Follow Pattern vs. Monopolistic Pattern: Both Follow the Trend, But in Opposite Directions
Two patterns that both 'follow' — one goes east, one goes west
Follow Patterns and Monopolistic Patterns (Single-Qi Dominance Patterns) are both special patterns sharing a common trait: 'go with the trend' — no resistance, following the strongest force. But the 'trend' in these two patterns comes from completely different directions. The Follow Pattern's trend comes from the restraining-draining camp (Wealth-Officer-Output); the DM abandons self and submits to others. The Monopolistic Pattern's trend comes from the DM itself (Companion-Resource); the DM is so strong it monopolizes the entire chart. Once you grasp this point, all differences between the two patterns become clear.
Follow Pattern: the DM is too weak and must follow. Monopolistic Pattern: the DM is too strong and reigns alone. One follows others; one follows itself. The direction of following is exactly opposite.
1. Fundamental Differences in Formation Logic: Who Is the Boss
The Follow Pattern's formation logic: the DM is extremely weak; globally the Wealth-Officer-Output side is extremely strong; the DM cannot resist and can only abandon its own stance, submitting to the strongest force in the chart. The core of the Follow Pattern is 'the DM yields' — the master of the pattern is not the DM but Wealth-Officer-Output. The Monopolistic Pattern's formation logic: the DM is extremely strong; globally Companion and Resource form dominance; Wealth-Officer-Output is either absent or fully suppressed. The DM not only does not yield but occupies absolute dominance over the entire chart. The core of the Monopolistic Pattern is 'the DM is king' — the master of the pattern is the DM itself. Two categories of Follow Patterns (following weakness): Follow-Wealth, Follow-Killing, Follow-Officer, Follow-Output (following Eating God and Hurting Officer). The DM submits to forces that restrain-drain it. Monopolistic Patterns have five types: Quzhi (Wood), Yanshang (Fire), Cong-Ge (Metal), Runxia (Water), Jiase (Earth). The DM itself is the core of this monopolistic force. One key judgment: see whether the globally strongest Five Element is on the DM's side (Resource-Companion) or the restraining-draining side (Wealth-Officer-Output). Resource-Companion forms dominance → Monopolistic direction. Wealth-Officer-Output forms dominance → Follow direction.
2. Differences in Yongshen Selection: Two Opposite 'Follows'
Although both patterns speak of 'following the trend,' the direction of the trend differs, and the yongshen is completely different. The Follow Pattern (following-weakness direction) picks the yongshen following the restraining-draining camp — taking Wealth-Officer-Output to continue strengthening the body-restraining force. Since the DM has already submitted, the stronger the restraining force, the purer the pattern. The Follow Pattern most fears Resource-Companion supporting the body — once the body is supported, the DM gains strength and will 'resist,' putting the pattern at risk of breaking. The Monopolistic Pattern picks the yongshen following the DM's camp — taking Resource-Companion to continue strengthening the DM's force, or taking Output to vent excellence (Output is produced by the DM and coordinates with Monopoly). The Monopolistic Pattern most fears Officer-Killing restraining the body — once a rooted Officer-Killing arrives to restrain the DM, the Monopolistic Pattern faces challenge. Simple memory aid: Follow Pattern fears body support (Resource-Companion); Monopolistic Pattern fears body restraint (Officer-Killing). The taboo directions of the two patterns are exactly opposite. The same Five Element can be a taboo god in a Follow Pattern but a favorable yongshen in a Monopolistic Pattern — the key to judgment is the role the DM plays within the pattern.
3. Case Comparisons: Similar Patterns, Opposite Directions
A commonly confused scenario: globally Wood is extremely strong. Is it Quzhi (Wood Monopoly) or Follow-Killing (Wood as Officer-Killing, DM follows it)? The key to judgment is the Day Master — if the DM is Wood, globally Wood is strong, Resource-Companion forms dominance → that's Quzhi (Monopoly). If the DM is Earth, globally Wood is strong (Wood is Earth's Officer-Killing), Wealth-Officer forms dominance, DM is extremely weak and follows → that's Follow-Killing. The same 'globally Wood strong' situation: for a Wood DM it's Monopoly; for an Earth DM it's Follow-Killing. Pattern judgment always revolves around the Day Master — you cannot look only at Five Element strength without considering the Day Master. Another easily confused pair: Follow-Output (following Eating God and Hurting Officer) and Output Venting Excellence within a Monopolistic Pattern. Follow-Output: DM is weak, globally Output is strong, DM submits to Output. Monopolistic Output Venting: DM is strong, Output is the DM's actively 'output' product. In Follow-Output, the DM passively follows; in Monopolistic, the DM actively creates.
4. Luck-Cycle Affinities, Taboos, and Trajectories
The Follow Pattern's luck cycle most fears body-supporting cycles. When Resource-Companion major cycles arrive, the DM gains confidence and wants to 'rebel' — but the global structure still has Wealth-Officer-Output as the boss; rebellion typically results in pattern collapse and declining fortune. The Monopolistic Pattern's luck cycle most fears Officer-Killing cycles. When Officer-Killing arrives, it restrains the DM — but the DM is already accustomed to a monopoly ecology; Officer-Killing's challenge will provoke global backlash. If Officer-Killing is forceful, the Monopolistic Pattern may break; if Officer-Killing is weak, it will instead be counter-restrained by the DM, forming the inauspicious situation of 'resisting Officer.' The common point between both: neither likes 'disruptors.' The Follow Pattern's disruptor is the body-supporting side (Resource-Companion); the Monopolistic Pattern's disruptor is the body-restraining side (Officer-Killing). When luck cycles hit the disruptor side, both patterns face a test of stability. The difference: when the Follow Pattern meets body-supporting cycles, the DM may break the pattern and return to normal (becoming a standard pattern); when the Monopolistic Pattern meets Officer-Killing cycles, the pattern either breaks or shifts into Fake Monopoly (partial following).
Three Disambiguation Dimensions
Career & Wealth
Love & Relationship
Personality
Health
Classical Support
Practical Application Points
- First determine who is the boss — the Resource-Companion side or the Wealth-Officer side : Resource-Companion forms dominance = Monopolistic direction. Wealth-Officer-Output forms dominance = Follow direction. The DM's stance determines everything — the same Five Element strength yields completely different patterns for different Day Masters.
- Pick the yongshen following whoever is the boss : Follow Pattern follows Wealth-Officer-Output, fears Resource-Companion. Monopolistic Pattern follows Resource-Companion-Output, fears Officer-Killing. Both fear 'disruptors' upsetting the pattern's force balance.
- When luck cycles bring disruptors, plan for the worst : Follow Pattern meets body-supporting cycles → may break pattern and return to normal. Monopolistic Pattern meets Officer-Killing cycles → may break pattern or shift to fake pattern. Identifying disruptor luck cycles is a key focus of pattern-based fate reading.
Common Follow-up Questions
Q: What's the difference between Follow-Output and a Monopolistic Pattern using Output to vent excellence?
A:
In Follow-Output, the DM is weak and Output is strong; the DM passively submits — wherever Output goes, the DM follows. In Monopolistic Output Venting, the DM is strong and Output is actively expressed — the DM controls the direction. Key to judgment: DM weak + Output strong = Follow-Output; DM strong + Resource-Companion strong + Output vents = Monopolistic Venting Excellence.
Q: Globally Wood is strong but no Three Harmony or Three Assembly has formed — is it Monopoly or just strong?
A:
Without a Three Harmony or Three Assembly, it is only at the level of 'strong' to 'too strong,' not yet at Monopoly (dominance-formed) level. A Monopolistic Pattern requires the Earthly Branches to have a Three Harmony or Three Assembly Wood structure, or a full plate of Wood with no Metal (Officer-Killing). A Wood chart that is strong to too strong should be analyzed as a standard pattern — it can be restrained or drained and does not need to use Monopoly yongshen rules.