December 7 takes us into the first day of the Metal Rat month. We’re now in the height of winter in the Chinese solar calendar. Monthly star 4 in the center of the Feng Shui Flying Star chart highlights the social nature of the month.

Let this month be a time of reflection of the past two years. We may be reminded of events and themes of 2020 as the month’s Metal Rat pillar shares the same elements as 2020’s year of the Metal Rat.

Metal is cold and reflective by nature, while the Rat, a Water sign, is affectionate but can be anxious and emotional. In a season dominated by Water element, it’s critical that we add Fire element into our inner and outer environments to stoke our inner joy. Keep yourself warm and cook your food to bring in Fire element into the body. Engage in rituals, hobbies and practices that make your heart sing. Go all out on the holiday lights to lift the spirit.

As one of the four “Peach Blossom” stars in Chinese Astrology, the Rat brings social and romantic opportunities, especially to those born in year or day of the Pig, the Rabbit, and the Sheep / the Goat. It’s no wonder that the Rat month (December 7 – January 4) is traditionally a time of family gatherings and holiday parties – such is the social nature of the Rat.

Signs that get along with the Rat are secret friend the Ox and allies the Monkey and the Dragon. Those with these signs in their charts can expect a more supportive month ahead. Since we’re in the year of the Ox, peace and harmony shall prevail when we come from a place of love.

The Rat is a “Nobleman” star to those who have Yin Earth or Yin Wood as their Day Master / self element (if you know your birth chart, this is the element of the day you were born), as well as those born in a Yin Earth or Yin Wood year (which are years ending in 9 and 5, respectively. For example, 2019 was a Yin Earth year). If the Rat is your Nobleman star, December is an ideal month to seek advice from experts in their fields, whether personal or professional.

Set your boundaries and be discerning with who you choose to spend your time with if you were born in the year of the Horse, the sign that opposes the Rat. It’s not such a serious clash, however, with both signs being Peach Blossom stars – the Horse may simply exhaust themselves from going to too many holiday parties!

December 2021 Feng Shui

In the Flying Star Feng Shui chart for December 2021 above, the numbers in green are the annual stars for the current year (good until February 3, 2022), while the numbers in blue refer to December’s monthly stars (good from December 7, 2021 to January 4, 2022).

The number in the center can bring insights into the general moods and themes of that period, whether it’s an annual number or a monthly number. In December, monthly star 4 of academic excellence and romance, associated with Xun, the Wind trigram, “flies” to the center, which highlights the progressive and social nature of the month. The Xun trigram is a reminder from the universe for us to be creative and expansive with our visions. The message of the Wind trigram can also be literal: we may deal with windy weather conditions throughout the month.

This month, the most productive sectors are the center, South, and West sectors. Monthly star 4 in the center, together with the annual star 6, bring positive energy to homes with an open center. Monthly star 8 of current prosperity flies to the South to accompany annual star 1 of wisdom and distant prosperity, while monthly star 6 of power visits the West, 2021’s most auspicious sector where the annual 8 resides. Do your work or daily activities in these sectors to activate the positive stars. You may find that you are more productive and result-oriented when you spend more time in these sectors of the house or the office. * Stars 1, 6, and 8 are favorable stars and any combination of them (such as 1/8, 1/6, or double 1) would be considered auspicious.

You can also use the Southwest sector, blessed with monthly star 1 of wisdom and victory. With annual star 3 of arguments present in the sector, however, be aware of your emotions when spending time in the Southwest, and leave the sector if you feel anger or irritability rising.

Keep the Southeast, North, East, and Northwest sectors quiet in December. 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 is located in any of these sectors. Reinforce all doors and windows located in the Northeast, as the annual star 9 amplifies the effect of the monthly 7, a hostile star associated with loss and fire dangers.

*Although there may be remedies to lessen a sector’s negative energy, the best solution is to keep the area as quiet as possible, especially if you’re not familiar with your home’s natal energies as you may accidentally activate a negative natal star. 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 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. 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.

*Featured image by Marina Khrapova/Unsplash