Symbolism and Characteristics
The Snake, the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle, represents wisdom, intuition, and mystery. In 2025, it combines with the Wood element, which adds qualities of growth, creativity, and adaptability / flexibility. The Snake (蛇) is the sixth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Wood Snake (yin) is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 巳. In Chinese astrological symbology, snakes are also believed to be intelligent, with tendencies that are a bit unscrupulous, reserved, and contemplative.

Timing and Significance
The Year of the Wood Snake begins on 29 January 2025 and ends on 16 February 2026. This combination of Snake and Wood occurs once every 60 years in the Chinese astrological cycle.

Key Themes for 2025

• Wisdom and Intuition: The Snake’s natural traits of analytical thinking and insightfulness are emphasised.
• Growth, Transformation and Renewal: The Wood element encourages personal and professional development, learning, much like a snake shedding its skin.
• Creativity and Innovation: 2025 is expected to be a year of fresh perspectives and innovative problem-solving.
• Adaptability: The Wood Snake’s energy promotes flexibility in facing life’s challenges. Overall, snakes are highly specialised creatures with remarkable adaptations for survival in diverse environments. For this year and the next few years, adaptability will probably be the most important skill so continues accelerated learning is key! and action. One of the steps you can take now is to get our new book SPEED READING FASTER (coming out on 11 March – preorder now!)
• Introspection: This year encourages deep reflection and self-discovery and letting go of the old. Don’t get drawn into political theatre and dramas of 2025.
• Feng shui: Clutter clearing, letting go… (get rid of old clothes, things… donate to charities, etc). Focus on new, add new plants and rejuvenate your home and workplace.

Predictions and Influences

• Economic Outlook: Gradual and steady financial growth is expected, with a focus on long-term planning. Don’t get entangled in political and financial dramas – they can drain your energy unnecessary.
• Personal Development: Opportunities for learning, self-improvement, and spiritual growth are highlighted.
• Health and Wellness: Balance and thoughtful self-care are emphasised, with a focus on holistic well-being.

Cultural Significance

In Chinese culture, the Snake is admired for its beauty and mystique, symbolising elegance and subtle power. The Year of the Wood Snake offers a chance to embrace these qualities and approach the future with confidence and wisdom.

1965: The Previous Year of the Wood Snake

Significant Events in 1965

Civil Rights Movement

• The Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on 6 August, outlawing discriminatory voting practices.
• The Watts Riots erupted in Los Angeles, California, on 11 August.

Vietnam War

• The first U.S. combat troops arrived in Vietnam, with 190,000 American soldiers in the country by the end of the year.
• On 28 July, President Johnson announced an increase in U.S. troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000.

Space Exploration

• The Intelsat I (“Early Bird”) communications satellite was launched on 6 April.
• NASA’s Mariner 4 flew by Mars, providing the first close-up images of the red planet.

Cultural Milestones

• The musical film The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, premiered on 22 March.
• The Beatles performed the first stadium concert in rock history at Shea Stadium in New York City on 15 August.

International Relations

• West Germany and Israel established diplomatic relations on 12 May.
• The Indo-Pakistani War ended with a ceasefire on 22 September.

Scientific Achievements

• On 30 July, President Johnson signed the Social Security Act of 1965, establishing Medicare and Medicaid.

Other Notable Events

• Malcolm X was assassinated.
• The St. Louis Arch was completed.
• Winston Churchill’s funeral took place on 30 January.

Key Themes for 1965
The year 1965 can be characterised by the overarching theme of “Social Change and Global Tensions.” This theme is reflected in several pivotal events and movements. In the realm of civil rights and social justice, the Voting Rights Act marked a significant milestone for the Civil Rights Movement, while the Watts Riots underscored persistent racial tensions in the United States. The assassination of Malcolm X was a tragic loss, further highlighting the struggles within this transformative era.

International conflicts also defined 1965, with the Vietnam War escalating as U.S. troop numbers surged, and the Indo-Pakistani War concluding with a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the U.S. intervention in the Dominican Republic’s civil war demonstrated the pervasive influence of Cold War dynamics.

In space exploration, significant achievements included the launch of the Intelsat I communications satellite and NASA’s Mariner 4’s flyby of Mars, showcasing human ingenuity amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. The cultural landscape shifted as well, with the premiere of The Sound of Music and The Beatles’ historic stadium concert, both of which highlighted evolving global cultural trends.

Political transformations added another layer to the year’s complexity. Singapore gained independence from Malaysia, and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) unilaterally declared independence from Britain, further reshaping international relations during this period of flux.

Western Astrological Perspective on 1965

Planetary Positions and Movements

• Saturn in Aquarius: Saturn was in its own sign of Aquarius, influencing social structures and collective consciousness.
• Jupiter’s Journey: Jupiter began the year retrograde in Aries, then moved into Taurus, forming a powerful aspect with Rahu (Guru Chandal). By year’s end, Jupiter approached its exaltation sign of Gemini.
• Outer Planets: Rahu was exalted in Taurus, while Ketu was exalted in Scorpio, creating a potent axis of karmic influence.

Solar Ingresses

The Sun’s entry into cardinal signs marked the changing of seasons:

• Spring Equinox: Sun entered Aries on 20 March 1965 at 20:05.
• Summer Solstice: Sun entered Cancer on 21 June 1965 at 14:56.
• Autumnal Equinox: Sun entered Libra on 23 September 1965 at 06:06.
• Winter Solstice: Sun entered Capricorn on 22 December 1965 at 01:41.

Notable Planetary Aspects

• Venus-Mars Conjunction: Venus and Mars were closely aligned in several signs throughout the year, intensifying matters of love, creativity, and assertiveness.
• Mercury Retrograde Periods: Mercury went retrograde multiple times, including a notable retrograde in Virgo from 3 August to 8 September.

Eclipses in 1965

• Total Solar Eclipse: 30 May.
• Partial Lunar Eclipse: 13-14 June.
• Annular Solar Eclipse: 23 November.
• Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 8-9 December.

Astrological Significance

The combination of these aspects created a year of powerful transformative energy. The strong positions of Saturn, Jupiter, Rahu, and Ketu suggest a time of significant social change and personal growth. The multiple eclipses added intensity to these themes, potentially triggering major life events for individuals and on a global scale. This astrological landscape aligns with the historical events of 1965, reflecting the complex interplay of celestial energies during this pivotal time.

Play (snake)

Astrological Outlook for 2025
The year 2025 ushers in a wave of fresh cosmic energy, with significant planetary movements stimulating the collective field. Mars-related themes will dominate the first half of the year, capturing our attention and shaping our priorities. Notably, Mars will form exact oppositions with transformative Pluto in January and April, marking critical periods for personal and collective shifts (details below).

Adding to the dynamic energy, two major planets will transition into Mars-ruled Aries: Neptune in March and Saturn in May. These shifts highlight the themes of fresh beginnings, bold initiatives, and the unguarded curiosity of a beginner’s mind. The influence of Saturn and Neptune in Aries will heighten our awareness of the need for structural renewal and spiritual clarity.

July will mark a pivotal moment when Saturn and Neptune align for the first time. This rare conjunction is likely to intensify pressures on outdated structures—both personal and societal—that no longer serve a purpose. The interplay between Saturn’s demand for practical foundations and Neptune’s visionary aspirations suggests a call to rebuild, reimagine, and align with a more sustainable and inspired future.

Prepare for a year of dynamic transformation, as the cosmos invites us to step boldly into new beginnings while dismantling what no longer holds resonance in our lives.

2025 SNAKE year and snake fruit

Comparing Chinese and Western Astrological Perspectives

Both Chinese and Western astrological systems provide rich frameworks for interpreting the energies of a given year, but their methodologies and focal points differ significantly. Chinese astrology employs a cyclical structure, combining a twelve-year zodiac with the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water). This synthesis creates nuanced themes, such as the wisdom and adaptability symbolised by the Wood Snake in 2025. The emphasis is on holistic patterns, reflecting nature’s rhythms and fostering collective and personal insights.

Western astrology, on the other hand, is rooted in planetary movements and their influences on human affairs. The 1965 alignment of Saturn in Aquarius and Jupiter’s transit through Taurus and Gemini highlighted societal structures and opportunities for personal growth. Its approach is often more individualistic, with natal charts revealing specific life paths and psychological tendencies.

A key similarity lies in both systems’ use of symbolism and metaphor to interpret cosmic patterns. For instance, the Snake’s shedding of skin in Chinese astrology mirrors themes of transformation seen in Western astrology’s Pluto transits. However, their differences are equally notable. Chinese astrology’s periodic focus links personal fortunes to a broader, collective destiny, whereas Western astrology delves deeply into the intricate interplay of planetary aspects and house placements.

Together, these systems offer complementary lenses for understanding human experience. While Chinese astrology provides a macrocosmic view of cycles and elemental energies, Western astrology offers microcosmic insights into individual dynamics, both enriching the exploration of life’s mysteries.

Snake shedding its skin: transformation and renewal

Both Chinese and Western astrology interpret the themes of 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake, through their respective frameworks. For Chinese astrology, 2025 is defined by the qualities of the Snake, combined with the growth-oriented Wood element, emphasising themes like transformation, creativity, and intuition. This perspective highlights how individuals and societies can embrace cycles of renewal and balance.

Western astrology, while less specific to the Wood Snake, would interpret the year through planetary alignments and transits, such as Jupiter’s influence on growth and Saturn’s role in restructuring societal norms. The shedding of the Snake’s skin in Chinese astrology is analogous to transformative processes in Western astrology, such as a Pluto transit symbolising deep personal or societal change.

Together, these frameworks offer a holistic and dynamic understanding of 2025. Chinese astrology presents a collective, nature-inspired narrative, while Western astrology focuses on individual psychological and situational influences, making them complementary in guiding personal and societal transformation during this pivotal year.

Bagua model

Check where your feng shui star is located in the bagua model in 2025 and get a sense what might be a trend for your personal and professional.

The Bagua Model for 2025

1. Determine Your Personal Feng Shui Star: To tap into the energies of 2025, first find out your unique Feng Shui (Gua) star. You can easily do this by consulting the chart provided below. If you own a business, don’t forget to check the Feng Shui star from when your business was established.

9 STAR KI Calendar

2. Locate Your Feng Shui Star for 2025: Discover where your Feng Shui star resides in 2025 to understand the potential themes of the year for you. For instance, if your birth year is 2001, your Feng Shui star, number 8 (earth), will be in the sector of relationship, marriage and partnership 2025. Similarly, for those born in 1977, with a number 5 (earth) star, 2025 brings focus to the realms of knowledge, wisdom, new skills and introspection. If your feng shui star happens to be 2 (earth), in 2025, it’s in the middle of the chart which is about clarity, wellness and present moment.
TOP TIP: get the book Luck Factor to enhance your energy and position yourself better for this lucky year. This can change your life big time – how do I know? Lucky guess. For a general prosperity boost, get some images of koi carp.

Feng shui trend for 2025: Letting go, transformation and renewal

The central theme for feng shui in 2025 reflects the Snake’s symbolic shedding of its skin. This signifies letting go of old patterns, including habits, old ways of thinking and embracing transformation. It’s an auspicious time to focus on personal and professional growth by clearing clutter, creating open spaces, and fostering environments that encourage creativity and flexibility.

Snakes as animals are highly specialised creatures with remarkable adaptations for survival in diverse environments.

By aligning with these feng shui principles, individuals can optimise the energies of 2025, paving the way for harmony, prosperity, and holistic well-being in the Year of the Wood Snake.

Practical Feng Shui Steps for 2025:

1. Clear Clutter for Fresh Beginnings: Begin by decluttering your home and workspace to remove stagnant energy. A clean and organised environment fosters mental clarity and opens the path for new opportunities (use air cleansing plants). Do regular space clearing to let go and allow for transformation and renewal.
2. Enhance Creative Energy with the Wood Element: Incorporate natural materials like wooden furniture and greenery to support the Wood Snake’s themes of creativity and transformation. Adding plants, especially those with upward growth, symbolises vitality and progress. Similarly, images or artworks depicting trees, forests, or other natural landscapes can enhance the connection to the Wood element. These elements harmonise with 2025’s energy, promoting adaptability and innovation. The supporting element to wood is water so water features or images of water or fish can be very useful too.
3. Classical Feng Shui: Activate the Prosperity Star (#9): Focus on the east sector of your space, associated with wealth and joy in 2025. Add vibrant colours, plants, or lights to attract positive energy and amplify growth. Balance the Star #2: The central sector hosts the 2 Star in 2025. Use metal cures like a brass Wu Lou or metal wind chimes to mitigate its effects and promote health and well-being. Harmonise the Southeast with Tai Sui Remedies: Avoid major renovations or significant disturbances in the southeast sector, where Tai Sui resides. Place a Pi Yao or Tai Sui plaque to appease this influential energy.
4. Adaptation: Make your home adaptable to new things coming your way. The trend for 2025 is wellness homes with gyms, saunas, yoga studios and ice baths. Make sure you have areas of your home where you are naturally grounded/earthed e.g. baths.
5. Play (snake): Play has been suggested as an antidote for uncertainty (Lotto, 2017; Beebee and Dodd, 206). And it looks like we live in radically uncertain times. Embracing uncertainty through play and creativity can lead to innovation and adaptability, and is essential for personal and professional growth. Research shows that the feeling of uncertainty can paralyse people through anxiety and makes them spend time and effort searching for predictability. So add some fun, games to your home and workplaces.

By applying these feng shui adjustments, you can create a harmonious environment that aligns with the transformative energy of the Wood Snake, paving the way for a year filled with growth, prosperity, and renewal.

snake game 2025

People born in the Year of the Snake, with corresponding elements:

Check your Chinese Zodiac Signs / astrology profile

Pantone colour of 2025
Although, from the Chinese astrological perspective, the wood/tree element’s colour is green, Pantone colour of the year is Mocha Mousse.

‘Snake’ in English
English language is rich with metaphors and phrases containing the word “snake,” each conveying different meanings and connotations. Here are some notable examples:

1. Snake in the grass: A hidden danger or deceitful person
2. Snake oil salesman: A deceptive person selling fraudulent products
3. Snake eyes: Bad luck, particularly in gambling
4. Viper in one’s bosom: A betrayer or ungrateful person
5. Serpent’s tongue: Deceitful speech
6. Cold-blooded: Unfeeling or callous
7. Snake charm: Hypnotic influence
8. Snake around: Move stealthily or evasively
9. Python of pressure: Crushing stress
10. Cobra of coffee: Sudden alertness
11. Boa constrictor of bureaucracy: Overwhelming rules
12. Snake shedding its skin: Transformation or renewal
13. Lower than a snake’s belly: Extremely low or despicable
14. Snake pit: A chaotic or unpleasant situation
15. Snakebitten: Extremely unlucky
16. Mad as a snake: Extremely angry
17. Slippery as a snake: Evasive or untrustworthy

Snake oil, originally a legitimate Chinese medicine derived from water snakes, has become a symbol of fraudulent products and deceptive marketing.

In Chinese traditional medicine, snake oil was used to treat joint pain and inflammation due to its high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The term “snake oil” gained notoriety in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Clark Stanley, known as the “Rattlesnake King,” popularised snake oil at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He claimed his product could treat various ailments, from sciatica to toothaches.
However, in 1917, federal investigators discovered that Stanley’s snake oil contained no actual snake oil. This revelation led to “snake oil” becoming synonymous with fraudulent medical products and scams. Despite its negative connotation, recent studies have shown that genuine snake oil from Chinese water snakes does contain beneficial compounds. It has approximately 20% more EPA than salmon oil and may help with joint pain, arthritis, and cardiovascular health. Today, the term “snake oil” is used to describe any worthless product or idea promoted as a cure-all, extending beyond medicine to various fields, practices, professions including politics.

Snakes are fascinating reptiles with unique physical, behavioural, and biological characteristics. Here are the key points:

Physical Characteristics

• Snakes are limbless reptiles with elongated bodies covered in overlapping scales.
• They lack eyelids and external ear openings.
• Their skulls and jaws are highly flexible, allowing them to swallow prey larger than their heads.
• Internally, they have elongated organs to fit their narrow bodies, with some species having only one functional lung.

Hunting and Feeding

• Snakes are carnivores and swallow their prey whole without chewing.
• They use various hunting strategies:
  • Ambush predators wait in concealment for prey.
  • Active hunters pursue prey using their keen senses.
• They rely on their forked tongues and Jacobson’s organ to “smell” their surroundings and detect prey or predators.
• Some species have heat-sensing pits near their eyes to detect warm-blooded prey.
• Venomous snakes use fangs to inject venom, while others kill prey by constriction.

Behaviour and Locomotion

• Snakes exhibit diverse behaviours, including coiling defensively or flicking their tongues to gather sensory information.
• They move using various locomotion modes, such as lateral undulation (slithering), concertina movement for climbing, and sidewinding on loose surfaces.
• Most snakes are ectothermic (cold-blooded), relying on external heat sources to regulate body temperature.

Adaptations

• Their scales provide protection and aid in movement.
• Snakes shed their skin periodically through a process called ecdysis.
• They can digest large meals efficiently but may regurgitate if disturbed after feeding.

Ecological Role

• Snakes play essential roles in ecosystems as both predators and prey, helping control populations of rodents and other small animals.

Overall, snakes are highly specialised creatures with remarkable adaptations for survival in diverse environments.

As of 2022, there are approximately 3,971 known snake species worldwide. Of these, about 600 species are venomous, and around 200 are considered able to kill or significantly wound a human. To calculate the percentage of dangerously venomous snakes:

1. Total number of snake species: 3,971
2. Number of dangerously venomous species: 200

Percentage calculation:
(200 / 3,971) * 100 ≈ 5.04%Therefore, approximately 5.04% of all known snake species are considered dangerously venomous to humans. It’s worth noting that:

1. This small percentage of venomous snakes (about 7% of all snake species) are capable of causing significant harm or death to humans. The vast majority of snakes are either non-venomous or have venom that is not potent enough to be life-threatening to humans.
2. Most snakebites are caused by non-venomous snakes. Snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica, and only about 15% of all snake species are considered dangerous to humans.
3. While the percentage of dangerous snakes is relatively small, snakebites remain a significant health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. People in poor agricultural areas are most affected, with children, adolescents, and young adults at particular risk.

Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health

Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health

Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health, cleanliness, and sanitation, is closely associated with snakes for several significant reasons:

Symbolic Meaning

The snake holds profound symbolic importance in relation to Hygieia:

1. Renewal and Healing: Snakes shed their skin, symbolising renewal, rejuvenation, and the cyclical nature of health. This shedding process metaphorically represents the shedding of maladies and diseases, aligning with Hygieia’s role as a goddess of health.
2. Immortality: The snake’s ability to shed its skin also made it a symbol of immortality in ancient Greek culture. This connection to eternal life reinforced Hygieia’s association with sustained good health.
3. Wisdom and Guardianship: The serpent was seen as a symbol of wisdom and guardianship in Greek mythology. In Hygieia’s context, this wisdom likely related to medical knowledge and the protection of health.

Family Connections

Hygieia’s association with snakes is also tied to her familial relationships:

1. Daughter of Asclepius: As the daughter of Asclepius, the god of medicine, Hygieia inherited the snake symbolism. Asclepius was often depicted with a staff entwined by a serpent, known as the Rod of Asclepius.
2. Temples of Asclepius: Snakes were present in the healing temples dedicated to Asclepius and Hygieia. Patients would sleep in these sanctuaries, and it was believed that snakes might appear in their dreams to reveal cures for their ailments.

Iconography and Worship

In art and worship, Hygieia was frequently depicted with snakes:

1. Bowl and Serpent: Hygieia is often portrayed holding a shallow bowl or cup from which a snake drinks. This image became known as the “Bowl of Hygieia” and remains a symbol of pharmacy to this day.
2. Snake Entwined: In some representations, a large snake is shown wrapped around Hygieia’s body, emphasizing her close connection to the creature.
3. Votive Offerings: Statues of Hygieia adorned with snakes were found in healing centers throughout the ancient Greek world, and people would leave votive offerings at these statues.

Dual Nature of Medicine

The snake in Hygieia’s iconography also represents the dual nature of medicine:

1. Healing and Harm: Like snake venom, which can be deadly or medicinal depending on its use, the snake symbolises the delicate balance in medicine between potential harm and healing power.
2. Chthonic Connections: Snakes, living both on and under the ground, were seen as connecting the earthly realm with the underworld. This liminal nature aligned with the transformative power of healing, bridging illness and health.

In conclusion, the snake’s association with Hygieia encompasses multiple layers of symbolism, from renewal and wisdom to the very essence of medical practice, making it an integral part of her identity as the goddess of health.

The Symbolism of Snakes in Medical Emblems

The use of snakes in medical symbolism has a long and deeply rooted history, spanning cultures and centuries. Two of the most prominent symbols—the Caduceus and the Rod of Asclepius—feature serpents as central elements, each carrying distinct meanings within the realm of medicine and healing. While often confused, these symbols have different origins and associations that reveal the nuanced role of serpentine imagery in healthcare.

Story behind snakes in medicine

The Caduceus: A Symbol of Commerce, Not Medicine
The Caduceus is characterised by a staff entwined by two snakes, topped with a pair of wings. Its origins can be traced to ancient Greece, where it was associated with Hermes, the messenger of the gods—known as Mercury in Roman mythology. According to legend, Hermes encountered two snakes engaged in combat and, in an attempt to mediate, cast his staff between them. The serpents coiled around the staff in perfect symmetry, ceasing their conflict. Pleased with the outcome, Hermes adopted the staff as a personal emblem.

Traditionally, the Caduceus symbolised commerce, negotiation, and travel rather than medicine. In Greek and Roman mythology, Hermes was not a healer but a guide of souls, a patron of merchants, and, paradoxically, also associated with trickery and thieves. Despite its aesthetic appeal and widespread modern use in medical insignia, the Caduceus lacks a direct historical connection to healthcare or healing.

The Rod of Asclepius: The True Emblem of Medicine
In contrast, the Rod of Asclepius—a staff entwined by a single snake—is the authentic symbol of medicine and healing. It is associated with Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine and son of Apollo. Mythology suggests that Asclepius was granted divine healing knowledge through his interactions with serpents. One story recounts how a snake cleaned his ears, imparting secret wisdom, while another describes a snake offering him an herb capable of resurrecting the dead.

The serpent in this context is a powerful symbol of renewal, wisdom, and the transformative nature of medicine. Its ability to shed its skin has long been interpreted as a metaphor for healing, regeneration, and the cyclical nature of life. The Rod of Asclepius remains the preferred emblem of many reputable medical institutions, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Medical Association (AMA), reinforcing its legitimacy as the true symbol of medical practice.

Why Snakes? The Deeper Symbolism
The prominence of snakes in medical symbolism is rooted in their historical association with healing and transformation. In ancient Greece, the serpent was believed to possess curative powers, with some even considering its mere touch to be therapeutic. This belief extended to early medical practices, where snakes were kept in temples dedicated to Asclepius, and patients sought healing through ritualistic incubation.

Furthermore, the serpent’s dual nature—both venomous and capable of producing its own antivenom—made it an apt representation of medicine itself. This duality mirrors the delicate balance between poison and cure, a fundamental principle in pharmacology and toxicology. The snake’s presence in modern medical symbols, such as the Bowl of Hygieia (a snake coiled around a cup, representing pharmacy), underscores its enduring relevance in the healthcare field.

The Confusion Between the Caduceus and the Rod of Asclepius
The widespread use of the Caduceus in medical contexts is a relatively modern phenomenon, primarily resulting from its adoption by the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1902. While the American Medical Association (AMA) and other prestigious institutions embraced the Rod of Asclepius, the U.S. Army and other organisations, such as the U.S. Public Health Service, opted for the Caduceus—likely due to its visual appeal and symmetry rather than its historical relevance to medicine.

Despite its incorrect association with healthcare, the Caduceus remains prevalent in certain medical industries, including pharmaceuticals and hospital supply branding. However, the Rod of Asclepius remains the more authentic and widely accepted symbol for the medical profession, maintaining a direct lineage to ancient healing traditions.

Conclusion
The enduring presence of snakes in medical symbolism reflects the intersection of mythology, healing practices, and scientific understanding. While the Caduceus continues to appear in some medical contexts, the Rod of Asclepius remains the true emblem of medicine, representing the profession’s core principles of healing, renewal, and wisdom. The snake, embodying both danger and cure, continues to inspire and symbolise the profound complexity of medical science, bridging ancient traditions with modern healthcare.

References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332432133_Why_is_the_Medical_Symbol_a_Snake

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6913859/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439707/

The post 2025: The Year of the Wood Snake from a Feng Shui Perspective and Top Feng Shui Tips  appeared first on Feng Shui London UK • The Capital Feng Shui Consultant.

The Significance of the Dragon in Chinese Culture
The dragon, revered in Chinese culture, symbolises power, nobility, and luck. It is considered the most auspicious sign in the Chinese zodiac, often associated with strength, health, and prosperity. Dragons hold a place of immense significance in Chinese culture, symbolising power, strength, and good fortune. Unlike the fearsome creatures depicted in Western mythology, Chinese dragons are seen as benevolent and wise. They are revered as harbingers of prosperity and are believed to have control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. The dragon is one of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals and is associated with the emperor and royalty, embodying the qualities of nobility, honour, and success. Its image is often used in art, festivals, and architecture, serving as a potent symbol of the Chinese people’s cultural identity and deep-rooted respect for nature’s power and mystery.

The European dragon is a legendary creature in folklore and mythology among the overlapping cultures of Europe. Read more about European dragons

This framework offers a nuanced understanding of the interplay between these elements and the zodiac, shaping the astrological landscape over each 60-year cycle.

Significant events of 1964, 60 years ago, include:

United States Events:
Senator Barry Goldwater announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.
President Lyndon Johnson declared a “War on Poverty” in his State of the Union Address.
The U.S. Surgeon General reported that smoking might be hazardous to health, a first such statement from the U.S. government.
The Beatles arrived in the U.S., marking the start of “Beatlemania.”
Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali) defeated Sonny Liston for the heavyweight boxing championship.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Johnson.
The Gulf of Tonkin incident led to escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War​​.
Global Events:
The Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, was captured.
The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom.
Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa.
The Good Friday Earthquake, the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history, struck South Central Alaska.
The Beatles held the top five positions in the Billboard Top 40 singles in America, an unprecedented achievement​​.
These events reflect a year of significant cultural, political, and social changes worldwide.

A green dragon

Celebrating Chinese New Year 2024

Traditional Festivities: The celebration of Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a time of joy and family reunions. It includes traditional customs such as the giving of red envelopes (‘hongbao’), symbolising luck and prosperity, and the lighting of fireworks to ward off evil spirits.
Culinary Delights: Food plays a crucial role, with dishes like fish (representing abundance) and dumplings (symbolising wealth) being staples of the festive feast.
Dragon Dances: The dragon dance, a highlight of the celebrations, embodies the spirit of the year. Performers gracefully manoeuvre the dragon, a symbol of strength and good luck, through the streets, bringing joy and blessings to the community.
Decorations: Homes are adorned with red decorations and couplets, signifying good fortune and happiness, setting a vibrant and positive tone for the year.
Feng Shui Adjustments: Many will make feng shui adjustments in their homes and workplaces to align with the wood dragon’s energy, inviting balance, prosperity, and positivity.

Embracing the Wood Dragon’s Energy in Our Lives
As we navigate the year of the Wood Dragon, it is an opportune time to embrace change, foster growth, and pursue our dreams with courage and creativity. This year calls for leadership with empathy, bold actions grounded in wisdom, and nurturing our ambitions as we would a young sapling, with care and patience.

In Feng Shui, the concept of wood or tree energy is integral and carries significant importance, especially in relation to the Chinese Zodiac. The year 2024 is designated as the Year of the Wood Dragon in the Chinese calendar, which brings unique influences according to Feng Shui principles.

Wood Element in Feng Shui
1. Representation: In Feng Shui, wood is one of the five elements and is believed to represent growth, vitality, health and renewal. It’s associated with qualities like flexibility, kindness, and expansion. The wood element is thought to encourage personal growth, healing, and new beginnings.

2. Direction and Colours: Traditionally, the wood element is associated with the East and Southeast directions. Green is the primary colour that represents wood, symbolising growth and rejuvenation. Blue is also often linked with the wood element, reflecting calmness and healing. Interestingly, 2024 is the peach fuzz colour of the year, according to Pantone

3. Objects and Decor: To enhance wood energy in a space, Feng Shui suggests incorporating plants, wooden furniture, and items in green or blue hues. Artwork depicting forests, trees, or landscapes can also boost wood energy.

Silver Dollar Vine (Xerosicyos danguyi) – a money plant

Feng Shui Tips for 2024
1. Enhance the East and Southeast Areas: Focus on boosting the energy in these areas of your home or office as they are linked to the wood element.
2. Incorporate Plants: Adding greenery (money plants) can enhance the vitality and growth energy associated with wood.
3. Mindful Decor Choices: Use green and blue accents, wooden furniture, and imagery of trees and nature to strengthen the wood element.
4. Balance with Other Elements: Ensure there’s a harmonious balance with the other elements to maintain equilibrium in your space and life.
5. Work on your front door to attract positive energies this year.

In conclusion, the year 2024 in Feng Shui, marked as the Year of the Wood Dragon, brings a unique combination of growth, renewal, and dynamic energy. By understanding and respecting the principles of the wood element and the dragon’s influence, one can align with these energies for a prosperous and balanced year.

Enhancing Your Space and Life: Feng Shui Tips for 2024 the Year of the Wood Dragon

The Year of the Wood Dragon in the Chinese zodiac is a period vibrant with potential and transformative energy. Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of arranging living spaces to create balance with the natural world, can be particularly effective during this time. Here are some specific Feng Shui tips, rituals, and remedies to harness the dynamic energy of the Wood Dragon year:

1. Incorporate Wood Elements:
   • Plants: To honour the wood element, introduce green plants into your home or office. Plants represent growth and vitality, perfectly aligning with the wood energy. Add some plants around the front door.
   • Wooden Decor: Use wooden furniture or decor items to strengthen the wood element. Choose pieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
2. Colours for Prosperity:
   • Green Tones: Shades of green promote growth, renewal, and harmony, resonating with the wood element.
   • Blues and Blacks: These colours are associated with the water element, which supports and nourishes wood in the Five Elements cycle.
3. Dragon Symbols:
   • Place dragon symbols or artwork in prominent areas of your home, particularly in the east, the direction associated with the dragon. Ensure these are tasteful and bring a sense of strength and wisdom to your space. Add some symbols around the front door.
4. Balance with Metal Elements:
   • Since the dragon is strong and dynamic, balancing its energy with metal elements can be beneficial. Metal (represented by colours like white or metallics and objects like metal bowls or sculptures) can help moderate the intense energy of the dragon.
5. Declutter and Organize:
   • The dragon’s energy is expansive and free-flowing. Remove clutter, especially in key areas like the entrance, front door, living room, and workspace, to allow chi to flow freely.
6. Water Features for Balance:
   • Incorporating water features such as fountains or aquariums can help balance the wood element. Place them in the north or east to enhance career prospects and personal growth.
7. Enhance the East Sector:
   • The East is associated with health and family. Enhance this area with wood elements, healthy plants, or family photos to strengthen these aspects of your life.
8. Focus on the Front Door:
   • The front door is where chi enters. Keep it well-maintained, clear of obstacles, and inviting to attract positive energy. Study your front door.
9. Bedroom Harmony:
   • Place your bed in a commanding position where you can see the door but are not directly in line with it. Soft, earthy tones can create a nurturing and restful environment.
10. Rituals for Positive Energy:
    • Spring Cleaning: Before the New Year, do a thorough cleaning to sweep away the old and welcome new energies.
    • Lighting Candles: Light candles to symbolise the fire element, which supports the wood element. This can be done as a ritual to set intentions for the year.
11. Crystals for Harmony:
    • Utilise crystals like citrine for wealth, amethyst for balance, and clear quartz to amplify positive energies.
12. Mindful Meditation Space:
    • Create a small meditation area in the east for reflection and personal growth, enhancing the spiritual aspect of the wood dragon year.

By applying these Feng Shui tips and remedies, you can align your environment with the dynamic and nurturing energies of the Wood Dragon year, paving the way for a year of growth, prosperity, and harmony.

2024 Wood Dragon Year (Plasma as sometimes seen in Norway)

BAGUA (compass)

The Bagua model in Feng Shui is a tool used to analyse and enhance the energy of a space. It’s traditionally laid out as an octagonal grid with eight areas (guas) surrounding a center, each representing different aspects of life. As we approach 2024, applying the Bagua model can help harmonise your environment with the energies of the year.

Understanding the Bagua Areas
1. Wealth & Prosperity (Southeast)
2. Fame & Reputation (South)
3. Relationships & Love (Southwest)
4. Family & Health (East)
5. Children & Creativity (West)
6. Knowledge & Wisdom (Northeast)
7. Career & Life Path (North)
8. Helpful People & Travel (Northwest)
9. Center (Tai Chi) – Health & Well-being

Applying the Bagua in 2024
Wealth & Prosperity (Southeast)
– 2024 Focus: Emphasise growth and renewal in line with the Wood Dragon year.
– Enhancements: Add wood elements and water features to nourish the wood and support wealth growth.

Fame & Reputation (South)
– 2024 Focus: Strengthen visibility and recognition.
– Enhancements: Use fire elements like candles and red décor to boost energy here.

Relationships & Love (Southwest)
– 2024 Focus: Foster harmony and stable relationships.
– Enhancements: Incorporate earth elements, like ceramic or clay, to ground the energy.

Family & Health (East)
– 2024 Focus: Capitalise on the Wood element’s strong presence here.
– Enhancements: Add healthy plants or green accents to promote growth and health.

Children & Creativity (West)
– 2024 Focus: Encourage creativity and new beginnings.
– Enhancements: Use metal elements to stimulate creativity, like metallic décor or white colours.

Knowledge & Wisdom (Northeast)
– 2024 Focus: Enhance learning and self-development.
– Enhancements: Incorporate earth elements and low lighting to create a calm, reflective space.

Career & Life Path (North)
– 2024 Focus: Enhance career prospects and life direction.
– Enhancements: Add water features and mirrors to stimulate flow and movement.

Helpful People & Travel (Northwest)
– 2024 Focus: Seek support and new connections.
– Enhancements: Use metal elements and grey or white colours to attract helpful people.

Center (Tai Chi) – Health & Well-being
– 2024 Focus: Maintain overall balance and well-being.
– Enhancements: Keep this area clutter-free and balanced, maybe with a crystal or a symbol of harmony.

General Tips for 2024
– Balance the Five Elements**: Ensure a harmonious balance among wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in your space.
– Embrace the Wood Dragon Energy: Integrate wood elements and green colours in your decor to align with the year’s energy.
– Declutter and Refresh: Regularly declutter and refresh areas to maintain clear, positive energy flow.

Using the Bagua model for 2024, focus on enhancing each area according to its respective life aspect while keeping in mind the overarching influence of the Wood Dragon year. This approach can help create a harmonious and prosperous environment throughout the year.

BAGUA (door)

Feng Shui Bagua – Door Compass Orientation

The “Three Gate of Chi” Bagua model, also known as the “Three-Door Bagua”, is a simplified version of the traditional Bagua map used in Feng Shui. This method aligns the Bagua grid based on the entrance to your home or a specific room, dividing the space into nine equal sections. Each section corresponds to different life aspects, similar to the classical Bagua model. For the year 2024, this model can be applied to align and enhance the energies in your living or workspace.

Understanding the Three Gate of Chi Bagua
1. Layout: When you stand at the main entrance of your home or a room, the farthest corner to the left represents the Wealth area, and the farthest corner to the right represents the Relationship area. The area near the door, but not directly in front of it, is the Knowledge area.

2. Sections:
– Left: Wealth (Far Left), Health (Center Left), Knowledge (Near Left)
– Center: Fame (Far Center), Tai Chi (Center), Career (Near Center)
– Right: Relationship (Far Right), Children (Center Right), Helpful People (Near Right)

Applying the Three Gate of Chi Bagua in 2024
Wealth Area (Far Left)
– 2024 Focus: Emphasise prosperity and abundance.
– Enhancements: Add wood elements and water features to nourish growth and wealth.

Health Area (Center Left)
– 2024 Focus: Strengthen health and family connections.
– Enhancements: Use green plants and wooden elements to boost the Wood Dragon energy.

Knowledge Area (Near Left)
– 2024 Focus: Enhance wisdom and personal growth.
– Enhancements: Create a quiet space with books, symbols of wisdom, or earth elements.

Fame Area (Far Center)
– 2024 Focus: Boost recognition and social status.
– Enhancements: Incorporate fire elements like plasma lamps or use red and orange hues.

Prosperous dragon macarons flavoured with jasmine, mandarin and almond to symbolise luck, and are adorned with a gold dragon stencil, thought to bring wealth, prosperity and good fortune for the coming year (at Yauatcha)

Tai Chi (Center)
– 2024 Focus: Maintain balance and harmony.
– Enhancements: Keep this area open and clutter-free, possibly adding a symbol of balance.

Career Area (Near Center)
– 2024 Focus: Enhance career growth and opportunities.
– Enhancements: Use mirrors or water features to represent flow and progress.

Relationship Area (Far Right)
– 2024 Focus: Foster romantic and business relationships.
– Enhancements: Use pairs of objects, pink or red hues, and earth elements.

Children Area (Center Right)
– 2024 Focus: Support creativity and joy.
– Enhancements: Display artwork or use metal elements to stimulate creativity.

Helpful People Area (Near Right)
– 2024 Focus: Attract supportive and beneficial relationships.
– Enhancements: Use metal elements, white or grey colours, and symbols of helpful people.

General Tips for 2024
– Align with Wood Dragon Energy: Integrate wood elements, plants, and green colours to harness the year’s energy.
– Maintain Balance: Ensure a balance of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) throughout the space.
– Refresh Regularly: Keep the space clean and declutter regularly to allow for a smooth flow of Chi.

By applying the Three Gate of Chi Bagua model in 2024, you can align your living or working environment with the specific energies of the Wood Dragon year, enhancing different areas of your life through thoughtful Feng Shui practices.

Make 2024 Your Best Year with These Essential Feng Shui Strategies

1. Determine Your Personal Feng Shui Star: To tap into the energies of 2024, first find out your unique Feng Shui (Gua) star. You can easily do this by consulting the chart provided below. If you own a business, don’t forget to check the Feng Shui star from when your business was established.

9 STAR KI Calendar

2. Locate Your Feng Shui Star for 2024: Discover where your Feng Shui star resides in 2024 to understand the potential themes of the year for you. For instance, if your birth year is 2001, your Feng Shui star, number 8 (earth), will be in the sector of work, career, and life path in 2024. Similarly, for those born in 1977, with a number 5 (earth) star, 2024 brings focus to the realms of innovation, new projects, creativity, the future and possibly children. If your feng shui star happens to be 2 (earth), in 2024, it’s in the house of wealth, prosperity, blessings and luck (TOP TIP: get the book Luck Factor to enhance your energy and position yourself better for this lucky year. This can change your life big time – how do I know? Lucky guess. For a general prosperity boost, get some images of koi carp.

2024 Feng Shui Bagua Model

Key Feng Shui Enhancements for 2024

– Lighting (Fire Element): Brighten up spaces to activate positive energy.
– Mirrors (Metal Element): Use mirrors to reflect and circulate energy.
– Crystals and Minerals (Earth Element): Place these for grounding and stabilizing effects.
– Shimmering Objects: Include items that reflect light and sparkle to energize spaces.
– Plants (Wood Element): Incorporate greenery to foster growth and renewal.
– Water Features (Water Element): Add elements like fountains to encourage flow and calm and images of fish: koi carp
– Wind Chimes and Mobiles (Wood Element): Use these to harness movement and create soothing sounds.
– Electrical Gadgets (Fire Element): Leverage these to boost energy and innovation. To mitigate the electro-smog, get Helios3, Schumann Resonance Generator to harmonise your home and workplace
– Heavy Sculptures (Earth Element): Employ these for stability and grounding.
– Varied Symbols and Images: Choose representations that resonate with your goals, infusing various elemental energies (koi carp).
– Colours: Integrate colours that align with your Feng Shui aspirations.
– Animals and Nature: Incorporate bird feeders or baths to invite natural, lively energy.
– Vitalising Objects (Fire Element): Select items that radiate energy and dynamism.

Utilise these Feng Shui tips to align your environment with your aspirations for 2024, fostering a year of balance, growth, and fulfilment.

Period 9

Period 9 in Feng Shui, also known as the “Period of the Fire Star” in the Xuan Kong Flying Star system, is a significant era in the cycle of energy changes according to traditional Chinese metaphysical beliefs. This period, which begins in February 2024 and will last until 2043, is characterised by the dominance of the number 9, associated with the Fire element in Feng Shui.

Here are some key aspects of Period 9 in Feng Shui:

1. Emphasis on the Fire Element: The number 9 in Feng Shui is connected to the Fire element, which symbolises energy, passion, and transformation. This period is believed to bring a shift towards more dynamic, creative, and transformative energies. In short, it’s a 20-year period of transformation.

2. Changes in Energy Patterns: Xuan Kong Flying Star Feng Shui is based on the concept that the energies (“stars”) of different areas of a space change over time. In Period 9, these energies will undergo a significant shift, affecting how spaces are arranged and energised.

3. Impact on Architecture and Interior Design: Feng Shui practitioners may advise changes in the layout, colours, and materials used in buildings and interiors to align with the new energy patterns. For example, incorporating elements that represent the Fire element, like warm colours and lighting, can be beneficial.

4. Influence on Personal Lives: This period is also believed to influence personal lives, encouraging growth, innovation, and leadership. It’s seen as a time to pursue new ideas and embrace changes.

5. Global and Societal Changes: On a larger scale, Period 9 is often associated with significant global and societal transformations, reflecting the dynamic and transformative nature of the Fire element.

6. Adapting to the New Energies: People practicing Feng Shui will seek to harmonise with these changing energies to enhance prosperity, health, and harmony in their lives.

It’s important to note that these interpretations can vary, and the practice of Feng Shui combines philosophical, cultural, and aesthetic elements unique to individual beliefs and contexts.

Western dragon 2024. In the west, there is a long tradition of dragons of all kinds.

Wester astrological comparisons: 1534 Reformation vs 2024 Transformation

The comparison between the astrological aspects of 1534, a year marked by significant events like the Reformation, and those of 2024, a year that anticipated transformative changes, is quite fascinating from an astrological perspective.

1534: The Reformation Era
– Astrological Climate: In 1534, the astrological landscape was dominated by alignments that signalled major shifts in religious and political structures. Notably, the powerful Pluto-Uranus conjunctions could have been a key influence. This aspect often signifies upheaval, the breakdown of old structures, and radical change.
– Impact on Society: These astrological influences likely mirrored and perhaps even fueled the intense religious and social transformations of the Reformation. The Reformation was not just a religious movement; it also had profound political and cultural implications, reshaping Europe’s landscape.

2024: The Anticipated Transformation
– Astrological Predictions: The year 2024 is expected to be astrologically significant due to several major planetary alignments. For instance, Saturn is in Pisces and Uranus is in Taurus, the Saturn-Uranus, a notable aspect often associated with the tension between the old (Saturn) and the new (Uranus). Also, Jupiter and Uranus are conjunct in April, which could be interesting.
– Potential Impacts: This aspect could indicate a period of significant societal shifts, where established structures (Saturn) are challenged by innovative ideas and technologies (Uranus). This might manifest in various fields, including technology, politics, and social norms, leading to transformative changes. Saturn and Uranus are important as they both rule Aquarius and Pluto will be in Aquarius from 2026-2044.  It goes in and out between now and the end of 2025, into 2026.

The Chelsea Physic Garden, Chelsea, London SW3

Comparative Insights
– Common Themes: Both periods are/were marked by significant astrological aspects that denote times of upheaval and transformation. The Pluto-Uranus conjunction in 1534 and the Saturn-Uranus square in 2024 both signify the clash between old and new paradigms.
– Differences in Expression: While 1534’s changes were predominantly in religious and political realms, 2024’s transformations might be more diverse, potentially encompassing technological, environmental, and societal changes.
– Evolution of Collective Consciousness: From an astrological standpoint, these periods reflect the evolution of collective consciousness. The Reformation era was about breaking free from religious orthodoxy, whereas 2024 might be about embracing new technological and social paradigms.

Conclusion
The Year of the Wood Dragon brings a unique blend of vigour and nurturing energy, promising a year of transformation and progress. As we celebrate Chinese New Year 2024, let us embrace the spirit of the dragon and the resilience of the wood element, stepping into a year filled with potential, growth, and prosperity. Happy Chinese New Year – may the Year of the Wood Dragon bring you and your loved ones happiness, health, and abundance.

I’m giving a talk called Your Home is a Metaphor on 10 February 2024

A cheerful green dragon with a friendly expression. The dragon has a playful and happy demeanour, embodying a sense of celebration.

The post Year of the Wood Dragon: Celebrating Chinese New Year 2024 appeared first on Feng Shui London UK • The Capital Feng Shui Consultant.

Read the key lesson that rabbits have to offer us in 2023 below: have a bigger view of life and be vigilant (something to do with rabbits’ eyes).

Top feng shui tips to make 2023 your year.

1. Identify your feng shui (gua) star – there are different ways, but the easiest is to look at this chart below. If you’re running a business, look for the feng shui star of your business when it was set up.

9 STAR KI Calendar

2. Then see where your feng shui star is located for 2023 (below) to get a general idea about what this year might be about. For example, if you were born in 2000, then your feng shui star is 9 (fire), and in 2023 is in the house of work/career/life path, or if you were born in 1977, then your star is 5 (earth) and in 2023 is in the house of friends, travel and philanthropy.

Bagua for 2023

3. And then do something to activate the positive energies that will help you manifest your dreams, intentions, purposes, goals and needs.

One idea is to use water element (since it’s a water rabbit year), i.e. add water features, images of water or feng shui prosperity fish such as koi carp or the colour blue or black, which is the water element colour, for all feng shui interventions.

If water element is not your thing, you can use other colours (remember: feng shui = intention + ritual or, in other words, feng shui = priming). For example, the Pantone colour of 2023 is Viva Magenta. Get a towel in this colour or use it as your mobile phone wallpaper to get the benefit of the “vibration”/”energy” of this colour. Magenta is a very interesting colour. Magenta is an extra-spectral colour because it is not found in the visible spectrum of actual light – it actually doesn’t have its own wavelength (our brains perceive different colours as different wavelengths of light). It is, therefore, physiologically and psychologically perceived as the mixture of red and violet/blue light, with the absence of green. So is magenta a real colour? It seems that our minds/brains construct magenta to bridge the gap between red and violet.

Viva magenta 2023 Pantone colour

Symbolically speaking, magenta conveys universal harmony and emotional balance because it contains the passionate and energetic red, and the restrained, introspected and quiet energy of violet. It is said to project compassion, kindness, and cooperation. Magenta is an optimistic colour associated with cheerfulness, happiness, contentment, and appreciation.

Viva magenta 2023 Pantone colour

The top feng shui remedies to activate bagua are:

1. Lighting (fire element)
2. Mirrors (metal element)
3. Crystals and minerals (earth element)
4. Light-reflecting and sparkling objects
5. Plants (wood element)
6. Water features (water element)
7. Windchimes, mobiles and sound (wood element)
8. Electrical devices (fire element)
9. Heavy objects, sculptures (earth element)
10. Symbols, posters, photos, images (different elements) and colours
11. Animals, including bird feeders and bird baths
12. Energising objects (fire element) and

13. celebrations such as parties, housewarmings, or other occasions that bring people’s chi to enhance the feng shui of your home or workplace. So, celebrate the New Year on the 1st of January 2023 and Chinese New Year’s Eve on January 21st, 2023, Chinese New Year’s Day on January 22nd, 2023, and the Lantern Festival on February 5th, 2023.

14. Space-clearing is always recommended to clear past energies, blocks and problems from the past to open up space for new. There are many ways of doing space clearing to clear, cleanse and get rid of any stagnant energies, especially clutter, which is considered as sha chi/qi or negative energy. For example, you can use sound and music (bells, drums, singing bowls, cymbals, harmony balls, tuning forks or just clap), fire element i.e. burn things such as sage, incense, or candles – although I don’t recommend personally burning things because these will create air pollution – use space clearing mists instead e.g. Space Clearing Australian Bush Flower Essence or Findhorn Flower Essence Sacred Space Clearing Room Mist or place salt in bowls in four corners of the room for 2 days and then discard it or placing some water with a few drops of essential oils such as lavender, sage, etc.

15. Do something new, which is one of my favourite feng shui rituals. I always wear something new or do something new on the day – to boost my dopamine levels and help me to mark and shift into the new vibration of 2023 for whatever goal, purpose or dream or intention (feng shui = intention + ritual… read below). For 2023, I’m getting new socks and a towel in Viva Magenta’s colour, and we’re going to experience Battersea Power Station’s lift 109 on the day at noon and a new exhibition at the Tate Modern. I’m also going to set Viva Magenta as my mobile phone’s background.

16. Also, I’m going to do MOT of my home and workplace for 2023 (clear some stuff, activate bagua, get some plants, rearrange my books, and write my goals for 2023 because research suggests that people who do that usually achieve them, etc.), which I strongly recommend you do too. Call your feng shui expert or me :).

Feng shui = intention + ritual
A new year offers a whole new beginning as well as a time to reflect on your past and consider your future. It’s a well-recognised phenomenon that maintaining new resolutions proves difficult for people. In feng shui, we often work with intention instead of goals, which are new year resolutions. Intentions are quite often impulses of consciousness that contain the forms of what you want to create. Intentions are force fields/vibrations that shape and guide the little steps you need to take towards bigger goals. Your inner intentions, through feng shui rituals, will take a form that is intended. In one study, a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled experiment investigated whether chocolate exposed to “good intentions” would enhance mood more than unexposed chocolate and proved that the mood-elevating properties of chocolate can be enhanced with intention. This study suggests that how you do your feng shui ritual, with what intentions, can potentially influence the outcome. The study confirms that “Most cultures have maintained the belief that spells, prayers, or intentions can be mentally imprinted into substances, which, if ingested, would help bring about those intentions. The act of blessing water, wine, and bread still plays a central role in many religious rituals, and even in secular contexts, the practice of toasting or offering special salutes with food or drink is universal. Occasionally, consuming blessed food or water is said to result in remarkable healings. The conventional explanation for such reports is that belief becomes biology, that is, that any such healings are due to the placebo effect.”

The characteristics and lessons of the Yin Water Rabbit year: keep seeing the big picture and stay vigilant

Rabbits are small, vegetarian mammals with fluffy, short tails, whiskers and distinctive long ears (there are 29 species around the world). Fortunately, the rabbit’s eyes (on the side of their head, placed up high) allow them to see almost 360 degrees around them and above them with their divergent (yin) vision, which keeps rabbits safe from predators. Unfortunately, this placement of rabbits’ eyes gives them a small blind spot directly in front, which limits their convergent (yang) narrow vision/focus. Also, rabbits have great senses of smell and hearing (they can rotate their ears 270 degrees), which are other helpful characteristics for defending themselves from danger. When they sense predators, they freeze to blend into their surroundings.
My reading of this fact is that in 2023, we need to be vigilant and keep both types of attention working well:
1. narrow/focus and
2. broad/vigilant/open/peripheral.
Obviously, a broad/peripheral vision is more important than a narrow one, since the little bunny wouldn’t get near any food before it was eaten by a fox or a wolf, as the Chinese story goes.
In short, see the big picture of what’s going on and the fundamentals of the underlying trend; stay vigilant, and focus your practical and mental efforts on your surroundings and the situation at hand.

Be vigilant and cultivate a broad vision and a narrow focus, too

Research suggests that rabbits are clever animals and easily learn cues that might indicate a future positive event, e.g. sensing that when a bell rings, a treat will be forthcoming. They learn to solve puzzles to reach their desired treats.

About 2% of adults own a rabbit, with an estimated 1 million pet rabbits in the UK.

Rabbits and good luck
Many people. including Franklin D. Roosevelt, who carried a rabbit’s foot as a good-luck charm during his presidential campaign.

The Year of the Cat (Rabbit). The cat is the fourth animal symbol in the 12-year cycle of the Vietnamese zodiac and Gurung zodiac, similar to the rabbit zodiac sign in the Chinese zodiac. The characteristics correlated with the rabbit are attributed to the cat. The legend is that the cat was excluded from the twelve animal signs because it was tricked by the rat into missing the banquet with the Jade Emperor and was not given a year, which has since fostered hostility between cats and rats. It is believed that the Vietnamese use the cat rather than the rabbit as the zodiac animal because the ancient word for rabbit (mao) sounds like the word for cat (meo). The year of the cat was popularised by a song with the same title, ‘The Year of the Cat’ by Al Stewart, which was recorded in London’s Abby Road Studios in January 1976 – still the year of the cat (but released in July 1976, which is the year of the yang fire dragon). “The Year of the Cat” is probably the only song about the animal zodiac signs, and it’s probably the most famous song by Al Stewart (yang wood rooster), so it definitely worked for him.

How to wish someone a happy New Year in Chinese
Cantonese: Gung Hay Fat Choy! (May prosperity be with you)
Mandarin: Xin Nian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year)

The post Top feng shui tips for 2023 – the Year of the Water Rabbit. Your feng shui of 2023. appeared first on Feng Shui London UK • The Capital Feng Shui Consultant.

How will you make 2022 work for you?
How can you navigate it better, smoother and smarter?
How will you enhance and boost your personal and professional luck?
How can you protect yourself from negative influences, energies and environmental stressors?
And most importantly how can you apply all these in your daily personal and professional life to have a great year?

Black/Water-Tiger and the colour of the year 2022
Chinese New Year 2022 animal sign is the black/water tiger. Chinese calendar combines solar, lunar, and 60 stem-branch systems. The 60 stem-branch calendar/system uses the names of yin-yang and five elements theory (water, wood, fire, earth, metal) and 12 animals to rank the development of the sequence of energies or forces. Five elements are represented respectively by five colours: black/blue, green, red, brown/yellow and grey/silver/gold. Chinese uses the colour animal name for the year, therefore the name of 2022 is the yang-water tiger. Black colour is representative of water – hence, 2022 is also called the black water tiger year. Another colour for the water element is blue. The direction of yang-water is the north.

Fortunately enough, in the western tradition, we have Pantone colours of the year and the 2022 colour is Very Peri #6667AB. One of the simplest feng shui interventions is to have your luck colour (based on your birth element –  check your element in the year chart below) or just the colour of the year as you screen background on your mobile phone so you can boost your energies for whatever you need or want this year. Just screenshot/download this image below and use it as wallpaper on your mobile phone or computer (or get some things in this very peri colour – see below).

Very Peri colour of the year 2022 / #6667AB

Pantone gurus state: “We are living in transformative times. PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri is a symbol of the global zeitgeist of the moment and the transition we are going through. As we emerge from an intense period of isolation, our notions and standards are changing, and our physical and digital lives have merged in new ways. Digital design helps us to stretch the limits of reality, opening the door to a dynamic virtual world where we can explore and create new colour possibilities. With trends in gaming, the expanding popularity of the metaverse and rising artistic community in the digital space PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri illustrates the fusion of modern life and how colour trends in the digital world are being manifested in the physical world and vice versa.” More on Pantone Veri Peri, the colour of 2022

Characteristics of tigers and tiger years

The tiger is the third of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs (12 Earthly Branches). Tiger symbology and archetypical energies represent energy, strength, leadership, authority, trust, purposefulness and protection on a positive side. On a downside, they also can represent vulnerability, sensitivity, overestimation and a kind of perfectionism that can manifest as an ‘all or nothing’ attitude and mindset as well as unpredictability.

Tiger month is February and tiger hour is from 3 am to 5 am which physically speaking and symbolically is still a little chilly time. It is thought that the yang-water tiger needs more fire elements to have a prosperous and successful life. Investment in real estate is a good policy for money management for water tigers. Also, developing digital products (NFTs) is a good long term opportunity.

Tiger belongs to the wood group/element according to the Chinese Five Element theory. Tiger, generally speaking, is yang-wood, which is the spring season. Tiger month is February and the weather might be still a little cold (practice cold therapy to activate your vagus nerve or add some photos of friends which will do the same thing), therefore the wood element needs warm weather to grow, physically and metaphorically. Tiger is a carnivore and has a domineering temper and authoritative mindset. The key symbolic characteristics of a tiger character are boldness, resolution, unyielding, dictatorial/authoritarian, arbitrary, ambitious and full of self-confidence. The other important characteristic of tigers and tiger years is unpredictability with a sense of incompleteness.

Tigers are born with leadership skills, they are respected by others and have a strong sense of self-esteem and learning ability (we all can learn to have more self-esteem from tigers as a key mindset for success). Therefore, tigers are suited to any career as leaders as well as advertising agents, office managers, travel agents, actors (Tom Cruise), writers, artists, pilots, musicians (Jon Bon Jovi) and comedians (Eddie Izzard).

Yang water tiger: yang, water forces
To deconstruct further, yang is an active, energising force, power or energy (as opposed to yin, passive, relaxing one). The water element is a fluid force/energy that in the theory of five elements, is nourished by the metal element and controlled by the earth element. Water controls the fire element. Water nourishes wood/tree element. In a complex web of five elements/energies, everything affects everything in different ways and in different quantities and qualities as well depending on the context and time.

The water element has a still, reflective quality that allows us to have a better perspective and a better, bigger picture on things. The power of water energy, in nature, is almost unlimited. In Chinese thought, water force relates to willpower (zhi).

The mindsets of water tigers
In short, tigers are brave, confident and blaze new trails as well as create new things. They have the authority which translates as “I am/have an authority on myself and my life”.  “In life, I will things…”

Tigers accept and commit to a life they want to have and to whom they want to become. If you want to become successful if whatever you want, you need to become “addicted”, in a positive sense, to the lifestyle you want. Every choice you make, either brings you closer to your ideal lifestyle or takes you away from it. It’s not rocket science but it requires awareness and attention to tiny habits that we can choose and develop in order to live better.

For example, I value clarity and focus – therefore I organise my environment in a coherent, clear way and I make a conscious effort to get rid of clutter on regular basis. I also value complexity and want to have an interesting life, so I do collect interesting and beautiful things as well. My interior (physical and mental) style is eclectic – a mixture of simplicity and complexity with a slight preference for complexity (fractality). I’m not entirely against clutter if it serves a purpose and doesn’t affect you in a detrimental way (and definitely, I wouldn’t demonise clutter as some feng shui authors do – there are far worse environmental stressors than clutter!). Read my blog about clutter and mess.

What happened 60 years ago in 1962 (yang water-tiger year):
important news, events, key technology and popular culture

Key 1962 events were: Telstar first live trans-Atlantic television signal was broadcast (virtual reality/metaverse is becoming a real possibility in 2022). Oral Polio vaccine was used to combat Polio (vaccines are still kind of trending at the beginning of 2022). Marilyn Monroe was found dead. Cuban Missile Crisis took the world to the brink of war (from the beginning of 2022, media has been booming with news that the world is gearing up for a global war.) John H. Glenn, Jr., become the first American to orbit the earth. The first Wal-Mart discount store was opened (do we need another shop chain in 2022?). In 1962, the cars continued to evolve (electric cars are definitely becoming more ubiquitous in 2022). As the year progressed, the Cold War continued to get worse when the Russians placed Ballistic Missiles on Cuban land just 90 miles away from the coast of Florida (Russia is gathering its troops on the border with Ukraine as I write these words). Then JFK called the bluff by threatening war unless they were removed which they were but for a short time. The world was on the brink of nuclear war and self-destruction (Russia and Ukraine could be a repeat of that but more importantly it could be a WW3 or not). The US president then set a goal of landing a man on the moon (Elon Musk wants to fly to Mars). Jamaica gained independence from Great Britain and in February 1962, Bob Marley recorded four songs, “Judge Not”, “One Cup of Coffee”, “Do You Still Love Me?” and “Terror”. Folk music was evolving into protest and rebel music thanks to young artists like Bob Dylan and the birth of Surfing music by The Beach Boys gaining popularity. The first of the James Bond villain movies ‘Dr No’ was an instant hit in 1962.

Love me do by The Beatles

In England, the Beatles recorded their first single “Love Me Do” (not exactly a protest/rebel song) with a very similar colour cover to the 2022 colour of the year: Very Peri. Coincidence? I don’t think so :).

In short, to paraphrase/forecast/project 1962 into 2022 (tongue in cheek :): possible wars, more (about) cars, space travel, vaccines, villains, protest/rebel music and lots of new things (and things not necessarily being completed). Time will tell if history repeats itself in one way or another, literally or metaphorically. Obviously, we’re different people now and we think and react differently than people in the 60’s. And we have internet and mobile phones.

100 years ago in 1922
T. S. Eliot first published his long poem The Waste Land in 1922.  It is said that The Waste Land can be read as a poem about brokenness and loss because Eliot’s allusions to how the First World War played a marked part in bringing about the psychological and emotional collapse of the society at the time. It also symbolises the modern world as barren and empty because everything has lost its deep spiritual meaning. Does this ring a bell?

2022 Feng Shui for Chinese New Year

The 5-brown/yellow star moves into the centre of the bagua model of the 9-star ki model in 2022. Therefore, the Kua number of 2022 is 5-brown/yellow, earth element. Also, the arrangement of the bagua in 2022 is the original magic square where 1 star is in the north and 9 star is in the south (as you can see in the chart below).

The central house in the bagua model, in two words, is about clarity and focus. So a good idea is to have clarity and focus, in your home/workplace. Remove anything that you don’t need from your homes/workplaces (that includes any financial matters, papers for financial success) – do a major decluttering for your feng shui to work better and more efficiently and effectively. Specifically, clean, clear and declutter all central space, passageways, corridors and rooms in your home and workplace. Free and easy movement around your home and workplace will help you to have more clarity and focus leading to a more purposeful life and ultimately navigating 2022 much better and more successfully.

5 earth element, which is in the middle of the bagua model in 2022, is representative of gathering, grounding and nourishing energies.

Bagua for 2022 directions

1) To calculate your luck star or Kua number just check this year element chart below.

2) Next, locate it on the magic square to see which house of the bagua your star is occupying in 2022.

In this way, you can figure out good directions and which house of the bagua model your star is occupying this year – and what is the focus for you this year.

For example, if your star is 2, then this year is about relationships and partnerships (add more pictures of friends and family and partners). If your star is 4, then you need to focus on wealth, prosperity, and luck (boost your luck in many ways – one way is to read this book on the Luck Factor). If your star is 1, then work, career and vocation need to be addressed this year (get the koi carp 3D picture to boost your work and career prospects to add more water/money element in your home or workplace). If your feng shui star is 6, then 2022 is the year of travel (actual and virtual) – get a few maps and posters of places you want to visit (Bora Bora below looks very inviting and friendly).

So, look into the bagua model to figure out what 2022 year is about for you. Obviously, all areas of bagua are important, but not equally important. Decide what are your values for 2022 (ie career, relationships, family, wealth/luck, wellness, travels, creativity/children, wisdom/knowledge or success and enlightenment) and enhance the appropriate areas of bagua, either using compass directions or from the door or just virtually ie using the bagua as a value/life wheel. Clarity of your personal and professional values will drive your behaviours and ultimately, success in these domains. You can start with the bagua model to help you design and clarify your values or just start from the values and then look at the bagua to figure out which domains of your life need a boost. For example, if ‘freedom’ is important to you, then which house/s of the bagua can support this value in your life. Different people will have different responses to this because the context would be different. What do you want to affirm for yourself and the world in 2022?

How to boost and activate your bagua in 2022
Simple, universal feng shui applications to boost any area of the bagua are to add light, plants, crystals, sparkling things, colour, flowers, books, photos, posters, mirrors, symbols, beautiful things and anything that makes you tick and happy. Space clearing and decluttering important areas is also a very effective way of shifting energies and getting results. Don’t be feng shui dogmatic (you can’t really get it wrong) – use your intuition, common sense and good interior design taste. If you’re not sure, contact your feng shui consultant.

Bora Bora Island – posters of places you want to visit will prime you to get there…

Expanding images or posters are one of the best ways to enhance your home and office and to inspire you to dream… and boost your travel prospects (in this case to Bora Bora above – please let me know if/when you visit it – it’s on my list for 2022).

To sum up, we don’t need astrology to recognise that we’re living in radically uncertain and unpredictable times (unpredictability is a key characteristic of tiger personality and tiger years). Living in the present moment is more important than ever. Although it might be difficult to plan ahead, nevertheless, we must. One simple-ish way of riding and navigating 2022 is to actually go beyond the yin and yang of things, the duality of things (there are opposites but no opposition) and karma (cause and effect). How? By affirming life and seeing the good in everything (following tao). Ultimately, feng shui is a physical affirmation. When life is sufficiently affirmed we can no longer lose since every combination and every move we make produces by nature adequate virtual and physical possibilities for any manifestation/actualisation we are willing (not wishing). Willing things has more power, as opposed to just wishing, choosing or wanting or thinking about them. Writing down your dreams, goals and ‘willings‘ is the first physical step… In two words, I WILL … can help you manifest your dreams and goals.

“Why don’t you create your own environment? The world has only as much power over you as you give it. Rebel. Go beyond duality, make no difference between east and west.”
Nisargadatta Maharaj in I Am That

Top feng shui tips for 2022

1. Empower yourself by going beyond feng shui. By going beyond feng shui, you’ll become free to take charge of your environment and therefore be less affected by it (the power, in order of importance, is 1) in us, 2) in others around us, and 3) in the environment / feng shui, so as you can see feng shui is not the most influential factor in life – having said that, it’s good to have interesting, nice and supportive environments :). The water energy of the tiger year has a certain quality of rising above things. More about how to go beyond feng shui and the art of affirmation
2. Connect to nature to ground yourself and boost your energy and aura/spirit (studies suggest that grounding/earthing protects you from electro-smog and reduces inflammation, among other things). 5 star, the earth element is in the centre of the bagua model.
3. Avoid electro-smog and geopathic stress (switch off wifi for the night because it will affect your melatonin production and you won’t get enough deep sleep which is critical for a healthy lifestyle)
4. Add positive images and things to your home and workplace (priming yourself with positivity will have a massive effect on your mood and outlook on life)
5. Have more photos of friends and family around your home – social connections are more important than ever (research suggests that pictures of friends can boost your oxytocin and activate your vague nerve)
6. Have lots of books, especially on spiritual/transpersonal development and anything inspirational to keep your spirit inspired and to boost your self-esteem (researchers found that the more books you have in your home the wiser and more intelligent you can become…). If luck is important to you – the best book on boosting luck is The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman who scientifically has proven that luck is a skill that anyone can learn and enhance with simple steps! One key essential skill lucky people have is the ability to turn bad luck into good fortune, especially in unfortunate times when things are unpredictable and incomplete.
7. On the other hand, clarity, focus and purposeful decluttering is good way to shift your life where you want to go or who you want to become.
8. Have fun (even in the smallest possible ways) and don’t put your life into feng shui – put feng shui into your life – read point 1 again (don’t read disempowering, biased and confusing feng shui nonsense online which is not evidence-based! – you will get confused, you’ve been warned). Trust your common sense and intuition. When you’re not sure, contact your feng shui expert – ideally the one who practice evidence-based feng shui.

Feng shui water tiger at Battersea Power Station in London in 2022 – go and see it at night, it’s spectacular! There are light displays around it (check out the colour of the chimneys – coincidence? I don’t think so

Celebrate the New Chinese Year 2022: 1 February 2022
Please note that the Chinese celebrate their New Year for five days so make sure to do something to celebrate it. One of the best and simplest ways to celebrate a new beginning is to wear something brand new. You want new things in life – do something new. If you want to raise your vibration get a pair of new shoes or a bag or a new lipstick – all women know how to make themselves feel better and boost their vibration with new things… Do something new + wear something new + go somewhere new…

Very Peri tote bag – or other fun accessories in the colour of 2022

Or any other tiger year merch for Tigers or if you feel you need that kind of energy to become a water tiger (and to prime yourself with physical reminders).

Or create your own tiger project like the Swiss light artist, Gerry Hofstetter, by projecting a giant tiger onto the iconic north face of Eiger Mountain in Grindelwald, a village in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps, a favoured gateway for the Jungfrau Region, with skiing in winter and hiking in summer activities.

Also, write down all your goals and dreams for 2022 that you are willing to manifest – the more the better – some will actually come true and get actualised or realised when you do something about them (sometimes writing them down is enough though… – it’s called weak intention or priming or subliminal preconscious processing).

If you’re new to feng shui, feng = wind/spirit/mind/intention/affirmation, and shui = water, matter/body/ritual.
Feng shui algorithm, simply put: feng shui = intention + ritual.  Or ultimately, feng shui is (a physical) affirmation. 

“What you can do, or dream you can, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
Goethe

Have a great, fun and prosperous Year of the Water Tiger!
Jan

Feng shui consultations for 2022
If you need a specific, evidence-based feng shui consultation for your home or workplace in 2022 – or just a yearly feng shui MOT check, please contact/whatsapp me on +44 7956 288574 or use the contact form

PS please note that this blog is a work in progress… and I’ll be updating it with new insights to help me/us to navigate this year as best as we can – so please revisit it from time to time

Imagine a dense forest full of tigers and you in a strong steel cage.
Knowing that you are well protected by the cage, you watch the tigers fearlessly.
Next you find the tigers in the cage and yourself roaming about in the jungle.
Last — the cage disappears and you ride the tigers!

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