What is the Useful God?
In BaZi astrology, the Useful God (Yong Shen) refers to the Five-Element energy in a person's chart that best helps the chart holder reach balance and is most in need of strengthening. BaZi is made up of the five energies of metal, wood, water, fire and earth, but no one is born with a perfectly even distribution — usually one element is somewhat excessive and another somewhat lacking. The Useful God is the key force used to regulate this imbalance and let one's overall fortune flow more smoothly.
Put simply, the Useful God is like the role that "fills the gap" in a chart: wherever something is lacking or needs support, the Useful God is responsible for making it up, helping a person become steadier in temperament, health and circumstances.
The difference between the Favourable God and the Unfavourable God
Around the Useful God, BaZi also speaks of the Favourable God and the Unfavourable God. The Favourable God is a Five-Element energy that benefits the chart holder, strengthening the Useful God or bringing helpful support; together with the Useful God it is often referred to as the Favourable and Useful God. The Unfavourable God is the opposite — a Five-Element energy that is disadvantageous to the chart holder, tending to bring obstacles or worsen the imbalance.
- Useful God: the most crucial element, the one most in need of strengthening.
- Favourable God: a beneficial element that adds to your favour.
- Unfavourable God: a disadvantageous element that is best not reinforced.
Day Master strength and its relationship to the Useful God
To understand the Useful God, one usually looks first at whether the Day Master (the element that represents you) is strong or weak. To put it in the plainest terms: if the Day Master is too strong, like energy overflowing, it is generally suitable to use elements that "drain" or "control" it to channel it away; if the Day Master is too weak, it needs elements that "generate" or "support" it to add strength. The former calls for draining and controlling, the latter for generating and supporting, and the Useful God is mostly sought in this direction.
An actual determination requires taking the whole chart into account, and it is best left to a professional practitioner to examine in detail. Here it is enough to grasp the broad direction.
The Useful God and fortune-enhancing crystals
After learning the Five Elements of their Favourable and Useful God, many people choose crystals in the corresponding colours or types to accompany that energy, a fairly common and gentle folk custom for inviting good fortune. For example, someone whose favourable element is wood may keep company with green-toned crystals, while someone favouring fire may lean toward red tones, and so on, so that the energy they carry sits closer to the direction they feel they need. Qi Yi Crystal also offers custom Five-Element bracelets, with beads matched to each person's BaZi Favourable and Useful God, so that wearing one rests on a clearer basis. Treated as a small daily reminder and approached with a positive, relaxed frame of mind — that is the best way to enjoy a crystal.