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.

Qing ming - 5th Solar Term Clear + Bright

October 8, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Section of Qing Ming scroll,: detailing Spring Ploughing on first day of Qing Ming © National Palace Museum.

The Vernal Equinox was but a fortnight ago. The 5th solar term commences on April 5th 2022 and we usher in the month of Chinese Wood Dragon. This Solar term is the only term whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, known as Qing Ming.

Spring Equinox - 4th Solar Term

September 22, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Crow cherry blossom and moon. Ohara Koson 小原古邨 (1877-1945) Robert O. Muller Collection’.

For most folks the March (Vernal*) Equinox, has singular astronomical phenomenon; when the length of a day and night are said to be equal. To devotees of the Pagan Calendar, the equinoxes represent Mabon or Ostara festivals, held over a few days. And to the Ancient Asian forefathers of Chinese calendrical calculations, it also signaled more than a given day; it was the beginning of the fortnight long 4th Solar term commencing on 21 Mar 2023 @ 05:35am, Beijing.

And a New moon follows just hours afterward on 22 March @1:23am. And this lunation see the inserting of an intercalary (leap) month and an extended Rabbit month. The sun also enters a new astrological sign, kicking off the Aries season, the beginning of the Western Astrological Year.

MABON + OSTARA

September 22, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Ceres, Roman Goddess of agriculture, fertility, grains, the harvest, motherhood, the earth, and cultivated crops. illustration by Thalia Took .

No matter where you’re living on the globe, a cyclical change is occurring. Sept./Mar 21st/22nd every year marks the annual Equinox pairs; one marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – from North to South and vice versa at the time of the opposing. To devotees of the Pagan Calendar, it represents Mabon or Ostara, a time of year - not a singular date - on the Celtic Wheel of the Year.

Moon Musings

July 19, 2022 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

National Moon Day

On July 20th 1969 man took his first step on the moon - 52 years ago. Since 1971 it’s been commemorated as National Moon Landing Day. The two main luminaries in the sky - Sun and Moon, have preoccupied mankind since the dawn of time. With Moon lending its name in part to Monday, derived from Middle English Monenday, originally a translation of Latin, meaning "day of the Moon". In addition to being cognate with month and moon.

Lanterns, Lunations, Seasonal Nodes and Valentine’s

February 19, 2019 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Do you need a second chance at Love? Did you forget to give a card to your special someone on Valentines day and need to make amends? Well, there’s a second opportunity to rectify the situation as 19th February 2019 as it’s widely termed as “true” Chinese Valentines Day.

Moon Lore | Close 閉 (Bi) Day

October 7, 2018 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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

Heads Up for 8th Oct. 2018. It’s a Close 閉 (Bi) Day.

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.

AUTUMN IS COMING

August 7, 2018 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’. Well, from a N. Hemisphere perspective at least.