Witches Sabbath + Samhain + Beltaine

October 20, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

At sunset on Oct 31st, the transition point between two luminaries will exchange the baton from day to night. Forget midnight, it’s sunset that marks the close/ beginning of a Celtic day in their calendar. It’s Hallows Eve, (Halloween) a significant Celtic/Pagan festival marker and 1st of Nov. is Samhain. While those domicile in the S.H shall be celebrating Beltaine’s Eve, or as it’s more commonly known the Eve of May Day. To N.H folk it’s Celtic New Year’s Eve.

Both domiciles mark two major festivals or Witches Sabbaths; the beginning of Summer (S.H) and the beginning of the opposing season of Winter in the N. Hemisphere.

ASTRO REFERENDUM PONDERINGS

October 17, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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.

Double NINTH Festival

October 15, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Detail of Autumn Mountains. Image via comuseum.

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.

Crystals + Feng Shui + Eclipses

October 12, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

You'd be forgiven for thinking Petrology was the study of chemicals, especially petrol but it's actually the scientific study of Rocks. So grab a brew as we scratch the surface of Nature’s Mineral Kingdom focusing on Crystals and their use in Feng Shui. Including which natural silicon formations are best to aid with sleep. And we touch on rituals with the upcoming Solar Eclipse (14 Oct 2023).

Symbolism of Bats

October 12, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

image by Katsushika, Hokusai, 1760-1849.

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.

DOG DHARMA 2023

October 11, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

8 Oct 2023 — Yang Water Dog 壬戌 month kicks off on 8 Oct @9.17pm (Beijing). While the Ninth Lunar month in the Chinese Calendar; known to the Ancients as Chrysanthemum month, will commence under 15 Oct., New Moon Eclipse @4:55am Sydney (more times below*). This month is oft depicted in paintings by the pairing of a dragonfly and chrysanthemums — the quintessential flower of Autumn. Or as above, via Black Dog, as elementally Water is associated with the colour black. So how will man’s favoured companion, guide us through October’s dense terrain?

SPACE CLEARING OFFER

September 28, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Just about everyone is hankering for a fresh start — a change from the norm, or a chance to renew and bid adieu to a spate of challenging hiccups. As I write, the Equinox pairs have just been set in motion. Spring has sprung for some; and Autumn beckons for others. No matter the season before us and regardless of your domicile; a window of opportunity opens. The Equinox is a prelude to the Celtic New Year on 31 Oct 2023, inviting us to prepare for a much anticipated new beginning. In the spirit of preparation, now is an excellent time to conduct a Space Clearing.

Worship the Moon / Mid-Autumn Festival

September 27, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

Moon gazing. — Moon ink painting with reeds. japanese-showa-era-nihonga-scroll

Most lunar months in the Chinese calendar denote a Double Festival - like the Double fifth or ninth but the there’s no Double Eight FESTIVAL. Surprising, given the number eight is such a significant number in Asian communities. On a smaller scale, veneration of the Eight Immortals takes place, specifically the female Immortal, He Xiangu. During Osmanthus month( an ancient name for the month) the Mid Autumn Festival or the Moon Festival is primarily celebration. Since the moon is central to its namesake festival; Luna would be full bloom on the eighth day of the 8th of the 8th lunar month. This year (2023) the Moon Festival falls on 29 Sept. in the Gregorian calendar, and celebrates the Full Moon which occurs at 7:57pm in Sydney*(more Full moon times below).

2023 FENG SHUI PREDICTIONS - Pt 2

September 26, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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

2023 FENG SHUI - The Year of the Yin Water Rabbit 癸卯

Intriguing as Feng Shui sounds, it’s essentially about timing and orientation. A big elemental shift is but a year away. Knowing when and where the right place to position oneself will greatly influence your Feng Shui luck.

2023 ASTROLOGY PREDICTIONS

September 26, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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.

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.

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.

‘Happy Calendar Adjustment Day’

September 2, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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

Armchair aesthetic + Feng Shui

September 2, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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.

Moving House - Feng shui style

February 9, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

SOLD - No going back now!

The realtors sign outside says SOLD. Your to-do list is as long as the Nile. The removalists truck arrives in the morning and you are still boxing your memories up, wondering which box do you put your daughter's artwork in? Nearly everything on the list has a tick beside it and it’s your last night in your old home. Tomorrow night you and your family will be sleeping in your new house. New beginnings await you.

Lughnasa + God of Light Lugh

January 31, 2023 FENG・SHUI ・ISM

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.

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