YEAR OF THE YIN WOOD SHEEP (or GOAT or RAM)

Move over Jia Wu (Yang Wood Horse) ----- Yi Wei (Yin Wood Sheep; Goat or Ram depending on your choice) is waiting! 

To avoid confusion over when the energy of the year changes we have to look to the lunar and solar calendars. 

The solar year starts this year on February 4 and it is the date we use when discussing the energetic changes for the year.   This date is also the first of the 24 Seasons of the solar calendar.  The 'Beginning of Spring' runs from February 4-February 18.  The second Season is known as 'Rain Water' and it runs from February 19-March 5.

The lunar year, commonly known as Chinese New Year, begins this year on February 19.  This is the start of the Year of the Yin Wood Goat and is increasingly celebrated in all parts of the world.

Energetically we look to February 4 to have our changes in place for the New Year.  This is especially important in 2015 when the Wu Wang-5 Yellow (generally regarded as the most inauspicious star of them all) moves from the Northwest (breathe a sigh of relief) into the West (beware).  It will occupy 45 degrees of the compass (247.5-292.5). 

The West is the location of the Rooster (W2).  In the Ba Gua it represents Dui (the youngest daughter), Lake or Marsh,  it is Gua 7, the element of Xin (Yin Metal), season of Autumn, the mouth and voice.

The 5 Yellow brings with it the potential for five types of misfortune, all serious in their own right.  Illness, injury, major setbacks in your personal or business life, calamities and danger.

The potential for misfortune will only manifest if the West is disturbed by banging, decorating, renovating or digging.  Anything that will disturb the negative energy of the area and 'bring it to life'.  Keeping the area undisturbed, avoiding it if possible and adding more Metal objects will help ward off any negative influences.

So is it all bad news in the West?  Unfortunately, pretty much.  The only positive is the Duke Virtue Auxiliary Star in W1 which will help mitigate negative energies.

The West is also going to play host to the 3 Killings affliction in 2015.  This affliction (Robbery Sha, Calamity Sha and Annual Sha) will affect the compass locations of the Monkey (SW3), the Rooster (W2) and the Dog (NW1).

Does the bad news extend to the Monkey and Dog?  Not entirely.  In the location of the Monkey (SW3) there are two positive Auxiliary Stars.  The first is Yang Noble, which can stimulate the presence of helpful people.  The second is the Sun Star which can help reduce the effects of having inadvertently activated one of the annual afflictions.  This is a Yang Star which makes it more effective for males in reducing the effects of these issues.

In the location of the Dog (NW1) the Moon Star which being a Yin Star will benefit mainly females in situations when they have difficulty getting their message across or with their financial affairs.  This Star affects moods and emotions and may indicate problems with the opposite sex for males.

The Sun and the Moon Stars are two of the Four Nobles.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.fengshui8mansions.com

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Feng Shui and Chinese New Year

After the excitement of the Christmas and New Year holidays January brings with it a time of quiet, stillness and dark in the Northern Hemisphere.  This is the time of 'Lesser Cold' January 6-January 20 and the time of 'Greater Cold'  from January 21-February 3.  These are the final two seasons of the Solar Calendar Year before the Earth starts to awaken from its winter sleep.

Rather than bemoan the weather, whatever it may be, enjoy each moment and remember that as well as celebration at the start of January there is another celebration at the end of the month; Chinese New Year.  Worldwide more and more major cities are embracing the Chinese culture of welcoming in a new year.  While most do not carry the celebrations through the 15 days of Chinese cultural tradition, which this year runs from January 30 to February 14, they certainly enjoy and participate in parades, Dragon dances, fireworks and firecracker displays arranged in and around the vicinity of Chinatowns in cities across the world.

Chinese New Year begins on January 31 four days before the 'Start of Spring' in the Solar Calendar and most of the celebrations are due to take place on February 2.  The date of Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival as it is also sometimes known, varies each year and is based around the Lunar Calendar.  The Lunar New Year in 2014 begins on January 30, which is New Year's Eve, with a new moon and the start of the first lunar cycle of the year.  The New Year is decided by the start date of the second lunar cycle after the Winter Solstice (December 22-January 5.)

Feng Shui is all about Qi; the energy that is our very existence.   A new year in Feng Shui is identified by one of the 12 Chinese Astrological Animals and one of the Five Elements with either Yin or Yang aspect.  In 2014 this will be the Year of the Yang Wood Horse.  Once the Year of the Horse begins so does a change in the Qi in our environment; both external and internal.  A location that has good and auspicious Qi in the current year of the Yin Water Snake can become bad and inauspicious depending on the quality of the Qi moving in. 

Using the numerology of Flying Stars and an interpretation of their movement it is possible to determine what is good and what is not.  Knowing your personal Kua number and your good and bad locations  as well as your Chinese animal sign at birth will help you determine how your fortunes will fair in a year that will be heavily dominated by Yang Fire.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui, BaZi and the Lunar and Solar Calendars

There are two calendars used in Feng Shui and the Four Pillars of Destiny* (also known as BaZi, Eight Characters or Paht Chee.)   One is the Lunar (Yin) Calendar which is based on the phases of the moon and has an additional month every three years; the other is the Solar (Yang) Calendar (also known as the Hsia Calendar) and it follows the seasonal cycles of the sun.

The Lunar Calendar is said to have completed a full cycle every 60 years.

 

*The Four Pillars of Destiny is a Chart created from the details of your birth date; time, day, month and year.  It signifies the position of the stars and planets at your moment of birth.

The first day of a Lunar Calendar month coincides with a new moon and in general the fifteenth day of a lunar month coincides with the full moon.  When undertaking new projects; such as work-related projects or home decorating, anything new and important to you, it is suggested that doing so during the waxing period of the lunar month (up to the full moon) is a more auspicious time than during the waning or weakening period.

The Solar Calendar changes on February 4** each year and this date is also known as the Lap Chun; the first day of Spring.

**This may vary by the odd day in some years so for an accurate changeover date the 10,000 year Calendar should be consulted.

As an example of a difference between the two Calendars:  the Solar Calendar date of January 1 2013 equates to a Lunar Calendar date of November 20 2012.

In Feng Shui terms the system of timekeeping combines both the Lunar and the Solar Calendars.  This combination which manages the passage of time is known as the Lunisolar Calendar.  The combined Calendar records months that track the movement of the moon, and years that follow the seasons of the sun.

The date for the annual Chinese New Year uses the Lunisolar Calendar as follows.  It is calculated by using the date of the second new moon following the Winter Equinox; the day closest to the Lap Chun and the first new moon day after the major solar season known as the ‘Greater Cold’ whose date varies between January 21 and February 3.

The Solar Calendar identifies your Chinese Astrological Animal based on your date of birth as well as your personal Kua number. 

When calculating your Personal Kua number if your date of birth is before February 4 (the beginning of a new Solar Calendar Year) your Chinese Astrological Animal will be that associated with the previous year.  For example, if you were born January 18 1968 your Astrological Animal will be the Fire Sheep rather than the Earth Monkey and your Kua number will be 6 (male) or 9 (female.)

One of the more advanced Formulas of Feng Shui is Flying Stars.  It is based on the flight of stars (numbers) around the Lo-Shu Grid. 

The Lo Shu numbers and their positions in the Lo-Shu Grid in each period; year; month; day and hour are calculated from the Solar Calendar.

The Solar Calendar is also used to determine each of 24 ‘seasons’ of the year.  These are seasonal changes signifying the optimum time for the planting and harvesting of crops.  It is still referred to as the Farmers Calendar. 

Each of the 24 seasons represent the position of the sun as it travels 15⁰ on an ecliptic longitude.  They each have names such as ‘Lesser Cold’ and ‘Grain Rain’ identifying their place in the year and signifying subtle changes in the annual cycle.

Using the points of the compass the Spring Equinox occurs on March 21 and is positioned at ‘0’; the Summer Equinox is June 21 and is positioned at ‘90⁰’; the Autumn Equinox is September 23 and its compass point is ‘180⁰’; the Winter Equinox is December 22 and its compass position is ‘270⁰.’

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and 12 Chinese Astrological Animals

Is there a link between Feng Shui and the 12 Chinese Astrological Animals?  We are not talking about the Dragon, Tiger, Phoenix and Turtle known as the celestial animals of Feng Shui.  The celestial animals are associated with the external landscape and how it affects your living environment.

The Five Element Theory as well as the balance of Yin and Yang is fundamental to the effective practice of Feng Shui.  The productive, exhaustive and the destructive cycles of the Five Elements are a vital tool in determining the good, the bad and the ugly in your environment and your home.  Yin and Yang is what creates balance in an ideal situation.

On an individual level the Personal Eight Mansions from which you can calculate your personal Kua Number based on your year of birth also has Elements associated with it.  You have four good and four bad directions each with an Element.

The 12 Astrological Animals have elements associated with them together with either a Yin or a Yang aspect.

Each one of the 12 Chinese Astrological Animals resides in a 15⁰ sector around the compass.  Well that only covers 180⁰ in total so how does it work?  Do they follow consecutively around the compass?    

The Later Heaven arrangement of the Pa Kua (the eight-sided  symbol synonymous with Feng Shui) moves in a cyclical, seasonal pattern. 

The third month of each season is the transition point between seasons.  As an example; we are now in the Spring season in the Northern Hemisphere.  The Chinese solar calendar runs from 4 February each year making February the first month of Spring.  It also represents the Yang half of the Wood Element.  The Chinese Astrological Animal associated with February is Yang Tiger and its position around the compass is NE3 (52.5-67.5.) March signifies the Yin half of Wood and its animal is the Yin Rabbit.  Its home is E2 (82.5-97.5.)  April is another Yang month, the month of the Yang Dragon (112.5-127.5) but this time it is the Yang month of Earth; it is the transition month between Spring and the first month of Summer in May. 

There are four seasons and 12 Astrological Animals.  Two Wood (Yang Tiger and Yin Rabbit), two Fire (Yin Snake and Yang Horse), two Metal (Yang Monkey and Yin Rooster) and two Water (Yin Boar and Yang Rat.)  The four Earth elements sub-dividing each season are the two Yang (Dragon and Dog) and two Yin (Sheep and Ox) giving a total of 12.

To make it easier to follow, the two Yang Earth Animals are directly opposite each other on the compass (Dragon 112.5-127.5 and Dog 292.5-307.5) and the two Yin Earth Animals are directly opposite one another on the compass (Sheep 202.5-217.5 and Ox 22.5-37.5.)

So how else do the animals impact on Feng Shui?  Although termed ‘hours’ by the Chinese their hours translate as two Western hours.  Each of these 12 'hours' is identified by one of the animals, as follows:

11.00-00.59         Rat        

01.00-02.59         Ox

03.00-04.59         Tiger

05.00-06.59         Rabbit

07.00-08.59         Dragon

09.00-10.59         Snake

11.00-12.59         Horse   

13.00.14.59         Goat

15.00-16.59         Monkey

17.00-18.59         Rooster

19.00-20.59         Dog

21.00-22.59         Pig

These hours have an influence on Chinese Astrology when calculating your birth chart. 

So while the practice of Feng Shui and the study of Chinese Astrology are independent and they stand alone; just like the Five Elements and Yin/Yang they are complementary and can be used together to enhance your life in a more complete and balanced way.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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