Are you exhausted from the shenanigans of the year of the Fire Monkey? Last year was filled with many opportunities, new beginnings, but surprise after surprise. You may have felt whiplashed after last year’s events.
Well good news! After months of the wit and hyperactivity of the Monkey, Jan. 28 marked the new Chinese lunar New Year, ushering in the year of the Yin Fire Rooster. He is one of the zodiac’s most proud animals; strutting his stuff all around the barnyard. The rooster takes his responsibilities for the entire barnyard very seriously; to any problem or task that needs doing, the rooster says “I’m on it!” Get ready to get things done because Rooster is the epitome of fidelity and punctuality. Roosters love to take on a challenge, but they also play by the rules.
The Rooster, the tenth Chinese zodiac sign, brings us some of those characteristics we’d expect from that stately bird: Ambition, pride, the desire to be admired, punctuality, and courage. The rooster also represents passion and a well-developed disposition for love and seduction. The relationships between people will be under the sign of great honesty. We’ll prove to have more passion in life, especially regarding work, where we will not hesitate to roll up our sleeves in order to reach our objectives. “Always higher, always going on” is the motto of the Rooster and it will inspire all of us; braver than usual, we will not be defeated by difficulties and adversities. This will definitely be a year when we have more optimism for growth and opportunity.

Relationships: Good news – this year is an auspicious year for weddings. If you and your loved one are planning on getting married, this is a lucky year for you. If you are single – this Fire Rooster will take his passion and make this year for dating multiple partners, becoming more in tune with what you seek in a life partner. However this is also a Yin year, so if you are in a relationship it favors building and nurturing that cozy, comfortable relationship. Those with a free heart will search for happiness with more partners, but those already in love will choose loyalty and great tenderness.

Family: This is a year to be spent in solitude and harmony with friends and family. For people with families, spending dinner together and listening to your children is recommended. The bonds will strengthen with more honest, affectionate, loving quality time.

Career: This is a year to “do more and speak less.” Hard work is the key to a successful career in this Fire year. Challenges may arise, but the resilient and stubborn rooster will overcome adversity. Beware of dealings which sound risky; this is a year of stability, favoring profits for smarter, more stable business ventures.

Health: The year of the Fire Rooster also shows a great aspect for health. Roosters like to go, go, go! Ensure that you take the time to unwind and get plenty of sleep. In spite of being energetic and involved in too much activity, if he learns to relax he is able to keep health in good level.

This is especially true for people born in the Rooster years 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, and 2029, but all others will feel some of this as well. Predictions for the lunar New Year are not one “one size fits all.” Each of the 12 lunar signs may be affected differently during this year of hard work and passion. Yet, since this year is about tenacity and hard work despite any issues faced, if you roll up your sleeves and get the job done everyone can come out ahead.

Preparing for the Year of the Rooster
1) To prepare yourself and your home for this powerful year of getting things done, begin by tidying up your home and office. Stop mess before it builds up for good luck in the Fire Rooster year. Rooster is an organized problem solver. While some things might be out of your control in a Rooster year, you can still control how you maintain and organize your living space. Start at your front door. Clean your entry to welcome all the good luck that will come into your home and place of business. Wash, sweep, or vacuum the front steps, porch, entry hall, and lobby. Make this area clean, well lit, and inviting. This year, in all areas of your life strive to make things water tight, error-proof, ship shape. The more you refine and perfect your affairs–finances, relationships, health, career, possessions, the stronger and more profound your position in life becomes.

2) Add beautiful flowers to welcome the New Year! It’s fortunate to add plants, flowers, and healthy bamboo to your home and workplace to increase abundance. Fresh flowers bring fresh aroma that clears the air for New Year. The energy of a room is brightened by the addition of flowers which represent good health. Avoid thorny plants like a cactus, either indoors or outdoors; instead, grow lush plants that have soft round leaves. Silk flowers are superb in Feng Shui because they are a wonderful way to add light and life to your environment; just make sure they are kept clean. The Rooster character loves elegance in all things, so refine every arena of your life and every object in it. Lavish your time and attention on completing any task to the best of your ability and take delight in adding small touches of beauty to each._

3) This is a perfect time for Feng Shui to help you imbue the energizing spirit of the Rooster. Roosters apply more of their ambition and passion energy to the areas they find personally satisfying. In the Bagua this year focus on creating abundance for the Fire Rooster in the Career and Love areas. By enhancing both of these areas with the following sample enhancements, your prosperity and intimacy can begin to grow.

The Bagua
The Feng Shui Bagua (Ba-gua) Map, is represented as a grid of nine sectors. The Bagua comes from the Chinese philosophy, “The I Ching,” and literally means “eight trigrams”, with the center being for centering and grounding.

Love and Marriage Area (Fire Element)
* Photos/art representing you and your partner, romantic representations and/or pairs of items (2 candles, vases etc…)
* Items in the colors red and pink
* Items representing the fire element with candles and lighting

Career Area (Water Element)
* Items in items in black or very dark colors, glass/crystal items
* Water features, (fountains, waterfalls or aquariums)
* Art depicting water scenes and/or representations of your current or intended career

When using the Bagua map, be sure that all areas are clean with no clutter. Keep a clear path to your aspirations. Make sure that the first thing seen in each room is beautiful and inspiring. You do not want to see a pile of paperwork or any type of mess.

Affirmations:
Remember that in Feng Shui, intent plays a significant role in enhancing any area of your home or business. That’s why all enhancements need to be made with intentionality; written or stated affirmations are very important. It is also important for them to be expressed as if they have already happened. Examples while you’re in the year of the Rooster: “I found the perfect lucrative job, where my ideas are valued,” ”My partner and I have strengthened our already committed relationship.”

Feng Shui at Work:
A student of mine told me the relationship with her husband had become bland. She showed me pictures of her master bedroom, and I immediately saw what she could do easily to bring more fire to her relationship. The room had grey walls, a white bedspread, drapes and pillows and a beige and black waterscape above the bed. The room cried out for the fire element because the walls and bedding were too cool. I had her move the waterscape to another wall and replace it with art in red tones representing romance and/or with pairs of items. I had her match the color in the art to two red tone throw pillows on the bed. She also added more pictures of her and her husband and more red tone accents. The room immediately took on a warm glow and she told me she and her husband are more focused in doing things together. In fact he wants me to Feng Shui their whole house.
Wherever the Fire Rooster takes you this year enjoy his strength, vibrancy, perseverance and elegance in helping you get things done.

For questions or home consultations email at mtmccull@aol.com and put “Feng Shui” on the subject line, or visit my website at www.fengshuibymaria.com, (where you can read past columns and learn more enhancement ideas), or Facebook “Feng Shui by Maria”, where I post pictures as examples to enhancements.
* Check out my BLOG – Just go to the website and click on “Blog”: You can view many pictures and, I will respond to your questions quickly.

Maria McCullough, a Benicia resident, is the owner / founder of Feng Shui by Maria (www.fengshuibymaria.com) and is a speaker and educator with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in residential, landscape and business consultations. She is a graduate of the Western School of Feng Shui and has personally trained with Terah Kathryn Collins, founder of the Western School of Feng Shui, specializing in Essential Feng Shui® and author of numerous books including “The Western Guide to Feng Shui.”