The month of the Fire Rat arrives on December 7, 2019. We’re now in the midst of winter in the Chinese solar calendar, with Yin / darkness at peak and Yang / brightness at rest, ready to resurface after winter solstice. Take note of what transpires in the next few weeks as December introduces us to the elemental energies of 2020.

The first half of the month, referred to as the “Great Snow” seasonal marker, is a time of magic, with Yin bringing messages from spirit into our higher consciousness and dreams. Keeping a dream journal by the bed is a good idea if your bedroom benefits natally from mountain star 9 of joy and inspiration (or if it’s located in the Southeast sector of your home, where the monthly star 9 visits).

Winter solstice in the second half of the month marks the mid-point of winter and the peak of Yin (and its subsequent decline). Midnight is the magic hour, with seasonal Qi at its height in this hour of the Rat, an ideal time for a short evening meditation practice before going to bed. The I-Ching hexagram of winter solstice is “the receptive”, made of all Yin lines. With environmental Yang at rest, cultivate your inner Yang by slowing down and retreating after a busy autumn and early winter. Nourish the Yang within with hearty soups and herbal teas to warm the heart in this Water-ruled season.

Balancing exuberance with silence in this season of Yin

Even though we’re in the darkest Yin season of the year, the energetic imprint of the month holds promises of joy and warmth as Yang Fire, associated with the Sun, our source of light, is the heavenly, higher frequency element of the month. Immerse yourself in holiday spirit and you may find plenty of inner joy despite the cold or the rain.

The Rat, a Yang Water sign, however, has a controlling relationship with the Yang Fire heavenly stem. We may experience emotional highs and lows throughout the month. As Water, associated with Fear, puts out Fire, it is important that we work on confronting our deepest fears. A regular practice of meditation, associated with Earth element (which controls Water and exhausts Fire), is most helpful in quieting down an anxious mind, especially in this year of the Pig, when the mind is prone to getting tricked by its own thoughts and fears.

This month, balancing periods of exuberance with periods of silence and rest, in tune with the Water-dominated season, is key to maintaining your optimal qi (vitality), shen (spirit), and jing (primordial essence) – the three treasures of the Tao. The most Yin of the five elements, Water element reconnects us to the contemplative nature of silence. When we are in harmony with the environment, we are in the best relationship with our inner self.

December brings the influences of 2020 – the year of the Metal Rat

The start of the Rat month, which coincides with the entry of Jupiter into the sign Capricorn, brings with it the elemental influences of the upcoming year of the Metal Rat. The Chinese zodiac is closely related to Jupiter’s 12-year cycle to orbit the sun. Most of us will have our Jupiter return the same year that we encounter the Chinese zodiac sign of our birth.

December is poised to be a slower-paced, more social month compared to the previous month of the Pig. As one of the four Peach Blossoms (stars of romance), the Rat is one of the most social signs and its presence brings romance luck to those born on day or year of the Pig / Boar, Rabbit, and Sheep / Goat. It’s no wonder that December is full of holiday parties and statistically the most popular month for couples to get engaged.

The Rat is also a helpful and most trustworthy ally to those born on day or year of the Monkey and the Dragon, as well as its secret friend the Ox, and those born on a Yin Wood or Yin Earth day or year (which are years that end with 5 and 9 such as 1975, 1985, 1979, and 1989). If you are one of these signs or elements, you can expect the next 14 months to be a pretty smooth period. *Of course, this depends on your personal chart as you can have up to four signs in a natal chart, some of which may be harmonious or conflicting with the Rat.

One of the four cardinal signs in Chinese astrology, the Rat has a challenging relationship with the other cardinal signs (the Horse, the Rabbit, and the Rooster), similar to a square and opposition in Western astrology, and thus all the cardinal signs should proceed with more caution and mindfulness in the month ahead (as well as in the upcoming year).

December 2019 Flying Stars Feng Shui Update

In the Flying Star Feng Shui chart above, the numbers in green are the annual stars for the current year (good until February 4, 2020), while the numbers in blue refer to December’s monthly stars.

The best sectors in December for daily activities are the East, the center, and the North. Lucky star 8 of current prosperity visits the East, already occupied by annual star 6 of power and authority, to help bring success in the professional world. The center, the year’s most auspicious sector, is even more vibrant with the monthly star 1 of wisdom and distant prosperity. The North is the most productive sector for academic, artistic, or social activities, with the monthly star 6 of power and authority accompanying the annual star 4 of romance and academic excellence. The North also benefits from the very auspicious sum-of-ten combination. Activate the positive energies of the monthly and annual stars by spending your time and doing your daily activities in the above sectors of your residence or office.

The sectors to spend as little time as possible this month are the Southeast, Southwest, South and Northwest. The 7 and 9 combination in the Southeast makes the sector prone to fire or robbery dangers. Reinforce any doors or windows located in the Southeast or Southwest sectors. Keep the South quiet as the monthly star 5 of misfortune visits the sector. If your bedroom or office is located in the Northwest, take care not to spend too much time than necessary as monthly star 2 of illness visits the sector.

*Although there may be remedies to lessen a sector’s negative energy, the best solution is to 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 star’s natal influences.

Contact us 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 manifest your highest potentials. 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.

Knowing your home’s natal energies brings full awareness of your internal environment, which is a major part of our luck and destiny. An experienced consultant will identify your home and office’s energetic blue print and give proper recommendations on how to boost the effects of positive stars and lessen the impact of negative stars, but it is up to you whether or not you choose to implement the recommendations. Just like we spend time on self-care as part of our personal growth, there is major “home” work involved once you’ve had your home professionally Feng Shui’d.