A Is for Alignment
“The ABC’s of the Tao of Forex” series
顺其自然 — "Follow Its Natural Course"
The river does not fight the rock. It flows around it.
顺其自然 (Shùn qí zì rán) translates literally as "follow its natural course." It is one of the most commonly invoked phrases in Taoist philosophy, urging us to align with the inherent nature of things rather than imposing our will upon them.
The concept appears throughout the Daodejing. Laozi repeatedly uses the metaphor of water and rivers to describe the Dao: the river does not argue with the boulder in its path. It yields, flows around, and over time, wears the boulder down. The river never fights. It simply follows its nature, and in doing so, accomplishes everything.
The Taoist Principle
Alignment is the foundational virtue of the Tao of Forex. Before any technique, before any strategy, before any analysis, there is the question of orientation. Are you facing the current, or are you moving with it?
Most traders are taught to approach the market as an adversary. They speak of "conquering" it, "beating" it, "winning" against it. This adversarial mindset is exhausting, and it sets up a dynamic where the market—vast, impersonal, and utterly indifferent to your will—is always the stronger opponent.
Taoism offers a radical alternative. The market is not an enemy. It is a river. Your task is not to conquer the river, but to become a skilled navigator of its currents. Alignment means entering trades in the direction of the prevailing flow. It means accepting that you cannot make the market do anything. You can only harmonize with what it is already doing.
The Trading Application
How do you know if you are aligned or fighting the current?
Aligned: You are trading in the direction of the higher-timeframe trend. Your entries feel relatively calm. You are not constantly adjusting your stop. You are not glued to the screen in a state of anxiety.
Fighting: You are trying to pick tops and bottoms. You are averaging down on a losing position. You are trading against the trend because "it's gone too far." You are exhausted at the end of the day, even if you made money.
Alignment does not mean you will never take a loss. Even the most perfectly aligned trade can be stopped out. But an aligned loss feels clean—you followed the Dao, and the Dao simply changed direction. A forced loss feels terrible—you knew you were fighting, and the river reminded you who is stronger.
The Daily Practice:
Before you place your next trade, pause. Place your hand on your chest. Take one breath. Ask yourself aloud: "Am I rowing upstream or downstream?"
If the honest answer is "upstream," do not take the trade. Wait. Watch. Let the river turn, or let your alignment with it shift. The market will still be there tomorrow. The river never stops flowing.
Closing Mantra
"I do not conquer the market. I flow with it."
This is one letter of the ABCs of The Tao of Forex—a 26-part journey through the ancient principles that transform trading from a struggle into a practice. Each letter stands alone, but together they form a complete path: from Alignment to Zenith.
If this resonated with you, save it. Sit with it. Let it find its way into your next session, your next trade, your next moment of stillness before the charts. The Dao does not rush, and neither should you.
Ready for the next letter?
© 2026 The Tao of Forex
