Another year is about to draw to a close; my how the time flies! I hope the Fire Boar year was a good year for you all. If it personally wasn’t that favorable, 2008 looks to be a productive year, as the Earth Rat year poses to get things up and running.
Each New Year in Feng Shui, we set about checking our charts to see what lies in store and how we can use this information to our advantage. The solar calendar is used to mark the start of a new year with this year beginning on February the 4th 2008.

            One very popular method to ascertain the Qi is “Flying Stars”. Flying stars is part of the Xuan Kong system in classical Feng Shui. A flying star chart is like drawing up a horoscope for your house. It shows the potential strengths and weaknesses of the building along with predictions for future events. Without the need for a lot of Feng Shui knowledge or going to the effort of drawing up a personalized chart, I am going to show you a way to access some of the beneficial areas of your home for 2008 through the annual stars.

           The life force energy or Qi comes in many qualities that change over time, and this reflects in our luck cycle. Each year the Annual Stars change and their presence are felt as it impacts with the natal chart of the house. If you don’t know the natal chart of your building, that’s fine, we can still access the best annual stars as their influence over the natal chart is generally positive. If you look at the annual star diagram, you will see it is made up of a nine numbered grid with the compass directions for each sector. If you have your house plan, divide each side of your house into three to be able to obtain nine equal sectors. Then overlay the annual star grid over your house sector plan, aligning up the compass directions, you may have to stretch it to fit, then you will see which rooms of your house will be influenced by a particular star.

           First let us start with the three best stars of the period; they are 8, 9 and 1. These numbers are used to represent a type of Qi, in this case life generating. So the most auspicious sectors for 2008 are East, Southeast and the Central palace. The trick to the annual stars is once you know where the best stars will be, utilize these areas as much as possible, avoiding the negative sectors if you can. So for example, if you find that your living room has the annual star 8 this year, you will then be in a position to make the most of this auspicious star, as you would already be using this room quite a bit. If not make sure to use it for important events this year.

East: This is the primary wealth location for 2008 so those who have a Main door in this sector will generally have good outcomes with their financial endeavors. If you don’t have a Main door here, not to worry, just remember the tip and use the room more. You may like to place a water feature in this sector to help.

Southeast: This is a good sector to use if you are thinking of starting something new or changing direction. It is the secondary wealth sector for 2008. The Southeast is good for those seeking promotion, it is also good for those looking for romantic relationship luck or looking to conceive. A main door here will be beneficial or you may like to place a water feature here to stimulate the Qi.
Note: do not place a water feature in a bedroom as it is too yang for sleeping.

Central palace: The central palace is favourable for the artistic and literary fields. It is favourable for career development and modest wealth pursuits. If you are an employee, it will bring support and help with recognition from your superiors. 

           In addition to these three sectors there is also two other sectors that are usable in the year – the North and the Northeast. The Northeast is good for study and is also a good sector for relationships. The North is helpful for authority and for rising up the corporate ladder.
           The most inauspicious sector for 2008 is the South. This year the annual afflictions are rather stacked. The South contains the Year Breaker, the Three Killings and also the Five Yellow. With so many potentially bad stars in this sector I would highly recommend leaving this area alone. Do not renovate or bang the walls (even to hang a picture) or break the ground in this sector. Depending on who you disturb it can bring calamities, arguments, health setbacks, accidents, mishaps, or loss of wealth. It is best to avoid this sector or keep it very quiet.

           I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2008.