Life does not move in a straight line. It moves in a twelve-year loop.
In the West, we obsess over daily horoscopes and planetary retrogrades, treating astrology like a weather report that changes by the hour. But in Japan, Six Star Astrology (Rokusei Senjutsu) takes a macro approach. It treats human destiny as an agricultural science. The core of this system is the 12-Year Fortune Cycle—the Unki (運気).
Every single star type rotates through this exact same sequence of twelve phases. There are years to plant, years to harvest, and years to absolutely lock your doors and wait out the blizzard. Before you can map your current trajectory, you need to find your star type. Once you know your star, the 12-Year Fortune Cycle reveals exactly where you stand. From the initial spark of "Seeds" to the absolute zenith of "Achievement", this framework removes the guesswork from major life decisions.
Here is the complete breakdown of the 12 periods in order, what they demand from you, and how to navigate the inevitable winters.
The Spring Growth Phase (Years 1–3)
The cycle always begins in the dirt. The first three years represent the "Spring Growth Phase", a time of rapid expansion, vulnerability, and setting the foundation for the decade ahead.
Year 1: Seeds (種子 - Shushi) This is year zero of your new life. The winter of the Great Calamity has officially ended. The soil is fertile, and whatever you start now—a new career, a marriage, a business, a relocation—has the highest statistical probability of long-term success. The energy here isn't explosive; it is quiet and foundational. If you waste "Seeds" by remaining stagnant, you will have nothing to harvest eight years later.
Year 2: Green Growth (緑生 - Ryokusei) The seeds have sprouted. "Green Growth" is characterized by rapid, almost dizzying forward momentum. Your new ventures begin to show tangible results. However, just like a young sapling, your position is fragile. A sudden frost can snap the stem. The mandate for Year 2 is to nurture what you started in Year 1 without getting arrogant. Keep your head down and water the plants.
Year 3: Standing Flower (立花 - Rikka) The first major milestone of the cycle. The sapling blooms. "Standing Flower" is a highly visible, successful year where your efforts take a definitive shape. It is a peak period for solidifying your direction. If you secure a promotion or lock in a major life choice here, its roots will hold firm through the turbulence that inevitably follows.
The Minor Dip and The Zenith (Years 4–5)
Growth is exhausting. As the cycle pushes toward its absolute peak, the system forces a mandatory rest period before handing you the keys to the kingdom.
Year 4: Health/Weakness (健弱 - Kenjaku) Also known as the "Minor Calamity" (Shosakkai). After three years of relentless expansion, your physical and mental reserves are depleted. "Health/Weakness" is exactly what it sounds like: a year where the body keeps the score. Chronic illnesses flare up, burnout becomes a tangible threat, and forcing forward progress feels like wading through wet concrete. The strategy here is defensive. Prioritize medical check-ups, sleep, and maintaining the status quo. Do not launch major offensives.
Year 5: Achievement (達成 - Tassei) If you survived the minor dip, you are rewarded with the highest peak of luck in the entire 12-year cycle. "Achievement" is the golden year. The friction of the universe drops to zero. Goals you have been working toward since Year 1 are realized with shocking ease. This is the time to ask for the massive raise, launch the flagship product, or make the boldest move on your board. You must push for 100% execution, because the window of maximum velocity closes quickly.
Mid-Cycle Turbulence and The Golden Harvest (Years 6–9)
The back half of the cycle is about securing your assets and preparing for the long winter. It starts with a sharp drop, followed by the most lucrative stretch of the decade.
Year 6: Disorder (乱気 - Ranki) The "Medium Calamity" (Chusakkai). The high of Year 5 abruptly vanishes, replaced by psychological friction. "Disorder" rarely attacks your physical health; instead, it attacks your mind and your relationships. Miscommunications run rampant. Trusted allies suddenly seem adversarial. You will feel a strong urge to blow up your life, quit your job, or end your relationship. Don't. It is a trick of the Unki. Sit on your hands and wait it out.
Year 7: Reunion (再会 - Saikai) The clouds part. "Reunion" is a brilliant, highly favorable year focused on second chances. Things that failed in the past can be successfully resurrected now. It is the perfect time to reconnect with old colleagues, revive dead projects, or rekindle past relationships. The energy is expansive, warm, and deeply forgiving.
Year 8: Wealth (財成 - Zaisei) Welcome to the "Golden Harvest". As the name implies, "Wealth" is the financial peak of the cycle. The seeds you planted in Year 1 and nurtured through the decade finally yield maximum economic dividends. This is the year to cash out, secure investments, and focus heavily on capital accumulation. However, because the focus is so heavily tied to money, personal and romantic matters often take a backseat.
Year 9: Stability (安定 - Antei) The final good year before the ice age. "Stability" is a calm, peaceful period where you enjoy the fruits of your labor. The mandate here is preservation. You should be securing assets before the winter, locking in your gains, and enjoying a quiet life. Absolutely do not start huge new risky things in Year 9. You do not want to be launching a fragile startup just as the Great Calamity hits.
The Winter of Daisakkai: Surviving the Great Calamity (Years 10–12)
Every twelve years, you must pay the toll. The final three years of the cycle are known as the Daisakkai (大殺界)—the Great Calamity. This is a three-year astrological winter where your natural luck drops to absolute zero.
To understand the deep mechanics of this period, you should read our full breakdown of the three Daisakkai stages. But the overarching rule is simple: endure, learn, and clean house.
Year 10: Shadow (陰影 - In'ei) The winter begins. "Shadow" marks the sudden drop in fortune. Anxiety spikes, luck fades, and projects that were previously stable begin to fracture. The key mistake people make here is fighting the decline.
Year 11: Standstill (停止 - Teishi) The absolute bottom of the 12-year cycle. "Standstill" is the dead of winter. Your judgment is severely compromised. If you start a business, marry, or buy a house during Standstill, the foundational energy of that action is cursed with friction. The only correct action during Year 11 is passive learning, enduring, and waiting.
Year 12: Decline (減退 - Gentai) The final year of the winter. "Decline" is about severing ties and cleaning up the past. You will likely lose things—or people—during this year, but it is a necessary pruning process. You are clearing the dead wood so that when the cycle resets to "Seeds" next year, the soil is ready. To see exactly when your winter hits, check your 2026 outlook by type.
The Almanack of Destiny
Six Star Astrology is not a tool for fear-mongering. It is a structural framework for timing your life.
When you understand the 12-Year Fortune Cycle, you stop blaming yourself for the friction of "Disorder" or the stagnation of "Standstill." You recognize them as seasons. You don't curse the sky because it snows in January; you just put on a coat. By mapping your life to this cycle, you ensure that you are sprinting when the wind is at your back, and resting when the winter demands it.
Sources
- Hosoki, Kazuko. Rokusei Senjutsu: The Foundation of Destiny. (Foundational texts on the Unki cycle and the Great Calamity).
- Contemporary analyses of Japanese astrological frameworks and the 12-stage life cycle.