Tian Tong, the Star of Ease

Tian Tong (天同) is described in the classic text as a water star, the fourth of the Southern Dipper, and the master of the Fu De palace, the palace of wellbeing. The entry describes a person of clean dealings and a refined bearing, and a commentary calls them modest and mild in temperament.

A striking line says that it does not fear the Seven Killings star and is not rattled by other harsh stars in the same palace. The same commentary adds that in all twelve palaces it reads as a blessing. This is the old text's way of saying that Tian Tong is a star of resilience through softness, someone who stays steady by not pushing back against everything.

We read Tian Tong as relaxed, easygoing and a natural peacemaker with a childlike streak, someone who notices small pleasures. Friends may find it relaxing to be around. It can also tip into putting things off, because a star of ease does not always feel the urgency that others do.

A kind question: what does comfort mean to you, and is it the reward at the end of your effort or a place you hide from it? Both answers are human.