2021 the year of yin metal ox

Key feng shui tips for 2021

Feng shui = intention + energy + ritual
Feng shui can be described as a holistic interior design where you read and employ your home or workplace to help you manifest your dreams and goals through priming yourself with positive environmental anchors, primers and cues and representational rituals.

Feng shui is about reducing any environment stressors and maximising positive environmental aspects.
• Reduce electro-smog, dirty electricity, and switch off your wifi for the night. Remember the old adage: “Tomorrow starts with a good night’s sleep.”.
• Check for geopathic stress.
• Check the air quality of your home and add more air cleansing plants (the ‘feng’ wind part of feng shui).
• Shui in feng shui means ‘water’ – make sure you have a good water filter and ideally the whole house filter.
• Clear space for new things to come to your life. Space clearing and decluttering work magic. Especially, when you feel stuck – do something, spend an hour on space clearing/decluttering – you’ll feel better. Research suggests that people with messy, cluttered homes had an increasingly depressed mood over the course of the day, compared with people with tidier and cleaner homes. Tidying up will give you a quick dose of the dopamine (the pleasure chemical that boosts your mood, focus and success).
• Plan and prepare: last year things we’ve taken for granted for ages, were gone – invest in your home’s feng shui so you are not surprised.

Optimise the bagua of your home. Focus on the areas that are important to you and energise them accordingly.
The bagua model is similar to  the life coaching wheel of life and maps the most important areas of life, such as career/vocation, relationships/marriage, family/legacy, wealth/luck, health/balance, helpful friends/travel, projects/creativity, knowledge/wisdom and success/enlightenment.

9-star ki or feng shui astrology is a simple way of charting what might be in stock for you in 2021. It’s like a story or narrative which might help you think metaphorically about your life and what’s important for you. It’s just a metaphoric map, not the territory – and it might help you navigate this year better.

Check your nine-star ki astrology star/number on the chart above and identify which house of bagua your feng shui star is in 2021. 9-star ki or feng shui astrology new year starts every year on 4/5 February so if you were born in January or February check when the new year starts for you check your Chinese astrology.

6 metal star year – 2021 = fluctuation 
In the centre house of 2021 chart we have 6 metal star. In general terms, it can mean an unpredictable year and in radically uncertain times, it makes sense. This central house is about FLUCTUATION. This central house is when your chart starts when you’re born (and you return to this house when you’re nine, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90, 99 and so on). For example, if you feng shui star is 2, earth (see the chart above) then that number occupied the centre of your horoscope that year. People born in 2021 have 6 metal star. When you’re at the centre many choices and activities might come your way and it’s difficult to decide what to do. Lord Byron (5, earth) has described the pattern and the mood of this year as such, “I am so changeable … such a strange melange of good and evil. There are two sentiments to which I am constant – a love of liberty and a detestation of can’t, and neither is calculated to gain me friends.” All other houses are focused in your direction so all aspects of the bagua model can be important. Many opportunities might present themselves to you. Key suggestions: stay centred, grounded, focused and keep your mind clear and that applies to everyone this year.

So staying centred, grounded, earthed and keeping your mind clear is very important, especially in a year when there might be lots of changes. Keeping your home clutter free, as usual, is a good feng shui way. Connect to the Schumann Resonance (the Earth’s heartbeat) which is grounding and relaxing at the same time, because it operates at 7.83Hz which is your alpha brain wave pattern responsible for a calm, clear mind. Get Helios3 USB Schumann Resonance generator to populate your home and workplace with the beneficial Schumann Resonance.

Another device that has a grounding and clarifying effect on your aura is Pimat which works on the same principle as pyramid power.

Summary of the characteristics of the nine houses
When your star (check the 9-star ki chart above) is in any of these nine house, reflect on the nature of that energetic quality for you for this year 2021. For example, if your star is 2, earth, in 2021 it is in the 1 water house which is about planning / work / career / vocation / life path. If your star is 7, metal – then in 2021, it is in the house of celebration, friends and travel as well as philanthropy.
1 water house: planning / work / career / vocation / life path
2 earth house: germination / relationships / marriage / partnerships
3 tree/wood house: sprouting / family / legacy / wealth creation
4 tree/wood house: rapid growth / prosperity / luck / wealth creation
5 earth house: fluctuation / health / change / opportunities
6 metal house: prosperity / travel / friends / philanthropy
7 metal house: celebration / projects / creativity / children
8 earth house: stillness / knowledge / wisdom / new skills
9 fire house: fame / reputation / recognition / success / enlightenment

Mercury retrograde
If you believe in western astrology, three mercury retrograde cycles for 2021 are: January 30 to February 21, May 29 to June 22, September 27 to October 23. Western astrology suggest that during mercury retrograde you need to be extra careful when doing important things or making significant decisions, etc. Generally speaking, mercury retrograde is associated with times when things can go wrong, especially to do with travels and technical, mechanical, computer-wise things.

Or  just list important things and key values for 2021 and represent them in any meaningful way in your home and office. You can use the bagua model below to chart what you want to happen in 2021 and adjust to your values and needs.

Bagua post-its for 2021

Colours of 2021: yellow and grey
According to Pantone, two colours will dominate 2021 and these are yellow and grey: PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating.

2021 Colours: PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating

From feng shui perspective, the metal ox is represented with metal colours such as grey, silver and gold as well as any variation of metallic colours. Metal element is supported by earth element (in the theory of five elements) and yellow is representative of earth element, so Pantone suggestion for the colours of 2021 are in synch with feng shui perspective. A simple feng shui ritual is to use these colours as your mobile phone wallpaper or background (just click on the image when looking at this post on your mobile phone and use it the wallpaper).

Classical feng shui tips
If you believe in classic feng shui astrological prediction (note: there is no evidence for this – at best it’s a just a metaphoric representational story), hang a metal wind-chime (or anything metallic) in the south-east part of the property since the ‘negative’ energy of ‘five’ is coming from that direction.

Characteristics of the ox year
The energies and symbols representative of metal ox year are hardworking, active and busy and stem from oxen used in agricultural society. In Chinese culture, people born in the year of the ox are considered faithful friends, industrious and cautious. The story of twelve zodiac animals goes like this: the ox ranks the second among the Chinese zodiac animals because it could have arrived the first in the race but it gave a ride to rat and on arriving, rat just jumped at the finishing line ahead of ox and therefore ox lost the first place. 2020 was the year of the rat, marking a new 12 year cycle. 2022 will be the year of the yang water tiger. Feng shui astrology studies and analysis 12 and 60-year cycles assuming that history might repeat itself – although as Mark Twain allegedly said, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.”

Watch this short overview of 1961 – the year of yin metal ox (below) – to see if the past might offer us some insights for trends and things that might happen in 2021 (trigger warning: it’s not all good). In short, the key events of 1961 are: Berlin Wall is built, dividing physically and metaphorically East and West Germany as well as families, friends and society and the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space during a single-orbit flight (and 1961 was the height of the craze of the twist dance). Divergence started trending (and convergence as well, as you already know the yin and yang of things :). We’ve been experiencing the trend of divergence for some time now eg the Soviet Union breaking up in 1991, Brexit in 2001, and now Scotland wanting to break away from the UK, as well as massive divisions on many levels from geopolitical to social to economic, etc.

Work/life balance
Since, we’re probably going to work from home during 2021, it makes sense to make extra effort to make your home more conducive to work/life balance. The separation (physical or mental) of your workspace and living space is important so work doesn’t dominate your life in 2021. Check my top feng shui tips for working from home.

You create your environment and it has as much power over you as you give it. The feng shui formula ‘feng shui = intention + energy + ritual’ informs us about the key mechanism behind it ie placebo effect. Numerous studies have shown that placebos can often outperform alophatic medicine – all, because of expectation/intention and the power of belief and ritual. Read more about placebo effect – the principle behind feng shui

“What you do, what you say and what you think can influence other people by morphic resonance. There is no immoral filter in morphic resonance, which means that we have to be more careful about what we are thinking if we are concerned about the affect we have on others.” Rupert Sheldrake, researcher who coined the term morphic resonance

Money, luck and wealth in 2021

If wealth creation is important to you, and symbolism of ox appeals to you – you might want to look into a cryptocurrency called Ox if it can work hard for you (as oxen do) but Ox cryptocurrency has not been performing very well (although it has quite a good logo) in 2020 as opposed to other coins, like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and EOS, so be careful (but it’s good to buy when the price is so low now, and it’s relatively very cheap to every other major cryptocurrency so it’s a low risk investment).

Feng shui remedies for wealth creation revolve generally around adding money plants, water features, koi carps and symbols related to wealth, prosperity and luck factor. It’s not essential to place them in any specific area since you want the wealth vibe everywhere in your home and workplace – not just in your wealth corner! If you need to boost your luck in 2021 – this book should be your number one book to read in 2021, by your side bed table – the Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman. But if you need help with focusing on what you want, and how to anchor your needs and wants, use the bagua model (see above) to prime yourself for a successful 2021.

2021 is a metal year, and gold and silver are a good store of value and in feng shui metal element is associated with money (not currencies). Fiat currencies have been inflated with governments massive currency creation or if you like, printing and mailing people currencies and therefore they loose value all the time with dilution of currency supply (in financial terms, 2021 is going to be about one word: INFLATION/deflation). In times of radical uncertainty (read below), people go back to well trusted commodities, commodity producers and basic material stocks such as gold and silver (and other precious metals) because these most of the time perform well in times of inflation or valuation correction if you like (as the investing wisdom states: if you can drop it on your toe – it’s a good investment). And with banking apps (for example, Revolut which sells stocks, gold/silver and the Ox cryptocurrency), it’s never been easier to purchase gold and silver stocks or gold and silver coins. Silver is predicted to perform well over the next 10 years because it’s used in electronics, solar panels and electric cars which will dominate the next decade. Interestingly enough, the colours for 2021 are yellow (gold) and grey (silver).

Also, in the spirit of divergence, people are taking the power back from banks and financial institution and starting to trade themselves and winning (as we’ve seen with the negative shorts scam behind GameStop where people / Reditt community rose up against the Wall Street and won big time! as it is now known as ‘stock wars’ where the Wall Street model has been disrupted by new technologies and an emerging collective ‘people power’ that threaten to strip the banking cartel of the unfair power it has. If you haven’t followed the GameStop story: ‘Infinite Short Squeezes’ has rocketed the stock prices of previously-troubled stocks like GameStop (GME) and AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) by thousands of percent over the past two weeks, resulting in massive losses and the risk of insolvency for the over-exposed hedge funds which were selling negative shorts (stocks they couldn’t deliver ie one stock to two people at the same time or if you like one house to two parties – Elon Musk twitted his outrage: “U can’t sell houses u don’t own. U can’t sell cars you don’t own, but u *can* sell stock u don’t own. This is bs.”).

By the way, silver market is heavily shorted as well – so keep an eye on the prices of silver going up (it might be an opportunity, especially that it’s relatively cheap to everything else, hence low risk and the demand for silver is going up – the timing is everything but it is a full time job, to be a market timer). It’s easy to become a trader, again with apps (Revolut, etc) – and with a fractional stock trading, you don’t have to have a lot of money to join the game.

In short, when it comes to financial investments, the good old, wise adage is very relevant for 2021: don’t put all your eggs into one basket ie diversify your assets to minimise the risks (divergence trend). But, if you’re going put all your eggs into one basket (convergence trend) then you must keep an eye on it all the time! And one more small tip regarding wealth creation: if money/wealth is not one of your top three values for 2021, you may miss opportunities – simply because it’s not important enough for you.

Radical uncertainty
We are living in times of radical uncertainty. What’s ‘radical uncertainty’? The authors of Radical Uncertainty: Decision-making for an Unknowable Future. John Kay and Marvin King make a distinction between ‘reservable uncertainty’ and ‘radical uncertainty’. For ‘reservable uncertainty’ there is usually a simple solution that exists somewhere ie you can look it up. For example, if you’re uncertain what’s the capital of Estonia, you can check it easily. Or you can use known probability distribution outcome for the spin of a roulette wheel. For ‘radical uncertainty’ there is no way of resolving the problem. In short, the correct answer is ‘don’t know’. There are many aspects of ‘radical uncertainty’ such as vagueness, ambiguity, ignorance, obscurity, ill-defined issues and most of all the lack of information. It’s classical, “unknown unknowns” coined by Donald Rumsfeld, the United States Secretary of Defense who famously said, “there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don’t know we don’t know.” The authors Radical Uncertainty: Decision-making for an Unknowable Future suggest when faced with mystery-type decisions (as opposed to puzzle-type decisions), where you don’t know what you don’t know, ask “What’s going on here?”

Water element is also symbolic of wealth creation and prosperity. Short of having a water feature at home or garden, get a photo of a river, lake or pond or koi carps which are traditional feng shui fish which will connect you to the archetypical (morphic resonance field) energy of prosperity, wealth, money. The one below has been beautifully and painstaking mastered as a 3D photo. The koi carps look like they just jump out of the frame. Get it in our feng shui shop. It’s a limited edition so get it now while the stock last.

Feng shui fish Koi Carps 3D picture – for your wealth corner in your home and workplace – get it in our feng shui shop It’s a limited edition so get it now while the stock last.

More nature
Since 2020, people are spending more time indoors, to balance that – increase the level of green space in your home and workplace. A lot of research suggests that biophila effect has a strong positive effect on wellness and performance. Add green colour, air cleansing plants, photos of nature, and photographic wall papers with nature views. Also, nature is a great reminder of our innate resilience and ability to overcome problems. Claire Colebrook, philosopher and cultural theorist, put it well: “A problem is a way of creating a future. When plants grow and evolve they do so by way of problems, developing features to avoid predators, to maximise light or to retain moisture.”

Embrace hydroponics: grow plants on water only – no soil needed, a bit of liquid fertiliser every month and keep the water top up. Start with an Indian money plant (Epipremnum aureum).

Spend some time in nature and do nothing (Dutch have a verb, niksen which means ‘doing nothing’ or doing nothing on purpose, but without purpose).

“Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing” Lao Tzu

Epipremnum aureus / Money plant and air cleansing plant

What to do on 12 February 2021 – the start to the year of the yin metal ox
1) wear something brand new to mark the new year (I’ve bought a grey jumper and yellow socks for the occasion – following the colours of 2021 trend – see above)
2) have Chinese or Asian food to join the celebration
3) do some feng shui on your home or workplace – call your feng shui mentor (or me)
4) get nine oranges – it’s traditional
5) have fun – invent your ritual or/and reflect and plan your year (use bagua to do that)

Summary

In short, 2021 is going to be about fluctuation and inflation (as well as preparedness). So by being centred, grounded, focused and keeping your mind clear (asking the right question: what’s going on here?) you can navigate this year better and become even more successful and lucky in your personal and professional life. And keeping your feng shui up to date is essential with helping you thrive in radically uncertain times.

Your next step with feng shui
If you need further feng shui advice or to do you yearly feng shui ‘MOT’ – contact me for an onsite or online feng shui consultation for your home or/and workplace/business.

Have a wonderful, prosperous, healthy and joyful 2021!

The post Feng Shui Tips for 2021. The Year of the Yin Metal Ox appeared first on Feng Shui London UK • The Capital Feng Shui Consultant.

2020 The Year of Metal Rat

Classical feng shui suggestions
Classical feng shui has all kinds of suggestions for 2020. Obviously, these are just opinions and suggestions so if they don’t resonate with you or don’t make any sense, don’t do them. The 5 yellow star is in the East in 2020 so you may want to minimise feng shui remedies in that area and remove any remedies you’ve done in 2019, especially interventions that might be enhancing the energy in that area. Hang a 6-tubed hollow metal wind chime in the East of your home or your workplace.

 “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
Francis of Assisi’s quote about walking your talk

Colours for 2020
According to feng shui astrology, metal rat belongs to metal element so silver, gold, grey and any metallic colours are good. Check the supporting (earth) and controlling (fire) aspects of elemental influences if you believe in that sort of thing. According to Pantone colour specialists, the colour of 2020 is classic blue. Read more about the colour of 2020.

The Bagua chart for 2020

Astrology and the future
Nobody knows what the future holds. Still, we make decisions anyway, every day with our choices. Although we want certainties which are impossible in today’s world we are quite successful because we’ve have adapted to an ever-changing environment that we understand only imperfectly. Humans, throughout history, have developed a variety of narratives and ways of coping with the radical uncertainty that defines their lives. Astrology is one of them. Put it simply, astrology is a narrative. Although astrology is not an evidence-based discipline, people are drawn to it and in recent years it has seen a revival, due to general radical uncertainty. The market is estimated to be worth $2.1 billion according to The New York Times with the boom in a so-called astro-tech domain of apps, downloads, etc (with mostly women wanting to know about love and men focusing on work and money). Astrology offers a kind of self-reflection and witnessing, as well as, a narrative about what’s going on with yourself. It is also considered a kind of spiritual practice since religions haven’t upped their game.

9-star ki – feng shui astrology
Traditionally, 9-star ki or feng shui astrology new year starts every year on 4/5 February. 9-star ki or feng shui astrology is a simple way of charting what might be in stock for you in 2020. Have a look, if it makes sense – use it, if not, don’t. At best, it’s like a story or narrative which might help you think metaphorically about your life and what’s important for you. Have fun and don’t take it too seriously. It’s just a metaphoric map, not the territory – and it might help you navigate this year better. Bagua model is similar to the life coaching tool called the wheel of life that represents different aspects of your life.

Bagua for 2020

Above is the bagua matrix for 2020, with star number 7 in the middle of the chart.

Check your nine-star ki astrology star/number on the chart below and identify which house of bagua your feng shui star is in 2020. 9-star ki or feng shui astrology new year starts every year on 4/5 February but if you were born in January or February and want to find out when the new year starts for you check your Chinese astrology.

9 Star Ki Chart

Star 1 Water – is in the house of knowledge, wisdom and education as well as self-cultivation. Top tip: learn something new this year and expand your skills set. Boost your spiritual intelligence and spiritual feng shui. Study philosophy – it will teach you how to think better. And learn through wisdom, as opposed to the experience which can be an expensive teacher. Wisdom is power. Wisdom is timeless. Knowledge can be dated. Tidy up your bookshelves, get rid of old books and get some new books.

Star 2 Earth – is in the house of success, reputation and enlightenment. Top tip: mediate, connect to your inner light and channel it into the world. As Buddha suggested metaphorically, “One candle can light a hundred of other candles and continue to burn just as brightly.” Don’t use actual candles though, they pollute the air – use Himalayan salt lamps instead. If reputation is important to you, invest in your personal branding. Activate your spiritual feng shui.

Star 3 Wood – is in the house of vocation and work. Top tip: this is the first year of the new nine-year cycle. Plan your life for the next nine years with special focus on your vocation or why and what for you were born here on this planet. What is the purpose of my life? How do I want to serve the world? What’s my passion? Follow your curiosity which can lead you to purposeful, fulfilling and impactful life.

Star 4 Wood – is in the house of relationships and partnership. Top tip: we’re all connected. What we do to ourselves and others, we do to the whole world. By being happy, you make the world happy. ‘Detox’ your relationship/love area of your home and bedroom.

Star 5 Earth – is in the house of family, community. Top tip: honour your past and your family. Sort out and clear any past issues so you can move forward. Get involved in your local community. Get a window box to beautify your home and neighbourhood (it will attract positive energy to your home).

Star 6 Metal – is in the house of wealth, prosperity and luck. Top tip: enhance your wealth and luck by boosting your luck skills and luck factor. Get a money plant: jade and an Indian money plant (Epipremnum aureum). If wealth creation is important to you, just apply this timeless 3-step money-making formula: earn more, spend less and automate the investment process (compound interest). For novel investment ideas check ‘101 Extraordinary Investments: Curious, Unusual And Bizarre Ways To Make Money’ by Toby Walne 

Star 7 Metal – is in the house of wellness and power. Top tip: your star is in the middle of your chart. Things will come to you so stay centred, focused, present and very clear about what you want in your life this year. Don’t disperse your energies and don’t get distracted. Since you’re in the centre of the bagua, you’re well-positioned to draw resources from any other parts of the bagua. You’re in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ position but you might at times feel overwhelmed by life. Power is not knowledge, power is execution, so choose wisely. In 2020, your best strategy might be to do less but achieve more. In Chinese philosophy, this area of the bagua is also called tai chi and represents a timeless present, a cosmological concept for the flux of yin and yang. Taking up tai chi classes which combines deep breathing and relaxation with flowing movements might be good for you this year. Meditation cuts away things to get more clarity.

Star 8 Earth – is in the house of friends, travel and charity. Top tip: travel to some new places and make friends. Get a large map of the world and stick it on the wall or place the Earth image on your mobile phone wallpaper. Also, do some local charity work which will boost your prosperity. Be generous.

Star 9 Fire – is in the house of projects, creativity and offspring. Top tip: do something creative, start a new project. Learn from kids and their inner creativity and curiosity. Play. Play is considered an antidote for uncertainty. Have more puzzles, fun things around in your home to remind yourself that “life is lila” (lila/leela = ‘divine play’ in Sanscrit).

Looking for a feng shui consultant near you, in London. Call/text Jan on 07956 288 574 or email him

Feng shui-wise, you can see in which part of your home, your star resides in 2020 – checking from the door position. Declutter that area to get more clarity and focus and place something significant, symbolic or metaphoric to represent what you want. If you’re not sure, call your feng shui expert.

Characteristics of the year of the rat

The rat (sometimes referred to as a mouse) is the first of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The years of the rat are 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032. The last significant metal rat year was 1900 and then 1960 – the beginning of the new century and a new decade. ‘1960s/ the Sixties’ era, as we know now, turned out to be a very complex and an inter-related cultural and political decade.

The story behind the rat goes like this. The Jade Emperor organised a race for a bunch of animals on his birthday, which was going to determine the order of the Chinese zodiac. The rat, industriously, managed to hitch a ride on the back of the ox, and then jumped off at the finish line, hence winning first place and therefore be named the first animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Chinese believe that people born in the year of the rat are industrious, thrifty, diligent and quite positive. They obviously like to enshrine and collect things – on the negative side, they can be hoarders (people generally might start hoarding or panic buying essential items such as toilet paper which psychologists suggest represent a sense of control). They are intuitive and can foretell the danger. They are survivors. People born in a year of the rat are considered to be compatible and get along well with the sign of ‘monkeys’ and ‘dragons’, and don’t get along well with ‘horses’.

Rats represent a survivor archetype. They also work as a team. So the key message of this emblematic animal is to be creative, inventive and flexible to get more with less, this year, and not only survive but thrive as well.

In Indian tradition and vastu shastra rats or mice are seen as the vehicles of Ganesha, and a rat’s statue is always found in a temple of Ganesh.

In western culture, rats don’t have a great reputation and in the English language, the term hasn’t got positive connotations (such as a ‘rat race’ – there is a message for us). Some people might not resonate with the energy of the year of the rat since rats can carry disease and live in hidden dark places. Hence, the window displays in London don’t mention this animal much. But remember, symbolically, rats are survivers and on the flip side, they can thrive as well.

2020 the year of the rat

Metal element of 2020
So the metal rat. Metal element, in the nourishing cycle of the theory of five elements, follows earth element which nourishes it. Metal element nourishes water element. Fire controls metal and metal controls wood/tree element. Metal is the last element in the cycle and symbolises solidification of the whole process of natural creation. The characteristics of metal values and aspects are justice, righteousness, decision-making, altruism, finance, pride and quick-hits. Metal element governs the following industries: justice system, jewellery, goldsmiths, car industry, finance and banking, any ore or metal mining, mechanical equipment and engineering and these industries might be prominent or affected in 2020. Metaphorically, use the metal element to finish and complete things as well as cut away anything toxic or unnecessary or anything that stops you from achieving your goals and dreams.

2020 trends: divergence and convergence + balance

2020 has started with lots of fireworks and positivity, as usual, and then in January, a few events started to shape it very quickly, differently. America-Iran conflict, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Megan, Dutches of Sussex departure from the Royal duties and the UK, and then, of course, the UK leaving the European Union. And the spread of the novel coronavirus from China is a big public concern since one British scientist said that virus’s death rate of about 2% of those infected, was similar to the Spanish flu which killed more than 200 000 Britons and 50-100 million worldwide in 1918-19 (infected at least 500 million people worldwide) or plague of Justinian where epidemic killed 25 million in 541-2 which was an equivalent of half of the population of Europe at the time or Black Death (1346-53) which killed 50 million, a third of the population of Europe and the Middle East. Health officials confirmed that the virus had spread to nearly all of China’s 23 provinces. Experts fear that the virus could spread even more and world-wide as 440 million people travel home in the country and abroad (3 billion trips) to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Saturday 25 January. Interestingly enough, a Lancet paper reported that twice as many men are infected than women – is the future of society going to be female? The yin and yang of things? Authorities in Hubei extended the Lunar New Year holiday until 13 February.

In short, this trend could be summarised with one word: divergence. With the UK leaving the EU, there are also talks of Scotland leaving the UK but some people in Ireland want to have a united Ireland (so that’s a bit of convergence and another example of convergence: researchers at the Cardiff University, accidentally found a T-cell which recognised a molecule present on the surface of a wide range of cancer cells, offering a prospect of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ cancer treatment). Also, the clash between populists and the liberal establishment with societies increasingly divided between globalists and nationalist is more visible than ever with possible futures where either the technocratic elite will drive us into high-tech caste society with winners and losers moving more apart or populists will take over.

The acclaimed historian, Felipe Fernández-Armesto, in his latest book Our Minds: What We Think and How We Came to Think It, takes us on a journey through the history of the human imagination, from the dawn of civilization to the advent of social media and summaries it with just one word: divergence. So divergence is the driving force behind human history. We can’t escape it. Like the mythical rat, that hitched a ride on the back of the ox, we need to learn how to ride on this trend of divergence.

The balancing trend for divergence is convergence. Some trends have both divergence and convergence as an underlying mechanism. For example, a coronavirus has primary characteristics of divergence (people get separated, etc) but also a convergent aspect is happening at the same time ie humanity is joining the forces to combat this threat. Climate change is divergent and convergent at the same time. On the technological front, convergence is driving the development of mobile phones, for example, where one mobile phone can do a million things (there are trillions of apps now) but the radiation can do damage to your health (see the picture how mobile radiation fractures a molecule).

Divided society vs differentiated society
We’re living in very divisive times. Gilles Deleuze, a French philosopher, suggested that we need to call ourselves ‘dividuals’ as opposed to ‘individuals’. Deleuze coined the term dividuals (Postscript of Modern Society, 5, 1992) to mark a shift from individuals into “masses, samples, data, markets, or “banks” or Big Data as we know it now. Deleuze argued that we’ve entered a control society, with the inability to opt-out of Big Data. All of our information is accessible to somebody or some organisation.

It looks like, we’re born divided. After fertilisation, it is said that the division process starts but what if it isn’t a division process but a differentiation process (which some doctors suggest)? Then the brain wouldn’t be divided but differentiated – leading perhaps to a different metaphor for us and society as a differentiated society instead of a divided society. Deleuze contributed to the concept of a difference a lot in his book Difference and Repetition where he makes difference primary to identity as opposed to secondary as other philosophers did. Concepts and metaphors drive human behaviour and if we can find better metaphors perhaps this can open up a possibility for better and richer thinking, being and doing.

Balance

In feng shui, yin and yang is the principle of balance that applies to inner and outer realities and on micro and macro levels. The Earth and humanity are in crisis and out of balance on so many levels, ecologically, politically, financially, morally, ethically, spiritually and so on. The human health system is out of balance for all kinds of reasons. The body is designed to seek balance, as the state of homeostasis, a state of equilibrium. Coronavirus kills by disrupting the balance. By being healthy personally we are all making the world a healthy place. Start with yourself and your immediate environment and at the same time work on a collective level. Examine yourself and your home and bring more balance. Confronting personal or collective issues or problems ask, “What does it do?” “How do I lose power?” What makes you empowered and disempowered?

Top tips for the year of the rat, 2020

1. Listen to your intuition. Learn through wisdom and truth. Base your decisions on wisdom and truth. Stay calm. Have more wise books around your home. Research suggests that people who have lots of books are happier (and wiser).
2. Protect yourself from electromagnetic radiation. More and more people are worried about electro-smog. Minimise the use of wifi, wire it if possible and always switch it off for the night. Read the Summary of EMF*D: 5G, Wi-Fi & Cell Phones – Hidden Harms and How to Protect Yourself by Dr. Joseph Mercola
3. Grounding or earthing has now been recognised by researchers and suggested as a complementary healing modality. Have baths which have a grounding effect.
4. Celebrate the New Chinese year on 25 January – wear something new and set positive intentions for 2020. Write down all your goals and dreams for 2020 – writing them down solidifies and physicalises them – the first step in manifesting them.
5. Keep clearing clutter. Clarity is essential to focus on new things you want in your life this year. ‘Detoxing’ your home and workplace from unnecessary things, will create space for new things to come. If you’re not sure where to start – read the tip 6 below or just start anywhere – clear any closet or drawer. Although it might look simple and easy thing to do – what it will help you is to metaphorically start clearing your personal history so you can get your energy into the present time. You will feel better and lighter. A good example of that is the film Karate Kid, where the kid was washing the car without knowing that he was training his will and building his discipline so he can take on any opponent. There is a book called Make Your Bed: 10 Life Lessons from a Navy SEAL by Admiral William H. McRaven where making your bed in the morning is the first step to success which can be summed up with Francis of Assisi’s quote about walking your talk “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Clearing clutter is fundamental feng shui, remember that feng shui = intention + energy + ritual and almost any ritual will do as long as you’re doing it.
6. Check where is your feng shui star in the bagua 2020 chart above. Do something there. Clearing clutter is always a good start – and it does work. You will feel better.

20 Feng Shui Resolutions for 2020. Feng Shui Checklist for 2020 and the New Decade.

Looking for a feng shui consultant near you, in London. Call/text Jan on 07956 288 574 or email him

The post Feng Shui Astrology for 2020 – The Year of Yang Metal Rat appeared first on Feng Shui London UK • The Capital Feng Shui Consultant.

When clients are considering moving home, particularly internationally, astrocartography can supplement traditional feng shui analysis by identifying areas where specific planetary energies may be more pronounced. However, it’s important to understand that while both systems deal with location-based influences, they operate on different foundational principles.

Why Do Certain Places Feel Instantly Right?

Have you ever found yourself feeling especially energised and uplifted in one city, yet strangely stuck or out of sorts in another? Maybe you’ve noticed that your relationships blossomed while living overseas, or that your professional life surged ahead after making a move. These experiences aren’t as random as they might seem.

Astrocartography provides insight into why some locations align beautifully with your personal energy, while others present more challenges. Every spot on the globe offers its own unique energetic landscape for you, reflected through your birth chart. By uncovering these subtle forces, you can make more informed choices about where you’re most likely to experience ease, opportunity, and fulfilment.

Harnessing Astrocartography for Life Decisions

When you’re thinking about relocating – whether it’s across your neighbourhood or to a different continent – astrocartography can be a powerful ally. It reveals which places nurture your growth, support harmonious relationships, and encourage professional or personal success, all by tracing the planetary influences present at the moment you were born.

Understanding your astrocartography map lets you:

• Pinpoint locations that amplify your strengths and potential

• Avoid areas that may feel draining or challenging

• Make strategic, empowered decisions about where to live, work, or conduct business

Unlocking these insights means every move is more likely to align with your natural rhythm, helping you thrive at every stage of life.

What Is a Horoscope?

To understand astrocartography, we must first grasp what a horoscope represents. A horoscope is essentially “a map of the sky at the moment and place of birth,” with planetary positions relative to the local horizon. The planets appear in different positions depending on both time and location – if you were born at noon in Chicago versus London, the Sun would appear in different parts of the chart altogether, carrying different symbolic meanings.

This principle forms the foundation of astrocartography: “within certain limits, you can change your chart by travel away from your place of birth”. The technique allows you to adjust your energetic environment by moving to locations where planets occupy more powerful positions.

How Astrocartography Works

Astrocartography projects your birth chart onto a world map, creating lines where planets were “angular” (rising, setting, or culminating) at the moment of your birth. These lines show where planetary energies are strongest and most likely to manifest in your life.

The process involves:

1. Birth Chart Calculation: Using exact birth time, date, and location

2. Planetary Projection: Mapping planetary positions onto world geography

3. Line Creation: Identifying where planets were at powerful angular positions

4. Interpretation: Understanding how these energies might manifest in different locations

General Meanings of the Four Angular Positions

Astrocartography recognises four zones of power, called the “angles” of the chart:

The Ascendant (ASC)

• Interior Reality: Personal expression through direct, outward manifestation

• Influence: “Your personality focusses the force of the planet as a lens does light”

• Application: Where you are identified by the planet’s nature

The Descendant (DSC)

• Exterior Reality: Attracting circumstances and people through subconscious projection

• Influence: Drawing situations that challenge you to respond

• Application: Where you attract experiences matching the planet’s energy

The Midheaven (MH)

• Social Expression: Career, status, and public image

• Influence: “The social milieu and environment…resembles the nature of the planet”

• Application: Where you are socially classified by the planet’s force

The Imum Coeli (IC)

• Inner Foundation: Home, family, and personal security

• Influence: What becomes central to your sense of belonging

• Application: Where you are centred through the planet’s nature

Key Planetary Lines for Relocation

The Sun Lines – Vitality and Self-Expression

Under any Sun line, you experience enhanced personal power and vitality. These are “very positive places” where “pride, vanity and an urge to action demand that you become master of your own fate”. Key benefits include:

• Leadership Development: Authority comes naturally and others look to you for guidance

• Health Improvement: Physical vitality and energy increase significantly

• Creative Expression: Artistic abilities flourish and recognition follows

• Self-Actualisation: Strong drive toward autonomous, outer-directed growth

Sun on Ascendant: You “project pride, vanity, regality, dignity” and become “a radiant, self-made, joyful person”
Sun on Midheaven: Career advancement through “social climbing” and you “rise and advance socially”

The Moon Lines – Emotional Connections and Intuition

Moon lines emphasise emotional sensitivity and deep connections. Under these influences, you “become the centre of attention, and are buffeted about by desires and needs”. Key characteristics include:

• Emotional Sensitivity: Deeper connection to feelings and intuitive abilities

• Nurturing Instincts: Strong maternal/paternal energies emerge

• Home Focus: Domestic concerns and family matters become central

• Psychic Development: Enhanced sensitivity to environmental influences

Moon on Ascendant: You “tend to yield to any temptation” and “identify with your mother”
Moon on IC: “Family matters, concerns of home and property tend to take up all of your time and energy”

The Venus Lines – Love, Beauty, and Harmony

Venus areas are “among the most desirable for many people” where “mercy, friendship, benevolence, conviviality, marriage, romance…enter the life”. Benefits include:

• Romantic Opportunities: Enhanced prospects for love and partnership

• Aesthetic Appreciation: Increased sensitivity to beauty and artistic expression

• Social Connections: Improved friendships and social networking

• Material Comfort: Attraction of beautiful possessions and financial stability

Venus on Ascendant: “Here is where you go to become beautiful and to recreate yourself in your own image of beauty”
Venus on Descendant: “This is probably the best place to get married, especially for women”

Planetary Crossings and Their Significance

Where two or more planetary lines intersect, their combined energies create particularly powerful zones. As the manual states: “to reside somewhere where two or more planets are angular is double assurance of a singular and intense life experience”.

These crossings operate with about one-third the strength of major lines but can significantly enhance or modify the primary planetary influence. They’re particularly important when the same planet appears in both a major line and a crossing, creating amplified effects.

Practical Applications for International Relocation

Before Moving Country

When considering international relocation, astrocartography suggests examining:

1. Life Goals Assessment: What aspects of life do you want to enhance?

2. Planetary Line Analysis: Which energies support these objectives?

3. Crossing Evaluation: Are there beneficial combinations in your target area?

4. Timing Considerations: Allow approximately one year for adjustment to new energies

Integration with Feng Shui Practice

While astrocartography and feng shui operate on different principles, they can complement each other:

• Macro Selection: Astrocartography for regional/country selection

• Micro Analysis: Feng shui for specific property assessment

• Holistic Approach: Multiple perspectives on environmental influences

• Cultural Integration: Both systems acknowledge location’s impact on wellbeing

Important Considerations and Limitations

Realistic Expectations

Astrocartography doesn’t guarantee specific outcomes but highlights potential influences. As the manual notes: “If you have never been very lucky, or if you have had life-long problems in love, a move to an astrological power zone won’t change you overnight”.

Practical Factors

Location selection must consider:

• Cultural Compatibility: How local customs align with personal values

• Economic Viability: Cost of living and employment opportunities

• Legal Requirements: Visa, residency, and property ownership laws

• Personal Readiness: Emotional and practical preparation for change

Gradual Manifestation

Effects typically develop over time, with “residence of one year” generally sufficient for adjustment, though “many people have experienced definite and exciting evidence of the power of their planets within a few days or weeks of arrival”.

Professional Consultation and Expertise

For feng shui enthusiasts interested in incorporating astrocartography into their location assessment services, working with experienced consultants provides deeper insights into complex chart interactions and crossing interpretations.

Jan Cisek brings unique qualifications to this field, combining over 40 years of feng shui expertise with formal training in Environmental Psychology (MSc from University of Surrey). As a Fellow of the Feng Shui Society and current PhD researcher in feng shui at Liverpool John Moores University, he offers evidence-based approaches to location assessment.

His research focuses on “feng shui as both a personal and transpersonal discipline” with “practical implications for wellness, sleep quality at home, and productivity in the workplace”. This combination of traditional feng shui knowledge and scientific methodology provides a comprehensive framework for understanding environmental influences on human wellbeing.

When to Seek Professional Analysis

Consider professional consultation for:

• Complex Planetary Combinations: Multiple line intersections requiring detailed interpretation

• Specific Life Objectives: Tailored analysis for career, relationships, or personal development goals

• Integration Planning: Combining astrocartography with feng shui assessment

• International Moves: Understanding cultural and practical factors alongside energetic influences

Conclusion
Astrocartography offers feng shui an additional tool for understanding how location influences human experience. While it shouldn’t replace traditional feng shui analysis or practical considerations, it can provide valuable insights into the energetic landscape of potential new homes.

The key is approaching relocation decisions holistically, considering both the subtle energetic influences suggested by astrocartography and the practical realities of international moving. When used thoughtfully alongside established feng shui principles, this ancient practice can contribute to more informed location choices.

Ready to explore how astrocartography might inform your next move? Jan Cisek offers complimentary initial discussions about integrating astrocartography with feng shui assessment for international relocation. With his unique combination of feng shui expertise and environmental psychology training, he can help you understand how planetary influences might complement traditional location analysis.

Call 07956 288574 for a free 15min initial consultation or visit www.fengshuilondon.net to learn more about evidence-based approaches to location assessment.

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See the Chinese Astrology Feng Shui Calculators

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