What Is Empty Void? – Meaning and How to View Empty Void in the Birth Chart

Empty void refers to a condition in a birth chart where certain branches are empty, making their energy weak or temporarily inactive. Traditional astrology says that when an empty void occurs, the influence of the corresponding element is reduced or events happen later than expected, and that a favorable sign loses some of its strength while an unfavorable sign is softened. Empty voids are determined based on the day pillar, and within each 60‑day cycle two branches appear as empty voids.

Empty void refers to the two branches in a birth chart that, based on the day pillar, do not form a pair with any of the ten stems and are left empty. Traditional astrology interprets this as a weak or vacant energy. It is mainly used to describe situations where good or bad outcomes are not clearly evident, or where events end in emptiness or remain unfulfilled.

Basic Principle of Empty Void

A birth chart pairs the ten stems with the twelve branches in order, and in this process two branches are always left without a matching stem. These unmatched branches are called empty voids. They rotate in a 60‑cycle from the first stem‑branch pair to the last, and each day pillar has specific empty void branches assigned to it.

Types and Classification of Empty Void

Traditional astrology divides empty voids into four categories: yearly, monthly, daily, and hourly. However, the daily empty void, determined by the day pillar, is the most commonly used. The two branches assigned to the day pillar become the main empty voids for that birth chart.

• For the day pillar of the first two stem‑branch pairs, the empty void branches are Dog and Pig.
• For the day pillar of the third and fourth stem‑branch pairs, the empty void branches are Monkey and Rooster.
• For the day pillar of the fifth and sixth stem‑branch pairs, the empty void branches are Horse and Goat.
• For the day pillar of the seventh and eighth stem‑branch pairs, the empty void branches are Dragon and Snake.
• For the day pillar of the ninth and tenth stem‑branch pairs, the empty void branches are Tiger and Rabbit.

Interpretation and Use of Empty Void

When an empty void appears in the original birth chart, the energy of that branch is considered weakened or less effective. For example, if the wealth element falls in an empty void, financial luck may be hard to attract or may not go as desired. However, an empty void is not always negative. It can temper excessive good fortune or soften bad influences.

Clash and Resolution of Empty Void

When a period of time brings a clash or a combination with the empty void branches, the empty void is temporarily resolved and its energy becomes active. For instance, if the empty void includes the Dog branch and a period brings the Dragon branch, the clash between Dragon and Dog opens the empty void, allowing that energy to appear. This principle can be used to anticipate changes during empty void periods.

Things to Keep in Mind When Looking at Empty Void

Empty void is only one factor in birth chart interpretation and not an absolute rule. Even the same empty void can lead to very different outcomes depending on the overall chart structure, the flow of the five elements, and the placement of the ten influences. Also, having an empty void is not automatically bad; for some people it can help avoid major misfortune. Using the birth chart as a tool to understand one's tendencies and temperament is advisable.