Since my introduction to Feng Shui 30 years ago, I have learned more about the rituals and traditions of different cultures, especially how they use intentions to attract the type of energy each person wants to experience in the coming New Year while deflecting negative energy or minimizing those things in life we’d rather not be doing or on which to focus.
Many of the rituals and traditions are done before the New Year starts, which means you are too late to incorporate them for this year – 2014 – right? Actually, there is hope because the Chinese New Year doesn’t start until January 31, 2014, when the Year of the Horse begins.
Cleaning a mirror allows for a clearer vision of the present. Cleaning windows in specific directions of the home focuses our attention to the past and future.
In fact, I’ve actually found it hard to follow several of the Asian traditions for starting the “new year” off right due to the way our Western society does so many things. For instance, paying off all your bills by the end of the year. Since many of us make purchases via credit cards, we often don’t even have the statement by the end of the year much less have it paid off.
Another challenge I personally have relates to the ritual of clearing out the refrigerator of all leftovers so as not to ingest “last year’s” energy. This simply cannot be done in my house.
My husband grew up in the South and the traditional food faire for the New Year’s Day dinner called “Hoppin’ John” is black-eyed peas (for luck), rice (for health), collard greens (for prosperity), cornbread (for delicious eating and in honor of the traditional grain of the Americas) and baked ham – LEFTOVER from Christmas!
So what I started to do about 10 years ago was to incorporate as many rituals and traditions as possible between the two New Year celebration dates. Some I’m able to do for both the Western New Year on January 1 and the Chinese New Year, which varies based on the cycle of the New Moon.
For the next week or so I am going to be sharing various ways you might want to usher in the New Year, whether it be Western or Asian. These will be ideas to support you with the desires you hold in your heart and mind.
For instance, today I cleaned a window facing West, a window facing East and a mirror. The symbology of these is for clarity of vision – the past, the present and the future.
I’ll explain more about symbology as well as the reasons behind several of the traditions. Plus I’ll give you many other ideas I’ve learned and implemented in my own life to enhance your focus for manifesting the life of your dreams.
Start thinking about what you want. There are so many possibilities in life, let’s dream BIG DREAMS! If I don’t mention a plan or ritual to support yours, please contact me and I’ll help you with it.
Here’s to a fabulous New Year – both now on the Western New Year – January 1, 2014 – and again on January 31, 2014 – the Chinese Year of the Horse!
