I used to think I had to choose.
One way was science—psychology. It studies the mind using data, research, and therapy.
The other was tradition—Saju (Four Pillars of Destiny). It reads your birth time to understand your energy and life path.
I thought I had to pick one.
But life doesn’t always follow simple rules.
Two Sides of Me
I’m studying psychology in a master’s program at ASU.
I learn about emotions, trauma, and human behavior. It’s smart. It’s logical. It helps people.
But I’m also Korean. I grew up hearing things like,
“He’s in his fire year.”
“Her water energy is weak.”
These words are from Saju, an ancient system based on the year, month, day, and hour you were born.
One day, I realized I was writing essays about psychology… and checking my Saju chart on the same day.
That’s when I thought:
Maybe I don’t have to choose.
Maybe both can help.
A Moment I’ll Never Forget
A few years ago, I was having a hard time.
I felt tired all the time, even when nothing was wrong. I had a good job, a healthy family, and a stable life.
But something inside me felt blocked.
I tried using what I had learned in psychology.
I practiced mindfulness, reviewed my values, and even wrote in a gratitude journal.
It helped… a little. But the fog didn’t clear.
Then one day, I visited a Saju master during a trip to Korea.
He looked at my birth chart, paused, and said,
“This is your metal year. You are working hard, but your water energy is dry. That’s why you can’t flow.”
I didn’t fully understand it then.
But somehow, his words made sense. I wasn’t just tired—I was out of rhythm.
My life was all control, effort, and structure—no rest, no flow, no softness.
That moment helped me do something simple but life-changing:
I gave myself permission to pause.
I changed my daily routine. I started walking without a goal. I listened more. I rested without guilt.
And slowly, the fog lifted.
Different Tools, Same Goal
Psychology explains why I feel nervous when people judge me.
Saju tells me I was born in a “metal” year—metal is about pressure and control. That matches how I often feel inside.
Psychology calls it an “attachment style.”
Saju calls it an “element imbalance.”
They’re saying similar things.
One gives me a way to heal.
The other gives me a sense of timing.
Together, they give me a bigger picture of who I am.
You Don’t Have to Choose Sides
Maybe you believe in science—but also feel that timing or energy matters.
Maybe you live between two cultures, like I do.
That’s okay.
This is not about choosing one side.
It’s about connecting both sides.
When we do that, we understand not just the brain…
but also the rhythm of life.
Let Me Ask You This:
Have you ever felt like something outside of logic helped you feel seen?
If so, maybe your story also lives between worlds—and that’s where your truth begins.
