SOLAR + LUNAR ECLIPSES IN CHINESE COSMOLOGY

March 24, 2024 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Zhang Xian shooting at a *tiangou* to protect his children clustered about him.

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 Solar Eclipse on 14 Oct 2023, draws on some synchronisitic Chinese Tiangou symbolism.

CHINESE NEW YEAR'S EVE - Chuxi

February 6, 2024 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

If January’s New Year resolutions have fizzled out, tune into the Chinese New Year’s as the Year of the Wood Dragon amps up on 9/10 Feb. 2024. Lunar New Year follows Moon (Luna) cycles therefore commencing with a New Moon. The upcoming lunation is first New Moon AFTER the Winter Solstice which dictates the beginning of a Chinese 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 and technically occurs on 4 Feb 2023, when the Chinese Solar New Year begins.

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).

2024 WEATHER PREDICTIONS

February 2, 2024 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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.

2023 WEATHER RETROSPECTIVES

January 31, 2024 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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.

Imbolc & Goddess Brigid

January 31, 2024 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

AT Imbolc, we celebrate the polarity seasons once more. It seems like yesterday we were celebrating the Solstices (Winter in Oz and Summer in the N. Hemisphere) but it was only roughly six weeks ago! Imbolc celebrates the Return of Spring. Nature's cues come with the sprouting of saffron crocuses, snowdrops or new tree buds. The first born offspring begin to appear - even the term 'Off spring' meaning 'OF' Spring references the season we herald in

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’.

10th Solar Term + Summer Solstice

December 20, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

"Rising Sun" by Liu Kuo-Sung (1932) China

The term Solstice is ubiquitously observed among many cultures, but in the main it refers to a single day occurrence. However, when referring to the 10th Solar term - ‘Xia zhi’ - it’s approx. a 14 days period, collectively referred to as ‘Summer Solstice’ or ‘Great Heat’. From a Feng Shui perspective it’s one of the more significant 24 Solar terms. On June 21st. 2020 @ 1:31pm the day normally reserved for the single day observation of the Solstice the Sun enters the sign of Cancer.

On June 21st. 2020 the day normally reserved for the single day observation of the Solstice, coincides with a New Moon @0deg of Cancer and it’s an Annular Solar Eclipse to boot!

Feng Shui Winter Solstice and Hemispheres

December 20, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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!

MISTLETOE , DRUIDS, JUPITER & SATURN

December 16, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Image credit Mistletoe by Loriental Photography

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, a little freeloading plant has remarkably synchronicities and on point themes that weaves a symbolic narrative of the prevailing astro weather. Even main stream media find the skies more inciting that Covid chitchat. Chatter of the Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn, exact back on the December Solstice in 2020 was food for thought. 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.

November Full Moon + Xian Yuan Festival

November 27, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

The nighttime luminary holds great significance in the Chinese calendar system. Nowadays, Luna’s passage through the sky is pretty much used to determine cultural and religious Festivals. Tonight’s Frost Moon on 27 November in Gemini (2023) is especially significant to Taoist devotees, with this Full Moon called the Xia Yuan Festival. There are five Full Moon centric festivals of note in the Chinese calendar, two more familiar than the others. The Lunar Lantern festival which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month of the year which signals the end of Chinese New Year festivities (Spring Festival). And the second is the on the 15th day of the eight lunar month, known also as ‘Zhong Yuan’ but more commonly called Mid Autumn or Mooncake Festival. All five Moon festivals occur on the 15th day of a Chinese lunar month.

CHRISTMAS GIFT VOUCHERS

November 27, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Seasonal Greetings to one and all.

This year especially, giving a gift with meaning seems even more appropriate. 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 Sheng Qi - positive, prosperous abundant vibes.

CHRISTMAS FENG SHUI STYLE

November 24, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

A few years ago, I received this message. “Aiming to get rid of all the Red Christmas decorations this year; any wise advice?” Well, as it so happened I did, hence the genesis of this post. In 2020 we had covid cancel culture overshadow Xmas, while Yuletide 2021 just about slipped through with Insta worthy bedecked trees the benchmark for success. Chrimbo 2022 danced with a credit crunch, as a global energy crisis forces light shows aficionados who overload the grid, to thankfully reconsider the visual assault on everyone’s senses, and owner’s hip pockets. Xmas 2023 — tests inflation. Shopping malls may well be dripping with ubiquitous tinsel tinged displays . . . but has the “magic” that surrounds true Yuletide faded?

7th Solar Term :: Beginning of Summer Lixia 立夏

November 7, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

jacaranda trees in full bloom in Sydney NSW

The solar calendar shifts gear into the first Fire governed animal sign of the Yin Wood 乙 Snake ⺒ and Feng Shui energies adjust accordingly. May 5 also heralds the seventh solar term of Lixia 立夏 - 'Beginning of Summer', in the Chinese calendar system which commences 1½ months before comparative late Spring vibes in the Western Calendar. In the lunisolar calendar the fourth lunar month began under the New Moon on 1 May @ 10 Taurus. Known to the Ancient Chinese simply as 'Locust Tree' or 'Cherry blossom' month and depicted in paintings by the swallow and wisteria.

6th Solar Term - Spring Showers (Gu Yu 穀雨)

October 24, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Third Lunar month symbolized by ‘Crow, cherry blossom and Full Moon" by Ohara Koson

The last Solar term of Spring is upon us. Indicated by the 6th solar term of Grain Rain or, Spring Showers as it’s also known in the N. Hemisphere, commencing on 20th April. Luna’s third swollen face of the Chinese year will be fullest on April 27th (AEST) at 7° Scorpio. Depicted in Chinese paintings by pairing a Crow with cherry blossom. And we’re currently at the mid-point of Water Dragon month, while in the western astrological system, the sun enters earthy Taurus season.

:: RECENT POSTS ::

Blog

SOLAR + LUNAR ECLIPSES IN CHINESE COSMOLOGY

Longtaitou Festival - Dragon raising its head

:: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER ::