Star of intellect · Wood

Tian Ji (the Strategist)

The mind doesn't stop

You think a lot and think fast; while others are still on the surface you've been through three layers of cause. Work that needs taking apart and redesigning suits you, and you often do see more accurately than others. The trouble is the gap between thinking and doing: the plan has been run ten times in your head and not once in the world. You also tie yourself in knots — overthinking turns small things large and good intentions into calculation.

In the Self palace: where you move easily

• You see the structure of a thing and know which joint actually matters.
• You learn fast and can find your way into a new field quickly.
• You think things through for other people, down to details they hadn't considered.

In the Self palace: what it tends to cost

• 'Let me think about it' has cost you a lot of things that wanted doing.
• You over-read people's motives and invent opponents for yourself.
• You change direction too often, so no road gets walked far.

In another palace

In another palace, that's where most of your thinking goes — and where you're most likely to overthink.