Fire Ox pic: ©2024 @EllieSpinelli.
Welcome to 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake.
Here is Tail Aflame the first Auspicious Dates and Places bulletin of the year, covering January, the month of the Fire Ox.
As you know nature does not tend to work in straight lines, so the Chinese year does not close suddenly like a door slamming shut. It’s generally more of a gradual seeping from one set of influences to another, starting as early as November. Some Masters, including Grand Master Chan Kun Wah with whom I studied extensively at the turn of the century, consider the changeover as being at Dung Gee, the Winter Solstice; some the Lunar New Year which in 2025 falls on the 29th January. Still others work with the Spring Festival Lap Chun which is usually the 4th February but because 2024 was a Leap Year is actually going to be February 3rd. By which time everybody is agreed.
So I leave it to you as to when you re-orient yourself and so on for the Wood Snake.
Edited highlights of my Forecast Day in December will be available soon. Contact Sheila at sheilaashworthfengshui@gmail.com.
As a bonus and because this is going out a bit late, I have included 2025’s He Tu Journeys. For myself I run these first thing each morning. For me they are part technically accurate qi movement and part prayer. Since each location represents a member of the family for instance, I use them to “check in” on my family as well as combining qi between locations that will support each other. Whichever floats your boat.
Either way you will need to re-charge your tumblestones on the night of the New Moon of the 29th/30th
I hope you find the bulletin useful and engaging. If so, tell your friends. If not, tell me. Thanks.
Gung hei fat choi!
Richard A.
The Ox controls the agenda. Human beings like bears are programmed to overeat in December and sleep it off till February. In January there’s usually more discussion than action. It’s axiomatic that it’s hard to get anything much done before mid-January now. To make best use of this time more truth may be required. Emotion may be high and a sense of loss is common as we emerge from the time of the faintest qi and the dimmest light. If ever attention to the location and orientation of things were needed it’s around now as the year changes. One note of caution however: in the deceptive Snake Year just opening, there may be those who will exploit the unprepared.
A 3 month is often about control.
An Ox Month can make for slow awakening.
Where not to be this month: South, West
Where to be this month: South West, North
Favoured Animals: Snake, Rooster, Ox, Rat.
Especially challenged: Horse, Sheep, Dragon.
The Hexagram: Sui Following, Lake over Thunder, unquestioning compliance.
“If a man would rule, he must first learn to serve.”
Richard Wilhelm. The Book of Changes, Text of Hexagram 17
The Monthly Hexagram Sui Number 17 Following.
Lake, the Trigram of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll over Thunder, the Trigram of action and decision. When the Upper Trigram is yin it is in charge in a very different way than the other way up. This Hexagram counsels against going with what appears to be the flow but is truly the line of least resistance. An easy going nature may mask failure to take responsibility for choice. This is the Hexagram of the silent who must speak if they are to influence and choose wisely as to who influences them.
The Monthly Lo Shu.
2 7 9
1 3 5
6 8 4
The kua at the heart of this month’s lo shu (above) is the ebullient 3 associated with aspiration and movement, sometimes at whatever cost. Events may pull us out of our slumbers earlier than may be comfortable. Conflict is implied. Down here in the microcosm that may mean fraternal disagreement and in the wider world surprise attacks. 3 represents the Eldest Son who is proverbially impatient. Consistent with the other indicators, this speaks of the perils of precipitate action.
Concerning the Zodiac Animals
Animal Images: ©2024 @EllieSpinelli.
An Ox Month is (like the Rat) unlikely to be comfortable for Horses or Sheep. Not so great for Dragons either but tending to favour Snakes, Roosters and Oxen themselves as well as Monkeys. Rats may feel out of control.
Remember that there are at least four Animals (one each relating to Hour, Day and Month of birth as well as Year) to consider in your own Ba Zi chart and that it is as unlikely that they’re all suffering during the Ox Month as that all are making hay. Each Animal illuminates a particular aspect of life. To know this about yourself may be timely. My Annual Animal Fortunes will be on the website during January.
More detail in the Podcast.
A Favourable Day
Thursday 9th January, Earth Tiger, Horn, Remove (6) **** usable Remove Day
This Remove Day may be more drastic than others as we make way for today’s Earth Tiger. A thorough space clear is recommended: some place black tourmaline around the perimeter of a troubled area and ditch them in the nearest river twelve days later.
Activity: starting North West may make for completion.
Favours: all especially Tiger, Horse, Dog, Pig
Not so Much.
Sunday 12th January, Metal Snake, House, Stable (9) ***** Sticky
Sticky, so best not get stuck into dispute, especially online. Nothing is solved in wormholes. It hurts and dignified withdrawal may serve you best. Minds are mostly changed by witnessing.
Activity: to the tai chi may attract sympathetic attention. No favourites
Another Favourable Day
Monday 20th January, Earth Ox, Danger, Establish (8) **** dispute complete
Da Hohn: Great Cold: 04:00am. 2nd Solar Fortnight.
Ox Day/Ox Month may entail something hard to move; Danger speaks of a need for daring, following action today; Establish of building to last. Fruition probably awaits full transition from Dragon to Snake Year in early February. Dragon “breaks up” (possibly literal, probably temporary) with Ox; Snake co-operates.
Activity: Water at the Ox location (NE1/NNE around 25º) may set the scene.
Favours: everyone, above all Snake, Rooster, Ox, Rat, the ambitious & the patient.
Another not so Much.
Sunday 26th January Wood Sheep, Pleiades, Destruction (5) ***** chaotic
Easy to make poor decisions today. Sheep Day clashes Ox Month making for potential conflict of beliefs. Unless the day is bright, a Pleiades Day is likely to be unruly. Very poor for family gatherings.
Caution: all but especially Ox and Rat and those who favour words over action.
Activity: at Pig due NNW/NW3 around 330º for balance.
Locations in the 3 month of the Fire Ox.
Note: Every house is different but certain forces affect us all wherever we are. What follows identifies which areas are better this month & which worse pretty much everywhere. That applies to all enclosed spaces. What to do about it depends very much on the individual house where the energies will be individual and may qualify or contradict my suggestions. Ask if in doubt.
Tai chi, Home, the centre: Year Star: 3 Month Star: 3
Both the waning Year and the new Month are ruled by the impish 3. Expect even in the post-festive torpor, untimely turmoil; surprise offensives home and away. The upside may be that such action draws attention. And maybe not. Not everyone wants light shed upon them right now. Since the Month and Year Stars are the same, this month’s energy will tend to recap that of the last year. Which may preclude intrusive changes just yet.
Improve: Fire eg bright light. Caution if there are mischievous Stars here already.
North East, Beginnings & Endings: 6 Month Star: 6 Fortune Virtue (Ox)6 visits 6. Best case is a constructive alliance; worst, squabbles and disagreements among men, with little achieved. Discussion and especially listening will make for more useful outcomes. Suits Rat and those with a watery ba zi. With 9s it’ll be worse, with 1s probably better, depending on your individual circumstances.
Pacify/Express with Water: e.g a glass changed daily, all month.
South East, Determination: Year Star: 2 Month Star: 2 Tai sui (Dragon); Sun (Snake SE3). The expectant Mother. A time of benevolent increase. Locate here carefully but do not face South East. Avoid if the South East has been a fraught area this year.
For greater increase: support with Fire ie bright light.
Reduce: a little Metal. Nothing pointy.
Note: Directions are from the tai chi (ie heart of the property)
Instructions for 2025 He Tu Journeys.
There are four journeys this year one of them includes three compass points. So you’ll need nine bowls and 150 rose quartz tumblestones. You may have some left over from the Dragon Year; be sure to wash them thoroughly at the first New Moon of the Year on the 29th January.
1. Wash and leave your 150 tumblestones outside under each New Moon; dates and times in my monthly bulletins.
2. Place a bowl of 30 tumbles at each of: SE(x2), S NW and tai chi
3. Place an empty bowl at each of: N(x2) E and SW.
4. Move one crystal daily from starting to end point of each journey including one at S (the midpoint of the SE>S>SW journey)
At the next New Moon you’ll have five different bowls holding 30 tumbles each at the end points (E SW and N(x2), and five different empty bowls at the starting points (NW, SE(x2) and the tai chi)
5. Wash stones again, leave them under the New Moon again, start again.
You are mixing the energies of the two locations. So breath in deeply at the starting point and feel, then carry that energy with you to the end point. Notice the meanings of the Star numbers as you mingle them.
Starting Points & End Points for He Tu Journeys 2025:
Tai chi to N Calming communication (He Tu Fire) Heart to 2nd Son.
NW to N (10) Transformation Father to 2nd Son.
SE to SW via S 1-6-8 Wealth Shedding light. Joining sisters.
SE to E (10) Transformation, joining siblings.