Trick or treat, no Sweet and Sour?

As its Halloween, “trick or treat” is a common phrase heard today with children offering this choice to friends and neighbours. Dressed in fiendish costumes, kids will threaten to perform dastardly deeds if not recompensed by a suitable amount of bling, baubles or sweet things. As Feng Shui only brings out the best in people, we will now offer you, so to speak, something sweet.

Did you know that when we view today's Wood Ox in terms of flavours, wood is sour and sweet refers to the Ox’s earth element?  Ask anyone with either a wood or earth day stem in their Chinese astrology horoscope and they will confirm their preference for sweet or sour flavours, especially if they were born in season; spring for wood and summer for earth people. 

Understanding people’s energy is part of Feng Shui and allows consultants to recommend enhancements to create a perfect nurturing environment in any home or office. This doesn’t mean you must take a cheese and onion sandwich home with you though because colour, shape and most importantly position, all correspond to elements and are applied instead.

Using today's Wood Ox zodiac sign as an example in five-element analysis, wood actually controls earth and creates a qi blockage that restricts self-expression. With emotions constantly kept in check, this may in severe cases result in stomach issues. 

Wood Ox qi is balanced by incorporating metal and water elements with colours such as grey, white or metallic, and black and dark blue respectively.  Alternatively, we can install round, flowing shapes in furniture and fittings. Even spending time in the north or west parts of a home or office also works, as does carrying out certain activities and vocations.  Of course, a home and office also has its own type of energy, and when we analyse and balance both people and building, we create a perfect atmosphere.  Perhaps, you can see why Feng Shui is so popular?

The above cures and recommendations mainly refer to those with a Wood Ox in the day pillar of their Chinese horoscope.  See if this is you with our free Chinese horoscope. Regardless of which zodiac signs you have, we have a dedicated Wood Ox web page that explains how your sign will fare today.

The Tong Shu or Chinese almanac recommends only meditation or honouring ancestors, barbecuing, or fixing walls and smoothing paths as the only suitable activities. It advises against buying a boat or opening a water course today.

We will return tomorrow on a Fire Tiger day. Until then, enjoy now!

Finn & Slim Shooey

Roll out the Sky ball?

 Roll out the Sky ball?

Today sees the general release of the new James Bond film Skyfall and from a Feng Shui perspective, they must have used auspicious timing in choosing this date. It’s not surprising, as the film is reputed to have cost a whopping £93.7m ($150m). With such an investment, who wouldn’t use auspicious timing to maximise their returns? Kerching!

There are many ways to choose auspicious timing and relatively recently, an Asian construction company won a global multibillion dollar contract and avoided hefty late penalties by doing so. “Going with the flow” as great timing is sometimes known, is used globally by those who know of its success record; to launch, host, unveil or announce important events. Let’s look at some of the options available today.

In the Tong Shu or Chinese almanac, today is listed as an “Open” day; a lucky day to unveil or present something new. Whilst in Chinese astrology, it’s a Metal Monkey day, which has a special distinction within the Chinese zodiac as it’s known as “The Reformer”; a perfect day to give something up or develop new concepts.  Consequently, the classic Bond Martini is replaced in Skyfall by a can of Heineken, the privilege of which cost the lager company almost a third of the film costs. 

Although, Skyfall’s general release is today, the world wide premiere was actually 3 days ago on the 23^rd October; a day auspicious for new cycles and long term partnerships.  As this film breaks records in its partnerships with sponsors, it’s highly appropriate. However, in the 28 Lunar Mansions, the moon appears in the Ghost constellation, so let’s hope this aspect doesn’t turn around to haunt them.

When we consider the Chinese astrological elements of Yang Metal which indicates Heaven or sky, and Monkey’s metal elements denoting spherical shapes (ball), you can see the inspiration behind today's title. Furthermore, the Monkey day and Dog month Chinese zodiac signs are the beginning and end of a spectacular alignment. They only need the Rooster to complete and finalise it. Rooster represents entertainment and the showman.

In Chinese mythology, the Rooster is known as the bird that cannot fly but makes a lot of noise. It can indicate critics, so having film critics on board will make Skyfall the surefire success it deserves to be. However, the truly clever aspect about today's lucky timings is that entertainment and critics aside, between 5pm and 7pm we enter the Rooster double hour, which completes the triple alignment of Monkey, Rooster and Dog to create the strongest ever metal element. This can be likened to pure gold and represents outstanding wealth to the fire element of the film industry and its director Sam Mendes. In the UK and Ireland where the film opens today and at teatime tonight, it may feel similar to a PT Barnum moment where we are all part of the greatest show on earth! 

Returning to solid ground, the Chinese almanac is positively grinning and recommends meditation or honouring ancestors, asking for blessings, taking a course visiting friends, having a haircut, sweeping house, travelling, getting engaged, getting married, exchanging gifts, having an astrology reading, buying or making clothes, seeing a doctor or choosing a treatment, emigrating, opening a  business and trading, refurbishing a home or office, laying foundations, fixing a roof, buying or setting direction for your bed, opening a water course and drilling a well.

Metal Monkey traits and compatibility are covered on our dedicated web page. As business is very busy at the moment, we will not return until next Wednesday. Until then, have a ball!

Finn & Slim Shooey

Fair and square?

Today is an Earth Sheep day and as both components have the same element of earth, that seems fair.  But wait; isn’t square or oblong the shape associated with the earth element? Why yes I believe it is.

If I have to spend a paragraph explaining a simple title, you can bet that as far as Chinese astrology is concerned, it’s a “slow news day”. The Tong Shu or Chinese almanac recommends only grasping (at straws? perhaps another reason for choosing today's title?) and hunting as the only suitable activities. It advises against burning spirit tablets or performing funeral duties.

We have a dedicated Earth Sheep web page that explains compatibility and how your own zodiac signs are affected. We will return tomorrow on a Metal Monkey day. Until then, enjoy every moment of NOW.

Finn & Slim Shooey

Hunt for Sweet Success?

Today's title sure needs some explaining but as it’s a good day for learning, “saddle up” and let’s go for a ride. That’s a useful term to begin with as it is actually an Earth Horse day in Chinese astrology and sweetness is the taste associated with th earth element. Ask any Earth Horse person and they’ll probably tell you they’re on first name terms with their dentist due to a sweet tooth.

In the 28 Lunar Mansions system, the moon appears in the constellation of “Orion”, named after a hunter in Greek mythology. As one of the most prominent constellations in the night sky, the Pyramids of Giza are said to be aligned with his belt. If success is what you seek, this influence is said to be good for building or starting new projects, and any work done today whether already underway or just started will be well rewarded.

The Chinese almanac or Tong Shu has an auspicious horseshoe symbol surrounding today's recommendations; not just because it’s a horse day but due to “Success” appearing in another influential system called the 12 palaces or Jian Chu. This enhances most activities, especially  taking a course visiting friends, travelling, getting engaged or married, exchanging gifts, having an astrology reading, seeing a doctor or choosing a treatment, emigrating, opening a  business and trading, refurbishing a home or office, laying foundations, fixing a roof, buying or setting direction for your bed and hunting.

Success and compatibility also comes today by an alignment with today’s Earth Horse Chinese zodiac sign and the monthly Dog sign. This is in itself auspicious, but further enhanced if you have a Tiger in your Chinese astrology chart as the Tiger completes an extremely prominent fire influence. You can easily find out if this is you with our free Chinese horoscope. 

Having nearly thirteen million different variations within a Chinese horoscope, it’s difficult to say how this alignment will affect you personally, but take a look at our attribute cycle and follow its instructions. Alternatively, a professional astrology reading will tell you, as well as so much more.

For those without a Tiger in their horoscope, we have a dedicated Earth Horse web page that explains how your own zodiac signs are affected. We will return tomorrow on an Earth Sheep day. Until then, enjoy every moment of NOW.

Finn & Slim Shooey

Hot and cold blooded?

In Chinese astrology, they don’t come much hotter than today's Fire Snake and as snakes are naturally cold blooded, you can see how we chose today's title.

If you have a Fire Snake in your Chinese astrology chart (see our free Chinese horoscope) you will have a very intense and magnetic personality. Said to have almost mesmerising eyes, Fire Snakes are also blessed with a great sense of humour and artistic flair.

Snake days generally good for Rooster zodiac signs who gain prominence, as well as Ox signs who can execute their ideas today.  Pig signs are clashed and will have a fraught day ahead if they don’t pay attention to matters in hand, whilst Horse signs may need to rethink or fine tune plans before moving ahead. For more details and to see how your own Chinese zodiac sign will fare today, see our dedicated Fire Snake web page.

The cold blooded critters mentioned in our title are better suited to the onset of the solar term that also begins today called “Frost Descends”. This marks the Suns position exactly at the celestial longitude of 210° and signifies that the weather will become cold, with frost appearing sometime during this fifteen day period.

Today is also the Chongyang Festival or “Seniors Day”, also called the Double Ninth as it always falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. It is a day for people to eat Chongyang cake, drink chrysanthemum wine, climb mountains and pay homage to ancestors and chrysanthemums.

In Hong Kong, people go to Victoria Peak for a picnic on this day, with many people eating special cakes called ‘ko’. The name sounds similar to ‘high’ or ‘top’ in Chinese and people eat them in the hope of being promoted to high positions.

The Tong Shu or Chinese almanac recommends getting engaged, setting up a fire or stove and hunting as most suitable activities today. It advises against long journeys, buying funeral attire and having your hair done, so don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Today's lucky direction is southwest.

We will return tomorrow on an Earth Horse day. Until then, enjoy every moment of NOW.

Finn & Slim Shooey