Year of the Yang Wood Dragon, Jia Chen 甲辰

The year of the Yang Wood Dragon (Jia Chen 甲辰) begins on February 4, 2024. This is also known as the Li Chun or the beginning of Spring/Spring Festival. The Dragon is a mythical creature that is said to bring luck and happiness in Chinese culture. It’s the only mythical animal in the Chinese zodiac. All other zodiac animals come from nature and have their natural characteristics. In Chinese culture, the Dragon is a symbol of strength, health, luck, and authority/power. It is said to be the most powerful and egotistical of all the Zodiac Animals. In China, more babies are born in a Dragon year than any other because the Chinese tend to plan their children according to luck cycles, giving them the most advantageous luck.

This Yang Wood Dragon year has a very interesting BaZi chart. It is a completely Yang chart, so there’s a LOT of exuberant energy! Even though there’s a productive cycle in the stems, there’s evidence of conflict in the hidden branches. We can see hints of powerful leadership and overall high energy. This could indicate global conflicts and struggles. There is a lack of Water, the wealth element, which is only found in the hidden elements. This could indicate a global recession. All other elements are productive and rooted in the hidden elements, so this is a chart of bold energy. Hold onto your hats…it’s likely to be a heck of a ride!

The Wood Year is in a clash with the Metal Hour; the Tiger Month is in a clash with the Monkey Hour; and the Dog Day is in a clash with the Dragon Year. Some say that this is the worst annual chart in years due to all the clashes, which create chaos. But if you see a clash as an opportunity for growth and transformation, it could easily be viewed as the best chart ever! Yes, there are bound to be problems, but wherever there are challenges and obstacles, there’s growth if you work toward becoming part of the solutions rather than succumbing to the chaos. Obstacles often give you new perspectives and teach you new lessons. Very often, as they say, when a door closes, a window opens. It’s in times of difficulties and challenges that we are transformed and experience the greatest growth!

In this chart, the Heavenly Stems are in a productive cycle (wood - fire - earth - metal). This can help stabilize some of the chaos with “productive” processes. Another positive thing about this chart is that all the elements are present, even if a little lopsided in their degree of presence. This can be seen as positive. Even with a conflicting and complex chart, the Dragom is spirited, confident, enthusiastic, and intelligent. Surely, that energy will find a way to get through any obstacles in 2024. This is going to be a year of changes. We cannot stay in our comfort zones forever, and this is a year to stretch and reach beyond our comfort zones. With only a small amount of the wealth element, it’s a good idea to avoid frivolous overspending and make sure you have ample reserves. Of course, this will depend on how your personal chart interfaces with the year, but generally speaking, I recommend caution regarding high-risk endeavors. This may not be the best year to take unnecessary risks. Focus on your physical and financial health and stability, and be a problem solver not only for your own issues but those of your family, neighbors, friends, and community. This is also a good year to get a plan in place for the future and to find collaborators/mentors to help execute it.

The major Stars this year are:

Traveling Horse in year and hour indicates travel, changing position, and moving. Overall, changes or transitions. Also in the year pillar is the Tai Ji, which is a powerful nobleman. As you know, a nobleman indicates helpful people, so look around and reach out for the right people to help you…and BE a nobleman yourself. Collaboration is the key to success this year.

As always, there are also negative stars in each pillar, but if you focus on being the best version of yourself you can overcome any negative energy. The overall theme this year is to do whatever you need to do to improve yourself and others. Be the person with solutions rather than talking about all the problems in the world. Take care of yourself and those around you.

If you have DOG in your chart, this will be a CLASH year for you. But never fear, stay focused and be a problem solver and this could be a year that could change your life in a good way.

If you have DRAGON in your chart, this will be a year of SELF-PENALTY for you. Be mindful of how you think and speak of/to yourself. You may tend to self-sabotage so be mindful to avoid self-sabotaging behaviors.

If you have RAT in your chart, you will form a Water combination with Monkey and Dragon that will support wealth this year.

If you have HORSE in your chart, you will form a Fire combination with Dog and Tiger that will support overall luck this year. In the Tiger month (Feb) this will be doubled.

FENG SHUI

The Annual Afflictions are taking up a lot of real estate this year so be mindful about the areas of your home or business that you activate. The Grand Duke/Tai Sui is situated in the SE and just opposite is the Year Breaker/Sui Po in the NW. The Wu Wang/Malicious Star is in the W, and the 3 Killings/San Sha is centered on the S but it spans 75 degrees, which includes 15 degrees on either side in the SE and SW. This year there’s an optional Earth adjustment for the San Sha. This could be an earthen object or a small dish of sand, soil, crystals, or shells. Avoid any activation of these afflicted areas. No construction or digging in the soil. Keep these sectors quiet and tidy.

The best sectors for activity are the E, NE, and N. The Center is the core energy of the year, and this year the quarrelsome 3 Jade Wood Star has taken up residency. The Fire of the Prevailing Star will keep it at bay and reduce the chaotic energy of the Earth-Wood clash. You can expect a lot of energy from the 9 Purple Prevailing Time Star as part of the core energy this year. Just like the BaZi reading, you can expect a lot of bright, powerful energy swirling around you. Take measures to keep your home or workplace as serene as possible. Spend the bulk of your time in the more supportive sectors. Use the Grand Duke as support by sitting with your back to the SE when you are doing activities related to business or even having conversations. Even though the SE is afflicted, the Prevailing and Annual Flying Stars are in a configuration to support wealth luck.

In Feng Shui, we know that every building will have its challenges, and as the cyclical energy moves there will almost always be something that requires a solution. A traditionally trained practitioner can spot those areas and provide solutions. Areas of inauspicious or difficult energy can be mitigated through elemental adjustments. Areas where the energy supports life goals can be enhanced to provide maximum support. If you want to schedule a personalized Feng Shui and/or BaZi chart analysis for the year, you can either email me at HelenKstyles@gmail.com, or submit a contact form HERE. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me. I’m always here to help in any way that I can. Wishing you a healthy, happy, love-filled year!

Xuan Kong Flying Stars 2024 - Prevailing Time Star + Annual Star

2 Black Illness Star

In 2020 the 2 Black (Earth) Illness Star will reside in the South. The South also opposes the “seat” of the Rat year. The 2 Star is one of two inauspicious earth stars…the other being the 5 Yellow Disaster Star, which will be addressed in a different article.

The South sector is associated with the fire element, and this productive cycle of fire over earth intensifies the unfavorable 2 Illness Star. In addition to this, two Annual Afflictions, the Sui Po/Year Breaker and the San Sha/Three Killings also reside here in 2020. This isn’t a place where one would want to spend a lot of time, and you should avoid any construction or ground breaking in or outside this sector in 2020.

If this sector includes your front door, use an alternate entry to your home or building if possible. If this is a bedroom, it would be advisable to move to another room for the year. If it’s in a bathroom or laundry room, you’re in luck since the energy will be drained. A storage or closet are other areas that are “safe” since they are not areas in your home or business that are occupied.

If you can’t avoid using this sector, the addition of metal will help mitigate some of the energy of the unfavorable earth. You can also add plants, but avoid using red decor or triangular shapes in this area. Keep the area tidy, quiet, and peaceful.

As mentioned before, the Sui Po resides here as well in 2020. Facing the Tai Sui provides the benevolent support from the Grand duke, but it is not advised to have your back to the South, facing North. Additionally, the Three Killings/San Sha is seated in the south, but also affects 15 degrees of the Southeast and Southwest. Avoid construction and ground breaking there as well.

Knowing this energy is present is like getting a heads-up on an accident on the freeway ahead of you. Awareness means you can be mindful of how you’re going to proceed. Knowing makes you take precautions and use alternatives to avoid the potential unfavorable energy. It doesn’t mean that you curl up in the fetal position and wait it out…it means that you are mindful and take the appropriate actions to counterbalance the energy that’s there. Avoid spending more time than is necessary there and if you have no other choices, then keep your immune system strong and take precautions against exposure to illness.

NOTE: Those who have the Pig, Monkey, Tiger or Horse in their chart are most susceptible to health issues this year, so use precautions and take the necessary actions to maintain or improve your good health.

As stated in previous articles, this annual Star chart is but one source of energy. There are other permanent Stars in each sector of the natal chart of a building and the combination of all of them, along with the personal energy of the occupants, tells a complete story.

Please feel free to leave your comments below and if you want more information or wish to schedule a consultation (remote or in San Diego), you may contact me through the Contact form or email me at: HelenKstyles@gmail.com

Preparing for the Year of the Rat

The Chinese Lunar New Year begins at sundown on January 24th. But the “Spring Stand” (Solar New Year) begins at 5:15p on February 4th. In Feng Shui, the Li Chun (Spring Stand) is more important than the traditional Chinese New Year because it is the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox., which is literally the end of the yin and the beginning of yang energy.

The energetic significance of this is that on the Spring Stand the energy of the previous year is completely exhausted and the emerging energy of the new year is vibrant and strong. Typically in Hong Kong and Asia businesses will not begin new business until after the New Year because of this waning energy. They wait until after the New Year since there’s no point in starting new business when the global energy is exhausted, opting instead for when the energy of the New Year is fresh and vibrant.

When preparing for the New Year, keep in mind that you don’t want to bring old, broken, exhausted energy into the new year with you. Basically, that means that you’ll want to:

• Discard anything that’s broken and unfixable…and fix anything that needs repairing. Hanging onto broken, unusable items traps a part of your energy in them, which holds you back. By repairing or discarding these items, you no longer have those energetic hooks and it releases energy back to you.

• This is the perfect time for a good old fashioned Spring Cleaning. You may have already started this after the holidays, but keep going and get anything out of your house, car, and office that’s still holding stagnant energy. You know that outfit you bought a couple of years ago with the tags on it? Donate or sell it to someone who will use and appreciate it. It’s just holding you back if you think that you will somehow, after all this time, find the right time and place to wear it. Allow the energy to flow freely between you and others in a positive flow. This is also a good time to turn all your hangars backwards to track which clothes you actually wear so that at the end of next year you can easily identify the ones that are not worn.

• Organize everything, including your thoughts! Start working on a journal or planner and schedule time around the lunar cycle for revisiting your plans and goals. We often set goals at the beginning the year that are never revisited. Use a planner or calendar to schedule days to come back to these and adjust accordingly. The lunar cycle (full and new moon) is a great scheduling tool. Use the New Moon for starting over or setting new goals and the Full Moon for discarding and releasing anything that has not been useful in attaining your goals, or is otherwise holding you back from being the best version of yourself.

• Remove everything, including waste, from your home, office, and car, that is stagnant. Refresh your space with frequency-changing sound such as chimes, bells, or pleasant music to raise the vibration. If possible, let some fresh air in, if only for a few minutes. Smudge with sage or other burnt herbs/incense. Then seal with a spritz of essential oil such as rose water and add a blessing prayer or mantra. Don’t do this mindlessly. Be intentional.

• On February 3 set out your 2020 adjustments/enhancements and make any changes in the arrangement of furnishings and decor to take advantage of the auspicious energy or mitigate any sha energy that will arrive on February 4.

• Set out a bowl or bowls of oranges, tangerines or kumquats, which are a traditional symbol of wealth (by virtue of their gold color). Very often, people will roll this fruit in the door on New Year’s Day to symbolize wealth entering the building. Light candles and meditate

Another Chinese New Year tradition is the distribution of red envelopes with either Chinese coins or other money in them. I like to give each of my clients a red envelope with a dollar in it for New Years, and I like to pay for services in a red envelope. It blesses both the giver and receiver with auspicious luck.

Wishing you a prosperous and joy-filled New Year!

Please feel free to leave comments below. If you want to schedule a consultation for your home, office, or place of business, you may contact me through the “contact” form on this website or email me at: HelenKstyles@gmail.com.