Back in Sept. 2, 2018 ‘Calendar Adjustment Day' fell on 'Father's Day' . But if we travelled back to Sept. 1751, dear old Pops would have slept through the Annual devotion to Dads! Not even an alarm clock could have prevented Dear Old Dad sleeping it out. #confused?

Sol and and Luna’s allure have captivated nations and cultures since the dawn of time. And the mystical obscuring of either celestial body’s illumination continues to beguile us today. In times past, the phenomenon of eclipses must have been scary when playing out in our skies. We’ve unpacked the cosmology and folklore behind the ominous occurrences. And the upcoming New Moon marking the Fire Horse’s entrance is solar ring of Fire Eclipse on 17 Feb 2026!

August’s Full moon lunation goes by many names*, depending on your domicile and cultural preference. Named the Red Wyrt, Corn/Barley Moon by Indigenous communities while Chinese folk refer to this lunation as Harvest moon. The calendar month is Osmanthus or Skills (flowers associated with Autumn). You’ll also hear lots of Lunar Eclipse chatter, not visible in Australia but on 28 Aug Luna is technically fullest at 2.18pm in Sydney*(more Full moon times below). Eclipse aside, it’s no ordinary Full Moon.

Happy Chinese Valentine’s Day!

Unlike International lover’s day - aka Valentine’s Day - which follows a set annual date, the Chinese version fluctuates according to the 7th day of the 7th lunar Month, known as the Qixi — Double Seventh Festival. This year (2026) in the Gregorian calendar it falls on 19 August.

This article was written in May 2025 and originally published Oct 2025 for Wellbeing Predictions Almanac 2026.

Depending on your persuasion, the wheel of the year is prefixed by many names — Celtic, Druid, Pagan or Wicca. The familiar graphic has near cult status, bedecking the walls, altars and journals of devotees of the cosmos. In more recent times the ubiquitous image has expanded and morphed into a mystical symbol shrouded in layers of occult, spiritual and religious mystery. Freed from the shackles of cultural and metaphysical associations the Eightfold wheel is more universally appropriate and immediately demystified as sun’s celestial journey mirrored via seasonal cycles.

National Moon Day

It’s 57 years since man took his first step on the moon on July 20, 1969. And since 1971, the landmark event has been commemorated as National Moon Landing Day. Mans' curiosity to travel to the Moon showed no signs of letting up over the years— as I update this post Artemis II prepares for a take off for a trip to the other side of the moon (2 Apr 2026). So it's little wonder that Luna also intrigued our ancestors — but there's little doubt, it's impact and affect was well known by our forefathers. Today is also a Full Moon in Libra at 1:11pm in Sydney.

The magical charm of trefoil shamrock goes way beyond the fifth century Christian legend of St.Patrick. The three leaf plant (trefoil) is said to be the source of inspiration for the triskele, triple spiral, pagan symbols and beautifully illustrated knot-work illustrated in the Books of Kells. So why is this little plant classed as lucky? And why does it appear in mythology across so many civilizations?

It's time to celebrate the Polarity of Seasons again. Phenologists will appreciate, when the dog days of summer bring balmy humidity, I know my internal barometer is in sync with seasons! The dog days of Summer coupled with the end July (or Jan in S.H), are both calendar and celestial indicators; a midpoint point between Solstice and the next Equinox and the heliacal rising of Sirius the Dog star. This crucial time on the Celtic Wheel of the Year is a time of Harvesting nature’s bounty, known as Lughnasadh, an Autumnal festival marker.

I’ve been musing…. and it’s led me to Mistletoe’s door. Are we entering the Age of Mistletoe or The Return of the Druids? Mistletoe, the little freeloading plant that has remarkably synchronicities and on point themes that weaves a symbolic narrative of the prevailing astro weather. Even main stream media covering the cosmic skies with chatter of the Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn; exact back on the December Solstice in 2020. My mistletoe musings unearthed some fascinating lore, far more interesting than stolen kisses, dare I say. And if we were living in bygone times the Xmas staple would be the Ancient’s secret weapon to this current health situation.

The December Solstice, is known as the Winter Solstice in Northern Hemisphere; but since December is a Summer month in the Southern Hemisphere, 21 Dec is a Summer Solstice. As I currently live in Oz; the longest day of the year beckons. Both Solstices’ always reminds me of my Celtic homeland roots. I miss celebrating classic winter Yuletide vibes when the December Solstice occurs Down under - a warm Xmas is mind bending for this European!

Moon, the night-time celestial luminary holds great significance in the Chinese calendar system. Nowadays, lunas passage through the sky pretty much determines China’s cultural and religious festivals and the solar component is used for timings in Bazi and the 24 solar terms. The upcoming Frost / Cold Moon in Gemini (2025) is especially significant to Taoist devotees, as this Full Moon marks the Xia Yuan Festival. There are five Full Moon centric festivals of note in the Chinese calendar. Two of which are more widely celebrated. All five Moon festivals occur on the 15th day of a Chinese lunar month as it guarantees Luna’s fullest splendor.

I’ve no doubt candy filled bags of loot and masks of the ghoulish variety are all that’s on the minds of kids. If Halloween fancy dress isn’t your jam, then here’s the download on the true meaning of Samhain. With some very on point cross cultural synergies with Humble apple.

SO WHAT IS SAMHAIN?

Halloween or 'Samhain' (pronounced SOW-win) as Celts called it, was first and foremost a celebration of the end of harvest time and the beginning of a dark half of the calendar year. Naive Irish speakers will know that the calendar months of May and November are called Beltaine and Samhain respectively (oh and August is called Lunasa). These are three of the four Cross Quarter days on the Wheel of the Year, Imbolc in spring completes the quartet. Witches know these markers as Great Sabbats. These power points are Midpoints or Culminating points of a given season - Samhain occurs between the Fall Equinox and Yule (Winter Solstice).

The aftermath of last weeks Cyclone Kirrily is omnipresent; as I write folks in QLD, Australia are bracing as a third cyclone looms! Following my retrospective of 2023 Weather predictions; I’m sharing some 2024 weather prophecies and another weather metric — Dragon’s role.

Chinese metaphysics offers insightful weather intel; however I refrain from detailed weather predictions in my Annual Astro forecasts. Mainly due to global nature of forecasting ing vastly different climates. Thus tracking weather is time consuming, full-time job! But Australia’s wild weather, from soaring temps to cyclones has got me looking back on my 2023 weather prediction.

I'm a bona fida sucker for mid-century chairs. Honestly I can spot one at 40 paces. Not many things make me green with envy but the want monster comes out when I see a great armchair that fulfills both aesthetic and feng shui criteria.

Sol and and Luna’s allure have captivated nations and cultures since the dawn of time. And the mystical obscuring of either celestial body’s illumination continues to beguile us today. In times past, the phenomenon of eclipses must have been scary when playing out in our skies. We’ve unpacked the cosmology and folklore behind the ominous occurrences. And the upcoming New Moon marking the Fire Horse’s entrance is solar ring of Fire Eclipse on 17 Feb 2026!

This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2025– Universal Media, Australia

Legend proffers amidst a chaotic flood, the underlying order between Yin and Yang elements was inscribed upon a horse emerging from the River Ho. Since elements wax and wane, over time fire came to represent the point of culminating yang. Reflecting high noon on the midsummer solstice, when solar energies standstill — before slowly declining, seeding yin. This year’s overtly fiery horse frenetically presses the point. Amplifying the interlude between yang and yin. Feng Shui offers respite.

Bats and Halloween have a ubiquitous relationship. It’s most likely due to the nocturnal habits of the bat, that link the two - after all Hallow’s Eve is a festival that’s celebrated at nightfall. Spookiness aside, the winged creature is known to conjure up high levels of anxiety, day or night, for folks with long hair! (Myth No. 1, they don’t get tangled in your tresses). That said, without doubt that humble Bat is steeped in myth, negative omens and superstitions. Yet in some cultures, the omen is of an auspicious nature.

The 15 day long Chinese Lunar New Year festivities will draw to a close, with the Annual Lantern Festival - Yuanxiao Festival - heralding the first Full Moon of the Chinese New Year, in the Year of the Horse.

IIf January’s New Year resolutions have fizzled out, tune into the Chinese Lunar New Year as the Year of the Fire Horse makes its final transition on 17 Feb. 2026. Lunar New Year follows Moon (Luna) cycles therefore commencing under a New Moon. The upcoming lunation is the second New Moon AFTER the Winter Solstice which dictates the beginning of the Lunar New Year. It also kick starts the more widely known and celebrated of the Lunar New Year festivities - beginning a two week long Spring Festival. Li Chun is a Solar Festival marker which occurred on 4 Feb 2026 seeding the Chinese Solar New Year and Fire Horse official debut.

I’ve remained tight lipped about the Kondō convos for a while now. But I’ve been prompted to chime in from a Feng Shui perspective.

Disclaimer, I’ve not read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up book by Marie Kondō but I’ve watched her Netflix series and encountered the KonMari social media frenzy. Admittedly, I tend to rebel against mainstream crazes, but when conducting my own personal annual preparations for the Solar New Year on Feb. 4th (not to be confused with Chinese Lunar New Year) I decided to check out the best selling author.

I’ve been musing…. and it’s led me to Mistletoe’s door. Are we entering the Age of Mistletoe or The Return of the Druids? Mistletoe, the little freeloading plant that has remarkably synchronicities and on point themes that weaves a symbolic narrative of the prevailing astro weather. Even main stream media covering the cosmic skies with chatter of the Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn; exact back on the December Solstice in 2020. My mistletoe musings unearthed some fascinating lore, far more interesting than stolen kisses, dare I say. And if we were living in bygone times the Xmas staple would be the Ancient’s secret weapon to this current health situation.

Seasonal Greetings to one and all.

This year give a gift with meaning. If you’re drawing a blank when it comes to choosing the perfect seasonal gift, then we've got an awesome suggestion. Give the gift that keeps on giving Good Sheng Qi - positive, prosperous abundant vibes.

Everyone needs a friend. Some prefer the furry or feathered kind and some favour mankind, but have you ever considered the Plant Kingdom as your friend? In Chinese plantlore a specific group of three plants are called the Three Friends of Winter.

So when should you unfurl tissue wrapped baubles and detangle last years lights? It depends as Yuletide is steeped in a seasonal cocktail of tradition, folklore, personal bias and how long your eyes can handle the visual display. Shopping malls may well be dripping with ubiquitous tinsel tinged displays . . . but has the “magic” that surrounds true Yuletide faded?

How many times have you pressed the Apple command key today?

Well if you're sitting in your office and thought you'd escaped Halloween then think again. Because apart from the humble fruits ties to the festival, so too unbeknownst to most Mac users has Apple's ⌘ Command symbol.

Happy Seniors’ Day! Since 1966 the Double Ninth Festival has celebrated Senior members of the community. The ‘Double Ninth Festival’ is also known as Chong Yang Festival; which burrows its name from the calendar date meaning the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese calendar. In Chinese ‘Chong’ means ‘double’ and ‘Yang’ is a nod to the number nine (9) which is the highest Yang number. and its also known as as the Chrysanthemum Festival. This year the festival falls on Sun 22 Oct 2023, in the Universal calendar.

This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2025– Universal Media, Australia

Fuxi and Nüwa — primordial beings with serpent bodies, take on added timely significance. The father of Emperors Fuxi discovered the Ho-t’u arrangement of trigrams, a key tenet of Feng Shui and the underlying nature of all things. While Nuwa the supreme mother, shows up as the annual moderator. Together when depicted as conjoined serpents they form a double helix — the secrets of life; cells, DNA, and years later its double helix shape all occurred on snake’s watch.

It’s hard to escape the US presidential election. According to pollsters the 2024 race to the White House is tight — The same can be said for  both Harris’ and Trumps’ Bazi charts; the roller-coaster car sits a top the steep descent, the ride on the go big or go home roller-coaster starts tomorrow. Who has the edge?

We’re in an eclipse period and some big lights get their lights dimmed . . . sadly on 12 Oct 2024, Lilly Ledbetter, the American women rights activist who fought for pay inequality, passed away. An opportunity to pay a little homage to the passing of the icon and a retrospective of some 2024 predictions.

Astro fiends oft ponder a covert astrologers involvement when big events or high profile people randomly seem to benefit from an auspicious chart. In the industry such timings are known as ‘electional charts’ – a coincidental pun by the way! US President Regan was said to frequently work with an astrologer during his tenure. However, Australia’s recent referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament lacked the benefit of recognising astrological red flags in advance.

This article was written in May 2025 and originally published Oct 2025 for Wellbeing Predictions Almanac 2026.

Snake of 2025 slithers off the podium, with a manifesto hanging in the balance. Yang Fire Horse 丙午 is crowned torchbearer, primed to trailblaze a path to the summit. With an unapologetic entrance on 17 February, a spirited tenure begins. Horse promises powerplays from a playbook written for Black Swans⓵.

This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2025– Universal Media, Australia

Legend proffers amidst a chaotic flood, the underlying order between Yin and Yang elements was inscribed upon a horse emerging from the River Ho. Since elements wax and wane, over time fire came to represent the point of culminating yang. Reflecting high noon on the midsummer solstice, when solar energies standstill — before slowly declining, seeding yin. This year’s overtly fiery horse frenetically presses the point. Amplifying the interlude between yang and yin. Feng Shui offers respite.

This article Part 1 of 2 was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2026– Universal Media, Australia

Aesop pontificated if it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. This year tests the probability. We’ve reached a zenith, an interlude — before crossing the Rubicon

Sport does the heavy lifting in the light relief arena of a fire horse year. Solar Horse year began on 4 Feb 2026, and two days later the 2026 Winter Olympics began seeding a year of sporting events that would dominate the calendar. And we’re only in Q1. Hello Sporting fever.

Last year’s rollercoaster ride eases as Wood Snake’s tenure commences on 29 January. Snake continues to do Dragon’s bidding donning the Little Dragon moniker, partnering with yin wood brings insights and adaptability. Serpent sits at the midpoint of Earthly Branches — the pendulum oscillates — destiny hangs in the balance. Will 2025 restore equilibrium, equate, renew, unify or play with fire?

This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2025– Universal Media, Australia

Fuxi and Nüwa — primordial beings with serpent bodies, take on added timely significance. The father of Emperors Fuxi discovered the Ho-t’u arrangement of trigrams, a key tenet of Feng Shui and the underlying nature of all things. While Nuwa the supreme mother, shows up as the annual moderator. Together when depicted as conjoined serpents they form a double helix — the secrets of life; cells, DNA, and years later its double helix shape all occurred on snake’s watch.

This article Part 1 of 2 was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2025– Universal Media, Australia

Standby mode is set in motion. Snake is poised to jettison the divesting of an outdated status quo. Ready to reveal, ready to reconcile and ready to reignite — what is woken?

This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2024– Universal Media, Australia

2024 The Year of the Yang Wood Dragon 甲⾠

PART TWO — If there’s one country where Dragons (and arguably Ages) culturally permeates all aspects of society, it’s China. Be it symbolic of Emperors, dragon dances to foods or Feng Shui’s bias for auspicious hidden dragon sites. While the term ‘New Age’ was coined by Alice Bailey, (Fountainhead author and dragon native), in Feng Shui it indicates an extended elemental shift — from Earth, to Fire.

This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2024– Universal Media, Australia

The opening act of a New Age takes the stage. This year promises a ride on the ‘Go big or go home’ rollercoaster. Dragon is the catalyst that propels a new 20-year elemental shift, toward Re-enlightenment.

Beyond the annual changing of guardians — from Rabbit to Celestial Reptilian — there’s also a bigger cosmic state of change afoot. Yang Wood Dragons’ always signal a New Age; which in turn end sexagenary eras. The third and final era of a wider 180-year Great Cycle needs unpacking, as we enter a new elemental interface.

The aftermath of last weeks Cyclone Kirrily is omnipresent; as I write folks in QLD, Australia are bracing as a third cyclone looms! Following my retrospective of 2023 Weather predictions; I’m sharing some 2024 weather prophecies and another weather metric — Dragon’s role.

This article was originally published by Wellbeing Astrology 2023 – Universal Media, Australia

2023 The Year of the Yin Water Rabbit

We enter burrowed time, at the dawn of a new Frontier. Rabbit gives us a master class on networking and the art of foresight. Tiger is officially relieved of his solar mantel on 4 February 2023 — when the diplomatic Bunny steps up. The paradigm shifts from predator to prey. Tiger brought Change; Rabbit detests it.

Sol and and Luna’s allure have captivated nations and cultures since the dawn of time. And the mystical obscuring of either celestial body’s illumination continues to beguile us today. In times past, the phenomenon of eclipses must have been scary when playing out in our skies. We’ve unpacked the cosmology and folklore behind the ominous occurrences. And the upcoming New Moon marking the Fire Horse’s entrance is solar ring of Fire Eclipse on 17 Feb 2026!

I’ve remained tight lipped about the Kondō convos for a while now. But I’ve been prompted to chime in from a Feng Shui perspective.

Disclaimer, I’ve not read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up book by Marie Kondō but I’ve watched her Netflix series and encountered the KonMari social media frenzy. Admittedly, I tend to rebel against mainstream crazes, but when conducting my own personal annual preparations for the Solar New Year on Feb. 4th (not to be confused with Chinese Lunar New Year) I decided to check out the best selling author.