(Etsy)

I came upon this brilliant article filled with feng shui advice for a year of exciting expansion and change written my my own feng shui mentor, Gabriele Van Zon, Ph.D, and I had to share it!

To know me is to know that I do not “follow” astrology, or  anything of the like, but I think that everyone here can relate to wanting a dynamic year filled with positive happenings, and Gabriele explains how to shore up your house to make the most of a productive year of action!  

Feng Shui Wisdom to Tame the Fiery Wood Horse of 2014! by Gabriele Van Zon, Ph.D 

With New Year’s Day, this time on January 31^st, begins the wild ride through the Chinese Year of the Horse.  The forecasts and charts of the zodiac indicate an unbalanced year of volatility and aggression.  Much can be gained if we manage to hang on for the ride on this vigorous, feisty and strong horse. 

Right now he is chafing at the bit to charge out of the gate, so we must decide quickly whether we will be like the cowboy of Frederic Remington’s Bronco Buster who gets tossed around by a wildly bucking horse, or the jockey of the derby in full control with a competitive edge. Rather than the cowboy kicking the unruly horse into submission, let’s be the sleek jockey whipping his noble horse into the winning streak on his ride to success.

We need to take a look at feng shui basics to understand what marks our path through a fiery year of conflict and dynamic energy.  According to astrological calculations for 2014, the five elements are out of balance with earth and water missing completely in a chart of excessive fire.  Our tips below suggest feng shui adjustments to subdue the excessive fire.  Since the wood horse is the most exuberant of all horses, we would not want to douse the fire completely by adding too much water. But we could use purple and gray as a subtle combination of fire (red), water (blue), and metal (gray) to gently feed the water.  Purple, in a shade of radiant orchid, is the color of the year for 2014.  

For balance of yin and yang, the excessive yang energy needs to be harnessed and reined in by the jockey (us) taking control.  The year ahead is full of opportunities and wide open spaces where feelings and spirits are amplified and volatile.  When tempers flare, it will be best to retreat and take refuge with yin protection instead of reacting with yang aggression.  The clear thinking and analytical perception of the metal element will control the excessive qi (chi) of our wildly running horse.  Let anger bounce off your metal armor and hold the reins with graceful and generous control. 

A feng shui Rx for the year of the fiery wood horse:

Add Earth: With earth missing in the element chart, we are concerned about a lack of stability and steadiness.  Adding the earth element will gently reduce the excessive fire element without extinguishing its dynamic spirit.  We can bring earth into our environment by adding crystals and gem stones. Ceramics and earthenware are good receptacles for the predicted windfalls and potential for wealth and abundance.  A Zen garden with sand and a rake to create auspicious patterns of circles and squares would be a playful diversion.  We could wear or use earth colors including yellow and introduce square shapes to our surroundings.  With the help of the bagua we should add earth to the center where we want our space to feel anchored and weighty.

Find Yin:  When we feel assaulted by excessive yang energy and aggression, we could retreat into a cocoon space with soft pillows, feeling protected from temper flares and anger.  Indirect lighting and dimmer switches will soften glaring lights and fiery glances. We can eat yin foods with balanced menus to sooth aggravated digestive systems, calm nervous energy with lavender or jasmine, and bask in soundscapes of soft music.

Add Protection:  Every culture has belief systems and superstitions with talisman or amulet protection. We want to choose symbols that have meaning in a deeply personal interpretation of feeling safe.  They can be worn or placed as guardians in your space.  They will also serve as helpful reminders that we need to be prepared and cushioned for a bumpy ride.

Focus:  Strong focal points are always desirable but even more so in this year of volatility and distraction.  They are good markers to steer our horse toward the goals we design without getting sidetraked.

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Create a vision board or a map:  It may be wise to map the course we want to follow for 2014, find direction and guidance, and then stick to the chosen path.  Detailed lists, possibly a symbolic picture or vision board can be helpful reminders of the heading we aim to pursue.  Packaged and controlled, the extra energy can be used to empower what we hope to accomplish.

The magic words for 2014:  clear thinking – control – focus – retreat – protect – choose well and guide your horse to success

Thank you Gabrielle for sharing such gorgeous feng shui advice to add balance, wisdom & vision to any home and life!  You can read more of Gabriele’s wisdom HERE at Feng Shui Universal. xoxo Dana

 

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And, if you want to dive in to your own personalized feng shui right now in a modern, practical way, Say hello to Feng Shui 101.  Its the guide I made for you to create your own personalized feng shui at home, in the office, wherever you may be… in 8 weeks.  It’s not filled with strict rules or what you “must” do.  Its filled with information, questions, exercises and even videos and classes to help you confidently create amazing spaces with killer feng shui and live with more flow.   Learn more about the 8-week feng shui adventure & grab your copy to get started right HERE…   And, as always, please let me know what happens!  xoxo Dana