Feng Shui Tips for 2015
The Year of the Wood Goat (Sheep / Ram) starts on 19 February 2015 (it finishes on 8 February 2016 which is the start of the Fire Monkey Year)
Is 2015 the Year of the Goat, Sheep or Ram?
There is no consensus on the naming of the actual animal that represents this year – goat, sheep or ram (although most feng shui experts agree it’s the Year of the Goat). But according to the five elements theory, it is very definitely a yin wood year. Personally, I think that at this time we are in need of a strong goat energy – so we can climb mountains and look around to get a clear healthy perspective on what is happening in the world. Now more than ever we need people (especially leaders) who have the big picture, people who are not restricted to the detail but can see what is happening in the world on the many different levels: environmental, social, financial, political, historic, spiritual, personal and so on.
What are the qualities and tendencies of the Year of the Wood Goat?
In the orient, the goat is considered an auspicious animal, so the Year of the Goat brings promise and prosperity. Consider some of the goat qualities: vitality, virility, curiosity, sturdiness, endurance, guardianship, independence … Goats love to climb – representing progress and achievement. Goats will move around a lot and can ‘reach those places other animals can’t reach’ (just think of them balancing at impossible angles and elevations on cliffs and mountaintops). Goats approach a precipice with ease and enthusiasm.
The Chinese calendar works on a 60-year cycle, so the two previous years of ‘yin wood goat’ were in 1955 and 1895. Both years were marked by famous peace treaties (the Sino Japan Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, and in 1955 the Warsaw Pact, the Baghdad Pact, the start of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization). 1955 was also the year that West Germany joined NATO. They were also marked by conflicts and wars, for example 1955 saw the start of the Vietnam war between North and South Vietnam – a war which lasted until US troops finally withdrew from South Vietnam in 1975.
Famous people born in the previous year of the yin wood goat (1955) include Tim Berners-Lee, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Nicolas Sarkozy, Whoopi Goldberg, Bruce Willis and John Grisham.
8 top feng shui tips for 2015 – the Year of the Goat / Sheep / Ram
1) Have an image of a goat somewhere in your home or office
To connect and benefit from the energy of the goat have an image or little statue of a goat. Search (online) for and print out an image of a goat – or find a goat card or magazine picture. The ideal place for it is in the wealth corner of your home or office or desk (see area 2 in the bagua below). Have an image of a goat on your mobile phone or as wallpaper background on your computer. Put a model of a goat on a shelf (a children’s farm animal will do the trick) or if you’re into Lego get this nano sheep block.
2) Check your personal bagua for 2015
As well as having a general characteristic for everyone, each year will have a specific effect on individuals depending on when they were born. To find out what the specific focus of this year is for you, look at the two charts below. The bagua shows the different areas of your home, room or office. Below that, find the year of your birth on the 9 Star Ki Chart and look at the top of the column to find your number (eg 1952 is 3 Wood, relating to well-being, balance, power and the present; 1995 is 5 Earth, relating to projects, children, creativity and the future).
The number relates to the area on the bagua which will show you the aspects of your life which will be enhanced this year, and if by any chance this is also a wood year for you, these aspects will be further heightened. You might like to place an additional image or model of a goat in this area, or decorate it positively in some way meaningful to you.
The bagua chart for 2015 looks like this
The star chart is derived from the following calculation: add all the digits of the date of your birth until you end up with one digit and then subtract that number from 11. For example, if you were born in 1988, 1+9+8+8=26 and then 2+6 = 8 and then 11-8=3, so 3 is your star number and in 2015 your star is in the middle of the bagua (well-being, balance, power, the present). If your star is number 2 then it will be particularly favoured in this ‘2’ year and in 2015 it is good to focus on your wealth and prosperity as you appreciate all the blessings your life brings.
3) Clear your past history (karma) – map your family tree
Since the Year of the Goat is about getting perspective on your life, check your past and clear any blockages there. This will allow for a better future. One way of doing this is to build a family tree chart and look for any ancestors who might have had problems. You might know of someone or something in particular, or if you can dowse, then dowse for people with problems which may have an effect on you. Then sit quietly and send them positive energy and love, healing, forgiveness, gratitude, etc. If you can’t identify anyone in particular, then send positive energy to them all! Honour your ancestors. Enhance the effect by placing a few nice photos of your family around – or in the family area of your home.
4) How to boost your wood element (health)? Tap into trees and nature
• Connect with nature more. 2015 – the Year of the Goat – has the energy of wood/trees in the five elements cycle (the others are earth, fire, water and metal). Wood relates to your health and growth and the wood element has the uplifting and outgoing energy of trees. Spend more time in nature. The benefits of the restorative effects of nature are well established (biophilia). Walk barefoot (read about the benefits of grounding /earthing). Connect to trees. Plant some trees (birch is perfect because it grows fast and then you can juice it). Drink tree juices, for example birch tree water / or maple water. If you’re living in a town or city and you can’t spend much time in nature, the next best thing you can do is to just imagine being in nature, in birch woods, walking in the mountains, etc. Research suggests that imagining nature (or anything else) actually has a similar effect on your body and mind as being in that environment. (So be careful what you think about!)
• Breathe (breathe better!) Air or the wind element in feng shui (feng shui means wind-water) is an important reminder of the importance of good breathing. According to research into HRV (heart rate variability, one the best ways to predict health), the best way to breathe is: breathe in for five seconds and then immediately breathe out for five seconds, without a pause. This type of breathing syncs your breath with the rhythm of your blood pressure which will bring many health benefits.
• Drink water. The water part of feng shui is another important reminder that hydration is one of the most important aspects of health. Drink water, first thing in the morning – and on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before each meal. Learn more about the importance of hydration and watch this informative video about the importance of drinking water.
• Colour. The colour of the element wood/tree is green but the colour for 2015 according to Pantone is marsala. Have either of these colours around you – or buy and wear articles of clothing in green or marsala (a warm reddish brown).
• Protect yourself from electromagnetic pollution. Electro-smog is now recognised as one of the top environmental pollutants and stressors. Minimise the exposure to electromagnetic pollution (dirty electricity), especially during your sleep. Make your bedroom electro-smog free, as much as possible. Learn more about the dangers of electromagnetic radiation. You can also protect and strengthen your aura with Pimat – energy regenerator.
• Connect to the Earth’s heartbeat, the Schumann resonance. Grounding or earthing is now being recognised as a simple way to improve your health. Amount of Schumann resonance in your environment can be a predictor of your the life force (chi) and of your home or workplace. Abundance of Schumann resonance in your home/office can boost your immunity and help combat electromagnetic smog and geopathic stress. Learn more about Schumann waves / resonance and get Helios3 – Schumann resonance generator
5) How to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2015 – the Year of the Goat – 19 February 2015?
The Chinese New Year is traditionally celebrated for a few days, so there is plenty of time to do something meaningful and fun. Do something to celebrate and connect to the new energy of the Year of the Goat. Have some Chinese food (see point 8 about the Yauatcha restaurant in London), wear something brand new, get a new wallet, read about your Chinese animal sign and how to navigate through 2015, etc. Remember your sign is also related to an element ie water, wood, fire, earth or metal, so for example you can be a fire horse or wood horse which was the sign for 2014. Read specifically about your animal sign in relation to your element.
Feng shui consultations for 2015
If you need a specific feng shui consultation on your home or workplace for 2015 or just a yearly feng shui MOT, please contact me on +44 7956 288574 or use the contact form
6) Have a vision for 2015
Get a clear perspective of what you want to achieve in 2015. Spend some time thinking about what is important for you. Write down all your key values in order of importance, for example: 1. health, 2. love, 3. family, 4. world peace, 5. prosperity, etc.
Also, make your list of goals for 2015. You can make a bagua collage for 2015, either writing in words or representing pictorially (drawing or cut out pictures) what is important to you in each area. For example, if traveling is important – write down a few (new and old) places you want to visit in 2015 and place some photos or images from those places in your travel corner. If wealth is important, place something relevant in your wealth corner eg get a new and bigger money plant (jade, crassula ovate); plan and take your first steps to financial independence and freedom (get Anthony Robbins’ ebook: Money: Master the Game – 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom). And have a plan for achieving your goals (read tip number 7 below).
Mercury retrograde in 2015 – be extra careful during these times
Mercury’s retrograde periods can cause our plans (especially travel) to go awry. Check the dates for 2015 Mercury retrograde and put them in your calendar (iCal).
7) What are top psychological tips to make your 2015 resolutions and goals stick?
TIME magazine recently featured seven tips for making your New Year’s resolution stick, for lasting success and for achieving your goals. Unlike most goal-setting advice, these address your resolutions from a psychological perspective, helping you to alter your mindset for lasting success. According to research the following can all help you achieve your goals:
1) start on a Monday, 2) make/write down an actual plan, 3) have a backup plan 4) choose a round number for your goals, 5) make a monetary commitment, 6) break your goals down into manageable parts, and 7) use your willpower wisely.
Feng shui works because it is a physicalised affirmation and anchor of your wants and needs.
8) 2015 has the vibration of the digit eight – the vibration and symbol of wealth and infinite life
• Lucky 8. When you add digits in 2015 it adds up to 8. In many cultures, number eight is considered lucky. In Chinese, the number eight rhymes with the character for wealth so Chinese establishments always try to include the digit eight in their telephone number, for example, a very successful Yauatcha restaurant in London has this telephone number for bookings: +44 20 7494 8888. (Next time you visit Yauatcha, look out for all the ways they have enhanced their positive feng shui.) For yourself, see if you can add a form of ‘8’ to your signature, or use more loops (in letters such as ‘s’, ‘j’, ‘f’, ‘b’, g’, ‘q’) in your handwriting.
• Print out this Chinese character for wealth (财富) – or simply write the figure 8 on a piece of paper – and place it in your wallet. More Chinese characters for wealth, prosperity, etc
• Get some octagonally shaped things and objects with the digit 8, for example: mirrors, coasters, glasses, clocks, lamps, etc. You can also get this octagonal box for your desk – place it in the wealth corner (the top left corner). Or get this Swarovski’s crystal rainbow maker (also available as a double) and stick it on the window (ideally in the wealth corner or south east part of the house). The octagon is a popular shape and powerful symbol in many cultures, for example, Japanese lottery machines are often octagonal and of course in feng shui the trigrams of the bagua are often arranged octagonally.
• Do the infinity walk (walk in the shape of the infinity figure – an 8 on its side – in a calm meditative way) or do the infinity walk in your mind or move your eyes following the shape of the infinity figure with eyes open or closed (start by looking up to the left as if you are starting to draw the small letter ‘a’).
And on a funnier note – go and see this cartoon film: Shaun the Sheep The Movie
Do any ritual that will make you feel good
You don’t have to do all of the feng shui rituals mentioned here. Remember, if a particular feng shui ritual doesn’t make you feel better – don’t do it! Feng shui is very practical and adaptable. In short, feng shui = intention + your energy + ritual and intention is the most important thing (followed by your attitude or energy and then the ritual). So think about what you want to achieve in 2015, and choose those of the suggestions above which you think will enhance your purpose and achievement. The earlier you do them, the better, but you can do them, or redo them, at any time during this exciting Year of the Goat.
Have a great and prosperous Year of the Wood Goat!
Jan
Feng shui consultations for 2015
If you need a specific feng shui consultation on your home or workplace for 2015 or just a yearly feng shui MOT, please contact me on +44 7956 288574 or use the contact form