The World Health Organization estimates that close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. Suicide is a global phenomenon, occurs throughout the lifespan, and is a leading cause of death in the United States. The effects of suicide go beyond the person who acts to take his or her life: it can have a lasting effect on family, friends, and communities.

I feel inspired to write about this now due to what I am observing publicly around the occurrence of suicide in the United States and the more widespread discussions about it.

First, we never want to see anyone or anything suffer. May all sentient beings be free from suffering.
Secondly, I really encourage you to take care of yourself first. Make sure that what you fill your cup with is love, joy, a sense of well-being, abundance, and prosperity. If you aren’t feeling those things, let’s talk about it. We can discuss how to align you with more favourable energy.

And I do want to raise the topic of Chinese metaphysics. I am often asked if a Four Pillars of Destiny chart can predict when someone might die. No. And I cannot predict exactly when a baby will be born. There are simply too many factors when using only the Four Pillars of Destiny system to make that exact prediction.

There are many theories around life cycle events such as birth & death and if these can be foretold in a Four Pillars of Destiny, aka BaZi, chart. I will say this in a very general sense – it is very rarely just ‘one thing’. The elemental imbalances, clashes, penalties, and health challenges that a person may experience at any particular time can be analyzed, discussed, explained, correlated, and rationalized. Essentially, a chart can show symptoms of a possible disaster. Not all disaster means death! These charts highlight possibilities and opportunities. Each person always has their own free will.

As I write this in Fall 2019, Ji Hai (Earth Pig) year, the fire element is at the ending parts of its own life cycle. That means that the fire element itself is very challenging to access. From an emotional perspective, the fire element is responsible for our feelings of joy, optimism, hope, and love. (In fact, optimism is what drives the stock market.)

Therefore, I encourage you to see my second point above. Please take care of yourself first. That way you can be of support to someone who may need you. And, it is a wonderful personal exploration to get to know your own chart. If you haven’t had a BaZi reading, I invite you to do so. Especially if you are going through a tough time, it can help you understand your past and the opportunities that may be in your future. You can start to take more control moving forward.

Sudden death in people is rare these days, but it does happen. It is really a tragedy for their close families members.

This fact sheet, developed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), can help you, a friend, or a family member learn about the signs and symptoms, risk factors and warning signs, and ongoing research about suicide and suicide prevention.

If You Know Someone in Crisis: Call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) at 1–800–273–TALK (8255), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available to everyone. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1–800–799–4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the NSPL’s website. The Crisis Text Line is another resource available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Text “HOME” to 741741.

Wishing you peace and blessings….