September sees the 4 Wind Star fly into the centre of your home or business. This brings the possibility of career advancement very possible for you. The South, the South West and the West are all hot sectors this month for prosperity, health and vitality. The North West is potentially a weak spot and not a great idea to start renovations or building projects in this sector until after October the 8th. Have a great month!
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Whatever our background or interest in Feng Shui is, it is always useful to take time and reflect on what may be coming in our direction over the horizon in the New Year. Here I would like to share with you my insights using different perspectives and formulae that look at the influence of time, both on us as individuals and also our space.
I like to think of the annual influences in Feng Shui rather like the seasons. In that sense, they are predictable but not right down to the wire. For example, knowing that Spring is on the way, be prepared for it and take advantage of it. If you know your front door is weak and the winter is going to bring strong winds, then be prepared. For me it has been a fascinating study simply to be prepared.
What Chinese Animal Are You?
Chinese Astrology dates back some 2600 years BC. Unlike Western Zodiac Astrology, which is made up of 12 months, Chinese Astrology is made up of 12 year cycles. Each year is given the name of an animal Buddha summoned all the animals to bid him farewell before he died, and only 12 showed up. He then named each of the years after these 12 animals.
The Chinese believe that the animal of your year of birth actually hides in your heart and in your very being.
Discovering Your Animal
Chinese Astrology years begin on new moons and hence their new year does not coincide with the Western one. If you are born in January of February, then the animal of the year below may not be correct. It may well mean that you belong to the year before.
You can check out your correct sign at: www.fengshuisociety.org.uk/?link=ChineseAstrology
The
Rat 1912,
1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
The Ox/Buffalo 1913,
1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997
The Tiger 1914, 1926,
1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998
The Rabbit/Cat 1915,
1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
The Dragon 1916,
1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
The Snake 1917, 1929,
1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
The Horse 1918, 1930,
1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
The Sheep/Ram 1919,
1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
The Monkey 1920,
1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
The Rooster 1921,
1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
The Dog 1922, 1934,
1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
The Boar/Pig 1923,
1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
The Year of the Metal Tiger 2010
In the Chinese Calendar, the yin or yang version of one of the Five Elements will show up throughout a ten-year period. This will also coincide with one of the 12 Chinese Animals. Therefore, with this combination of the Five Elements with the 12 Animals, there are 60 years in the Chinese Calendar.
The Metal Tiger year begins in 2010 on Valentines Day! The last one was way back in 1950 and certainly as a year it brought about plenty of change, challenge and even war. You have two conflicting and very powerful elements at play during the year of the Metal Tiger. To begin with, the Metal in a year that ends with a zero, e.g. 2010, 1950, 1940, 1930, etc., is yang Metal. This can be symbolic of a sword or an axe. It brings about decisions, compliance and strength. There's also quite a strong military aspect to yang Metal. In addition, the 12-year cycle of Animals brings the Tiger into play, and this animal belongs to the Wood element (Metal and Wood clash) and the Tiger represents defence, power, strength and sometimes conflict. When Metal and the Tiger combine, you literally have a coiled up Tiger that is ready to unleash or pounce on its prey!
On
I believe that as time spins quicker and with stronger force nowadays, we may see many examples of rapid change occurring.
MY OVERVIEW OF THE 12 ANIMALS IN THE YEAR OF THE METAL TIGER
The Rat:
The Rat is always clever, elegant, quick and very charming. Always careful with money and often feel that they never have 'enough in their larder'. Always popular and charming, their family and friends are very important to them.
2009 saw the Rat having to work hard and keep its head below the parapet. The Ox made sure that he put his nose to the grindstone! The Tiger, on the other hand, will be much quicker, which will worry the Rat a little bit, but it's fine provided the Rat goes with the flow and takes the opportunities. Perhaps in 2009 travel was difficult for the Rat due to either work or health or finances, but 2010 will be a lot different. Time to get out there and enjoy!
The Ox:
The Ox,
sometimes known as the
2010 is going to be much quicker than 2009. In many ways this will be a challenge for the Ox. But, if there's been something the Ox has wanted to do - a new job, a career, a hobby or a new friendship - all of that will easily come to the surface during 2010. The possibility of romance is there and plenty of possible new career opportunities as well. All in all a very exciting year.
The Tiger:
This, after all, is the Tiger's year! The Tiger is generous, honest, flexible and often very entertaining. Make a friend of a Tiger and you have a friend for life. When a Tiger takes on a project, everyone will notice.
Famous Tigers include Tom Cruise, Leonardo di Caprio, Dwight D Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, Jay Leno, Karl Marx and Marilyn Monroe.
Always an exciting year for the animal whose year it is - in this case the Tiger. 2009 was a little too sluggish for the quick and agile Tiger. But the future looks bright this year. Financially things are on the up and up and new ideas to make money are also there. The Tiger needs to be careful not to take on too many projects and spread their energy too thinly. The early months of the year, March, April and May, are particularly good for the Tiger to get noticed.
The Rabbit:
Sometimes
also known as the Cat in Chinese astrology, there is a loving and caring side
of the Rabbit. They make the best diplomats within Chinese astrology.
They're naturally cautious, a little bit nervous. However, having
said that, they are regarded in
The Rabbit shares the same Wood element deep down as the Tiger. They are, however, the lighter or more yin version. In the Tiger Year the Rabbit needs to be careful, since the Tiger likes to dash around at a great pace. The Rabbit needs to build in lots of time and space for recreation. Everything will be fast, including promotion, windfalls and financial success. The Rabbit just needs to be careful not to burn out or take on too much.
The Dragon:
The Dragon is strong, sometimes controlling, full of energy and incredibly talented. They have a tremendously strong constitution and most Dragons have very good health. They love to be involved and need to be active all of the time. If they're not fully employed in some kind of activity, then they'll find something to do and will often then get in the way!
After the slow 2009 that was driven by the Ox, the Dragon is going to love 2010 because they enjoy the pace that the Tiger brings to the party. Opportunities will show up and this is very good for the Dragon's career. They love working with other people and therefore new clients, new business opportunities are really there for grabs for them. The Dragon needs to be careful that they're not too impulsive in terms of either what they buy or what they take on. It's important that the Dragon takes time out to be with its family this year, otherwise they can become a workaholic.
The Snake:
Unlike in the West where the Snake is regarded as something devious or dishonest, in Chinese astrology the Snake is valued for its wisdom and intuition. They are always amusing, intelligent and very romantic. Often lucky with money, they're quick-witted and love the more psychic side of life.
The Snake would have enjoyed the slower pace of the year of the Ox in 2009. However, the speed of the Tiger year of 2010 may bring some surprises. The Snake will be swept along by the speed of the year and provided they can keep up, it will be fine. There's lots of competition on the career front, and provided they keep in touch with what's going on, they're likely to advance and get a promotion. Fun, romance and travel are very well starred this year for the Snake.
The Horse:
The Horse is always hardworking and proud. Many are independent, fun and gregarious. However, the Fire that resides deep inside the Horse can make them impatient and sometimes irritable. They always need to be on the go and involved in what everybody else is doing.
Horses love the energy and the excitement that the Tiger brings to the party in 2010. Changes for the Horse may include a move of residence, or members of their close family moving out of the house, or some moving in. A very busy year for the Horse and one where they're likely to be invited to all kinds of meetings and parties throughout the year. The Horse needs to be careful in terms of their health and avoid burning out this year. They should also keep a watchful eye on their money, as it is easy for them to get carried away and spend too much. A change of career is on the horizon during the months of March, April and May.
The Sheep:
The Sheep is sometimes known as the Goat in Chinese astrology. They have an amazing imagination and they are often very gifted. They are adaptable and often feel that their talents or skills could be better utilised elsewhere. The saying that the grass is greener on the other side is very true as far as the Goat is concerned. They have a wonderful sense of optimism and have a very good eye for detail, colour, clothing and interior design. Sometimes when the going gets tough, they really prefer to opt out.
The quieter 2009 governed by the Ox suited the Sheep in many ways. The Tiger, on the other hand, is going to bring a lot more fire and heat to the party. This is good for the more creative and artistic Sheep. New job opportunities will show up, as well as their creative streak can become much stronger. New jobs could easily show up, but there is a word of caution on the finance front. Any new deals, developments or investments always in the Tiger year for the Sheep they need to get careful independent advice.
The Monkey:
The Monkey is bright, clever and extremely talented. The digital age does not bother them at all. They love the latest gizmos and gadgets. They're fun, witty and the life-and-soul of the party. Life for the Monkey is never predictable, but you can guarantee it will be fun.
The Monkey really needs to keep up with the Tiger in 2010. There's a danger that the combination of these energies is far too hot - and that Fire, or excessive amounts of Fire, could be an issue. Therefore the Monkey needs to be careful in 2010 to be moderate about what they take on otherwise they risk burning out. Plenty of changes are on the horizon in terms of work and relationship as well. Monkeys should really take a break at the peak of the year, between June, July and August. They need to budget well this year and make more effort than usual to listen to friends advice, especially concerning finance and relationship.
The Rooster:
Always outgoing, popular, fun and sometimes extravagant. They're very direct and it is important that you pay them compliments! They're very good with their friends and family and will always proffer advice, even if it's not asked for! They love their family and their friends and will do anything for them.
The presence of the Tiger this year can in many ways bring out the best in the Rooster. The speedy, quick, witty and party-loving side of the Rooster will chill just a little bit this year. On the other hand, their knowledge, their wisdom and their expertise, especially to do with finance or technology, will be seized upon by others this year. They must be careful not to take on too much and exhaust themselves. There are opportunities for travel and adventure and romance this year. But at the same time, the Rooster must pace themselves otherwise there is the chance that they could burn out.
The Dog:
Always loyal to their friends and family. The Dog is essentially a pack animal and is very hardworking and stands up for those that are closest to them. Sometimes they're stubborn, but it is their honesty and integrity that is superb. They are the most brilliant listeners and often their advice flows out of them in an almost intuitive fashion. Their bark is often worse than their bite and their loyalty is tremendous.
2009 and the year of the Ox was not the easiest time. However, the Tiger year brings a much more optimistic side out in the Dog. There will still be the odd challenge here and there, but the slow moving energy of the year of the Ox, which made the Dog sit on their worries, has now passed by. There is the opportunity that they could receive a bonus, a gift, a pay rise or some kind of promotion at work. The Dog needs to be careful this year not to simply scan financial arrangements or contracts. Best advice for the Dog is to read the small print and certainly pass any contract past a lawyer this year.
The Pig:
The Pig, sometimes known as the Boar, is undoubtedly the best host in Chinese astrology. They reallly enjoy looking after other people and making them feel completely at ease. Their gatherings, their dinner parties, their events or functions, are memorable. They love their creature comforts and like to tune in to their friends and family. They are extremely bright, but they tend to hide this intelligence or mask it.
The Pig needs to be careful this year regarding their finances. The speed of the year of the Tiger can encourage them to spend too much and in an unnecessary way. The Pig is often fond of creature comforts and therefore the advice is not to go too far on that front. It is also important that the Pig looks at all the fine detail to do with communication, contracts and money. By being swept along by the speed of the Tiger, it is easy for the Pig to overlook or forget some salient point. It's good for the Pig to relax and let off steam this year. A more spiritually orientated spa-based holiday would be a perfect treat.
