Companions and Outputs — Siblings and Talent

Companions are 'like-me'; outputs are 'what-I-generate' — both relate to extending the self.

Companions — Like-Self

Companion stars (比劫) = "same element as Day Master" — 比肩 and 劫财. They symbolize siblings, peers, friends, partners — and "extension of self".

• 比肩: same polarity as DM. e.g. 甲 sees 甲 — same-gender siblings, like-minded friends
• 劫财: opposite polarity. e.g. 甲 sees 乙 — opposite-gender siblings, romantic rivals

Benefits and Harms of Companions

Weak DM loves companions: peer support, partnership, independent growth. Strong DM fears companions: rivalry, money loss, partnership friction, romantic triangulation (men's charts).

So the same companion star is good for one chart, harmful in another.

"Robber Wealth" (劫财) sounds ominous but isn't always — its meaning is "shared resource". For weak DM, the rob is a rescue; for strong DM, the rob is a loss. Read in context.

Outputs — Expression of Self

Output stars (食伤) = "what the DM generates" — 食神 and 伤官. Symbolize talent, expression, intelligence-made-visible — and (in women's charts) children.

• 食神: same polarity. e.g. 甲 sees 丙 — gentle talent, longevity, daughter (women's)
• 伤官: opposite polarity. e.g. 甲 sees 丁 — bright/rebellious creativity, son (women's), threat to 官

Eating-God vs Hurting-Officer Temperaments

食神 is softer — long-running fortune, gentle creativity. Person enjoys life, has refined sensitivity — suits writing, cooking, teaching, art.

伤官 is sharper — outstanding talent, rebellious intelligence. Eloquent, distinct, restless — suits performance, innovation, design, advocacy — but clashes with authority easily.

"伤官见官" is a chart concern — Hurting Officer attacks the Officer star: legal trouble, marital strain, unsuitable for government work.

For Women, Outputs = Children

Important: in women's charts, children-star is NOT officer/killer (which is the men's child star) — it is OUTPUT. 食神 = daughter, 伤官 = son.

• Women's chart with clear, well-placed output → strong child bond, smooth raising
• Women's chart with 印 overpowering output → classically "weak child bond" (modern: communication patterns to attend to)

So children palace reading for women requires examining outputs and the hour pillar (children's palace) together.

Next step

Read about Day Master strength — why "strong vs weak" is the first question.