Yongshin: Finding Your Life's Life Jacket
Is your Saju too hot? Too cold? Exploring the philosophical meaning of Yongshin, the key to solving imbalance.
Introduction: The Philosophy of Equilibrium
In the world of Saju (Four Pillars of Destiny), no two charts are perfectly balanced. Because it is a reflection of local seasonal energy at the moment of birth, every person is born with an inherent skew. Some are "too hot" (excessive Fire), some are "too cold" (excessive Water), some are "too rigid" (excessive Metal), and others are "too ungrounded" (missing Earth).
Saju Myungrihak does not view this imbalance as a mistake. Rather, it is your "Individuality." The unique shape of your soul comes from its specific tension. However, when these tensions become too extreme, life can feel like a constant struggle. To navigate this, we look for the Yongshin (用神)—the "Useful God" or the Balancing Element.
What is Yongshin?
The word "Yong" (用) means "to use" or "to utilize." The Yongshin is the specific energy, element, or lifestyle mindset that your chart desperately needs to reach a state of harmony.
Think of it as a Life Jacket when you are drowning in a sea of fire, or a Compass when you are lost in a desert. It is the "Solution Code" for the problems presented by your birth chart.
The Three Pillars of Finding Balance
There are three primary methods used by Saju experts to identify the Yongshin:
1. Eokbu (Suppress and Assist)
This is the most common approach. It is based on the logic of strength.
- If You are Too Strong (Gyeok-guk): Your ego and self-will are overwhelming. You may be self-righteous or stagnant. Your Yongshin will be the element that consumes your excess energy (Sik-sang) or controls you (Gwan-seong).
- Advic: "Relax your strength. Learn to follow rules. Share your energy."
- If You are Too Weak (Sin-yak): You are easily swept away by the world's demands. You lack self-confidence. Your Yongshin will be the element that strengthens you (Bi-geop) or supports you (In-seong).
- Advice: "Build your core. Study more. Seek mentors and reliable partners."
2. Jo-hu (Climatological Balance)
This is based on the temperature of your chart.
- Born in Winter (Cold/Wet): Your chart is frozen. You need Fire as your Yongshin to melt the ice and allow growth.
- Born in Summer (Hot/Dry): Your chart is parched. You need Water as your Yongshin to cool down the heat and prevent burnout.
- Life with a balanced temperature feels smooth and emotionally stable, regardless of wealth.
3. Tong-gwan (Mediation/Circulation)
This is for charts where two powerful elements are fighting (e.g., Wood and Metal). Without a mediator, the chart is in a state of "Celestial War."
- The Solution: An element that bridges the two. If Wood and Metal are fighting, Water acts as a bridge (Metal feeds Water, which feeds Wood), turning a conflict into a flow.
- In life, this manifests as being a "Negotiator" or "Diplomat."
Heesin: The Helper of the Solution
If Yongshin is the Medicine, Heesin (Happy God) is the assistant that protects the medicine. When the Yongshin is strong and protected by the Heesin, a person experiences a "Lucky Life" where opportunities appear just when they are needed.
When the Yongshin is Missing: The Waiting Game
What if your natal chart doesn't contain your Yongshin? Do not despair. This is where the Daewoon (10-Year Luck Cycle) comes in.
Saju is a study of time. Even if you were born without your "Life Jacket," the flow of time will eventually bring that element to you.
- You may spend 30 years in "Winter" only to find your "Summer" in your 50s.
- The period before the Yongshin arrives is for Cultivation. If you spend your "Bad Luck" years studying and refining your character, you will be able to harness the "Good Luck" years with 10x the power when they finally arrive.
Conclusion: Living the Balance
The ultimate goal of knowing your Yongshin is not just to "get rich." It is to achieve Mental Equilibrium.
- If you need Water, spend time near the ocean, wear blue, and practice "Flowing with the situation."
- If you need Wood, hike in the forest, start new projects, and embrace "Growth."
By consciously introducing your balancing element into your diet, environment, and mindset, you stop being a victim of your "skewed" chart and become the architect of your own peace. Saju shows you the hole in your soul; Yongshin shows you how to fill it.