Yen

Yen, meaning 'Wings' or 'Flanks,' is the tenth Chinese sieu, corresponding to Alkes (alpha Crateris). Ruled by Mars, this mansion evokes the spread wings of the Red Bird in flight, representing elevation, expansion, and the capacity to soar above earthly concerns.

The wing imagery speaks to the connection between the terrestrial and celestial realms, and to the freedom that comes with taking a broader perspective.

Yen belongs to the Red Bird palace, and the wings literally form part of the great firebird's anatomy. Mars's rulership brings assertive, upward-driving energy to the wing imagery, suggesting active flight rather than passive gliding. The Crater constellation's cup shape adds a quality of receptivity to the ascending motion.

When the Moon transits Yen, Mars's energy combines with the wing's elevation to favor activities that require boldness, vision, and the willingness to rise above conventional limitations. This is a period for ambitious plans and expansive thinking.

The Red Bird (Zhu Que), also called the Vermilion Bird, is the celestial guardian of the South and the season of Summer. Associated with the element Fire, the Red Bird represents passion, beauty, joy, and the full flowering of creative energy. It corresponds to the peak of the yang cycle, when the Sun is at its highest and life is at its most abundant. The seven sieu of the Red Bird trace the magnificent firebird from its wings through its body to its tail, forming the most radiant of the four celestial animals.