Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology: September 2024
September 7 takes us into the month of the Water Bird (Water Rooster) in the Chinese solar calendar as the Sun crosses 15° Virgo. We’re now in the height of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Feng Shui Flying Star chart, monthly star 7, associated with the Lake trigram, “flies” to the center, its influences setting the tone of the month.
We’ve arrived at one of the loveliest seasonal markers of the year called “White Dew Descends”. It may still feel like summer in the Northern hemisphere, but there's a slight shift in the air that we can feel, especially in the morning, with Yin continuing to rise and Yang declining. Soon Yin and Yang will be equal at the equinox, the second seasonal marker of the month.
Yin Water in the heavenly frequency of the month, associated with morning dew, reminds us of the presence of heaven on earth that we may recognize as wisdom and the quiet voice of intuition. The very Yin and ephemeral nature of morning dew reflects the clarity and crispness associated with fall, the season ruled by Metal. In a Yin month, allow yourself to retreat, receive, simplify, and focus on your well-being, especially after the fast-paced Monkey month.
The presence of the Bird or what’s traditionally known as the Rooster as the secret friend of the Dragon helps us strive for peace and collaboration and may offer some relief if the Dragon year has been challenging for you, especially if you have the Dragon or opposing sign the Dog in your chart. As a Peach Blossom star, the Bird brings a social and relationship-oriented month.
What’s ahead for the signs
The Bird is associated with Venus, beauty, gold, and all that glitters. One of the four Peach Blossom stars in Chinese Astrology, the Bird or the Rooster brings social and romantic opportunities to those born in year or day of the Monkey, Rat, and Dragon.
As the Bird’s secret friend, the Dragon can expect a more supportive, agreeable month ahead. Other signs that are in harmony with the Bird are allies the Snake and the Ox. Those with these signs in their chart can expect a collaborative month ahead with support from their personal and professional networks.
The Bird brings Divine Support to those born on a Fire day or Fire years (which are years that end with 6 or 7, such as 1976 or 1987). If the Bird is your Divine Support star, September is a good month for personal, medical, or professional consultation as the advice and help you receive will contribute to your healing and growth. *The most important, defining pillar in one’s birth chart is the day pillar. To find out the element of your birthday (also called the Day Master or the Self Element), go to this chart calculator and input your birthday. Stay tuned for an upcoming workshop I have planned for late October on working with Divine Support and Peach Blossom stars!
If you have a Bird/Rooster in your chart, this is a month to be conscious of self-sabotaging behaviors. Practice self-forgiveness and be kind to yourself. September may be the most challenging month of the year for those with a Rabbit in their chart as the Rabbit is the sign opposite the Bird. Relationships are usually the most affected – be mindful of others’ boundaries (as well as yours) and speak your truth from a place of love.
Hexagram of the Month: Gradual Progress
The I-Ching hexagram for the Water Bird pillar is Hexagram 53, ䷴ Gradual Progress. Wind trigram over the Mountain trigram indicates that a slow and steady approach is the key to gradual growth. Be flexible but also steadfast in your actions. Instead of rushing and hustling, allow things to unfold naturally.
Guidance from the Chinese Five Elements Oracle
The Five Elements spread from the oracle brings guidance from the elements. I pulled these cards as part of a video I recently created for Hay House on living in harmony with the Chinese Five Elements. This spread will help you navigate and identify what you need from each of the elements to bring balance and harmony into your life in the month ahead. *You can subscribe to Heal Your Life+ here to watch the full video. A subscription will give you access to an amazing library of content designed to help you reach your highest potential.
Card 1 (Wood) highlights the aspect of life with the most potential to grow or expand. The Earth Dog card appears as a message from your ancestors to embrace what runs in your blood. Connecting to your ancestors will open many doors for you. You already hold their wisdom deep within you, but there’s much more ancient knowledge and treasures to be unearthed.
Card 2 (Fire) helps identify your sources of joy. The Wood Snake wants you to gather your strength while you wait for the right opportunity to come at the right time. Yin Wood is about learning, enriching the mind, and seeing the big picture. The Snake as a Yin Fire sign is guided by joy. Instead of waiting anxiously for the right moment, this card is telling you to relax and find joy in the process.
Card 3 (Earth) indicates resources that you need to invest in to build a solid foundation. The Water Pig card appears as a message to find the wisdom within and conquer your fears. Let that wisdom guide you out of your comfort zone – keep moving even if you only take a small step each time. Those small steps add up in the long run.
Card 4 (Metal) brings clarity to what needs releasing. The Fire Monkey card is about taking risks and embracing the new. The Monkey as a Yang Metal sign doesn’t hold on or do anything halfway. This card appears as a message to release your attachments to the past.
Card 5 (Water) shows how you can rise above your fears. The Wood Tiger card carries a strong message of powerful new beginnings and progress. How much progress is up to your imagination. New adventures and positive changes are in store. You’re entering a new cycle of growth and it’s time to level up.
*You can order your copy of the oracle at Amazon or click here for more options. To the many of you who ordered the deck, thank you! I hope you can leave a kind review on the retailer's site, as that will help the oracle find its way to more people who are in need of guidance.
Feng Shui for the Water Bird month (September 7 to October 7, 2024)
In the Flying Star chart for the month of the Water Bird, the numbers in green are the annual stars for the current year (good until February 3, 2025), while the numbers in blue refer to the monthly stars (good from September 7 to October 7, 2024).
The flying star number in the center of the chart, whether it’s the annual or monthly number, and the associated trigram can give us hints of the general moods and themes of that period. Monthly star 7, a Yin Metal star, is associated with the Lake trigram (☱), the mouth, the lung, and the emotion grief. Metal, like a mirror, encourages self-reflection. The Lake trigram with one broken Yin line on top of two solid Yang lines illustrates how Heaven is within us. We only need to look beyond the surface and dive within to find our inner guidance, the spirit within.
This month’s most vibrant sectors are the Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest, with 1/6 combination in the Northeast bringing wisdom and power, productive 4/8 in the Northwest, and romance and creativity star 4 joining annual star 9 of joy and prosperity in the Southwest. Activate the positive energies by spending your time and doing your daily activities in these sectors of your residence or office.
The sectors afflicted by the annual or monthly star 5 of misfortune and star 2 of illness should ideally be kept quiet, but if you can’t avoid them, use them mindfully – no loud noises or banging the doors. This month, these sectors are the East, West, South, and Southeast. The West is an especially sensitive sector with the monthly star 9 amplifying the annual star 5 of misfortune.
Keep the center of your office or residence free of loud noises and clutter to avoid activating monthly 7’s hostile effects, which include violence and fire dangers, and take care when handling sharp objects.
*Keep in mind that the effects of the visiting stars are also influenced by their interactions with the natal stars.