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What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui (literally, “wind-water”) is the ancient Chinese practice of harmonizing people with their environment, and it has been gaining popularity worldwide. But with rising popularity comes a fair share of myths and misunderstandings. Let’s clear the air together and uncover what Feng Shui really is all about. It is the art and science of designing environments that align with the natural flow of energy (Chi) to support well-being, success, and harmony in modern life. It’s not just about where you place a sofa or what colors you paint a wall; it’s about understanding how your surroundings impact your mindset, health, relationships, and opportunities.
At its core, Feng Shui combines ancient wisdom and practices with modern principles of psychology, design, and environmental awareness to create spaces that feel good and work better for you. In our fast-paced, high-stress world, most of us spend 90% of our time indoors, whether at home or at work. Spaces filled with clutter, poor light, stagnant air, or bad energy flow can leave us feeling drained, distracted, or stuck.
Feng Shui helps by:
Boosting Clarity & Focus: Organized, balanced environments reduce stress and support productivity.
Improving Well-Being: Healthy energy flow supports vitality and emotional balance.
Strengthening Relationships: Spaces designed with harmony encourage connection and positivity.
Attracting Opportunities: When energy flows freely, new paths for abundance and growth naturally open.
Feng Shui is about creating environments that support the life you want to live—whether that’s more peace at home, more energy at work, or more joy in your relationships.
CHINESE ZODIAC SIGNS & ELEMENTS
The study of Chinese astrology is called the Four Pillars of Destiny. Many feng shui practitioners’ study and apply the Four Pillars of Destiny analysis to inform the appropriate feng shui adjustments because these techniques and approaches are interconnected. The Four Pillars of Destiny are made up of the 12 zodiac animals with the five elements.
In Asia, this system reveals your fate or destiny, shows you times in your life when you may have support, and indicates your strengths and weaknesses. Understanding this will accurately help you plan for your intentions and personal growth and development. The Chinese Zodiac assigns a different animal for each birth year, repeating the cycle every 12 years. Consistent with the Chinese Yin/Yang principle, which states that positive and negative energies coexist in every person and thing, each Chinese Zodiac animal possesses positive and negative qualities.
Those who follow the Chinese Zodiac believe that persons born in a certain year exhibit the qualities of their Zodiac animal. Since the Chinese follow the lunar calendar, those with January or February birthdays may have a different sign than Chinese Zodiac charts suggest. Here’s the list of each of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, so you can find out which zodiac animal corresponds to your birth year.
CHINESE ZODIAC SIGNS & ELEMENTS
RAT
Years:
2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924
Compatibility:
Dragon, Monkey, Rat, and Ox
Attributes:
Intelligent and Opportunistic
Ox
Years:
2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925
Compatibility:
Rooster, Snake, and Rat
Attributes:
Hard-working and Dependable
TIGER
Years:
2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926
Compatibility:
Horse, Dog, and Pig
Attributes:
Optimistic and Passionate
Rabbit
Years:
2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927
Compatibility:
Pig, Ram, and Dog
Attributes:
Sensitive and Kind
Dragon
Years:
2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928
Compatibility:
Rat, Monkey, and Rooster
Attributes:
Powerful and Demanding
Snake
Years:
2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929
Compatibility:
Rooster, Ox, and Monkey
Attributes:
Transformational and Intriguing
Horse
Years:
2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930
Compatibility:
Tiger, Dog, and Ram
Attributes:
Quick and Active
Ram
Years:
2027, 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931
Compatibility:
Rabbit, Pig, and Horse
Attributes:
Good-natured and Romantic
Monkey
Years:
2028, 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932
Compatibility:
Rat, Dragon, and Snake
Attributes:
Playful and Clever
Rooster
Years:
2029, 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933
Compatibility:
Ox, Snake, and Dragon
Attributes:
Confident and Talkative
Dog
Years:
2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934
Compatibility:
Tiger, Horse, and Rabbit
Attributes:
Loyal and Honest
Pig
Years:
2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935
Compatibility:
Ram, Rabbit, and Tiger
Attributes:
Social and Diplomatic
Does your energy flow smoothly around you?
You may not be aware of the potential to improve your life just by rearranging your home and workspace. Simple adjustments to your environment and space (home, office, or yard) can truly benefit your life. In feng shui, we only want to improve and enhance the positives. The root of these enhancements leverages the use of Wu Xing’s Five Elements and Phases. The five elements are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood.
Identify Your Birth Element Based on Your Year of Birth
To find your Chinese zodiac element, it’s determined by your birth year, particularly the last digit.
Metal: Birth years ending in 0 or 1
Water: Birth years ending in 2 or 3
Wood: Birth years ending in 4 or 5
Fire: Birth years ending in 6 or 7
Earth: Birth years ending in 8 or 9
Understanding the Five Elements of the Chinese Zodiac
In Chinese astrology, there are five elements: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. Each element has its own features and associations with a different aspect of nature, and it’s connected to your birthday (particularly, your birth year). People that belong to certain element types are believed to have distinct personality traits. Each element has its strengths and weaknesses.

Metal
A person born under the metal sign might seem rigid, strong, much like metal, and often, will serve as a leader. They like rules and order. The person may seem distant or aloof, but the person is calculating their next steps, considering and weighing options. When in balance, a metal person is stable, organized, and can have a strong will, but can be patient and effect change. Metal is associated with the autumn season.

Water
A water person is fluid and sensitive to change but can be very imaginative and intuitive. They are powerful, well-spoken when ready to talk, and peaceful when they want to be. They can be torrential or calm and nurturing when the situation calls for it. Water is associated with winter.

Wood
The wood element is associated with springtime. Like the renewal in the season, the wood element looks for new ways to grow, improve, and expand. Wood is strong but also flexible and can be warm and generous. Wood is an achiever and likes to make plans and decisions.

Fire
Fire is associated with summer. Fire people are said to have vibrant, energetic personalities, often with fiery tempers. A person born under the fire sign is said to be adventurous and competitive, possessing strong self-esteem and leadership qualities. They are dedicated people, intensely passionate about their family and friends, and sometimes, they can be too eager or impulsive.

Earth
The earth sign is the middle of the zodiac, the balance between yin and yang. They are abundant, nurturing, harmonious, and stable. Instead of representing a season, it is the change of seasons, particularly the harvest. An earth person is patient, reliable, and likable but not as spontaneous since they are idealistic and purposeful. Although, sometimes to a fault—acting set in their ways.
Annual Flying Stars
In Chinese astrology, there are five elements: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. Each element has its own features and associations with a different aspect of nature, and it’s connected to your birthday (particularly, your birth year). People that belong to certain element types are believed to have distinct personality traits. Each element has its strengths and weaknesses.
1 Star = Positive Star
Represents opportunity, income, prosperity, and victory.
2 Star = Negative Star
Represents illness and aggravation.
3 Star = Negative Star
Represents arguments, legal problems, and gossip.
4 Star = Positive Star
Represents arguments, legal problems, and gossip.
5 Star = Negative Star
Represents injury, loss, illness, and catastrophe.
6 Star = Positive Star
Represents blessings, windfalls, opportunities, prestige and helping people.
7 Star = Negative Star
Represents violence, fraud, theft, and injuries.
8 Star = Positive Star
Symbolizes wealth, opportunity, success, blessings, and growth/promotions.
9 Star = Positive Star
Symbolizes happiness, stability, fame, success, future prosperity, and status.