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Yang Metal Rat: Live 2020 Without Limits

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“If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.”
– Chinese proverb

Since 2700 BC the “Hsia” calendar, also known as the Chinese almanac, delivers annually a cosmic plan to help us navigate our course through the seasons. In the Zhou dynasty star gazing meant survival for agrarian cultures of China. The emperor would assign his court astrologers to calculate the rotation of the planets to prophesies what actions to take in conduct and character to insure a plentiful harvest and good fortune.

2020: Heaven’s divine order has delivered the Yang Metal Rat, all shiny with an exuberant air and ready to take charge. Metal and Rat are an amalgamation of the Heavenly stems and the Earthly branches which are the oldest known tool for Chinese fortune telling. Yang Metal Rat has imprinted its energetic blue print upon this year gifting humans with the challenges and endowments that will help us to not just survive, but evolve and thrive.

Yang Metal Rat begins a new sixty year cycle. Water is the start of life. It also represents wisdom and social interaction. It is fitting the Rat, who is connected with Water, is the first animal of the Chinese zodiac and wise souls are they. Their clever minds can make a quick witted response to tame a difficult situation. If we adopt Rat’s willingness to take a grounded, peaceful approach when conflict arises, we will be safe from a compromising, perhaps even a dangerous situation. Very social and caring Rat is devoted to family and friends. Find ways to show your loved ones how much you care with displays of affection, small gifts and acts of service like washing the car or taking the garbage to the curb. For the Rat love runs deep and when things go sour they can easily get their toes stepped on. But they are well equipped to transform a sour situation into calm understanding with their philosophical perseverance and grace. Inquire into your partner’s love language. Translated into 16 languages, Dr Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages® has saved partnerships around the world and may offer some insight into yours. This year consider what it would mean to you, your loved ones and friends if you cultivate a disposition of peace, hope and happiness. The takeaway from the Rat’s inherent nature is be caring. Kindness always wins.

The Five Elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal – are believed to be the basic components of everything in the Universe. The second factor of the energetic blueprint is the presiding Five Element. It is the modifier that accompanies the zodiac animal’s influence. In 2020 Rat is the “earthly branch” and Metal is the “heavenly stem”. According to Feng Shui master Raymond Lo, Metal feeds Water so we might expect a relatively peaceful year however it’s a Yang (strong) Metal which is often associated with a destructive weapon like a big sword. The characteristics of Yang Metal people are: warrior-like, loyal, honest and reliable with strong leadership skills. They have a deep desire for justice in the world but use fighting to resolve issues. Its influence on Rat will influence Rat to mimic the energy of aggressive ocean water – situations this year are poised to become combative. Keep in your thoughts that diffusing a scene before it becomes heated will get you what you want.

With regards to the environment we can expect to see Water (flooding, heavy rainstorms and tsunamis) and Fire related disasters which include sea and air accidents. Metal and Water weaken Earth so there will be earth linked disasters (landslides, sink holes, mining accidents, earthquakes and buildings collapsing).

The Water element will weigh heavily on the morale of buyers in the stock market. Time for a more conservative approach and prudent expectation in your transactions. That being said certain industries will prosper. For instance “the Rat is a Peach Blossom, (star of Romance) and along with the Metal element which symbolizes the skin, teeth and bones, beauty and grace will be enhanced. There will be a boom in the beauty and entertainment industries.” You may look into these types of investing options but remember always seek professional advice first.

In terms of health, the Metal element represents the lung, nose and skin. The Rat, a Water element, is related to the kidney, urinary system and sex organs. Excessive amounts of Water can cause problems in these areas. Because both Fire and Earth are absent the stomach (digestive issues), the pancreas (diabetes), the immune system and the heart (blood circulation) will be affected. (Raymond Lo) 

The current coronavirus epidemic has brought our attention into sharp focus to maintain a healthy immune response which can be as simple as getting adequate rest, (make sure your bed is in command position for optimal rejuvenation); drink plenty of water; limit exposure to screen time; restrict caffeine and alcohol consumption; eat local, purchase your food, if possible, from a Farmer’s Market and cultivate loving relationships. These practices eliminate stress which is the main cause of disease and illness. “A virus is an opportunistic bacteria looking for a weakened immune system.” – Dr. Joe Dispenza,

The weaving of positive energy into your everyday life brings success. Here are 10 practices to help you prioritize, maybe even help you define your purpose. My hope they will help you rearrange your perspective to live 2020 without limits.
Act as if you are an unstoppable force.
Remind yourself everyday of why you are here.
Visualize your future and live for it.
Express gratitude.
Find your sweet spot.
Look for beauty everywhere no matter how imperfect.
Let yourself go – surrender to your genius.
Share your gifts with others.
Seek to transform chaos into peace.
Remain gentle and do kind deeds

Prosperity
Lù is different from wealth and happiness. It means achieving a high rank which leads to an affluent and fortunate life. Adjust the Feng Shui in your home: place your bed, desk and stove in command position. Make sure the front entry is open, welcoming and free of clutter especially shoes for that means chaos. Place an image of a deer where it is visible for the sound of deer and prosperity in Chinese are identical. One hundred deer represent ‘prosperity one hundred times over’ (bai lù). A symbol for prosperity and nobility, the peony is the flower of wealth, rank and honor. The image of the peony in a vase expresses the wish for prosperity and peace. Place peonies in the wealth gua or at the front door. 

Lunar Leap April (May 23 – June 20)
In the Chinese lunar calendar every three years is a small Leap year and a big Leap year every five years. The line up of the stars creates a unique and favorable situation. Regardless of which Zodiac animal you are, the luck is most likely favorable for everyone between May 23 and June 20. It’s a good time to get married, relocate, start a new business, purchase real estate, make investments, break ground for new construction or remodel your space.

Timing
If you are looking to build a new home, remodel, plan a wedding, purchase a home or sell one, when you start has tremendous influence on the outcome of your event. Beginning on the right foot with an auspicious date and time will bring more success to your endeavor. Contact me, bette@shenmenfengshui.com for details.

Allow me to help you arrange your home where you feel fully supported. I am available for a full consultation service or for an hour telephone conversation. Details are at this link Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

A Guide To Anchor Abundance In Your Home

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“Abundance can be had simply by consciously receiving what already has been given.”
–Sufi saying

According to Chinese philosophy, Heaven Luck, Earth Luck and Human Luck are the cosmic trinity that shape the course of our lives. July 12th big Heaven luck becomes available to all of us and into the coming weeks. “The solar eclipse will be in the area of the sky called Punavarsu in Vedic Astrology, which means “return to the light”. Endless improvement and new possibility abound within the star. This is a star that promises renewal and new growth, even against impossible odds. Punarvasu holds the shakti of wealth and substance and is symbolized by a quiver of arrows.

This eclipse has to the potential to accelerate motion…if there are places in your heart….money, time and emotional labor weighing you down; this solar eclipse can shoot the arrow of positive transformation into motion.”
– Kari Field   

It’s the perfect time to make use of your unlimited ability to create the good in your life and your home is a powerful vision board to support that good. Beginnings have magic. Start on this solar eclipse, infuse your home with new energy and you will magnify the momentum that the stars have initiated. Reinventing your home enables you step into more of who you are. So in the spirit of supporting positive change and abundance, I have created this quick guide to open heaven’s gate to help you receive the good you desire.

Front Door/Chi Kou. Your front door invites into your home the ch’i of health, wealth, heaven, helpful people and opportunities. Its position favors your career, your future, your reputation, your head and your health. Take an assessment. Is it bright when you enter? Is there a pleasant fragrance or sound? Do you feel welcomed? If not then you are not expanding your abundance. Elevate your energy with the vital, life force of one, three or nine vital plants depending on the size of your entrance. If your entryway is dark and small, hanging a large mirror will expand the space. Put the spotlight on you when you install a light to come on or a chime to sound as the door is opened. Create a focal point! Place something opulent here, hang a crystal chandelier, an antique vase with peonies, a glass bowl of oranges (in the Chinese language oranges sound like gold). Red is a joyful color and auspicious. Add a red framed picture of person, place, animal (yes, red flamingo) or calligraphy that puts a smile on your face.

Helpful People Gua/Chien. Helpful People are those who make life easier. This is the realm of Heaven in the I-Ching. The Helpful People position in the house is in the front right corner. When you place an adjustment here, it stimulates movement in its opposite gua, Wealth. Images associated with this area are fruit trees, a prominent sky, the famous, a dignified ruler, dragons, lions, elephants, geese, horses and deer. Deer are deeply connected to prosperity and often replaced the God of Prosperity in ancient Chinese paintings and images because the words for deer and prosperity sound identical. An image of one hundred deer represent ‘prosperity one hundred times over.’ A simpler option is to display a painting or sculpture of a deer in your home or office and visualize the qualities of status, honor and advancement. These qualities are on the same vibration as abundance.

Wealth Gua/Hsun. The Wealth corner in your home is in the far left back corner of the house. Movement represents this gua. Water gliding along miniature rocks in a celadon green fountain, grasses blowing in the wind within gold frame, eight red fish surrounding one black fish painted on a scroll or a mirror that reflects the limitless sky. A classic Feng Shui wealth adjustment is imagine the wide array of possibilities such as an inheritance, winning the lottery, a monetary gift from a friend when you hang a convex mirror in this area of your home.

Center/Tai Chi. Your health is your wealth. The Center of your home represents health. If there is a lot going on here, it will “grab you in the gut”. If this is Grand Central Station you may experience digestive issues. A bathroom can deplete all areas of your life. Stairs manifest fluctuation in your finances. But if no specific design detail as mentioned is in this area that depletes this area, come to the center to set your life straight. Color lifts moods and feelings. One of the colors that represent the Center is yellow (gold too). It stands for power which is why the emperor of ancient China donned gold robes. Yellow gives a sense of tolerance, patience and wisdom gained from past experiences. Enhancing your personal power with yellow or gold, lifts your personal abundance and enables you to deal with any life situation with grace, flexibility and ease. Gold sconces, a golden statue, a golden light fixture, a yellow or golden circular rug, any one of these will focus your energy. Remember to add your intention.

Family Gua/Jen. Family harmony is foremost in the attainment of the Five Fold Happiness–an important concept to achieve: long life, wealth, peace, virtue and honor. When you honor the beginning of a season (such as the solar eclipse), career or project, you draw more luck to it. Placing an adjustment to honor family sets the tone to create good luck. The Family gua is the middle left side of the house. The Chinese Dragon is looked upon as the ultimate symbol of good fortune. It represents fertility, immortality, happiness, power and wealth. Fire up the untapped dragon within you by placing an image of a green Dragon in this area of your home. Green symbolizes hope, freshness and spring growth and the implementation of this enhancement raises the good healthy earth ch’i in your home.

Today, July 12, is an auspicious day. The energy generated from performing one cure will create a quickening, I hope you take the opportunity to start the magic of abundance.

photo credit: Jonathan Adler design. Simon Doonan photos

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”… start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.