2014 Yang Wood Horse Forecast Roundup

Posted on January 3, 2014September 20, 2019 by Stephanie Stewart

I’ve put together a list of Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology predictions for 2014. If you’d like to read my 2014 feng shui forecast for gardeners click here.
2014 is the year of the Wood Horse or Jia Wu. It’s also known as the year of the Green Wood Horse or the Horse in the Clouds. Are those clouds of smoke?

I don’t know any of the authors of these forecasts personally, but I have to say some of them have written things that went straight into my brain and heart. Sometimes insight comes with a painful shock that’s meant to wake you up. Some of the images and words they have shared have become like signs by the side of the road, reminding me of the ways I would like to travel. Maybe they will do that for you, too.

2014 Feng Shui Forecast Roundup

trojan horse on fire — Photo by Scott Merrylees courtesy of the Wakefield Express

Raymond Lo

Raymond Lo is a Hong Kong based Feng Shui Master, teacher, author and public speaker. In this year’s forecast he writes about world events and economies, popular culture, five element interactions and health issues.

Year of the Horse 2014

Edgar Lok Tin Yung

Edgar Lok Tin Yung is from Melbourne. He writes three different forecasts and explains about the timing of the new year’s arrival.

Heaven Luck World events, weather and natural disasters

Earth Luck Feng Shui predictions for 2014

Man Luck Animal by animal predictions for 2014 (BaZi)

Richard Ashworth

Richard Ashworth is a well known Feng Shui Master in the UK. He is one of the most prolific, curious and compassionate writers out there when it comes to BaZi. He might make you cry. He might make you laugh. Here are his animal by animal predictions for 2014.

Animal Fortunes for 2014, Year of the Horse in the Clouds

Paul Ng

Master Paul Ng is based in Canada. He writes about Feng Shui, business and economies, politics, weather and health for 2014.

Predictions for 2014 (Year of the Wooden Horse)(.pdf)

Josephine Phang

Josephine Phang is based in Singapore who has a focus on BaZi. She also publishes a quarterly newsletter with feng shui advice. She writes general predictions for 2014.

2014 at a Glance

Beng Kung

Beng Kung is a an architect who is also a feng shui researcher and student of BaZi. His predictions for 2014 are helpful for students and written from more of a teaching or technical perspective.

Year of the Horse Prediction

Feng Shui Agency (Sarah McAllister)

Sarah McAllister is another UK based Feng Shui master. She is also an urban planner and an author. She writes general predictions as well as predictions by zodiac animal.

2014 Fast, Dynamic Year of the Horse

Mvp Yimao

I’m not sure who is writing this blog which seems to be coming out of Kuala Lumpur, but clearly the writer is affiliated with Lillian Too. The first post listed here is written more from a technical or teaching perspective, the second one is the predictions for the zodiac animals.

Bernice Low

Bernice Low may be one of the most no-nonsense writers out there when it comes to BaZi. She reminds me of my favorite teacher of the Greek language who was intimidating and strict, yet made me want to work harder than any other teacher I know.

In her first post she explains how your BaZi reading is derived. It involves much more than your year animal.

2014 Astrological Forecast – The Big Picture

In her second post Bernice predicts from the perspective of the day master, rather than the zodiac animal. I haven’t seen anyone else doing the 2014 predictions this way and I’m sure I’ll be revisiting her predictions throughout the year. Part 1 includes the following day masters: Bing (Yang Fire), Ding (Yin Fire), Jia (Yang Wood), Yi (Yin Wood), Wu (Yang Earth).

Astrological Forecasts the Day Masters part 1

Part 2 covers Geng (Yang Metal), Gui (Yin Water), Ji (Yin Earth), Ren (Yang Water) and Xin (Yin Metal) daymasters.

2014 Astrological Forecast – the Day Masters part 2

Susan Levitt

Susan Levitt, who is based in San Francisco, is interesting because she studies Tarot, Astrology and Feng Shui. She is able to write from both western and eastern perspectives. Her divinations are striking. Her 2014 predictions are general and based on the zodiac animals.

Horse Year 2014

I usually try to sum up the theme of the year in one word. The word for 2013 (Snake in the Grass) was “circumspection”. I’d say the word for 2014 (Horse in the Clouds) is “acceleration”. Can you keep up?

What’s Wrong With This Picture : Preparing Your House for Sale

Posted on December 6, 2013September 20, 2019 by Stephanie Stewart

Here’s a nice house in a great neighborhood that’s on the market right now. It has off street parking and a garage. It’s a rectangle shape which is good for feng shui.

What is not in its favor is that it lacks immediate curb appeal, which may be slowing down the sales possibilities. It definitely could use some fresh paint and a little more landscape lighting. There are also some landscaping issues here in terms of feng shui. I think if all of these things were taken care of the property would be purchased sooner.

The biggest issue is the way that the front door and windows are blocked by the landscaping. Because of the way that the plants completely surround and encompass the door step even with the porch light on this area is too dark and enclosed, especially at night. This creates an imbalance for an area which should be yang, but which has become too yin.

Here’s the breakdown:

Shrubs next to the path should not intrude into the line of the path. They must be trimmed back so that the path to the front door is unobstructed.There is also a tree branch extending into the space of the path that should be pruned back or removed.
Overgrown evergreen (English laurel? Camellia?) on the left and a rhododendron on the right are covering the windows and enclosing the door area on the sides. The evergreen should either be pruned so that it is below window level or removed. The rhododendron should be moved to a different part of the yard where it would be helpful to holding energy for the house. It’s planted too close to the window and has grown too tall for that location.
Fuchsias on either side of stairs to door are intruding into the path. They should either be pruned away but most likely they also need to be moved farther away from the corners of the front door steps so that they can reach their natural size and beauty without being in the way. It would probably be better, however, to plant something that has a more upright habit rather than a weeping or drooping habit.
Ivy is growing all the way across the steps. up one of the porch columns and up the front walls of the house. Remove all of the ivy from the front yard. Not only will it reduce the yin quality by revealing the straight lines and angles of the stairs and house but common sense alone will tell you it’s a trip hazard. From a gardening and property value/maintenance perspective this type of ivy is invasive and will actually kill other plants and trees.

As I said before, the fundamental problem is that the atmosphere of the house and yard are too yin. This house is located in a fairly dense neighborhood but in the past it has attracted break-ins and burglaries more than other houses nearby.

Remember, the front of the house and the front yard are the yang or public areas. They are associated with career and money. Keep this in mind when landscaping but particularly in the case of preparing your house for the real estate market.

Using Feng Shui Outdoors

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Stephanie Stewart

One of the ways in which feng shui was westernized in the 1990s was by placing the emphasis on what is happening inside of the house. It made the concept of feng shui more palatable to the average person because it seemed to be mostly about re-decorating, placing symbolic objects, and making color choices. The original Chinese approach of working with energy may be less attractive than the interior design approach because the interior design approach allows us to focus on the house itself, and sort of gloss over the need for people in it to make choices and act.

While interior form, decoration and clutter are important to address, they should be considered as a sort of second layer of the analysis. Going indoors, taking the compass degrees and other such factors are appropriately considered after the outdoor form. The outdoor form is stronger and more important.

Exterior form should be assessed as the first part of a feng shui analysis because it determines how, where, and how much energy is available to your home’s interior. This type of assessment also reveals any sources of negative energy. You just can’t proceed to an accurate conclusion without knowing where the chi is coming from, where it’s going and where it enters and leaves the property. What you also need to know is how to use the bagua and which one to use.

Most people who have read a book about feng shui or studied it at all are familiar with what is called the “Later Heaven Bagua” which is the arrangement of the 8 Trigrams used for indoor feng shui analysis and adjustment. Each trigram can be associated with a certain family member such as mother or father, a phase of life like youth or middle age, males or females, etc. The meanings of the trigrams don’t change but their positions do depending on whether you are using the bagua indoors or outdoors.

The Qian trigram is associated with the father, the oldest male, males of the house, authority, bosses, and the element of metal. We use its position on the bagua to check for any problems in the areas of the lot or house that will affect that gua or area. If you are working indoors the Qian trigram is located in the NW sector. If you are working outdoors the Qian trigram is located in the S sector. Why?

When you are working with energy indoors you need to use the Later Heaven Bagua. The Later Heaven arrangement is meant to reflect life on earth with its seasons and unique geography, rather than the primordial and perfect arrangement of the Early Heaven Bagua.

When you are working with energy outdoors what you want to be considering is the Early Heaven Bagua”. Let the Qian trigram be your guide.

So – if the man of the house is finding it difficult to succeed in his career, usually you will check the northwest location of the house. Hopefully you won’t find a bathroom there. In addition, you’ll want to check the South to see if there is anything to clean up or any of what is called sha or negative energy that could be causing trouble for him.

Feng Shui for Gardeners 2014 : Year of the Yang Wood Horse (Jia Wu)

Posted on November 2, 2013September 20, 2019 by Stephanie Stewart

As you are wrapping things up in the garden for 2013 it’s time to think about next year’s season and make plans for various projects. If you’ve read any of my other posts about Feng Shui for gardeners you’ll know I’m about to tell you what areas you should not disturb next year. If you want to cut to the chase scroll down to the summary at the bottom of the post.

Just as there are areas in your garden where you’ll want to avoid digging, stump grinding, cutting down big trees or doing other noisy activities, there are also areas that you may want to activate.

Year God, Year Breaker, Three Killings (Tai Sui, Sui Po and San Sha)

Now let’s start with the usual stuff. 2014 is the year of the Yang Wood Horse or Jia Wu. It is also sometimes called the year of the Green Wood Horse or Horse in the Clouds.

The point is that the Horse is in charge for the year and is called the Tai Sui or Year God. The god part isn’t about religion, it refers to the type of energy represented by the horse being the predominant energy of the year. Horse energy is a southern, fiery energy and so it is the Rat with its northern watery energy that is in the position of the Sui Po (or Year Breaker) for 2014. In general, avoid facing south or having your back to the north. If your head points south or north when you are sleeping, or you sit at a south facing desk all day, you might consider changing the position of your furniture. The San Sha or Three Killings energy is also located in the North in 2014.

In the garden you need to avoid disturbing both the south representing (among other things) the father and males of the house and the north representing (among other things) the mother and females of the house. The strongest concern is for young men and women of the household. If you want exact compass degrees for any of this or want to know if there’s a way to do your big project without getting yourself in a bind please contact me.

Flying Stars 2014

For 2014 the Annual Star is 4 which corresponds to the wood element, the oldest daughter, middle aged women and many other things. The annual star, the period star, and the stars corresponding to the sitting and facing direction of the house can be analyzed to give clues about what will happen to whom and when it will happen that year. For example if there is a single woman who wants a relationship, we might look for the 3 star to come into the house in the right place since 4 is in the center for all of 2014. That’s a generalization.

Flying Stars for 2014 with compass directions

The thing you’ll want to pay attention to is actually called the Yellow 5 Star which has the reputation of bringing about all sorts of nasty results if it is not dealt with properly. It will be located in the northwest in 2014. Since the metal element of the northwest will naturally exhaust the earth element where the 5 is located (like babies exhaust mothers) it’s less worrisome. In this case pay attention to the northwest area of the house. Is there an exterior door, bathroom or kitchen? The more active the area the more likely it may generate some trouble. Try to keep the northwest area calm both outdoors and in. No digging or renovations in the northwest. One last thing: don’t place water in the northwest next year.

Four Pillars or BaZi

The year of the Yang Wood Horse begins on February 4, 2014 with the month of the Yang Fire Tiger. That’s quite a bit of fire and wood together.

When the new year pillar Jia Wu or Yang Wood Horse comes into play it is important to consider its interaction with your natal chart. Each pillar (year, month, day, hour) in your natal chart can interact with the year pillar, as well as the monthly and even hourly pillars as they arrive. When your favorable elements come into the chart and are timely, that’s what we call good luck.

The Yang Wood Horse pillar is made up of wood energy being burned by fire energy. The wood may get too dried out. The wood also fuels the fire so to speak, thus the fire energy is strong. That may lead to clashes with the water element.

I expect to be watering more than usual in 2014.

Summary

Guidelines to follow starting on February 4, 2014

Do not dig, renovate or otherwise disturb the south, north or northwest of the house or lot.
No water elements in the northwest.
Do not face north or sit with your back to the south.
If your head points north or south when you sleep consider moving the bed.

There’s still plenty of room to play in the garden in 2014, along with more than the usual amount of interesting energetic combinations happening that I can’t even begin to explain in a blog post. If you’d like a Four Pillars analysis or Feng Shui consultation to help with your planning please contact me.

I wish you good luck in 2014!

Donald Trump on Feng Shui

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Stephanie Stewart

“I don’t have to believe in Feng Shui, but I use it because it makes me money.” ~ Donald Trump

Rumor has it that Donald Trump began using Feng Shui after his first bankruptcy. He may also have used Feng Shui principles and BaZi analysis in the planning and execution of his third marriage.

Cooking, Kitchens, Relationships and Feng Shui

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Stephanie Stewart

There are some interesting historical correlations between kitchen design, feminism, women in the work force and the divorce rate in the United States The decline of the so called “nuclear family” and “home cooking” follow the same timeline as the rising popularity of the open concept kitchen which came into fashion in the 1970s. As more women entered the work force and there were more latchkey kids either due to working moms, divorce or both, Americans came to depend more on processed foods. At that time (and now?) preparing a box of mac and cheese was accepted as cooking and the goal for many women was to “get out of the kitchen” and get paid. Nothing wrong with that.

In terms of Feng Shui, getting rid of the walls and merging the kitchen with other living areas was a way (consciously? unconsciously?) of changing the yin/yang balance within the home and empowering women to work outside the home. As in every revolution there were good and bad results.

In 1969 California Governor Ronald Reagan signed the nation’s first no fault divorce bill making it possible to obtain a divorce without citing any faults committed by either party. Over the next 15 years almost every other state followed suit. From 1960-1980 the divorce rate in America doubled. Less than 20% of marriages made in 1950 ended in divorce compared with 50% of marriages made in 1970. “Swinging” or open marriage was brought into American popular culture in the 1970s, Which came first? The open concept kitchen, open marriage, rising rate of divorce or our dependence and possible overuse of processed foods? It seems like they all appeared around the same time.

Compared to the yang (or public) rooms of a house, kitchens were traditionally considered a yin (private) area which was associated with the matriarch of the house. Kitchens were usually located at the back of the house in a room that could be closed off from the rest of the house. There are some very practical (as well as metaphysical) considerations behind this arrangement that mostly have to do with fire. The ability to use fire to cook is deeply intertwined with the idea of community, safety and social support; an opportunity to go beyond mere survival. In terms of human evolution the kitchen is the home of the cooking fire, without which we would not have developed into the big brained primates that we are. Gathering around the fire or hearth is ingrained in our DNA.

Fire is a source of wealth for us but it is also a danger to us. Keeping the fire in the back area of the house keeps it away from drafts and if the fire gets out of control the results will be less damaging than a fire in a kitchen in the center of the house. Before we had effective ventilation hoods the door that separated the kitchen from the rest of the house was the best way to keep cooking smoke from entering the other living spaces. The kitchen located at the back of the house also kept women out of sight in a private environment. You’ve got to keep your wealth (i.e. food and women) away from those who would take it from you.

The type of cooking being performed indoors by women (therefore yin) traditionally went unseen except by family members*. Women were seen as workers, nurturers, cooks and home makers. With the advent of the open concept kitchen the yin nature of the kitchen was lost to the idea of multiple cooks, entertaining and parties but the reality was less and less frequent home cooking. The intimate family relationship became open to more than just the immediate nuclear family members.

Even when we do cook we use actual fire much less than any other time in history. By 1997 90% of Americans had a microwave in their kitchen. We have continued to find more ways (such as the induction cooktop or “burnerless” stoves) to prepare food and “cook” without any fire at all. This is what I see as the root of the problem. We need someone tending the fire at home to hold the family community together. And by the way I am not in any way suggesting that women should be the only home cooks all the time or that the nuclear family is somehow ideal. I think this remedy is fit for a 2013 kind of family.

Fire, food and cooking are sources of wealth. All kinds of wealth. I have heard some of my Feng Shui teachers say about the open concept kitchen “Oh – you will eat out more often”. This is a gentle way of saying the family won’t be eating meals together at home. I’ve seen it come true time after time.

One more thing: Let’s not forget that the energy of the cook adds its own flavor into the end result. Food made by a decent cook who loves you tastes better than food made by someone who doesn’t know you, regardless of their skill level. What are the dishes that everyone remembers? Whatever Grandma, Mom, Uncle Jim or Aunt Margaret used to make.

What to do?

Everyone in the family should learn to cook, even if it’s just two or three dishes. Of course it will probably usually be the case that one person enjoys it more or has more time to cook, but it’s up to the whole family to keep the home fires burning.
Those two or three dishes should be cooked from scratch. It’s okay if one of them is scrambled eggs. Every time you buy fresh ingredients you are casting a vote for keeping them available for everyone.
Cook on a gas range. Having actual fire in the kitchen is a great energetic boost to your wealth and health.
If you are house hunting and cooking is important to you, look for a house with the kitchen in the back, out of view from the more public spaces such as living room, dining room or family room. You might find it helps with your romantic relationship as well.
If you already have an open concept kitchen there may be a way to create a better yin/yang balance without the high cost of remodeling by hiring a Feng Shui consultant . The people in the house and what they do is more important than the walls.
Set your intention and organize your week to include shopping for ingredients and cooking them in your kitchen. Get in there and rattle around. Lure your family in to see what smells so good. Even if you only have time to make a few meals ahead on a Sunday or throw some of those ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning you will see changes in the energy of your home.

*I find it interesting that fire (yang) was controlled and used indoors by women (yin) In Five Elements theory wood and fire are the most yang elements and water and earth are the most yin. You can put out a fire with water or earth. In modern kitchens having the stove (yang) across from the water tap (yin) can cause serious arguing between males and females of the house. The pot filler or pasta arm used for filling pots while they are on the stove creates a similar situation.

N.B. Among the boundaries broken and yin/yang out of balance: Open concept schools also emerged in the 1970s.

2013 Year of the Water Snake Forecast Roundup

Posted on January 27, 2013September 20, 2019 by Stephanie Stewart

I’ve rounded up some of the more detailed forecasts for the year of the water snake 2013 and listed them by author. They are listed in no particular order. Some are forecasts based on your year animal or year pillar, others are forecasts of world events. These forecasts will also give you an idea of how different people use different timing systems to determine the new year. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

If you don’t know what your year animal is click here and enter your birthday including birth time if possible.

Planting the Dragon Side of Your Garden

Posted on January 25, 2013September 20, 2019 by Stephanie Stewart

The picture below illustrates the proper feng shui according to the Land Form School. Many people consider Land Form the most powerful feng shui method. Note that the house mimics the position of a person sitting in an armchair with an ottoman in front of it. This configuration is sometimes known as the “comfortable armchair” and just like your favorite armchair it will make you feel protected, safe and relaxed.

Land Form School "Comfortable Armchair" — Land Form School “Comfortable Armchair”

The positions of the Tortoise, Dragon, Tiger and Phoenix are all assessed from the perspective of the person in the house. If you want to know which side is which, go and stand in the front doorway of your house* and look outward. The tiger side is on your right and the dragon side is on your left. Ideally, the land on the tiger side should be slightly lower than the land on the dragon side. If that’s not the case for you it may be possible for you to change this via landscaping or feng shui adjustments.

But for now we’re going to ignore considerations of the compass, five elements, colors, climate, exposure, etc and focus solely on which plants are appropriate for the dragon side based on yin/yang.

The dragon side is meant to be protective and active (yang) while the tiger side is meant to be receptive and quiet (yin).

Plants with big leaves belong on the dragon side of the garden.

Fatsia japonica leaf. Image from Wikipedia.

Acanthus Mollus leaf. Photo from Wikipedia. — Acanthus Mollis leaf. Photo from Wikipedia.

Paulownia tomentosa. Photo from Wikipedia. — Paulownia tomentosa¹. Photo from Wikipedia.

Trees add protection and the trunks have that upwards, woody energy that is yang. Bamboo carries that same energy. You can use landscaping and trees to make the dragon side “higher” than the tiger side of the lot, which is considered proper when using the Land Form method of feng shui.

Choose trees carefully and don’t plant them too close to the house. Before planting, think about how big the tree will be in 30 years. To my mind, evergreen trees are the best choice for the dragon side.

Eucryphia x Nymansay in bloom with bee visitor

Bark of the Arbutus "Marina" — Bark of the Arbutus “Marina”

Woody evergreen shrubs are also a good choice to support the dragon side of the garden.

Umbellularia Californica (Oregon Myrtle)

Myrica Californica — Myrica californica (indestructible in the PNW and a good substitute for bamboo)

Pittosporum tobira variegata or Japanese Mock Orange

Thorny or dense plants for protection, are appropriate for the dragon side. Keep them planted and pruned well away from where people will be walking or sitting.

Chaenomeles Superba "Hollandia" — Chaenomeles Superba “Hollandia” or Flowering Quince

Berberis Darwinii — Berberis darwinii. Also know as barberry.

Mahonia aquifolium "Oregon Grape" — Mahonia aquifolium “Oregon Grape”. Image from Wikipedia.

Poncirus trifoliata or Flying Dragon. A literal choice? Image from Wikipedia.

Some people might say you should not have any thorny plants in your garden or that flowering shrubs and trees belong on the tiger or yin side but I disagree. I think you just have to find the right place.

I’ll do another post about what you might want to plant on the tiger side later.

*Just FYI: This is a very simplified explanation. Your front door may or may not correspond to the facing of your house. If it does not, this information may not apply. It depends…

¹ Regarding Paulownia tomentosa: I’m pretty sure Judy Thomas has one of those in her garden. I believe she cuts it down each year so it doesn’t overgrow the space.

Feng Shui for Gardeners 2013 : Year of the Water Snake

Posted on January 17, 2013September 20, 2019 by Stephanie Stewart

We’re coming up on the end of the year of the Yang Water Dragon or Ren Chen. How was it for you? I think it lived up to the predictions of sudden changes and reversals. One step forward, two steps back. A year of hard work just to stay in place, rather than moving ahead.

In terms of the garden I’d say Ren Chen was a good year. I didn’t lose any plants last winter and don’t expect to this year. As I write the Daphne bholua, hellebore and Yuletide camellia are in bloom.

Hellebore Cinnamon Snow — Helleborus x Balliardiae “Cinnamon Snow”

Camellia Sasanqua "Yuletide" — Camellia Sasanqua “Yuletide”

The little gardenia hedge is sheltered enough by it’s location and the more mature plantings this year so no winter damage so far. If I feed it it will probably go like gangbusters this year. The only thing that really stands out about the year in the garden was the very, very dry fall and how much watering was needed even into October.

But now it’s time to start thinking about the coming new year of the Yin Water Snake. In the Chinese Zodiac the sign of the snake is associated with the truth and truth telling and therefore also its opposite: lying.

In general you’ll want to be aware that the year of the Yin Water Snake is also called “Snake in the Grass”. Etymologically speaking, the word “snake” describes something that creeps or crawls. The idea is that it’s easy for the snake to go unnoticed until it’s too late. The phrase “snake in the grass” also carries a sense of betrayal and so we sometimes apply it to backstabbers and traitors.

That may give you a hint to proceed with circumspection this year. There may be hidden dangers ahead or you may find that circumstances are not what they seem to be. Be careful of those who are not telling the truth. Don’t be afraid of those who are and are branded as rebels.

In terms of practical matters here’s the least that you need to know if you have projects to do after February 3rd, 2013:

Tai Sui
The Tai Sui or Grand Duke is located SSE (compass degrees 142.5-157.5) in the year of the Snake. If your house faces SSE it is clashing the Tai Sui. You need to avoid activating that direction by minimizing movement. No construction or digging in this area.

Sui Po
The Sui Po sits opposite the Grand Duke so this year it is the Pig and is located at NNW (compass degrees 322.5-337.5). No digging, renovation or construction in this area. If you spend time facing NNW this will be helpful because it puts the Tai Sui behind you.

San Sha
For the year of the Water Snake the San Sha are located in the east from ENE or Tiger mountain to Dragon mountain in the ESE. This covers the compass degrees from 52.5-127.5. Keep the areas quiet; no digging, construction or drilling should be done. Avoid having your back to those directions.

Flying Stars

This year the Flying Stars chart is the same as the Post Heaven Bagua. Here is the Flying Stars chart for 2013:

Every house (and every lot) will have the 5 Yellow Disaster star in the center this year. This means you’ll want to try to minimize use, noise and traffic in that area if possible. If the center of your house is an area that is used often, such as a stairway, bathroom or kitchen hopefully you have already hired a feng shui consultant. If you haven’t, this would be a good time to do that.

For most residential lots the house is covering the center of the lot but if this is not the case for you then you must not dig holes, install a fountain, build a playhouse, or install a swingset in the center. Don’t set up the above ground pool in the center. You get the idea.

Four Pillars or BaZi
Another way to look at the new year is to consider Four Pillars.The first day of the new astrological year is thought to set the tone for the year and is used to make predictions for the year.This is the BaZi Chart for the first day of the Water Snake year:

Richard Ashworth predicted that Obama would win the recent election based on his birth chart and the relationship to the chart for 2013. Obama was first elected in 2008 which was the year of the Yang Earth Rat or Wu Zi. The first hour of the Water Snake year is Wu Zi or Earth Rat. Since he won in 2008 the energy of the first moments of 2013 predicted another win and he could be expected to be our president in 2013. The first day of the water snake year is Yin Metal Ox – a match with Barack Obama’s birth year.

Barack Obama Four Pillars Chart — Barack Obama’s Four Pillars Chart

One of the aspects of Chinese Astrology that I find most interesting is the concept of energy/time cycles. For example one might see an Earth Tiger day as the “preview” or “historical perspective” for an Earth Tiger year. I like to keep up with the daily energy by tracking the almanac and taking note of what the day was like for me. If you study Four Pillars this is a helpful way to figure out what your favorable elements are.

I wanted to know what the Water Snake year was going to be like for me so I took note of the day’s feelings and events on November 28th, 2012. That day it was easy to do some clear thinking and writing so I worked on a BaZi chart that had been sent out as homework by a teacher of mine. I got the best feedback that I had ever received from that teacher. I have high hopes for 2013, but just knowing that I can make some real progress with my studies isn’t enough. I have to actually take action. I don’t think 2013 will be my luckiest year but I’ll make the best of what is offered. That way when my luck is really good I will be ready to fly.

Thank you for reading my simple summary. If you want to read detailed predictions for 2013 then check with an expert like Richard Ashworth or Bernice Low (aka BaZi Queen).

Whether or not this is a lucky year for you, keep working hard, doing good deeds and focus on personal growth. Free will and choice are just as important (and sometimes stronger) than any other factors that influence your llfe.

Hurricane Sandy

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Stephanie Stewart

Sometimes I feel like a bit of a ghoul in the pursuit of knowledge when it comes to feng shui and ba zi. Whenever I hear about someone’s misfortune, which people tend to discuss more than their good luck, I immediately start thinking of questions: When did that happen? How did the person die? In what part of the house did the fire start?

One time I heard of an acquaintance’s house burning down and had to restrain my self on more than one occasion from going to take a compass reading and trying to find out more about the events of that day. I ended up settling for looking at the land form on Google earth and doing a drive by. Sort of creepy, right?

The great thing about studying feng shui and ba zi is that you can analyze absolutely anything so you can study all the time. When you need more fodder for study it is not that difficult to get accurate and detailed information about natural disasters like an earthquake or a storm, or “public” things such as information about the latest celebrity death or political candidates birth charts. The question in my mind is always “why?” Why at that moment on that day in that year did such and such happen? Timing is an important component in both feng shui and ba zi.

In this year of the Water Dragon (Ren Chen) many feng shui masters and consultants predicted we would see natural disasters related to flooding and earthquakes due to the yang water over yang earth nature of the Water Dragon year pillar. Yang water would be associated with flooding while yang earth is often associated with earthquakes. There are predictions that on December 21st of this year there may be a big earthquake due to the elements that will be present. History does show that there are earthquakes of large magnitude in Dragon years.

But this is supposed to be about Hurricane Sandy. What started me on this post was reading Cliff Mass’ blog: Hurricane Sandy’s Transformation.

What stands out:

In relation to the North American continent, Sandy started in the SE. This is the Dragon direction. The storm will get even more destructive as it moves toward the Dog direction or NW. The Dog is sitting opposite the Dragon. They clash.
This is the Dog or Xu month in the Dragon or Chen year, so it’s a month of clash energy where water and fire are released.
Sandy starts as a tropical storm (warm) but becomes stronger when it switches from a storm with a warm core to a storm with a cold core. Is anyone else thinking of yin/yang right now? In ba zi or feng shui terms, the yin yang relationship intensifies the effect and makes the expression more powerful.
Look at the pictures in the Cliff Mass post, especially the ones that show the temperature change – remind you of anything?

Don’t forget about the Hunter’s Moon (October 2012 Full Moon). It’s a major player in the storm that is hitting the east coast tonight.