Hua Lu: connection and reward

How the classics see Hua Lu

Hua Lu is the first of the four transformations. "What Does Hua Lu Govern?" in the *Quan Shu* begins "Lu is the spirit of fortune and virtue", followed by "guarding the Body, Life or Career position, and meeting Ke and Quan, one surely holds a minister's post": with Hua Lu in the Life, Body or Career Palace, and Hua Ke and Hua Quan meeting it, the ancients thought you could rise to high office.

The same passage also says: "when harsh stars arrive, along with Qing Yang, Tuo Luo, Huo Xing and Ji shining in to clash, it still does no harm." That is, Hua Lu's strength runs deep enough to hold even when challenging stars or Hua Ji shine in from across the way. Volume two assigns Hua Lu to earth, and earth's nature is thick, able to bear weight and bring a harvest, in line with this reading.

Hua Lu isn't only money

In ancient times "lu" meant an official's salary, so Hua Lu is often described as wealth. But its fuller meaning is "connection" and "benefit":

• In the Life Palace: well liked and likable, and people are often willing to give you a chance.
• In the Spouse Palace: sweetness in love; your partner is often a blessing to you.
• In the Career Palace: good opportunities come easily at work, and the work comes naturally.
• In the Fortune Palace: you know how to enjoy yourself and are easily content.

The ten stars that take Hua Lu

By the *Quan Shu*'s transformation rhyme, the Hua Lu of the ten stems, in order, are: Lian Zhen, Tian Ji, Tian Tong, Tai Yin, Tan Lang, Wu Qu, Tai Yang, Ju Men, Tian Liang and Po Jun, all main stars. Auxiliary stars never take Hua Lu.

Hua Lu tastes very different depending on the star:

• Wu Qu Hua Lu is solid money: do the work and it comes. Tai Yin Hua Lu is wealth saved up slowly, often tied to property and home.
• Tan Lang Hua Lu is opportunity through popularity and talent; Ju Men Hua Lu is making a living by your words and persuasiveness.
• Tian Tong Hua Lu is life's comforts and good fortune; Lian Zhen Hua Lu often has to do with public relations and personal magnetism.
• Tian Ji Hua Lu is reward from ideas and plans; Tai Yang Hua Lu is giving that brings popularity and reputation.
• Tian Liang Hua Lu is looking after others and winning the favor of elders; Po Jun Hua Lu is daring to tear down and start again, and gaining something in the new situation.

Hua Lu and Lu Cun are different

Lu Cun is a star with its own position; Hua Lu is a marker attached to some star. Both have to do with "lu", but Lu Cun leans toward keeping and Hua Lu toward arriving. When Hua Lu and Lu Cun share a palace or meet within the San Fang Si Zheng, later texts call it "double Lu", read as resources that both come in and stay.

Hua Lu's reminder

Hua Lu comes smoothly and can scatter just as fast. Practitioners often say "Lu needs somewhere to be kept": when Hua Lu meets stars that hold on, like Lu Cun or Tian Fu, the benefits are more likely to stay; when Hua Lu sits on a restless star like Po Jun, it's more like money coming in and flowing straight back out.

Your first part-time paycheck turning into dinners out before you notice: that's Hua Lu. The fun is real; whether anything is left is up to how you arrange it. The practical approach is simple: when Hua Lu's cell brings a reward, set part of it aside first, or turn it into something that lasts, and the benefit stays.

Lu follows Ji

The Flying Star school has a saying, "Lu follows Ji": Hua Lu is where a connection begins, and Hua Ji is where you finally can't let go, where things wrap up. You'll meet it again in the Flying Stars lesson at the end of this chapter.

For now, remember: Hua Lu's cell is where it's easier for you to get started and easier to be liked. A little extra attention there often goes a long way.