Happy Chinese New Year!

What this year of the Wood Dragon means for you and your home

If you’re like me, celebrating a new year deep in the middle of winter, right after so many other festivities, seems a bit too early. I’m not ready for the shift. February, however, always feels about right. (and yes, I love the month of February for many reasons, but that’s a different topic)

Thank goodness for the Chinese New Year! Because this holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, the date varies but still falls in February or very near to February. (Okay, January 21^st to February 20^th, to be exact)  New moons are always a time of new beginnings, rejuvenation, and manifesting the future. At that time the sky is darkest and it is said that whatever you start on a new moon will come to fruition at the next full moon. Which isn’t a lot of time for manifestation to happen, but you get the idea. In ancient times, important rituals and holy days were always celebrated at a new moon.

In the Chinese tradition, every year is associated with one of twelve zodiac signs, all of which are animals. Only one is mythical: the dragon. Additionally, the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) rotate through each sign. So, while any animal year will appear every twelve years, the specific elemental animal year only appears every sixty years.

This year, we celebrate the Wood Dragon and this, my friends, is a big deal.

The Dragon is the most powerful animal in the Chinese zodiac and a dragon year is typically quite favorable as it is associated with good fortune and prosperity. Combine that with the wood element, which signifies creativity and growth, as well as honesty, loyalty, and stability, and this should be a very good year indeed - providing you’re paying attention and actively participating in manifesting the good. In general, it means this year is a great time to pursue new projects or long-held dreams, and generally expand your experience, fortune, and wisdom.

What’s different this year, however, is that 2024 also begins a new 20-year Feng Shui cycle. If you’re unfamiliar with Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”), take a look at this article by Suzanne Roynon, where she discusses this ancient Chinese principle and what it means in 2024. (2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon - but what does this mean for your home?)

A new cycle means it's time for change. Think back to twenty years ago. What happened that year for you? What changed? What was new? As for me, I moved to Idaho in 2004, leaving behind Los Angeles and a long history of living in big cities. Understanding this shift now in the context of a new Feng Shui cycle makes me smile. Moving to Idaho was certainly a significant game-changer in my life.

What about you?

But what about your home? Remember, our home is always a manifestation of our inner selves, our psyche. So if this is a good time for something new in our lives, it’s also a good time for something new in our homes. This doesn’t mean a new home so much as it means a fresh take on your home. Clean out what is old, stagnant, not working, broken, dirty, or stained. Do a deep cleaning – yes, now, even before Spring! And yes, if this sounds familiar, harkening back to my December 29, 2023 post, you’re right. The new year is always a good time for throwing out what no longer works and starting fresh. Only, this year even more so. If you didn’t do it on January 1^st, do it now!

Look at your living space objectively, with fresh eyes so to speak, and consider how you can breathe new life into it. Where can you add wood elements and green? Perhaps a new plant – or several? Or perhaps your current plants need culling and, at the very least, cleaning. (When’s the last time you wiped down the leaves on all your houseplants?)

just some examples of Feng Shui flow…

How’s the flow of your space? Are there areas of clutter? When’s the last time you moved the furniture? Now is a good time to rearrange it completely. Really. Move the sofa, move your chairs. Convert a room from one use to another. What are you trying to manifest? Let your home reflect that.

Think outside the box. Add color if your life is a bit too monochrome. Or, if your life is a bit too dramatic or stressful, maybe you need to reduce the amount of color.

This is a good year to downsize. If you’re not ready to move, start with letting go of some things. Allow yourself to feel lighter. And if you are interested in moving, consider moving to a smarter space. Smarter could mean smaller or it could also mean better functioning. Make better use of your space.

What I think is particularly interesting about this new Feng Shui cycle is how it is ruled by the fire element.  Hmmm… wood dragon, fire cycle… things have the potential to combust and burn up! While fire is always exciting, bringing passion, creativity, and transformation, it can sometimes come at a cost. Just like the hero’s journey, you can choose to answer the call, or you can wait for something to force you out of your comfort zone. This year, consider what has the possibility to combust, and then actively plan for that. This is not a year to be passive!

Again, clear away the clutter! Clean. Freshen up.

On a more somber note, this new 20-year fire cycle will also affect our planet. Expect even more dramatic manifestations of climate change: hotter temperatures, wildfires, tornadoes, monsoons, and everything else. The year of the Wood Dragon is the perfect time to take action and make positive changes.

Naturally, I find it amusing that the work on our home in Idaho is finally wrapping up, after almost five months, just as the new Wood Dragon year begins. Was this planned? Heck no. The updates have been painfully slow. But, I will admit that one wonderful side effect of the extended piecemeal approach is tremendous gratitude. I’m always a grateful person – and – this process has bumped up my gratitude to another level. Our slow progress allowed me time to revel in giddiness over every little thing that was completed. Walls painted! A new stove! A new kitchen faucet! Flooring in the living room and office! A few pieces of art hung! Chair rails on the living room walls! Books unpacked! Drapes to cover the closets! New light switches! And so much more.

If you’re interested, here’s a video of what we’ve been up to in the last three months, including before and after photos. We’ll start work on the outside (painting and landscaping) in the summer, after a short trip back to Sicily, and after we’ve renovated Tom’s old place for renting. And if that sounds like a lot (a marathon?), it is. 

Happy New Year, Friends! May you have the energy and passion to make it a good one!