those who rely on their partners for living, maintaining the relationship is their work.

Property Palace

The Property Palace is the palace representing "collection," not only indicating real estate but also the relationship between the chart owner and family members. Ancient people placed great importance on "household peace," so they would look at the condition of the Property Palace to see the chart owner's fortune and misfortune.

The Property Palace also indicates the accumulation of wealth, as it is the "Treasury" position. People with a strong Wealth Palace but a broken Property Palace may be very good at making money but also very good at spending it. These are the types who are both good at spending and earning money. Some people have a weak Wealth Palace but a strong Property Palace, and they may be someone who understands how to increase income and reduce expenditure, and likes to save money.

Fortune Palace

The Fortune Palace represents the chart owner's thoughts and inner world. If the Travel Palace is compared to a "skin" in a game (external appearance), the Life Palace to "initial attribute points" (essential characteristics), and the Health Palace to "physical resistance" (body strength), then the Fortune Palace is a person's "thoughts."

"Cultivating the Fortune Palace" refers to developing a strong heart, not being elated by external things, not being saddened by personal matters, and being an emotionally stable person. This way, one is not easily stimulated by the external environment to make impulsive or wrong decisions and actions.

Other palaces often interact in a state of "subconsciousness," but the actions made by the Fortune Palace are thoughtful actions, so the stronger the Fortune Palace is cultivated, the higher the fault tolerance in life.

Parents Palace

The Parents Palace is the only palace among the twelve that appears before the Life Palace, and also the only palace in the chart that cannot be chosen. It represents the chart owner's parents (mostly looking at the father, while interactions with the mother are seen through the Siblings Palace).

The Parents Palace represents the chart owner's "innate nourishment." If the chart owner is compared to a tree, then the Parents Palace is the soil that provides nutrients for the sapling. Some saplings have fertile soil, providing abundant nutrition for growth; others grow in barren places.

It should be noted that if the Parents Palace is too prominent, other palaces will be relatively much weaker. Once away from the protection of parents, the chart owner will face greater challenges than ordinary people.

Special Palaces

In addition to the twelve palaces mentioned above, Purple Star Astrology has three hidden palaces: the Body Palace, the Hidden Harmony Palace, and the Origin Palace. These special palaces also play important roles in interpreting the birth chart but are not within the basic framework of the twelve palaces.

Conclusion

The natal chart of Purple Star Astrology has no good or bad distinctions, only differences in attributes. Humans are social animals and need cooperation, so various types of professions and people with various characteristics are necessary. Therefore, do not let others' subjective evaluation of your chart as good or bad affect your mindset. Learning about Purple Star Astrology can help you understand yourself more comprehensively and objectively, thereby making choices that are more suitable for you on your life journey.