How Imperial Astrology Reveals Your Relationship with Mom

Does Your Mom Always Know How to Push Your Buttons?

We’ve all been there. A single look, a certain tone of voice, and suddenly—bam! You’re 12 years old again, trapped in a dynamic you thought you’d outgrown. Whether you’re close with your mother or carry wounds from the past, Zi Wei Dou Shu offers a unique lens for understanding the emotional undercurrent of your relationship with her.
But here’s the twist: the Parents Palace doesn’t represent your mother. Surprised? Let’s explore why.

Why the Parents Palace Isn’t About Mom

Despite its name, the Parents Palace (父母宮) in traditional Zi Wei logic typically represents the father, not both parents equally. This originates from ancient Chinese cultural frameworks: in classical society, the term “father and mother” (父母) symbolized authority, with the father holding the dominant household role.

The phrase “父母官” literally translates to “father mother officials”. It was used to describe government officials, who had immense power — sometimes even life-and-death authority — over the people in ancient China. This reinforces the symbolic link between the Parents Palace and patriarchal power, making it a logical representation of the father.

So where does that leave the mother?

What Is “Anchor the Palace” (立太極)?

In Zi Wei Dou Shu, “Anchor the Palace” is a method where you treat a specific palace as the central reference point (or Taiji) and then count outward to define its relational dynamics. Think of it as designating a primary node in the chart from which you derive family roles, responsibilities, and relationships.

This approach is can be used in any palace, where you’re not just interpreting a palace by its name, but by its positional logic.

Why the Siblings Palace Also Represents the Mother

Using the “Anchor the Palace” method, here’s how we derive the mother’s symbolic placement:

• Start with the Parents Palace as your anchor
• Count two palaces counterclockwise — this gives you the spouse palace of the father
• By chart layout, this is the Siblings Palace

So, the Siblings Palace becomes the symbolic position of the mother. This doesn’t mean she’s literally linked to your siblings — rather, she appears here because of her relational tie to the father.

By using this structural method, we access deeper insight into the mother’s role, influence, and emotional imprint.

Interpreting the Siblings Palace for Maternal Influence

Once you recognize the Siblings Palace as symbolizing the mother, here’s what to examine:

• Major stars: Indicate your mother’s personality and how her traits affected your early life
• Four Transformations (Si Hua): Reveal nuanced dynamics — beneficial or challenging
  • Enrichment (Hua Lu) points to closeness, intuitive connection, and maternal support.
  • Empowerment (Hua Quan) may suggest a dominant maternal figure or one who grants great emotional strength.
  • Fame (Hua Ke) can imply a mother who values social image or high achievement.
  • Hindrance (Hua Ji) may suggest deep emotional tension, guilt, or unresolved resentment.
• Ominous stars:
  • Destruction Star (Qing Yang)
  • Obstruction Star (Tuo Luo)
  • Fire Star (Huo Xing)
  • Scheming Star (Ling Xing)
  • These stars can indicate often indicates a strained or emotionally unavailable mother.

The Moon Star (Tai Ying) as the Archetype of Mother

Beyond palace logic, the Moon star consistently represents the mother archetype in Zi Wei Dou Shu. Wherever it appears in the chart, it carries symbolic weight. If the Moon is paired with an ominous star or carries the transformation of Hindrance (化忌), it may reflect an uneasy or emotionally complex mother-child relationship.

Closing Thoughts: Two Ways to Understand the Mother

Whether your relationship with your mother is warm, distant, or painfully complex, your Zi Wei Dou Shu chart can help you understand her role in shaping your emotional world. Sometimes, the Moon is radiant and supportive. Other times, it’s veiled in clouds, asking you to seek clarity through introspection.

The key is knowing where she shows up in your chart—and why.

And maybe—just maybe—that clarity begins with anchoring the right palace.