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Chinese winter season, 2011, in feng shui

2011-11-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

Winter this year, the year of Metal Rabbit, began at 2:52 AM in Beijing, or 6:52 PM GMT. As the different places in the world alter the readings of the signs to some degree, we will look at the US, UK and the EU, and compare them with China.

The year is Metal Rabbit, the month Earth Dog the day in China is Fire Monkey and in the West is Wood Sheep. The hour varies per time zone. In general, Water element is the element of winter, but this winter Water is nowhere predominant. In China the predominant element is Earth, in the EU it is Fire, in the UK it is Wood and in the US it is Earth. With Earth predominant the natural tendency is to be practical, provident and cautious. With Fire predominant the natural tendency is to rise up. With Wood predominant the natural tendency is to plan. The difference between the presence of Earth in the charts of China and the US is in what it means. For China, because of the signs of the day, it brings out creativity, and for the US it brings out financial interests. Conditions in China favor innovative developments and building up of businesses this winter. Conditions in the US direct our attention to financial matters.

Looking more closely at the UK, the predominance of Wood means that the planning going on is to insure that the UK will be more independant. The UK also has Heaven Medicine Star. This warns of illnesses this winter.

Looking at the EU, the fire shows innovation and a trend in power toward domination of one group over another. The EU at this time is becoming less egalitarian, and more hierarchic. The EU has Star of Prospects this winter. With proper organizing, major businesses, especially in Germany, should do well.

All of the charts have one common characteristic; they all are predominantly Yin. Yin far outbalances Yang everywhere. This means that the processes in force through this winter are essentially rounding out and bringing to completion what began earlier this year, nothing new. The tone is about completion.

The day sign in the EU, UK and the Americas, Wood Sheep, is what is called empty. Empty day sign means unreliable cooperation. We cannot expect international, let alone internal, accord to blossom this winter. The chart for the US also has the hour sign empty. That means that business is generally erratic. The empty sign, Sheep, is in Earth. This also means that money is mismanaged, squandered and lost.

Troubles notwithstanding, the EU, UK and the US all have the Star of Art this winter. This is a good season for creative, artistic endeavours. The EU, UK and the US also have the Star of Prospects this winter. It favors those who engage in independent business activities, and gives hope for gains. Star of Art combined with Star of Prospects is very favorable for artists and people in creative professions.

The star for the first month of winter this year is 9 Fire, a highly active and creative indicator. It puts the star for the year, 7 Metal, in the house of Thunder. The energy is bold. If you are in a good position to gain, you will if you make bold, but calculating moves. 7 Metal is shrewd.

Reduced to I Ching hexagrams, the signs for this winter for the EU give us hexagram 41, Decrease, line 4. It advises to decrease your faults; correct your internal conditions. It will encourage others to approach you.

Reduced to I Ching hexagrams, the signs for this winter for the UK give us hexagram 26, The Taming Power of the Great, line 3. It advises to be aware of danger while persevering toward your goals.

Reduced to the I Ching, the signs for this winter for the US give us hexagram 52, Keeping Still, line 1. It advises you to think before you act.

The charts for the EU, UK and the US focus greatly on finances. They favor those whose careers are in finances, commerce, entrepreneurship, investment, trade, and financial management. In fengshui this points to the money point of your house and place of business. Your Money Points are the far left hand corner of your space, the first place you see upon entering, and the Southeast area of the space. The most accurate money point can also be found from reading your Chinese astrological chart. Make sure that your money points are free of clutter and are attractive to the eye. A traditional symbol of wealth that you can place in one of your money points is a vase of flowers. The traditional Chinese flower for winter is the plum blossom. Other symbols of wealth you may consider are a pot of coins, a conch shell, a picture of a deer, a picture of a dog, a picture or bowl of goldfish, a picture of flowers, a picture of a phoenix, a picture of swallows, and a money toad. If you use a money toad it should be placed high up and facing the door.

To follow articles such as this in Chinese astrology and feng shui click on the follow button at the upper right hand of this article.

Raphael is available for consultations in Chinese astrology and fengshui. To find out more about Raphael's services visit www.raphaelsimons.com.

Raphael's best selling book on feng shui, Feng Shui Step by Step has been reprinted and is available at Amazon.com and at www.createspace.com/3472024.

Fall equinox, 2011 in Chinese astrology and feng shui

2011-09-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Fall equinox, coming exactly midpoint the Chinese fall and winter seasons, shows us a transition of energies, or shifting of the balance. Chinese fall started on August 8th, and winter starts of November 8th. While the seasonal transition is basically from Metal to Water, Metal being the element of fall and Water being the element of winter, the balances of the elements as seen from the perspective of the Chinese astrological charts drawn up for the beginnings of Chinese fall and winter this year show us a lot more.

The chart made for the Chinese fall shows a predominance of Metal element, and the chart drawn for the Chinese winter shows a strong predominance of Wood. Metal and Wood are opposites. This shows us that there will be a strong shift in the energies between fall and winter this year and that the winter will generally become more active than the fall.

The fall chart has 11 Yang elements and 4 Yin elements; the winter chart has 6 Yang and 6 Yin. You may remember how in August the stock market suddenly plummeted while there were severe storms, floods and fires. The energy at the beginning of Chinese fall season suddenly imploded, or contracted. The Yang energy of that energy made the contraction all the more forceful. The winter chart shows an even balance of Yin and Yang. This balance, with a predominance of Wood, shows rapid development of possibilities. The Wood element in winter time will generate lots of roots. Winter will be a good time to make plans for the future. Predominance of Wood may bring a lot of rain, wind and snow in the winter, especially in the east. Predominant Wood will also bring a lot of arguing and fighting in the world. It will also bring up a lot of business activity with promise of growth. For this reason it is good to gear up for future developments in business now. In terms of feng shui the attention goes to your place of work. We notice that the fall chart favors making significant changes or moves in business. The conditions around fall equinox, coming midway between Chinese fall and winter, should help you establish any moves or changes you make so that activities and future plans made through the winter become more fruitful.

The star for 2011, 7 Metal Star, is in the house of 1 Water at the beginning of fall and in the house of 4 Wood at the beginning of winter. This shows how the Metal of this year builds in the fall and profits in the winter. The winter looks lively. It favors communication, socializing, exploring new avenues, engaging in creative activities and making positive plans for the future. Pay special attention to the efficient arrangement of your work environment in all senses physical and mental.

The charts for both the Chinese fall and winter especially favor such activities as teaching, psychic and astrological counseling, therapies, medicine, scholarship, research, writing, designing, and careers involving behind the scenes activities.

The Chinese astrological charts reduced to I Ching hexagrams and lines gives us hexagram 58, The Lake, line 2 for the fall, and hexagram 1, The Creative, line 3 for the winter. The advice for the fall is to be confident in doing what gives you joy. You will have no regrets for the course you have chosen if it brings you joy. The advice for the winter is to be careful to avoid making mistakes. Impetuous moves are ill advised. Set your course in the fall; intelligently follow through in the winter.

To follow articles such as this on Chinese astrology and feng shui click the subscribe button at the upper right of this article.

Raphael is available for personal Chinese astrological readings and feng shui consultations. To find out more about Raphael's services visit www.raphaelsimons.com.

Raphael's best selling feng shui book, Feng Shui Step by Step, has been reprinted and is available on Amazon.com and at www.createspace.com/3472024.

Changing your environment with feng shui

2011-08-31T15:39:00.000-07:00

Changing your environment changes the way you see your life. If your life is stagnating or if you are anxious that your life isn't moving as you wish, short of moving out, change the arrangement of your home and see what happens. Moving is a drastic solution; it certainly gets things to change one way or another - at least until you find your way back into the same old stagnant patterns

Stagnation, the 12th hexagram in the Book of Changes, the I Ching, represents undesirable conditions at the end of summer. It is seen when the forces of Heaven and Earth move apart. It represents the consequences of over-expansion and extravagance. It gives an image of a bed-ridden man who is sick because he has been too ambitious. Another image of Stagnation is of people unable to cooperate. The I Ching says that stagnation allows evil people to succeed. It warns not accept help from exploitative and corrupt people.

How then do we get out of stagnation? First of all, it is most important to take inventory of where we are in our lives. In the traditional way, one gets one's Chinese astrological chart read to determine where one is, where one is going and how one can improve one's luck.

Once we know where we are and where we are going in life, by using feng shui, we can set about rearranging our home or opt to find a new home to improve our luck. Conditions in nature change constantly. The way you arranged your home last year or 10 years ago may not be working for you now. The energy has changed. You have changed. Nothing in nature stays the same. To dwell in a stagnant place that might have been a delight once upon a time stagnates your internal energy and brings about conditions you don't want. Chinese astrology shows how energy changes cyclically through life. Traditional feng shui is like a spacial analogue of Chinese astrology. By working with the energetic patterns shown in your Chinese astrological chart feng shui can is used to mitigate and propitiate those patterns by adjusting the space in which you live and work.

Even if you don't know anything about feng shui, rearranging your environment in a time of stagnation and uncertainty will jog your mind and help you get new ideas and find new opportunities. Short of a professional consultation, use your intuitive sense to change the way you have your home arranged just simply to let in the spirit of success. It is like opening the window to let in fresh air.

If you think of selling your house, in addition to fixing it up, simplifying its decor and making it as neat as you can, you may want to use a special color device to help get it sold. To do this you have to ascertain the compass direction of the front door. Reading the compass direction of the front door is done by standing with a compass in the doorway, looking out and noting the compass direction you are facing.

If your doorway faces North use purple on or within eyeshot of the doorway.

If your doorway faces Northeast use black.

If your doorway faces East use red.

If your doorway faces Southeast use white.

If your doorway faces South use white.

If your doorway faces Southwest use white.

If your doorway faces West use light green.

If your doorway faces Northwest use dark green.

The time to put your house on the market is always critical. If you want to the house to sell and not sit on the market forever it is best to determine the best day in astrology to put the house on the market. It is also very important that if you are determined to sell that you are absolutely sure that you are letting go of any attachments to the house.

If you want to do construction and add on to the house, using Chinese astrology in conjunction to compass methods is essential for the luck of the house and your fortunes. Construction done in the wrong time brings misfortune. Construction done in the right time brings good fortune.

To follow articles such as this in feng shui click on the Subscribe button at the top right of this article.

Raphael's best seller on feng shui, Feng Shui Step by Step was recently reprinted and is available through Amazon.com and at www.createspace.com/3472024.

Raphael is available for Chinese astrological readings and feng shui consultations. To find out more about Raphael's work visit www.raphaelsimons.com.

Feng Shui for Summer

2011-06-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

Due to the differences of our calendars, Western summer straddles both the Chinese summer and autumn seasons. Chinese summer starts on May 6th and Chinese autumn starts on August 8th. Western summer starts on June 21st, exactly mid-point Chinese summer and autumn seasons. When we talk of Western summer in the context of the Chinese calendar we are talking about a period of rebalancing energies in the earth and in our lives from expanding to gathering and contracting. This article covers the conditions seen in this period of transition for this year, 2011, the year of Metal Rabbit.

Looking at the Chinese astrological charts for the summer and autumn seasons this year we find Metal element extremely strong all throughout with Water element increasing in strength. In terms of weather this points to increasing drought conditions especially in the South with storms developing into the fall. In terms of human emotions it points to collective anxiety and growing fear. The antidote to the anxiety and fear is to get organized and make sure you have quiet time in which to clear your mind. In terms of feng shui this means to simplify and organize your home and business and make sure to give yourself quiet space.

The quality of C'hi throughout this period is overwhelmingly Yang. The balance of the elements for summer gives us 11 Yang and 3 Yin, and for autumn 9 Yang and 4 Yin. Predominant Yang favors lots of activity; it is good for starting up, making changes, initiating new interests, going out and moving forward. To add to this, both summer and autumn charts have what is called Traveling Horse star. Traveling Horse star calls for making changes in work, starting new ventures, traveling, moving house, and reorganizing the home. If you don't take advantage of this energy you may experience frustration.

The summer chart favors those who are in independent professions but warns against being overbearing and trying to force your way. The extremely overbalanced Yang Metal in the chart points to dangers of fighting. The way to use Metal successfully is to be decisive, orderly, to trust your hunches and to act skillfully. The nature of Metal is cutting edge and high style. Because the time is so intensely Yang it demands creative action. Decide to make affective changes in your life now. In other words, catch the wave. Take your chances.

The autumn chart also favors those who work alone, but more those who are involved in fields of research. It also favors doctors, scholars, designers, teachers, psychics, metaphysicians, astrologers, people who work behind the scenes, and so on.

The summer chart has three Robbing stars, the autumn chart has one. Three is a lot. It favors sharp minds, and warns against sharp practices, manipulations and theft. Protect yourself, your accounts and your home against thieves, and be aware of your own desires and aquisitiveness. Extreme greed will lead to misfortune. Too much Yang and too much Metal makes it hard to see danger. There is danger. It can be curbed and averted by setting clear boundaries for yourself and well as for others. In feng shui there is a secret method for protecting a property. It involves using the person's Chinese astrological chart and compass reading of the home and burying certain objects in the ground at certain points. Robbing star does not necessarily mean being robbed literally. It can mean being taken unfair advantage of as well as taking unfair advantage of others.

The vital element for both the summer and autumn charts is Water. What is vital to well being is calm, clear reflection. Water, in Chinese terms, is intelligence. It is also pleasure. The compass direction of Water is North. The qualities of Water will keep all in healthy balance.

Raphael is available for private readings in Chinese astrology as well as feng shui consultations. To contact Raphael please visit www.psychicarts.net.

Raphael's best selling book Feng Shui Step by Step (by T. Raphael Simons) was recently reissued and is available at Amazon.com and at www.createspace.com/3472024.

To follow articles such as this in Feng Shui and Chinese astrology click on the Follow button at the top right of this article.

Feng Shui tips for spring 2011

2011-03-16T22:33:00.000-07:00

Spring Equinox comes midway between the Chinese spring and summer seasons. The Chinese springtime begins on February 4th and summertime begins on May 6th. So, what we have here is a transition of conditions. The Chinese astrological chart for springtime has predominant Wood element, and the chart for summertime shows predominant Metal element. Wood and Metal are very opposite elements. Wood expands and Metal contracts and focuses. Use the spring (up to May 6th)to plan and the summer (after May 6th) to execute your decisions.

The weather conditions for spring shows rain and wind, and the conditions for summer shows dry. This means that the weather patterns will shift noticibly through May. In other words, the energy will shift. The general trend through May and beyond is to get focused and organized.

The spring chart shows checkered, and highly unstable business conditions. There is a predominance of Yang Wood. This means violent conditions especially around the spring equinox when it shows a big upset in the world. We just saw a terrible event in Japan, and we can anticipate more to come. Be careful of potential upsets in your personal relationships and career around this time as well. While the chart favors romance it also warns of conflicts. Be especially careful if you are prone to jealousy. Lots of people are pressing their luck. It may work for some but not for others. If you are not good at speculating be very careful. The chart strongly inclines to speculating. If you are sharp and shrewd this is an opportune time, however.

Feng Shui tips for the the spring center around things to do to support your career and work interests and to seek good relations with others both at work and close by. The simplest thing to do around work is to keep the place in order. Simplicity is best. Make sure, if you work in an office, to sit diagonally opposite the door, facing the door. But, do not sit right in front of the door, facing the door, as that invites annoyances and confrontations. Also do not sit in front of a window so that your face is shadowed. Keeping the light behind you so your face is difficult to make out inspires mistrust. In the area of your relationships, create a peaceful environment that allows free movement and relaxation. Provide necessary space in yourself as well as in your home for open, friendly dialogue. Sitting face to face is getting in someone's face and can cause nervousness, unwillingness to communicate and anger. It is best to sit at a comfortable angle to one another to allow for more ease. A favorable color to use this spring is yellow.

The summer chart brings out competitiveness. It especially favors independent, entrepreneurial types. The strong Metal of the time also favors cutting edge and high tech interests. Pay especial attention to your career. Make sure your home office is kept in order. White is the favorable color to use. The area of relationships appears to be calmer, not so charged. Business is the main focus. The summer especially favors those who are enterprising.

All in all the spring into summer favors independent career interests, innovative and exploratory approaches, speculating, taking chances while being careful not to get into conflict. Both the spring and summer charts are predominantly Yang. This means that this is altogether a time for taking initiative. Make sure to simplify your home and work environment so that you are more able to move forward with your plans without creating conflict.

The summer chart also favors moving house, or reorganizing your house or work space. Moving for professional reasons is most favored.

For your personal Chinese astrological forecasts and helpful insights in making the right decisions and moves visit www.psychicarts.net.

Raphael's best seller Feng Shui book Feng Shui Step by Step is now reprinted and available from Amazon.com and at www.createspace.com/3472024

To follow articles such as this in Chinese astrology and Feng Shui click on the Follow button at the upper right of this article.

Chinese astrological view of the year of Metal Rabbit

2011-02-04T00:08:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year began this year with the New Moon of February 2nd. The Year is called Metal Rabbit. Metal Rabbit is assertive and diplomatic. The elements in Metal Rabbit combine to produce Wood. The nature of this combination is to plan and decide. Plans and decisions begun last year, the year of Metal Tiger, will be brought to completion this year.

This year is also the year of 7 Metal Star. 7 Metal Star has the quality of diplomacy. It strives for agreements and is shrewd and calculating. It's weaknesses lie in fantasizing about unrealistic outcomes and in engaging in legal conflict.

The chart made for the start of the New Year gives us the following signs. The year sign is Metal Rabbit; the first month is Metal Tiger; and the first day is Earth Ox. The first hour of the New Year varies with locations.

Looking at the charts of China, Japan, Australia, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Europe, the UK and the US we see the strongest elements as Earth and Wood. The relation of these elements produce what are called the Deities of Authority. The Deities of Authority are the strongest in the world this year. This means on the one hand that this is a year for people to stand up and assert themselves against odds, and on the other hand it means that people who are not so brave have to show loyalty and trustworthiness. Deities of Authority cause stress and dangers of injuries while acting to break barriers. We will see heroic actions being taken this year along with many people being injured.

In addition to the Deities of Authority, we have a secondary emphasis of elements, these being Earth and Metal. And these are in a relation that brings out the Deities of Talent. The Deities of Talent will stimulate creative intelligence, thinking and acting. This is a good year for realizing one's creative potentials. A lot of innovative thinking will be happening.

The chart for the entire world shows four stars: Tien Yi, Nobleman, Heaven Medicine and Death. These stars have the following meanings:

Tien Yi is the most fortunate star of all. Tien Yi is a deity whom all demons fear. She resolves predicaments and encourages people to help one another.

Nobleman Star brings people together to work for mutual benefit.

Heaven Medicine Star on the one hand points to illnesses in the world. On the other hand it is pointing to breakthroughs in medicine.

Death Star adds to the courage shown by the Deities of Authority and it amplifies planning abilities. The negative side of it is that it will encourage legal fights and harm to alliances.

The chart for China is very fortunate. China, while holding a perfectly friendly attitude toward everyone, is acting independently and is prospering despite unstable business conditions. In addition to this, China has it so that everyone is helping them to succeed.

The Chart for the area that includes Japan and Australia shows unstable business conditions on the one hand, and strong creative activity on the other. Conditions in the earth and atmosphere in this region are unstable. There will be more volcanic and seismic activity.

The area of Central Asia that includes Pakistan shows urgent conditions that necessitate change. There is a strong chance of change in the government of Pakistan. Violence is growing. People will become destitute and homeless and will be traveling.

The area of the Middle East is showing able leaders rising up. These people are imposing and will stand out. They will characterize the nature of the Deities of Authority, In all the turmoil opportunities for independent entrepreneurial activities will be found by those who seize the moment. At the same time there is a trend in the Middle East amongst the people to help one another in a kind-hearted way toward stabilizing and clearing away obstacles and to look for chances to prosper. The Middle East has a chance to grow positively through its ordeal.

The region of Europe and the UK and down into West and Central Africa will be luckier than they might think. They can escape disaster this year by showing courage and doing some intelligent and farsighted planning. Quarreling, however, can easily break out and damage alliances.

The United States and the countries of Central and South America, while facing great odds, have two stars of Tien Yi to help toward resolving their predicaments. The US also has the Academic Nobleman Star. It says that if the leaders of the country use their intelligence they may be able to turn the adverse situation around. But they can also fail to see their opportunity by showing arrogance and looking down on others. The country is suffering from a bad case of anxiety. The health of the country is poor.

Basic personal predictions from the Rabbit are as follows.

For Rat this is a year of challenges. You must use the energy this year is producing to be productive. Don't let your frustrations with work get the best of you. Strive forward against odds. It will only make you stronger.

For Ox this is a year to assert yourself and take initiative to overcome obstacles. Take the lead and you will succeed.

For Tiger this is a good year for romance. It is also a good year to work out your plans and be productive.

For Rabbit this is your year to increase your circle of friends and acquaintances. Make sure, however, that those around you respect your boundaries. Take time for yourself.

For Dragon this is a year to pay attention to the needs of others in your close circle, especially children. You need to exercise tolerance and forbearance and be welcoming. If you are a woman this year also favors marriage.

For Snake this is a good year to settle down in a relationship and to make a comfortable home. It is also a good year to learn new things to enrich your life.

For Horse this is a good year for romance. If you are not in a relationship you will have a good chance now. If you are in a relationship it can only get better.

For Sheep this is a harmonious year. Advance in life by accepting challenges and moving forward with self-confidence. You have a good chance to make and save up money.

For Monkey this is a good year to make money. If you are a man this year also favors marriage.

For Rooster this year offers you a challenge to look into different angles to make money. It could change your outlook.

For Dog this year offers happiness and support. It is a good year to settle into a good home and to take up a new interest. If you are a woman this year also favors marriage.

For Pig this year will be creatively productive. Pursue your business and creative aims. Many new ideas will come.

To follow articles such as this click on the Follow button at the upper right of this article.

Raphael is available for private consultations in Chinese astrology and Feng Shui. To find out more about Raphael's work visit www.psychicarts.net

Raphael's book Feng Shui Step by Step was recently reprinted and is available through Amazon.com and www.createspace.com/3472024

Feng Shui Tips for the Year of the Tiger and 8 Earth Star

2010-02-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

Based on this writer's two prior articles on the Chinese New Year, as seen on http://www.examiner.com/x-34155-Albuquereque-Metaphysical-Examiner, here are some Feng Shui tips that you can use to help make this year go more smoothly and increase your luck. This is the Year of 8 Earth Star and Metal Tiger.

Being the year of 8 Earth star, the first thing to look at is the position of 5 Earth. 5 Earth is the Star of Distruction. It is in the Southwest this year. If your front door looks out to the Southwest you will need to protect it and your home against destructive influences. This is done simply either by attaching a Bagua Mirror over the front door outside, looking out, or, if you don't choose to do that, put five pennies under the doormat. Arrange the pennies in an inverted V pattern so that it points out, not in.

Next, the Star of illness, 2 Earth Star, is in the Northeast. If your door looks out to the Northeast, it will help if you put a small gourd on the door. The gourd is a traditional talisman for medicine; it relates to Lu Tung Pin, the most popular of the 8 Immortals in Taoism. If you don't want to hang a little gourd from the door handle, you can use the cure of the 5 pennies under the doormat. It works just as well.

Another cure that is used to ward off illness and destructive spirit is to hang a Money Sword from the door handle. This is a talismanic sword that is made of Chinese coins. It can be found in Chinese shops.

8 Earth Star is the money star for the present 20 year cycle that runs from 2004 to 2024. Being in the middle of the 9 Star Map this year, it signifies that money is limited and in a transitional state. To insure that you have a maximum flow of money this year, make sure that the center of your house, all the rooms that include the middle of your home, is open and clear of any clutter. Clutter in this area this year is particularly critical and can obstruct your money and cause needless distress in your life and health. 9 Fire Star is the star of future wealth. It is a very lucky star. If you want to build your money, put money symbols in the East area of your house; 9 Fire Star is in the East this year. Money symbols include two Chinese coins tied together by a red silk string, a vase of flowers, a pot of coins, two gold fish, a conch shell, and the famous money toad. Generally, however, a money toad should be placed high up and facing the front door. To get the money toad to work you have to replace the coin in its mouth with another coin once every new moon.

This is the year of Tiger. If you were born in the year or on the day of Snake, Rooster or Ox the direction of Tiger - East/Northeast - is particularly unlucky. Don't sit with your back, or sleep with your head to East/Northeast this year, next year (year of Rabbit) or the year after (year of Dragon) if you were born in the year or on the day of Snake, Rooster or Ox.

If you are born in the year or on the day of Pig, Rabbit or Sheep you need to pay attention to your Marriage Element to protect your spouse or partner. In the simplest Feng Shui terms, this points to the area of your home to the farthest right hand as seen from the perspective of looking in from the front door. Make sure this area of your home is in a good and balanced condition. Disorder in this area can inspire discord in your relationship and, at worst, lead to legal problems. The Star of Romance for Tiger is in the East. The East direction is a very sensitive area for attracting and generating love this year. Put a picture of love birds in the East area of your home to improve your luck in love this year.

If you are Buddhist or Taoist place a statue of Kwan Yin in the South area of your home this year for love and protection for your home and loved ones.

If you were born in the year or on the day of Ox make sure your home is protected especially if your door looks out to the North/Northeast. Make sure the locks are good; you may want to install an alarm system if you don't already have on. Tiger is the robbing star for Ox.

If you are planning on adding onto your house avoid building onto the Southwest or Northeast areas of your house this year. Also avoid building onto the West/Southwest area of your house.

Make sure the South area of your house and land is free of hazards. Accidents and sudden happenings can happen in that area this year.

For a more complete and indepth Feng Shui reading of your home, you may want to consult with me. My website address is www.trs-fengshui.com.

In general, the year of Tiger is going to be full of surprises for many people. That kind of energy can be taken well. The most important thing is to know what you want to see open in your life and prepare for it. Feng Shui teaches that the skillful arrangement of the home and business environment influences what happens in our lives and fortunes. Feng Shui is deeply rooted in the 9 Star and Batzu Chinese astrological systems with their compass methods.

by Raphael Simons
Astrology, Psychic Readings, Chinese Astrology, Feng Shui, Get a telephone consultation or reading

The Year of Metal Tiger in Chinese Astrology: Predictions

2010-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Chinese Lunar New Year began at New Moon, February 13 - 14, 2010. This is the year Metal Tiger. The month is Earth Tiger. The day is Wood Sheep, and the hour in Washington DC is Fire Sheep.

For the world in general this is going to be a turbulent year with pronounced dangers of violence. People and governments will become angry, go to extremes and get into fights. Patience is lacking. Acts of terrorism are likely. The vital element, or watchword, for the world, as shown by this chart, is strict maintenance of law and order. The danger lies in defiance of order. The wrong people will try to take the lead and make heros of themselves. Many people will suffer.

Alliances between nations appear to be shaky. Fortunes are unstable. Quarrels will strain international relations. The chart shows the powers of the East far overbalancing the West. This is good for neither the Asian nor Western powers. China is now too strong. If China does not curb its growth, but continues as it has been going, it will see economic upsets coming.

The chart has two very interesting stars. They say that by studying the signs and practicing divination, astrology and religion the noble-minded will come through difficulties unscathed.

For the US in general the chart is favorable for all professions involving financial and commercial matters; money management; entrepreneurship; investing and trading. Playing precious metals is good. If you play the stock market, however, be very cautious after the summer. It will take more than 2010 for the economy to turn around. The elements in the world are severely out of balance.

The chart has a preponderance of Wood and Metal elements. It is extremely Yang. It suggests that there will be much heat and storms this coming spring and summer and a probability of floods especially on the east coast.

If you were born in the year or day of Monkey, Rat or Dragon this is an important year for you to make a significant change. Either travel, change residence, make an important career change, or change your house around. Metal Tiger is such a strong sign that if you don't do any of these things, you will become extremely discontent, waste a lot of time and money and/or clash others.

If you were born in the year or on the day of Snake, Tiger year will be a challange for you. Tiger is friendly to Pig, Horse, Dog, Rabbit and Dragon, and is neutral to Ox and Sheep. To find out how you will fare this year you may want to get your own personal Chinese astrological chart reading done.

Reduced to an I Ching hexagram, the beginning of this year of Metal Tiger yields hexagram 32, line 2. It says the great person stands firm and does not change direction. Changes come with the changing seasons. This is a time to persevere. Be calm and adapt to the time. If you maintain balance you will have a good year. Going to extremes is not wise.

by Raphael Simons
Astrology, Psychic Readings, Chinese Astrology, Feng Shui, Get a telephone consultation or reading

Chinese Solar New Year Predictions for 2010

2010-02-13T23:58:00.000-08:00

The Chinese Solar New Year, or the beginning of the Chinese Spring Season began on February 4th. The Chinese Lunar New Year, the official Chinese New Year begins on the New Moon, February 13th/14th.

The Chinese Solar calendar marks this year as the year of 8 Earth Star. What this means for the world in general is that financial fortunes are at a turning point. Money is seriously restricted. Large financial interests and businesses that have run into trouble are now running the risk of collapse while new and far sighted ventures that are starting up may look forward to coming years of growth and prosperity. In spite of obvious difficulties this is a good year to start up a futuristic venture. Old business models, especially in publishing and other forms of media, are destined to fail unless they radically regroup. It is time to plant a seed and tend it carefully. Don't expect profits soon. Look forward. The entire financial picture of the world until the year 2024 is at a turning point this year. The old models of business are crumbling.

Real estate and banking are not in good shape this year. Be very careful in these areas.

Each of us was born under one of the 9 stars. This gives each of us a different fortune for the year.

To find your fortune based on your Chinese birth star use the following table. Note that the Chinese Solar Year begins on February 4th, not January 1st. If you were born between January 1st and February 4th, use the year prior to your birth to find your Chinese birth star. The nine birth stars are listed below for the years 1970 through 1978. If you were not born between 1970 and 1978 find your birth star by adding or subtracting 9 or a multiple of 9. For example, if you were born in 1965 add 9 to 1965 to get 1974 to find your birth star. Also note that the birth stars are not the same for men and women. The birth stars are as follows:

The birth star of 1970 for men is 3 Wood Star, and for women is 3 Wood Star.
The birth star of 1971 for men is 2 Earth Star, and for women is 4 Wood Star.
The birth star of 1972 for men is 1 Water Star, and for women is 5 Earth Star.
The birth star of 1973 for men is 9 Fire Star, and for women is 6 Metal Star.
The birth star of 1974 for men is 8 Earth Star, and for women is 7 Metal Star.
The birth star of 1975 for men is 7 Metal Star, and for women is 8 Earth Star.
The birth star of 1976 for men is 6 Metal Star, and for women is 9 Fire Star.
The birth star of 1977 for men is 5 Earth Star, and for women is 1 Water Star.
The birth star of 1978 for men is 4 Wood Star, and for women is 2 Earth Star.

The fortunes for the 9 birth stars.

1 Water Star this year may look forward to imaginative new ideas and romantic affairs coming up. Moving, communicating, meeting people and traveling is favored. Be careful to read the small print when getting into contracts, however. Your imaginative expectations may exceed reality and you may regret what you get into in the long run. Pay attention to details. This is a good year for you to engage in creative projects and ventures.

2 Earth Star this year looks forward to serious challenges. You are not as secure as you may wish. Be careful to avoid clashes with others. Avoid putting yourself in a precarious position and making trouble for yourself. This is an important year to consolidate and save up. You may gain insight and learn from whatever difficulties you face. Family problems will need your attention.

3 Wood Star this year may look forward to fame and recognition from creative work done in the past. On the other hand trouble that may have been lurking underground last year can come up unexpectedly and bring you into conflict or embarrisment. Then again, there may come about an unexpected and welcome love affair. This is a year of surprises. Make yourself happy and take advantage of every opportunity, some of which will come from out of the blue.

4 Wood Star this year may look forward to running into a groove. This may be desirable or undesirable depending on whether you have found your niche. If desirable you may expect to travel and for your affairs to run much more smoothly and predictably this year. If not so desirable you may feel that you are stuck in a rut and will have to put up with delays. Someone in your circle may be emotionally troubled this year. Try to stay objective about it.

5 Earth Star this year may look forward to slow, steady progress. It is a good year for settling down, getting married, making commitments, building a home or a business and making money if you are comfortable with plodding along. One thing you can be sure of is that you will be better off one way or another by the end of this year.

6 Metal Star this year may look forward to sudden developments. Take bold measures. You are resilient this year. Your actions can cause your conditions to change dramatically. Be careful not to act out of anger, however. If you do you will shoot yourself in the foot. It is time for you to celebrate life and make yourself happy. You have great ability to take calculated risks. Think creatively.

7 Metal Star this year may look forward to a relatively easier time than before. The ways are opening for you with plenty of coming and going, communicating and traveling, and greater ease in your relationships. Take advantage of all opportunities that come your way. You have good chances to prosper this year.

8 Earth Star is at a turning point this year. You are at a pivotal point. You may feel seriously hemmed in and will be impatient with others and with circumstances beyond your control, and may very well be prone to fits of anger. You may feel that you are under too much pressure. If you entertain conflict with someone close to you the relationship may be seriously damaged or break up altogether. If you get into conflict at work you will run the risk of misfortune. If, on the other hand, you are fortunate enough to start a well thought out new venture it will last a long time and you will prosper over the coming years. If you want to move house don't do it unless you are planning to move far away. The part of wisdom says stay centered.

9 Fire Star this year may look forward to being at a great advantage in just about everything. This year favors creative activity, making bold decisions, taking the lead and asserting yourself. You may confidently shine like the sun in the clear sky. Look your best. You may entertain many people and be admired by them all while comfortably holding them at arms length. Everyone will admire you. If you are an actor or artist, this promisses to be a very good year for you. In your more intimate relationships this is the time for you to communicate your desires so that you move in a good direction in the future. Be creative.

by Raphael Simons
Astrology, Psychic Readings, Chinese Astrology, Feng Shui, Get a telephone consultation or reading

The Feng Shui of Your Bedroom

2009-10-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

In Feng Shui two of the most important things to consider in a home are the positions and alignments of the front door to your home and the placement of the bed. The Chinese astrological and compass methods are traditionally used determine the best place in the house not only for assigning the bedroom, but the best wall in the bedroom on which to place the bed and the best colors to use to insure optimum health and rest.

The best orientation for the bed is determined by your Chinese astrological chart. Short of drawing up your Chinese astrological chart, however, here are some practical points you may want to consider.

The worst sleeping position is called the "coffin position." The coffin position is such that the foot of your bed points directly out the bedroom door. This is called the coffin position because it was the way bodies were laid out after death in ancient China. Sleeping in the coffin position exposes you to the Chi that rushes into the room; it can leave you feeling lethargic even if you get plenty of sleep. It may also make you feel unsettled and irritable, and not want to stay at home which then can upset your relationship. If your bedroom is too small or makes it impossible to place the bed in any position but the coffin position, you may remedy it by placing a piece of furniture such as a book case or chest between the foot of the bed and the bedroom door as a barrier.

The ideal position for the bed is diagonally opposite the bedroom door. There should be a solid wall behind the headboard. No wall behind the headboard may cause headaches and other health problems.

If you place the bed under a window, you will be exposed to cold air drafts and may have restless sleep and disturbing dreams. If you have no choice but to put your bed under the window, cover the window when you go to sleep.

It is generally inadvisable to place the bed along the same wall as the door or to lie with your head behind the door as that can make you feel insecure. You should also not sleep with your bed in a direct path of the bedroom door because the Chi coming in will cut across your body. It is not good to sleep with your head on a wall behind which is the toilet or stove. We will go further in a future article.

Raphael Simons

www.psychicarts.net

The Feng Shui of your House and Doorway

2009-10-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

The Harmony of your House and Doorway

The relation between the way a house sits in the land and the direction that its front door faces is unknown to most modern builders and developers. Very little about this has been described in Western fengshui books simply because most of this information is unavaiable in the West.

Disharmonious structures in which people live bring about disharmonious situations in their lives whether they know feng shui or not. What has been described of house placement on the land in popular feng shui books is fragmentary, having only to do with the four constellations: the Warrior, the Dragon, the Phoenix and the Tiger. Accordingly, the most ideal situation for a house is to have the land rise behind and slope away in front, and to have the land to the left-hand side (when looking out the door) rise higher than the land to the right-hand side. While this is fine, it is not always true and is certainly not enough to go by. What I describe below is a simplifcation of an elegant classical method consisting of 24 possible house sittings with 64 door locations, 64 door facings and 192 feng shui star positions. To describe it fully would take an entire book.

The first thing to consider is how your house sits in the land. No matter if the land rises in back, at a corner, to any side, or even in front, where the land rises is the direction in which the house sits. And where the house sits is opposite where the house faces. The direction the door faces is not necessarily the same as the direction that the house faces.

In this simplified form, there are eight possible directions for the house to sit in. The house will sit either in the N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W or NW. Remember, the sitting of a house is not necessarily the back of the house; the sitting of a house is where the land rises. To determine the compass direction of the house's sitting, walk around the house outside, stand right at the edge of house and face the most noticible rise you see in the land, then read on the compass the direction you are facing. Next thing to do is determine the direction your main door is facing. That is done by standing in the doorway, facing out, and reading on the compass the direction you are facing.

It is never desirable for the doorway to face the same direction as the house's sitting. If the house sits in the North, the more positive directions for the door to face out are E, SE and S; the best direction is E.
If the house sits in the NE, the more positive door directions are SW, W and NW; the best is W.
If the house sits in the E, the more positive door directions will be SE, S and N; the best is N. If the house sits in the SE, the more positive door directions are S, N and E; the best is N.
If the house sits in the S, the more positive door directions are N, E and SE; the best is E. If the house sits in the SW, the more positive door directions are W, NW, and NE; the best is NE.
If the house sits in the W, the more positive door directions are NW, NE, and SW; the best is NE. If the house sits in the NW, the more positive door directions are NE, SW, and W; the best is SW.
If your door is in an undesirable position, put a BaGua mirror above the doorway, outside, looking out. Never hang a BaGua mirror inside the house.

For houses that sit on absolutely flat land, the thing to look for is a land feature, even a stand of trees. Barring that, especially if you live in an apartment in the city, the thing to do is get a compass reading of the front door. See if it faces out N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, or NW.

There are effective color cures for inharmonious door positions and for harmonizing the door's element with the element of your date of birth that I will describe in the next fengshui article I post. Harmonizing the elements of your home, its doorway and your date of birth is a big step in making an affective environment.

Raphael Simons

www.psychicarts.net
www.trs-fengshui.com

Earth in Chinese Astrology and Fengshui

2009-10-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

In Chinese tradition there are five elements: Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. When arranged in space, Earth is in the center. All the other elements are rooted in Earth. While Earth is present through the year, Wood comes out in Spring, Fire comes out in Summer, Metal comes out in Autumn and Water comes out in Winter. Earth contains all the seasons. Earth has two expressions, the first is the actual earth on which we live and the other is the North Star. One is called Tu, the other is called Ti. The North Star is called, in the Taoist system, the palace of the Jade Emperor under whose rule universal order and harmony is maintained. In ancient Taoist belief, there is an earth deity called Tu Ti Gong. Tu Ti Gong means the worker of Earth. He is the one who brings messages up to the heavenly court of the Jade Emperor from the people living in the villages and households of the ordinary world. The traditional idea of Feng Shui is to make harmony between the earth and heaven in the dwelling place. When that is done life and fortunes flourish.
The element Earth rules everything necessary and ordinary. It rules food, clothing, housing, money, medicine, marriage, family, motherhood, and so on. In Chinese medicine, Earth corresponds to the stomach, spleen and pancreas, also the flesh and female reproductive functioning.
In Chinese medicine the spleen is considered the central organ of the entire system. The Nei Ching, the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, says, "All the organs desire their breath of life from the spleen. The spleen is the transporter of energy. Spleen regulates the center. From it everything is carried out to the rest of the body-mind domain." If spleen function is sick, such symptoms as malcoordination and lack of balanced connectivity develop physically, emotionally and interpersonally.
About the stomach, the Nei Ching says, "The stomach acts as a place of accumulation as a source of supply." If this function is sick, energy depletion, lethargy and debilitation result. Too much stomach chi, the person accumulates and doesn't know how to use what they have. Too little stomach chi, the person neglects to take in. Too much spleen, the person gives and gives. Too little spleen, the person has trouble sharing.
Earth element, according to Confucius, is equanimity. Everything in life is balanced and in harmony when equanimity if established. Your Chinese astrological chart shows us the condition of Earth element in your personal life as bears on your health and fortunes. In terms of the Feng Shui of your home, Earth is always at the center. It is also found in the Northeast and Southwest areas. If the center of your home is cluttered, your ability to connect and share is impared. If your entire space is cluttered or disordered, you tend to become anxious and disorganized. If the Northeast area is cluttered, you will have financial problems. If the Southwest area is cluttered, you will have relationship problems. Houses with a toilet, euphemistically called the "powder room", in the center, have depleted Earth chi. If you have such a situation, paint the powder room red. Red is the color of Fire. Fire strengthens Earth.

www.psychicarts.net

by Raphael Simons
Astrology, Psychic Readings, Chinese Astrology, Feng Shui, Get a telephone consultation or reading

Feng Shui and Health

2009-10-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

Your Health Star in Feng Shui

In the traditional Taoist view, good health results from a dynamic, balanced interaction of the elements in our mind, emotions and body. The elements, in the Taoist system, are expressions of interrelated polarities called Yin and Yang. The elements, called Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal, generate and destroy one another, and correspond to such things as time, space, light, color, climate, the organs of the body, and so on. For example, Water corresponds to winter, night, North, cold, black, and to the kidney and bladder functions as well as to the brain, nerves, teeth and bones and to general sexual functioning. In its relation to the other elements, Water is generated by Metal, generates Wood, destroys Fire and is destroyed by Earth. The Five Elements are qualities of Chi, or energy and describe kinds of movement. For example, Water freezes and flows, Wood stretches and grows, Fire expands and leaps, Earth draws together and balances, and Metal contracts. Movement happens because of the changing interrelations of Yin and Yang. Everything arises and ceases through the interrelations of Yin and Yang. When Yin and Yang become still, Chi resolves into Tai Chi, or the Source of all things. The Tai Chi itself resolves into and arises from Wu Chi, or absolute, infinite no-thing-ness.
Illness comes from obstructed Chi. Obstruction happens when the flow is harmed. Health is regained when the natural flow is restored. This is a basic principle in Chinese medicine and Feng Shui.
In traditional Feng Shui, the condition of Chi in a person's life is discerned by Chinese astrology. While there are several systems of Chinese astrology in existance, there are two that are used in Feng Shui. They both derive from the Taoist theory of Chi, Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements. The two systems are Chui Kung Ming Li, or nine-star astrology, and Ba Tzu, or eight-word astrology, also called four pillar astrology. Both of these astrological systems are extremely ancient. And while they both should be used together, almost everyone in the West who claims to use Chinese astrology in Feng Shui, uses only the nine-star astrology. Almost no Westerner knows Ba Tzu fully. This is because Ba Tzu can only be done in Chinese characters and with a special kind of Chinese astrological ephemeris. Beside it being an excellent way of telling the future, the most important thing in Ba Tzu is that it reveals a person's vital element. The vital element, also called the spirit of the chart, is the element that the person's life depends on. Based on this all-important bit of information, a Feng Shui expert is able to set up a person's space so it supports the person's health correctly. This is highly technical and it takes a lot of time to study and learn.
In the nine-star astrological system there is, however, an easy way to calculate an element that benefits a person's health. A star that balances your birth star-element, your Health Star has a corresponding direction in space and color. Because nine-star astrology is a numerological system, it is easy to translate into Western terms. In addition to Ba Tzu, I always use nine-star in my work. It is elegant and effective. To find your Health Star you first need to find your Birth Star. The calculation differs for males and females. Here is a basic table:
The Birth Star of a female born in 1968 is 1. A male born in 1968 is 5.
The Birth Star of a female born in 1969 is 2. A male born in 1969 is 4.
The Birth Star of a female born in 1970 is 3. A male born in 1970 is 3.
The Birth Star of a female born in 1971 is 4. A male born in 1971 is 2.
The Birth Star of a female born in 1972 is 5. A male born in 1972 is 1.
The Birth Star of a female born in 1973 is 6. A male born in 1973 is 9.
The Birth Star of a female born in 1974 is 7. A male born in 1974 is 8.
The Birth Star of a female born in 1975 is 8. A male born in 1975 is 7.
The Birth Star of a female born in 1976 is 9. A male born in 1976 is 6.
If you were born in a year outside this range, add or subtract 9 or multiples of 9. For example, if you were born in 1948, you would add 27 to get 1975. Or if you were born in 2004, you would subtract 36 to get 1968.

Your Health Star

The Health Star for 1 is 9 Fire. The Health Star for 2 is 6 Metal. The Health Star for 3 is 4 Wood. The Health Star for 4 is 3 Wood. The Health Stars for 5 are 2 and 8 Earth (note that 5 has two Health Stars). The Health Star for 6 is 2 Earth. The Health Star for 7 is 8 Earth. The Health Star for 8 is 7 Metal. And the Health Star for 9 is 1 Water.
Once you find your Health Star you can use it for aligning yourself when you sit, meditate, stand for Chi Kung exercise and lie down to sleep. The correct way to align your self is to put the direction of your Health Star to your Back when sitting and standing, and to your Head when lying down. You can also wear or paint your room with the nine-star color of your Health Star to support your health. You may notice that the nine-star color scale is different from the five-element color scale. In the color descriptions below please note that I have included the five-element color, where it applies, after the nine-star color.
1 Water is North and white, also black or deep blue. 2 Earth is Southwest and black, also yellow. 3 Wood is East and light green or light blue. 4 Wood is Southeast and dark green or light blue. 5 Earth is not used as a Health Star. 6 Metal is Northwest and white or silver. 7 Metal is West and red, also white or silver. 8 Earth is Northeast and white, also yellow. 9 Fire is South and purple, also red or rose.

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Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology, I Ching and Real Estate: Looking for a New Home.

2009-08-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

In addition to some rules of thumb for looking for a prospective new home, this article answers the questions: what's coming up in the state of the economy; whether it is better now to buy or rent; whether or not to remortgage now; and whether or not to sell now. The Chinese astrological I Ching method known as the King Wen method gives these answers:

The economy is improving slowly and gradually. Avoid making unnecessary major changes. Use your potentials and take advantage of the good opportunities that are beginning to appear now.
Whether it is better to buy or rent now: There are advantages and disadvantages to either option. Be very careful if buying. What looks like a bargain could turn out to be a waste of money in the long run. On the other hand, making a sound investment now will save you money in the long run. If you think of renting, consider how you are using your money. In general the picture of buying and renting is pretty much equal.

Whether to remortgage: It's not the best idea now; money is moving slowly. Short-sightedness is foolhardiness. The advice is to take only appropriate actions based on right motives.

Whether to sell now: The answer is yes but only if to buy a new place now or else to put your money into your business.

These answers are general and depend on the area of the country. For specific, personal answers these or other questions, you may want to consult with me. My contact information is at the end of this article.

The following are some Feng Shui tips for looking for a new home.

The most important thing when looking for a new home is to notice how your body feels when approaching, walking around, entering and leaving a place. If you don't feel good, the place is not for you. There is a Chinese tradition that says: if possible, bring a little boy with you when looking. If he runs around and wants to pee, it tells you the house has good Yang energy. Notice the wild life and the energy of the neighborhood around the house. If it is happy and peaceful, it is good; money will come in. If it is tired, or if the surroundings look delapidated, the ground energy is waning and it is not good; money will run out. Be very alert to any feelings of danger you might get; a house with what is called secret arrows can bring sudden misfortune. If the house is built on top of an old burial ground, don't move there. Check out the history of the house if you can. If the prior owners were fortunate it's a good sign. If not, it's a bad sign. If the house has a history of untimely deaths, illnesses, divorces, violence and such, be cautious. Unless you know how to clear such energies, or employ the right person to do that, don't buy.
If a house is crowded, or overwhelmed by trees or is in a land depression that feels stagnant the situation is not good and will contribute to making your life become stagnant. A house high on a windy hill is too active and will dissipate your fortunes. Water courses running away from the front door of the house will pull your money away. Water courses are best for your money luck if they flow from the right to the left around the house as seen from standing in the front door. A pond seen directly to the south of the front door is unlucky.
Best avoid buying a house at the end of a cul de sac, or a T Junction, or a house in front of which there is a road coming directly toward the front door is very bad. A semi-circular driveway that comes around toward the front door is also best avoided; it represents a knife cutting against you. It is best for a house to be set back from the street, and to have steps leading up to the front door. When entering a house, notice whether you feel that it is easy to move about and there are not any broken lines in the interior alignments of walls.

For more information or questions about a Chinese astrological reading and/or Feng Shui consultation, contact
Raphael Simons
www.psychicarts.net

by Raphael Simons
Astrology, Psychic Readings, Chinese Astrology, Feng Shui

Get a telephone consultation or reading

Feng Shui and the Recession

2009-08-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Not that these aren't challenging times, but all the fear mongering and consequent public anxiety isn't helping anyone. How can Feng Shui help with this, you might ask. It is my experience that when life becomes stagnant and money is not coming in as it should, changing the environmental conditions does help to get the energy going again. In other words, move the furniture around, and put it into a new configuration. Sometimes even a small change makes a world of difference.
It really helps to clean out the place. Clutter spells stagnation and anxiety. Traditionally, one completely sweeps clean the house at the beginning of spring, which, in the Chinese calendar, begins on or near February 4th. Throw away everything that you don't need. Clear up all the clutter. Get organized. Look over all the old papers and decide what goes where and what goes into the garbage.
To make a spiritual cleansing of the house, according to tradition, first open all the windows and do a thorough cleaning; washing and vacuuming. When that's done, take a broom and lightly sweep all the floors and walls from the back of the house to the front door, then sweep all the stale energy out the door. If you want to do it right, slam the door behind it all once you've got it outside.
There is a secret method used by Mongolian and Chinese wizards for getting bad spirits out of the house that you can include with the above cleansing. For this, you need to get a small round mirror. Traditionally, one uses a round bronze mirror that can be held in the hand, but a small, round cosmetic mirror will do if you can't find a bronze mirror; they're hard to come by and are expensive. Take the mirror in your left hand; hold it flat with all five fingers around it so the reflecting side shows out. In your right hand, hold a red candle that you have lit. The candle flame has to be reflected by the face of the mirror. With this, go around to all the walls of the house, walk close to the wall surfaces, reflecting the candle fire in the mirror onto the walls as you go from the back of the house all the way around to the front door. This causes hungry ghost energies to flee the house and can cause your hair to stand up on end if you are sensitive to such entities. This practice is best done in the early Autumn. Chinese Autumn season begins on or around August 8th.
To freshen up the house and bring in good luck, bring in fresh oranges and fresh flowers and arrange them on a table. Then light two red candles on the table where you have arranged the oranges and flowers, burn sandalwood incense, and make a prayer for the blessings of Heaven for peace and prosperity to come into your home.
When arranging the furniture, make sure the configuration lets you move easily through the house; nothing should get in the way of movement. The house has to feel open and airy. Clutter anywhere means stagnation in one or another department of your life. A Feng Shui reading of your house will tell you exactly what the cluttered areas of your home correspond to in your life according to the elements of your Chinese astrological chart and the elements of the different compass points inside your house. Whatever, a complete cleaning of the house, including decluttering it and sorting out and rearranging all the stuff will help you to get the energy moving again, and that's what you want. While doing this, concentrate on rearranging how you feel about your prospects in life. A feeling of being stuck in life with no idea what to do is no better than living in a cluttered mess. Clear your mental environment while you clear your home environment; they both reflect one another. When you can see your intention for an unobstructed way in life that is conducive to success reflected in an open, clean environment you will be taking a very positive step in the right direction.
Anxiety or dispair, for whatever reason, needs time to come around and be transformed. In the context of the Chinese elements these emotions are related mostly to Earth and Metal. In their most positive, life supportive expressions, Earth and Metal signify nourishment and cleanliness. If you are in emotional trouble for fear of not having enough, take care of nourishment and setting healthy boundaries. In terms of your space, pay attention to your kitchen, and throw out all the junk.
Money points in the house to consider include the first place you see upon opening the front door, also the far left-hand area, or corner, of your entire house or apartment, and the south-east area of the house or apartment. There are also areas designated as money points that correspond to the age of your house as well as to your Chinese astrological chart; to locate these, however, you may want the help of an expert. Besides the fixed money points, there are money points that circulate around the house on a yearly, even monthly basis due to the rotation of the heavens. In China and Japan people who use fengshui readjust the house or place of business on a regular basis to catch the luck.
What to do mainly in money points is to make sure the energy, or C'hi, breathes. Clutter or unsightly stuff in those areas designated as money points militates against a healthy relationship with money. Money points, besides being uncluttered should be well lit. If you wish, you can put symbols of prosperity at the money points. Symbols of prosperity, besides appropriate Chinese calligraphies, include such things as bouquets of flowers, flowering plants, jade plants, the lucky Buddha, a conch shell, images of two gold fish swiming around one another, elephants, deer, horses, dogs, and so on. Certain images, such as dragons or money turtles need to be positioned in special ways according to the element they represent. For example, a dragon or money turtle made of plastic, crystal or glass corresponds to the element Water and has to be positioned to face north; a dragon made of Wood has to face east or south east, a dragon made of stone has to face northeast or southwest, a dragon made of metal has to face west or northwest. The famous money toad has to be positioned to face the direction of the front door. The money toad should be placed up high, never low down. This is because the money toad is a form of the Moon Fairy Chang-O, and Chang-O lives in the sky, not on the earth. The money toad works with the lunar tides. What this means is if you are using money toads, you are putting your money luck on a lunar tide basis which is always a good idea. To do it right, you have to get six money toads. Select five places to put five of them. They don't all have to be seen; they can be hidden. Put one of the money toads away. Every new moon rotate the positions of the money toads, and exchange the one that was put away with one that was already used. You wake one up and put one to sleep month by month; you rotate the money toads like in a game of musical chairs. Every month one of them goes to sleep. That way when you rotate them you keep your luck flowing. Five is the best number to have working for you. There are five elements; you want to keep the elements turning. The Five Elements are the expressions of the cycle of C'hi, and C'hi is energy. The way magic works is all in your intention. Magic works in the unconscious; it's totally irrational. It works if you let it work.
To make decent money, you need to keep your mind clear. This is where the element Metal comes in. Metal cuts out everything undesirable. To keep your mind clear, or clearer than it has been these past months, make sure to throw out everything you don't want and can't use anymore. Keep your home in a simple, balanced condition.
And to cheer up, use the element Fire. Keep things of beauty that inspire you.
In the Chinese system, everything is cyclical; everything moves in waves. This down cycle will be followed by an up cycle, and so on. Money is flow, or affluence. If the flow of the energy of your home and life is good, your chances of luck are good. If the flow is stale and stagnant, your chances of luck are poor. Breathe right, open the channels to life, let in the light and get more luck. Chaos or clutter often denotes depression. If you or someone in your home is depressed or chaotic, go about decluttering very carefully and sensitively unless you want to get a bad reaction; decluttering often exposes emotional pain that wants to be left alone and needs time to come through its own process by itself in its own time. In other words, be patient with yourself as well as with the others living with you when fixing up the place.
How well can you move through your home? Do you need all the stuff you cling to? Can you take chances with money to improve your condition? Fear comes of feeling stuck. The less freely you can move the more stuck you feel. Open your space and move and you will begin to feel less stuck. That will begin to turn your luck around for the better.
The autumn is a very good time to clear out the house and prepare to concentrate on your aims through the winter.
For more information about Raphael's work in Feng Shui please see www.psychicarts.net, or www.trs-fengshui.com.