Prepare for Chinese New Year for Good Feng Shui All Year Long
The Chinese calendar is based on a lunar and solar calendar. Under this system, a calendar month usually lasts 29.5 days, so over a period of years, there is a lag. Thus, the Chinese insert an extra month every few years, and which also explains why the New Year is on a different date each year, unlike the solar calendar, that is a fixed date each year.
There are many, many traditions associated with the Chinese New Year. One delightful belief is that if one of your plants blooms on New Year’s Day, you will have prosperity in the coming year. Look around your yard. It’s possible you have something blooming right now. Of course, here in the northern hemisphere it is winter, and most of our yards are looking pretty drab.
The Chinese New Year is Symbolic
The Chinese New Year is full of symbolism for ushering out the old and ushering in the new. Among the traditions is a ban on cooking in the kitchen on the first day of the Lunar New Year. This is because it’s considered bad luck to have sharp objects such as knives and scissors out. Cooking – and having to cut things – could possibly cut off the good fortune for the rest of the year. So, why not give the kitchen a rest and take your family out for your meals this Chinese New Year?
However, the Lunar New Year isn’t just about the cultural aspects of the year. In feng shui, it also represents a change in ‘time’ feng shui, known as flying star feng shui. In the days following the New Year, the directions take on new meanings as they relate to time feng shui. This means that some sectors will have difficult energy, others beneficial energy.
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The Chinese typically celebrate for the first 15 days of the New Year. Although you may not have time to celebrate that long, simply preparing in advance for the New Year will help you to usher in prosperity and abundance at the time of the New Moon — a time believed by astrologers around the world to have special power to make whatever you want to happen come true.
In the meantime, here are some ideas, and a schedule, to help you observe – and make the most of — the Chinese Lunar New Year.
One or two days beforehand:
Do a thorough cleaning. Sweeping and cleaning on the first day of the New Year is considered bad luck because it can sweep all the good luck out the door. The god of luck is said to avoid dirty houses. So keep your house clean all year long!
Make New Year Preparations. Organize, buy a new outfit, clean, declutter, re-arrange and refresh your decor.
Purchase flowers. Bulbs, such as daffodils or hyacinths, are especially auspicious. Display these bulbs or other flowers such as azalea, pussy willow, lotus, or peony.
Make annual feng shui placements. Put out remedies and enhancements. Have remedies from the past year? Put them outdoors in the sunshine to cleanse them or wash them in salt water.
On the day of the New Year:
Go out to eat for your meals. For breakfast, have a big glass of orange juice (oranges represent gold). And if you just have to eat at home, make it finger foods. Cutting and chopping food represents cutting your luck — and work.
Wear new clothes today. New clothes represent the new that you want to be bringing into your life. Put on something red for an extra boost!
Have a good day. The Chinese believe it’s bad to start the New Year by swearing, yelling at the kids, or getting angry or upset. So, take the day off from worry and anxiety. It might not be a bad idea to avoid the newspaper or the TV news! Rent some funny movies to invite fun and enjoyment into your house for the new year!
Write wishes for the New Year. Write wishes on ribbons or paper and affix to a tree to let them blow in the wind, much like a Tibetan prayer flag.
Don’t forget to adjust your feng shui, too! This is a critical part of the Chinese New Year festivities — making sure your home is ready to welcome the auspicious annual energies and stop negative energies from coming into your house. Small feng shui changes can ward off a variety of problems from health and illness problems to loss of money and opportunities. Handling the negative annual energies means you can focus full on activating the year’s energies — and the Snake has lots to offer in the year ahead!
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