The Earthly Branch of the Dog and Reunion Luck: A New Beginning Amidst Endings

The Dog, representing the dry earth energy of late autumn, possesses the power to carefully conclude and organize relationships. In terms of reunion luck, the energy of the Dog suggests looking back at past relationships and implies that for a connection to be re-established, there needs to be ample time to carefully consider each other's feelings and reflect on what was lacking in each person's own role. Even relationships thought to be over can develop into new connections with sufficient introspection and preparation.

The luck of reunion, where you meet someone again though you thought the relationship was over, aligns with the nature of the Dog, which carries the dry earth energy of late autumn. This energy tends to preserve and conclude old things, so there can be a desire to not easily let go of a bond once formed or to try and mend a relationship. However, wishing for reunion alone is difficult; it's crucial to retrace your steps to understand where you and the other person went wrong in the past and to undergo a process of self-reflection. Reunion is more likely to occur through careful approach and self-introspection rather than hasty expectations.

The Dog, Simply Put

The Dog represents the energy of the land in late autumn, a time when the days shorten and a cool breeze begins to blow. Just as all things bear fruit and are organized as the season deepens, the Dog possesses the energy of conclusion and preservation, preparing for what comes next. While this energy appears calm and cautious on the surface, it shows deep loyalty and responsibility towards people or tasks it commits to, tending to protect them until the end. This can manifest as cherishing old relationships or meticulously handling assigned duties. Sometimes, a strong persistence in upholding one's own thoughts or methods can also be evident.

How It Manifests in Reunion Luck

When the energy of the Dog meets reunion luck, it offers a glimpse into the possibility of reconnecting even after a relationship has ended, with lingering feelings. Even after breaking up, you might find yourselves unable to forget each other and contacting one another when the time is right, or you might feel a desire to continue the relationship by recalling past good memories. Furthermore, due to the belief that a bond once formed is not easily broken, this can manifest as continuing to be aware of the other person even after the breakup or taking a long time to fully move on from the relationship. Instead of hastily judging the other person's feelings, it can serve as an opportunity to calmly re-examine the conditions under which the relationship could be re-established or the recurring issues that led to the separation.

When It Acts Strongly · When It Acts Weakly

When It Acts Strongly

• A strong desire to protect the relationship until the end with a sense of responsibility emerges. If the ex-partner contacts you again, or if you feel like reaching out first, you may not hesitate and show efforts to restore the relationship.
• A tendency to cherish past connections and uphold loyalty becomes prominent. Rather than easily concluding that a relationship is over, there's a tendency to keep the possibility of reunion open, holding onto lingering feelings or good memories of the other person even as time passes.
• An attitude of meticulously examining the situation and organizing the relationship is displayed. Even if you desire reunion, you may try to avoid rushing in, instead reflecting on past problems and carefully considering if a better relationship is possible for both parties.

When It Acts Weakly

• Excessive suspicion or stubbornness can lead to missed opportunities for relationship recovery. You might become sensitive to the other person's small words or actions, developing negative thoughts about starting the relationship again, or insisting on your own way without compromise.
• It becomes easy to feel indifferent about everything or to resign yourself to fate. Instead of investing energy in rekindling the relationship, you may tend to close yourself off, thinking it's a done deal, or isolate yourself.
• It's easy to dwell on past mistakes or the other person's flaws, remaining trapped in negative thoughts. Rather than the possibility of starting anew, you may find it difficult to attempt a new beginning, bound by past hurts or regrets.

Changes Depending on the Timing

The nature of the Dog, representing the dry earth energy of late autumn, inherently carries the power to conclude and finalize relationships. However, the manifestation of reunion luck can vary depending on when and within which flow this energy acts. For instance, if the concluding power of the Dog strongly influences a situation where the relationship isn't fully settled, the relationship might end sooner than expected due to hasty decisions. Conversely, if the Dog's energy comes into play after a considerable amount of time has passed and emotional exhaustion has lessened, you might glimpse the possibility of reunion through a process of calmly reflecting on the past relationship and organizing necessary aspects. Furthermore, while this concluding energy might appear somewhat stubborn or rigid in youth, as one ages, it can help in organizing relationships more maturely and creating opportunities for new beginnings, accompanied by wisdom gained from experience. Ultimately, how the nature of the Dog affects reunion luck can be interpreted differently not just by the strength of the energy, but also by the timing of its manifestation and the individual's growth process.

Common Misunderstandings

• It's easy to assume that because the Dog signifies the end of a relationship, it is inherently distant from reunion luck. However, the 'conclusion' represented by the Dog doesn't just mean severance; it holds the power to strip away unnecessary aspects of a relationship and focus on its essence. Through this process, it can foster deeper understanding and open the possibility of reconnecting in a different way than before. Therefore, it's important to understand the Dog's influence not as an end to a relationship, but as a process of tidying up for a new beginning.
• Although the Dog appears calm and composed on the outside, its inner nature values strong loyalty and trust. If the Dog's influence is present in reunion luck, it suggests that a relationship can be re-established not merely through emotional attraction or impulse, but when efforts are made to acknowledge past mistakes and restore trust between individuals. To restart a relationship, it is necessary to approach each other with sincere hearts and demonstrate an attitude of upholding past promises or loyalty.
• When the 'protective and managing' nature of the Dog strongly manifests, there can be a tendency to excessively suspect the other person's actions or insist on one's own way. If such behavior appears in reunion luck, it can actually become a factor that makes the relationship difficult again. Instead of trusting and waiting for the other person, it can lead to a situation where you ruin the relationship due to your own insecurities. Therefore, it is important to reflect on whether your own suspicion or stubbornness is taking precedence.

Applying It Directly to Reunion Luck

• If there were points of dissatisfaction or misunderstandings between you and your partner in the past relationship, calmly write them down. Utilize the Dog's energy of conclusion and organization to practice objectively assessing the situation without emotional agitation and shedding unnecessary emotional residue. In this process, it is good to first acknowledge your own mistakes or shortcomings and write down specifically what you want to improve.
• Before contacting the other person, realistically adjust your expectations for the relationship in your own mind. Instead of idealizing reunion or falling into extreme thoughts of complete resignation, calmly anticipate what the relationship might look like if it were to start again, and what difficulties might arise in the process. Borrowing the realistic and stable energy of the Dog, it is helpful to take time to explore future possibilities without emotional turmoil.
• If a conclusion was necessary for the relationship, clearly understand the reason and make a promise to yourself, such as 'I will definitely keep this in mind.' For example, specific resolutions like 'Even if we reconnect, I won't get swept away by emotions like before' or 'I will consider the other person's perspective first' are good. Utilizing the Dog's nature of valuing trust and loyalty, it is important to establish principles that you must uphold yourself to re-establish the relationship.
• If you have the opportunity to communicate with the other person again, first show an attitude of listening to their story rather than blaming or asserting yourself. The Dog, while calm on the surface, is an energy that values inner communication. By first showing efforts to understand the other person's feelings and situation, you can lay the groundwork for relationship recovery. Instead of hastily asserting only your own position, showing that you listen to and empathize with the other person's story first is the first step towards making the relationship smoother again.