“Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star.”

Solar eclipse and new moon rising, yet… hope springs eternal!

Today's title was originally inspired from a quote by Confucius and is appropriate on so many levels. Not least because it’s a Fire Rat day and in the earliest forms of feng shui or “Kan Yu” as it was then known, today's elements represent the Star and Moon respectively.

Fire also represents the height of growth or success, as well as action, and the Rat always marks the start of a new cycle. I am therefore interpreting today as the start of a new cycle where action leads to success.

If that wasn’t all, tonight we have a new moon which is traditionally the start of a cycle and the ideal time to start projects. This is just as well as today there may also be a shortage of heavenly light due to a solar eclipse.

In ancient times they feared these days as they didn’t know whether the Sun, the source of life, would ever return. In a similar way, with austerity affecting everyday life, I am reminded that today's fire element can also mean hope and joy.  Two further quotes then spring to mind; the first is that “as one door closes another opens” and the other by Albert Einstein who said, “I like to think that the moon is there even if I am not looking at it”.  Well, the sun is just under the horizon, let there be light, find hope and joy will find you.

You can discover how your own Chinese zodiac signs will fare today on our dedicated Fire Rat web page and we will return next Tuesday on a Metal Dragon day.  Until then, enjoy NOW - after all you have good reason to!

Finn & Slim Shooey

Blessed by the lazy Dragon?

It’s a Wood Dragon day in Chinese astrology and if you have one of these in your Chinese horoscope, you will know that it doesn’t mean lazy, far from it! Of the five different types of Dragon, this wood type has the potential to be the most affluent, or if male, possibly the most romantic. Now you want one right? See free Chinese horoscope.

I coined it a lazy dragon as there isn’t much to do today, but what there is to do, is all good; even blessed! That’s because the Dragon assists the monthly sign of Ox and the Chinese almanac interprets this as a great day for taking it easy and quiet reflection or getting lucky by asking for blessings, visiting friends and shopping.

Regardless of which Chinese zodiac sign you have, please see our dedicated Wood Dragon page to see how you will fare today, or possibly which shops you should visit.

We will grinningly return tomorrow with a Grass Snake.  Can’t wait to see what we will do with that! Until then, enjoy every moment of NOW!

Finn & Slim Shooey

The Luck Bunny

It’s actually a Water Rabbit day, which is more associated with intelligence and creativity than blessings, but then maybe we make our own luck? In which case you will definitely need to use feng shui and this blog will help you.

As all energy is in a state of flux, rising and falling or peaking and decaying, Feng shui enables you to find and absorb the most vibrant energy at any given time. This will definitely improve your performance and outlook on life, perhaps this confidence is what others consider as being lucky?

For those who haven’t availed themselves of this rising energy, present in every structure, (maybe this is the true meaning of going with the flow?) we have translated the Chinese almanac to find today's most suitable activities, they include meditating or honouring ancestors, asking for luck, visiting friends, taking a course, having a haircut, sweeping house, travelling, getting engaged, getting married, seeing a doctor or choosing a treatment, emigrating, opening a  business or setting up a tombstone. It advises against litigation, opening a well or watercourse.

Of course if you want to be fully empowered then maybe a feng shui consultation will help you. Alternatively, we can teach you how to do it for yourself and those you care about with one of courses, just click on the link above.

To see how your own Chinese astrology sign will fare today, see our dedicated Water Rabbit  web page. We will return tomorrow with a Wood Dragon, until then, enjoy every moment of NOW!

Finn & Slim Shooey

“Tiger at the water hole”

Today's title is from Sun Zi’s ancient classic “The Art of War” and refers to getting everything you need, relatively effortlessly from one source. With that in mind this seems a perfect time to tell you what we do; especially since we have already begun the New Chinese year of the Water Snake, click for annual predictions.

Now you might think that the New Year begins on Sunday 10^th February, as is already well publicised; but like Easter that is a LUNAR FESTIVAL. As such, it is always celebrated on the 2^nd new moon after the winter solstice and can occur at any time within 30 days from January 19^th.

If you are born within this 30 day period you are probably confused as to which Chinese animal sign you have, as one source says this and another… something else. Let me therefore tell you that professionally we use the solar cycle which begins around February 4^th annually, as this provides much clearer and more accurate results.

There are other systems of Chinese astrology which do use the lunar calendar, but Ba Zi or Four Pillars of Destiny is not one of them. As an example a child born today will be born in a Water Snake year, even though the New Year festival happens next Sunday.  

On the subject of which animal sign you have, we actually all have 4 of them, each one influencing 15 years of our life and when we get to age 60, we begin again.  The annual Chinese animal sign really only governs your childhood environment and of more importance is the day, then the month of birth. The hour tells us the position of the Sun at the time of birth and also has great significance.

The Chinese animal signs are each given an element, which is actually an additional and different source of energy, known as a Heavenly Stem. This refers to light and solar energy, whilst the energy of the zodiac animal sign represents the local environmental influence.  Analysing the elemental relationship between these 2 aspects or “pillar” shows the effects on our horoscopes and environments.

Why use Chinese astrology in feng shui?

If you are reading this, you already know the power and effect of feng shui, in terms of tapping into the local vibrant energy to enhance your life. At the same time avoiding decaying energy which will cause stress and loss. This is known as balancing energy in our homes and offices,

This feels great but it’s general and not specific enough. However, when we use Chinese astrology we can calibrate individuals, family or groups needs to create the perfect atmosphere for their goals. For example, that can be peace and harmony in a home, or an inspiring, exciting and more efficient atmosphere in an office. Further by using Chinese astrology we can add the time aspect and work out the perfect timings for events for anything from weddings and parties to product launches or production schedules. See our recent article on the latest James Bond film Skyfall.

 By using Chinese astrology we add the time aspect to feng shui which ensures that all of our clients enjoy continuous and optimal feng shui results. In a professional reading, we can also advise clients on when to make important decisions based on their trends, tendencies, likes, dislikes, compatibility and where, when and even with whom fulfilment can be found.

This is when the Four Pillars of Destiny comes into its own and why we need to follow the annual, (Water Snake) monthly (Wood Tiger) and daily (Water Tiger) influences into account.   

So, there you go the proverbial cat is out of the bag, today's title “Tiger at the water hole” was inspired by it being a Water Tiger day. Mind you the energetic relationship between these two aspects of Water and Tiger (wood) represents intelligence, strategy and forward planning. Hopefully our own interpretations and the daily recommendations translated from the Chinese almanac provide this service.

Today's most suitable activities are therefore visiting friends, getting engaged, having an astrology reading, opening a  business signing contracts, trading, collecting debts, refurbishing a home or office, fixing a roof, buying or setting direction for your bed, hunting and setting up a tombstone. Whilst drilling a well, laying foundations or meditating is inadvisable.

So this blog places you at the proverbial water hole where all events can be reviewed and agreed before taking action. If you feel this service may be of interest to others please pass it onto them and feel free to follow us on our daily blog, Twitter or Facebook. We will return tomorrow on a Water Rabbit day, until then, enjoy every moment of NOW!

Finn & Slim Shooey

15ft sausage for UK govt, – only on a Fire Snake day!

If you saw a 15ft serpent like object making its way towards Big Ben and knew Chinese astrology you would probably guess that it is some kind of Snake day. Further, from the rapid growth and filming that this publicity generated, (I hear it was even mentioned in a feng shui blog) and the action itself; all being fire element activities, you could even specify it as a Fire Snake day.

If Fire Snake is in your horoscope and you can get a free Chinese astrology chart here to see, it can mean that you are extremely artistic, and independent with a spiritual or religious flair. Seen as charismatic and possibly prone to hysteria, you are not afraid of hard work and you can make money from doing different things. Being pure fire, you need constant stimulus and must consolidate and finish projects before moving onto something else.

The Snake is part of the same astrological group as the Rooster and Ox, which all experience change in a Rabbit year such as 2011. Although, being a member of the clashed group you can still make money and get support with projects, so you are probably the best placed sign within this group. That said, if you are worried about how things tend to be going this year then why not try a feng shui consultation which can provide a unique and nurturing environment for home and office and seriously help improve quality of life. Famous fire Snakes include Orlando Bloom, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Thierry Henry, Chris Martin, Shakira, Liv Tyler, Kanye West, Adele and Gabourey Sidibe,

As you would expect the Snake burns bright and will probably be at the centre of attention. Unfortunately, setbacks from competition may affect those with Horse in their horoscope. Still, the Earth signs of Dragon, Sheep, Dog and even Ox are fully energised, whilst, the Rooster and Monkey may gain power and opportunities for recognition and their females may find love and romance.

Rat horoscopes can collect money as can Pigs, who may also benefit by investing today. The Wood signs of Tiger and Rabbit should be quite creative, or are able to relax and travel easily.

The Chinese almanac or Tong Shu suggests that today si a good day to smooth paths and fill holes and cracks in walls.

Until tomorrow – enjoy today!