Chinese New Year & an Elemental Shift: Welcoming the Year of the Yang Wood Dragon and Period 9 in Chinese Metaphysics

We officially entered into the Year of the Yang Wood Dragon yesterday on February 4th at 4.29pm. This date is used in Chinese Astrology ( Bazi) and Feng Shui with the 4th/5th February marking the annual changeover from one Chinese Zodiac sign to the next.

This day signals the exact mid point between the December Solstice and March Equinox too. In the Northern Hemisphere this is known to Chinese people as Li Chun, the beginning of Spring. The worldwide Chinese Lunar New Year celebration however falls at the Aquarius New Moon, this year being on 9th or 10th February depending on where you live.

In the realm of Chinese Metaphysics and particularly in time dimension Feng Shui, there is another majorly significant shift taking place as well. Yesterday we also officially transitioned into a new 20-year cycle called in Chinese Metaphysics Period 9 which is based on a calendar system that tracks the movement of planets relative to Earth. Each period lasts 20 years and it takes a total of 180 years to complete a cycle of all.The incoming new cycle brings an elemental shift from the Earth element of the last two decades (from February 2004 known as period 8) into the Fire element of this new Period 9.
For me personally 2004 was a very significant year because my desire to study Feng Shui began  then and there were other pivotal events occurring in my life that set me on a new course. Cast your mind back to what was happening in 2004 ( if you're old enough that is!) and see if there was anything that sets it apart for you.

Period shifts usually signify change on a global level, the effects coming our way a few years before. The effects of this current changeover most noticeably began in 2020.

SO what's this elemental shift about? The five elements used in Chinese Metaphysics ( Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water) are actually different to how the four elements are regarded in Western Astrology- they connect in a far greater way to five categories of energy that all phenomena in the known Universe fall into, observed in all phases or interactions in nature in the way they support, weaken or clash with each other (e.g Water helps Wood or plants grow, or Wood fuels Fire).

These five elements also link to temperaments of people, to colours, compass directions, countries or locations on the planet, organs in the body, emotional states and seasons- to name but a few.And their expression can be either Yin or Yang.

The outgoing Period 8 had a dominant Earth influence which correlates to the Northeast direction (represented by a mountain), and to young entrepreneurial men, more conservative values, to Real Estate and construction industries ( also AirBnB!), also relating to the gut, cellular and bone health, steady accumulation of resources and the interchange of seasons around the times of the Equinoxes ( the balance points between Winter and Spring/ Summer and Autumn).

The Period of 9 Fire element on the other hand correlates with the now rising influence of the South direction ( represented by fire), to middle aged or mature women- especially in positions of power- to entertainment, fast growing technology, visual or beauty industries, life coaching, spirituality, metaphysics and education, while relating to eye, heart and blood health and the season of Summer.

I love the symbolism of the Phoenix,  the mythical beast associated with South direction. Imagine us rising from the rubble, transitioning from old 3D stories of war, survival of the fittest and fight or flight to a more collaborative,harmonious , de-centralised 5D model of reality where compassion and humanity dominate instead !

This period is likely to encompass volatility and uncertainty however as the Fire element is not as stable as Earth and we are living in live in exponentially accelerated times of growth .

Key topics in this new era ( many of which have been on the rise since 2020) include an increased collective focus on physical, emotional and mental health. Key themes for the Fire element are freedom and innovation. So advancements in tech, digitisation, financial management, holistic healing approaches, agriculture and aesthetics are all part of the innovation shift in trends. A.I and robotics, whether we like it or not, are at the fore front of many of the changes we will see.

From a Feng Shui perspective this transition invites us to reevaluate our living spaces and align them with positive energies that support our goals and aspirations. This involves looking at a building's surrounding landforms -as well as it's unique blueprint- to see how well it "complies" with the Period 9 energy change, but this is beyond the scope of this post. A Feng Shui assessment by a professional consultant ( such as myself) may be useful- not just for the short term annual 2024 energies but also for the next two decades. This is especially useful if you are planning to invest in or live somewhere long term.

The Yang Wood Dragon represents rising Chi (Qi) or fast growing upward energy. This expanding Chi signals a time for a reset: for following inspiration, having courage in executing plans yet it also represents a challenge for strategic timing. Impulsive or risky action is not adviseable and cultivating inner stillness in the face of the turbulent, ever increasing volatility in the outer world, highly adviseable!

In Chinese astrology, Jupiter connects with the Wood element, representing growth, expansion, and vitality. However Jupiter can equally represent excess, inflation and pushing the limit. In combo with the annual 2024 Chinese Astrology Four Pillars chart there is some tension between the Wood and Earth elements indicating the need to be careful with digestion relative to the spleen, gallbladder and liver organs of the body. In combo with Period 9’s Fire element too, inflammation is more likely. Everything in the body is interconnected so preventative medicine may become more widely practised or explored as an alternative to mainstream approaches in medicine. Equally there may be scientific or medical breakthroughs in heart, eye and blood research.

The Chinese Zodiac operates in a 12-year cycle, aligning with Jupiter’s 12 year cycle through the Western Tropical Zodiac. The same combo of element and sign also repeats every 60 years as the 12 animals cycle back round to the same element. The last Dragon years were 2000 and 2012- can you remember what was happening on a personal level in those years? On a general level, the Wood Dragon combines the optimistic, prosperous energy of Wood with the charismatic qualities, vitality and drive of the Dragon, symbolizing growth, resilience, adaptability and creativity.