13th Solar Term — Autumn is Coming

February 5, 2024 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Game of Thrones, may well have made famous the slogan “Winter is Coming”, but the Chinese Almanac (Tong Shu) can take credit for ‘Autumn is Coming’.

The cross quarter festival of Lughnasadh or Lughnasa kicked started the month on 1 August; marking the solar point between Solstice and the next Equinox. 7 August 2024 we’ll welcome the beginning of Monkey month; which every year indicates the Mid-Point of the Chinese Year. It’s followed five day later by a Full Moon Festival - The Hungry Ghost Festival.

1st Solar Term — Li Chun

February 4, 2024 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

‘Cherry blossom with birds’ was created by Ohara Koson in Shin-hanga style.

Officially speaking the Year of the Dragon has commenced. The Feng Shui fraternity observes 4 February as the beginning of their Solar New Year; and this year it’s cause for double celebration. Behold a major cosmic state of change is occurring. We’ll bid adieu to 20-years of Earth elements transitional governance. Wood Dragon years always opens the door to a New Age — Now, Fire’s vigil begins till 2043. We bid farewell to Rabbits ’s reign as the Yang Wood Dragon year triggers the Lower 60-year ERA of a wider 180-year Great Cycle - The fiery Age of 9 is upon us.

Chinese calendar is Lunisolar, incorporating both Sun (solar) and Moon (lunar ) cycles. The SOLAR New Year commences when the first of 24 Solar Term called ‘Start of Spring’ (Li Chun 立春) is set in motion on 4 Feb 2024 @8:29am UTC (7:29pm AEDT, 12:29am PST).

22nd Solar term + Winter Solstice

December 20, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

‘Winter Solstice’ Stunning image by Lao Shu from Book of Time.

TThe pinnacle of Winter is upon folks domicile in the Northern Hemisphere when the 22nd Solar term commences on Winter Solstice (21 December 2022), marking the beginning of the “Extreme Winter” node. When the North bids Sun adieu in favour the longest night, the South heralds the zenith of the Sun and welcomes the opposing Solstice. The Sun ingresses into zodiacal sign of the mountain Goat, Capricorn on 22 Dec. This particular lunar month is depicted in Asian paintings by the pairing of a falcon, pine tree and a wren, and known to the Ancients Chinese as ‘Preserved or Meat Month’.

19th Solar Term :: 'Winter is coming'

November 7, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Image credit unknown sourced via diana212m

To Game of Thrones devotees the ubiquitous phrase - ‘Winter is coming’ carries meaning, but I’m guessing the Chinese had first dibs on the phrase! In Chinese culture, Seasons commence about one and a half months before the comparative seasons in the Western Civil calendar. The 19th Seasonal Node nods to ‘Winter’s Coming’ or the ‘Beginning of Winter’(Lì dōng 立冬) as it’s also known. This solar term is the one of eight key nodal transition points, it denote the midpoints between the equinoxes and solstices. Commencing on 8 Nov 2023, we also prepare to welcome the swine of the Chinese Zodiac - the Yin Water Pig. And the 10th Lunar month begins on 13 Nov. 2023.

FEAST OF APPLES - SAMHAIN

October 22, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Apple orchard Image credit © by Äpfel-Obstgarten

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).

Old Farmer's Day + Michaelmas Day 2023

October 10, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

‘Tis Old Farmer’s Day on 12 Oct. Without the colloquial wisdom of our agricultural godfathers we’d be flummoxed and bewildered by natures seasonal ebb and flow. The introduction of ‘calendars’ first noted the helical rising of Sirius perpetual habits and cue to specific time of year, when the Nile Flooded. Prior to Solar calendars the lunar lady was the favoured chronicle. Moon has always commanded attention in the night skies, yet the lingering mystery of planting by the Zodiac signs and moon phase may well perplex those who doubt — but for those who believe, they receive. No matter your country of origin, every culture observed moon’s modes and practiced her wise ways unlocking a fortnight of fecund planting days in every month. The Farmer’s Almanac is an agriculturalist bible.

2023 Autumn Equinox (Qiu Fen) 16th Solar Term

September 22, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

16th solar term of ‘The Autumn Equinox’ (*Qiu Fen*). Image by #unknown

The Equinoxes work in pairs; marking the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – from North to South and vice versa at the time of the opposition. If you’re unfamiliar with Asian Solar Terms, then the word ‘Equinox’, may only hold a singular astrological date and meaning that’s done and dusted on one day. However, to devotees of Solar Terms, Qiu Fen 秋分 (Autumn Equinox), represents a two week long occurrence beginning on 23 Sept 14:52 Beijing and ends 7 Oct. The same period in the Pagan Calendar, represents ‘Mabon’ on the Celtic Wheel of the Year. While we remain in Rooster Month; in Western astrology the Sun enters the astrological sign of balance and checks, kicking off Libra season.

Old Farmer's Day

October 11, 2022 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

‘Tis Old Farmer’s Day on 12 Oct. Without the wisdom of our agricultural godfathers we would be flummoxed and bewildered by the ways of the lunar lady and ne'er a Farmer’s Almanac would exist. Moon has always commanded attention in the night skies, yet the lingering mystery of planting by the Zodiac signs and moon phase may well perplex those who doubt - but for those who believe — they receive. No matter your country of origin, every culture observed moon’s modes and practiced her wise ways unlocking a fortnight of fecund planting days in every month.

ROOSTER RISING

September 10, 2021 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Sept 7, 2021 — Are you Ready for Rooster month? This year the Lunar and Solar month of the Rooster tee up. With the Lunar Yin Fire Rooster month commencing when the New Moon occurs in your domicile (Sydney @ 10:51am, more times below*) and the Solar month sparks up @ 19.55pm (Sydney). The eighth lunar month in the Chinese Calendar is known to the Ancients as Osmanthus month and depicted in paintings by the pairing of sparrows and rice.

MONKEY MONTH MUSING

Before we dig into Rooster reflections, how was Monkey month for you? Did Monkey Mind come knocking on your door? I took a little break from my News feeds - tricky when you’re tracking predictions - but a welcome pause. It was especially sobering to see the Afghanistan situation unfold with ‘gorilla - pun intended - guerilla warfare …. sadly rearing its ugly head’ and Biden’s part in the outcome saw him labelled a ‘liar’ something we spoke of in the monthly forecast.

PRIMATE PRIMED

August 6, 2021 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Detail of a Monkey scroll via morimiya.net

Aug 7, 2021 — We bid adieu to a gnarly ScapeGoat month and usher in a Yang Fire Monkey month 丙申. The Primate indicates the onset of Autumn and the Mid-Point of the Chinese New Year. Followed by a New Moon in Leo on Aug 8, which marks the beginning of the seventh lunar month. Known to the Ancients as Skills Month and depicted in paintings by the pairing of a Kingfisher and Lotus.

Looking back it’s fair to say Goat clash month, triggered a barrage of predictions into reality. As I write, three States in Australia are in lockdown. Did you follow our trigger date posts on Social media? Lockdown announcements were like clockwork! Sadly the toll on mental health fronts is palpable - Lifeline has had its biggest influx of calls since it opened its doors in 1963 (noting Lifeline was two years in planning, so its also having a sexagenary return). Mental Health was a key theme in our forecast. The new buzz phrase of ‘Zero Covid’ cases and freedom implications (also predicted back in Jan 2021) is now a daily headline. Here in NSW, the Australian Defense Forces have been called to arms (Pun intended!), the military and authoritarian roles are Ox aligned professions. Not to mention the Army’s role in the 1961 Babies and Breadwinners, role out in the US . And, our highlighted ‘Conflict Cycles’ have proven equally as topical.

Halloween + APPLE + Samhain Symbol

October 27, 2020 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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.

GEOPATHIC STRESS + WU HOU

November 5, 2019 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

We’re in the closing days of Dog Month and the last **wu hou* manifestation of the 18th Solar term is also coming to an end. It provides not only an ancient reminder but a visual one of the implications of this Material Manifestation.

Benefic 8 star and an Establish Day (建 Jian)

May 7, 2019 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Construction is favoured on an Establish day

The energies of today are echoed throughout this lunar month; todays Snake qi is doubled in the month and day and reinforces the clashes with the water Pig this year. Take note of auspicious directions today by aligning yourself with the Qi of the skies, and avoiding negative inauspicious qi.

Moon Lore Almanac :: Establish Day

April 12, 2019 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

MOON LORE Series :: Wisdom from moon beams and the ancient Chinese Almanac for PERSONAL + BUILDING + GARDENING + GROOMING pursuits.

National Gardening Month

April 9, 2019 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

An Almanac was a must have for Gardeners in times past. Without the wisdom of our agricultural godfathers we would be flummoxed and bewildered by the ways of the lunar lady and ne'er a Farmers Almanac would exist

It's a Receive 收 (Shou) day in the Tong Shu (Chinese Almanac) and it's ideally used to open your arms and receive. Be it harvest, the fruits of your labour, abundant returns, monetary or love and friendship.