August 7^th takes us into the month of the Wood Monkey, the first month of fall in the Chinese solar calendar, a season ruled by Metal element. We’re now in the second half of the Rat year. In the Feng Shui Flying Stars Bagua chart, monthly star 2, associated with the Earth trigram, takes center stage, offering us a preview and guidance for navigating the month ahead.

The Monkey is a Yang Metal sign, the element associated with clarity, justice, and heroic action. The arrival of the Monkey month highlights the swiftness of Metal, which has been one of the defining qualities of the Metal Rat year. Think of the nature of Metal – you can use an instrument like a needle or surgical knife to heal, or in the old days a warrior may use a sword to protect. Since the year of the Rat began on January 25th, we’ve seen doctors and nurses around the world rising to the occasion as the heroes on the front line of the pandemic, protecting the sick. The coronavirus itself is a manifestation of Metal element as Metal rules the respiratory system. Also associated with the military, Yang Metal can be used as a weapon to harm, and 2020 has shown us how destructive the police force can be.

The least understood and most mysterious of the Chinese Five Elements, Metal is also the element most lacking in our modern society, yet 2020 has brought us an overabundance of Metal. An imbalance of Metal in the environment can contribute to grief, unhealthy attachments, inability to focus, lack of empathy, and sharpness of words. As Fire helps mold Metal into shape, moderates the hardness of Yang Wood and reduces fear brought by the Rat, a strong Water element sign, add Fire element foods such as berries, tomatoes, and bitter greens such as arugula and dandelion greens into your diet. Fire also produces Earth, the element we need to stay centered in the heart, mind, and spirit. Mindfulness practices such as Qigong, yoga, and meditation can provide us with much needed grounding during these uncertain times.

Yang Wood, the heavenly frequency of the month, is associated with strong leadership and compassion yet it’s also the most divisive of the Chinese Five Elements as its strong principles can be polarizing. Its influence in autumn is weak, however, and we may find dissenting voices getting quieter through the month as citizens strive to cooperate better with each other in their communities. The Monkey, an ally of the Rat, also inspires us to work in the spirit of collaboration.

Those born in year or day of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog can expect August to be a busy, active month as the Monkey triggers movements and changes for these signs. Be extra mindful on the road if your chart contains a Tiger, the sign opposite the Monkey. If you were born on a Yin Wood day or year (which is a year ending in 5 such as 1975, 1985, 1995) or Yin Earth day or year (ending in 9 such as 1979, 1989, 1999), you benefit from heavenly protection and guidance as the Monkey is your Nobleman – a good month to schedule personal or professional consultations as the help and advice you get will be exactly what you need.

August 2020 Feng Shui

In the Flying Star Feng Shui chart for August 2020 above, the numbers in green are the annual stars for the current year (good until February 3, 2021), while the numbers in blue refer to August’s monthly stars.

The flying star number in the center of the Bagua chart, whether it’s an annual or monthly number, and its corresponding trigram can give us insights into the general moods and themes of that period. The messages told by the flying stars, the monthly trigram, and their associations with the elements and symbols have been especially informative this year as we deal with a global recession, pandemic, and social awakenings.

The trigram of the month is Kun, the Earth trigram, associated with the family matriarch, the digestive system, and the Southwest direction in the Bagua chart. It is a pure Yin trigram, with three broken Yin lines symbolizing the female principle, the receptive force. Whereas the previous month’s Thunder trigram suggests sudden events out of our control, the Earth trigram indicates that we can take control of our own actions, and we have the power to create our own outcomes.

The Earth trigram invokes the power of Mother Earth. Gaia is calling us to return to the center, the direction associated with Earth element. This month, whenever you’re confronted with opposing options, choose the side of Mother Earth. She represents nature, creativity, kindness, and inner peace. She is at her most powerful when we, her children, are united in nurturing and protecting each other. Let the qualities of the trigram be your guide this month: listen and contemplate your actions before you react, take care of the family, nurture the self with nutritious food, be kind to each other.

With star 2 of illness in the center, Covid-19 remains the number one concern around the world and those who’ve been dismissive may finally wake up and see the seriousness of it. With the monthly 2 strengthening the annual 7 in the center, take extra safety precautions if you reside in a center region of a geographic area, especially those who live in fire-prone land as the 2/7 combination is also associated with incidents and injuries involving fire. To learn more about the annual 7 and the year’s ruling trigram, the Lake, check out my May and March updates.

The most productive sectors in August are the Southwest, visited by monthly star 8 of prosperity, and the West, which has monthly star 4 of academic excellence and romance amplified by the annual star 9 of joy and future prosperity. Spend more time in these sectors to activate the positive stars. Take special care if you have children who spend a lot of time in the Southwest sector, however, as the monthly 8 and annual 4 combination is not beneficial to children. The Southeast sector has an auspicious 1/6 combination associated with wisdom and power, ideal for office and study space.

Keep the East, South, Northeast, and center sectors quiet in August. These are the sectors visited by the annual or monthly stars 5 of misfortune and stars 2 of illness. Take extra precautions when it comes to your health if your bedroom or front door is located in any of these sectors. Reinforce all doors and windows located in the North, visited by monthly 7. Be especially mindful in the East sector as the monthly star 9 amplifies the strength of the annual star 5 of misfortune.

*Although there may be remedies to lessen a sector’s negative energy, the best solution is to simply avoid using the sector, or keep the area as quiet as possible and respect whatever energy is visiting there, especially if you’re not familiar with your home’s natal energies as you may accidentally activate a negative natal star. If you do have to spend time in the area, keep your activities there minimal. Common sense also applies: for example, it’s a good idea to have doors and windows reinforced if they’re located in a sector affected by star 7 of robbery.

Contact me here if you’d like to identify and activate the auspicious sectors in your living or office space and subdue the influences of inauspicious stars to help optimize your family’s well-being. I also recommend getting a strategic life reading, which provides you with a blueprint for manifesting your highest potentials.

**If you have had a Feng Shui assessment done, consider getting an annual update as annual stars are strong in influence and can highly affect the well-being of the home’s occupants. A proper Feng Shui analysis always takes into account the floor plan of a home, its location, direction, external and internal environment, and the year the home was built, as well as its affinity with the residents’ natal charts.

Just like we spend time on self-care as part of our life’s self-work, there is major “home” work involved once you’ve had your home professionally Feng Shui’d. Knowing your home’s natal energies brings full awareness of how your immediate environment can positively influence your life.