Introduction

What is this blog about?

In a Nutshell -- a mathematical theory of fate and fortune, based on deconstructing several popular systems of fortune-telling.

I call this blog "The Equation of Fate" for some reason.

My interests in fortune-telling systems arose some time during my colleague years.  Bits and pieces of inspiration from time to time caused me to realize that fate and fortune (two distinct concepts, the distinctions I shall lay out in subsequent articles) are not superstitious ramblings.  Far from it, I am convinced that there lies therein a fundamental system that can be understood scientifically -- and especially mathematically.

In other words, fate and fortune can be understood and even predicted based on mathematical formulas, as in other natural phenomena.  Many fortune-telling systems, diverse in culture, time and distance, in fact share remarkable similarities to each other, almost as if they are crude attempts to formalize aspects of the same theory.  Many methods of calculations in these fortune-telling systems

Now the remarkable aspect of this, at least according to me, is that there is absolutely no reason for fate or fortune to follow natural, scientific and mathematical laws.  There is no reason for it not to be purely superstitious, or for it to be scientific at all.  This by itself is stunning.

Now back to the "Equation of Fate" -- obviously, to find it is my ultimate goal.  To formulate an equation for fate (and fortune) will seal the discipline as a scientific pursuit.  It is not an entirely correct description, however, as there is no reason why fate and fortune should contain only one equation -- there may be a set of equations, or they may not be equations at all (e.g. inequalities).  Nevertheless, the term has a good sound to it.

Why am I writing this blog?

The information in this blog is the result of almost 30 years of research (darn! that would tell people how old I am). I am not getting any younger, and sooner or later, I'd need to put my thoughts, findings and knowledge (piecemeal as they are) to writing so that somebody else can pick up on my work and take it further.

I recently figured that if I don't start doing that, there is always a risk that I might not be able to do it later on -- I may have an accident and die without passing on my knowledge, for instance.  It would be a pity, at least to me, for this knowledge to come to waste.

What are the fortune-telling systems on which you have based your research?

Primarily ancient Chinese ones (for the simple reason that I am Chinese): The I-Ching (易經, The Book of Changes) and its commentaries, The Four Pillars (四柱, or more commonly called 八字, the Eight Letters system), The Ziwei Numbers (紫微斗數), and Feng Shui (玄空風水).  I also throw in Western Astrology (西洋占星術) -- a system which shares remarkable similarities to the Chinese fortune-telling systems I listed above.

Why are you writing in English then???!!!

Considering that most of the fortune-telling systems I've studied are Chinese ones, it does seem strange that I am writing this blog in English.  However, I don't know how to write mathematical terms in Chinese, so any reader must bear with me.

I'll try to have the corresponding Chinese words available where I can.