In the world of Feng Shui, winter is considered a season that is very Yin. 

Yin and Yang are principles of the universe which are opposite and flatter each other when balanced together.  Yin represents dark, night, the moon, and is considered feminine.  Yang represents light, day, the sun, and is considered masculine. Yin and Yang are actually dependent on each other to create good health.   

Many of us look forward to the coming of winter after a long, hot and busy summer, where in winter we will feel like eating comfort food, taking naps, and curling up with a blanket next to a cozy fire with a good book.  As we know here in New England, winter can go on for months.  So imagine how you may end up feeling after a prolonged period of dark days, coldness, and nothing growing outside.  Perhaps kind-of comatose, weary, and unproductive?   A case of the blues?   

Bringing plants into your indoor space is one of the best ways to neutralize the sluggish energy of the Yin and help create a lively, creative, and healthy environment. 

Plants are considered Yang, and represent growth and life.  They give you a feeling of being productive.       

When bringing plants into your space, you want to consider placing them in places where you desire an active energy, such as an office, play rooms, living areas and family spaces.  Maybe not so much in a bedroom which is considered to be more of a yin space where rest and sleep are promoted. 

Here are a few tips on how to use plants to for optimum results:

·      Plants in the office are good for your career as they represent growth and abundance.  A Jade Plant, Money Tree (Pechora), or Bamboo specifically represent good fortune, but any plants that you like and enjoy will do.  Plants in an office are enhanced in brighter windows (Yang) such as the East, Southeast, or South. 

·      Generally it is suggested that you don’t bring thorny plants into your space as they represent a harsh energy and may bring in too much Yang.  But if you really like and have to have them, make sure that you place them in places that are safe to be near and not in a doorway where someone could brush up on them and get hurt. 

·      Bouquets of flowers are great because they bring joy and bright colors to the space.  Make sure though that you do not allow them to remain after they have died which would bring about a negative energy.  Avoid straw flowers as they are real flowers which are no longer living and bring about a negative energy.

·      If you don’t have a green thumb, artificial replicas of living plants or bouquets are OK as they represent a living, and vibrant plant.  

·      Caution that Bonsai plants represent stunted growth and will not bring you the energy that you are looking for especially in a space such as an office where you want growth and abundance. 

·      Make sure that your plants are healthy, with dead leaves and stems trimmed, and not allowed to be overgrown.  Overgrown plants can suggest a lack of organization and direction.         

·      If you are into gardening, use the winter to look through seed and plant magazines.  Look at garden design ideas.  All of this makes you feel that you are moving forward towards a new beginning. 

Last but not least, make sure that you have fun with your plants!  As living things, they respond to your loving care and attention, and will perform for you as a result.  That in turn I guarantee, will make you feel fulfilled and rewarded for your efforts and you will be happy.

That’s good Feng Shui.

Happy New Year!  We start the New Year with a seven planet, cardinal grand cross!  Energies are pulling in all different directions this month.  Cardinal signs initiate and want to make things happen.  When they are in challenge aspect to each other, there is ambition, but sometimes fanatical ambition can be a driving force.  The Uranus-Pluto ongoing square is triggered again this month.  Each planetary voice wants to manifest itself and must learn to incorporate the other planetary voices.  These planetary voices exist within each one of as states of consciousness.  We are collectively and personally working with these evolving alignments and changes.

MAJOR ASPECTS FOR JANUARY 2014:

1/1/14  Potent New Moon in Capricorn at 6:15 AM ET

1/15/14  Full Moon in Cancer at 11:53 PM ET

1/30/14 New Moon in Aquarius at 4:40 PM ET

1/31/14 Venus stations Direct in Capricorn

1/31/14 Retrograde Jupiter in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn

1/1/14   NEW MOON IN CAPRICORN CONJUNT MERCURY AND PLUTO.-   With both the Sun and Moon aligned with transformational Pluto, our New Year intentions are quite magnified for 2014.  Pluto is all about letting go, shedding, endings, embracing change and rebirth.  The kind of change we experience with a Pluto transit is evolutionary; our soul is ready though our conscious, ego mind may not readily agree.  Capricorn represents the physical earth plane, structures, big business, finance, authority and government.  With this New Moon aligned with Mercury and Pluto, our thoughts are deep, penetrating and able to comprehend underlying motivations and hidden or deeper truths.  This is an excellent time to work hard at achieving your goals.  Decide what is most important, get organized and pursue your dreams.

1/2- 1/3/14  SUN IN CAPRICORN SQUARES MARS IN LIBRA – As mentioned in last month’s forecast, Mars will be in the sign of Libra through 7/26/14 due to its retrograde cycle beginning in March 2014.  Mars in Libra is now triggering the Uranus-Pluto square.  Mars represents aggression, assertiveness and initiative.  It also can symbolize fighting or war, as Mars is the warrior archetype.  With Sun-Mars, patience is not a strong point!  Avoid rash actions or losing your temper over minor issues.  Think before your act to avoid conflict. 

1/3-1/5/14   MERCURY AND SUN IN CAPRICORN OPPOSE JUPITER – Jupiter represents expansion, growth, optimism and sometimes excess or overwhelm.  Perhaps we feel some temporary relief and hopefulness during these few days.

1/7/14   MERCURY IN CAPRICORN CONJOINS VENUS RETROGRADE IN CAPRICORN -  The intellect and communication are united with love, beauty and harmony.  With Venus, the love planet, retrograde, we may be thinking about the past, revisiting the past or longing for love.  The head and heart are working together.

1/8/14   MARS IN LIBRA SQUARE JUPITER RETROGRADE IN CANCER – suggests excessive action, risk taking and a restless temperament today.  Be willing to finish what you start.

1/11/14   SUN IN CAPRICORN CONJOIN VENUS RETROGRADE – suggests a day of beauty, harmony, charm and social graces.

1/11/14 – 1/31/14   MERCURY ENTERS AQUARIUS – the collective mindset is objective, sociable and concerned with disseminating information and articulating humanitarian visions.

1/15/14   FULL MOON IN CANCER AT 11:53 PM ET – This Full Moon in emotional, water sign Cancer is in harmonious aspect to Saturn in Scorpio, suggesting a stabilizing and grounding influence.  However, the dwarf planet Ceres, Archetype of the Mother Goddess and Agriculture and Vesta, keeper and Goddess of the Hearth, form a challenging  T square to this Full Moon.  This suggests major shifts in areas of nurturing ourselves, others and the planet.  When the feminine archetypes are amplified, there is opportunity to move from domination to collaboration.

1/16/14   MARS IN LIBRA SQUARE VENUS RETROGRADE IN CAPRICORN -  Balancing needs in relationships is a theme.  Internal conflicts in regard to freedom-closeness issues call for discernment and sensitivity.  This passionate alignment can incite jealousy and possessiveness.

1/19/14   SUN ENTERS AQUARIUS

1/25/14   MERCURY IN AQUARIUS SQUARE SATURN AND MOON IN SCORPIO – Suggests limits and delays in all communication and travel matters.  The mind is focused on discipline, work and structure.  There is a serious mood in the air today.

1/30/14   NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS AT 4:40 PM ET – New beginnings which encourage networking, new ideas, friendships and community involvement are favored.  Venus is about to station Direct, very close to Pluto, suggesting new intentions and resolutions are getting ready to be implemented after a time of reflection.

1/31/14   VENUS STATION DIRECT IN CAPRICORN – The planet representing love, values and relationships has been retrograde since 12/21/13.  A period of contemplation and reflection has encouraged us to make adjustments in relationship and business matters that are very important to us.  January has not been the best time to start a new relationship, however, it’s been a great month to get clear on what’s most important in existing relationships.  Venus has been traveling very close to transformational Pluto, which heightens emotions and the transformational power of love.  Old mental programming or power struggles in relationships may undergo healing at this time.

1/31/14  MERCURY ENTERS PISCES  - The collective mindset for the next few weeks has shifted from sociable Aquarius to a more intuitive, psychic and introspective way of thinking and communicating.  Pisces is creative and poetic at its best.

1/31/14   JUPITER RETROGRADE IN CANCER OPPOSES PLUTO IN CAPRICORN – Contradictory beliefs bring challenges when trying to achieve major, far reaching goals.  This can be a tremendous opportunity for growth, yet it can also manifest as a  fanatical, dogmatic approach which can be divisive.  Jupiter represents strong convictions and Pluto represents irrevocable change.  There can be large scale expansion as long as fanaticism does not impede growth.