May moon planting guide
02 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Astrology links Tags: gardening by the stars, May moon planting guide
Moon planting guide
The moon doesn’t just influence the earth’s oceans – it exerts a powerful pull on people and plants as well. Planting under the moon’s waxing phase is said to boost above ground growth (perfect for planting flowers and leafy veggies), while its reducing phase promotes growth under the ground (think root crops). Energy is drawn inward during the moon’s fourth quarter, making this an ideal time to tackle weeds, mow lawns and trim hedges.
MAY DIARY DATES
Full moon: Sunday, May 7 (16 degrees Scorpio)
New moon/solar eclipse: Monday, May 21 (0 degrees Gemini)
Being the year of the water dragon (a once every 60 year event), many Chinese astrologers are predicting an unusually wet year. With floods and unseasonal rain on the cards, water-loving plants should do well. Plants such as waterlilies are perfect for the year of the water dragon.
Best days to sow/transplant flowers and leafy veggies: Tuesday 15; Saturday 19 – Sunday 20; Wednesday 23 – Thursday 24
Best days to plant shrubs and root crops: Friday 4; Wednesday 23 – Thursday 24
Best days to mow lawns, tackle weeds & pests: Wednesday 10 – Sunday 13; Wednesday 16 – Friday 18
Best day to draw up plans and/or clear land: Thursday 11 – Friday 12
Best day to collect seeds: Full moon – Sunday, May 6
2012: The Year of the Dragon
17 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Feng shui links Tags: 2012 year of the dragon, feng shui, lucky tips for 2012
Dragons love a dash of drama, and this year we should get it in spades. Roller-coastering stock markets, unexpected political developments, volatile weather patterns and larger than life celebrations will be the norm rather than the exception.
Being the water dragon, heavy rain and rising sea levels may create minor havoc, so be sure to back up any important files, clean out gutters and drains and keep a brollie close at hand. South eastern parts of the continent, along with south eastern countries (such as Indonesia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Australia) may bare the brunt, but as they say, forewarned is forearmed. Stocks and businesses that involve metal are likely to perform poorly this year, whereas industries that involve ‘wood’ should do well – along with new technology, education and progressive, green enterprises.
Yes, dragon years can be drama-packed, but as a spin-off ideas should flow effortlessly, creativity will abound and for many, love will blossom. Prepare for a year of high excitement and surprises!
Feng Shui tips for 2012
The Chinese new year is an ideal time to clean your home and cast out anything that stirs up unpleasant memories.
Boost your finances
Activate your home’s prosperity sector, which this year falls in the west, by using it regularly. If possible, enter your home via a west-facing door, add some bright lighting or hang a crystal sun-catcher near a westerly window.
Liven up your love life
Place romantic objects, pink flowers or a pair of Mandarin ducks in your home’s eastern sector. Over the coming year, this part of your home should also support education and study; add a dragon figurine for luck and determination.
Enhance your career
To enhance your career and reputation, place metal objects, such as wind chimes, in the southern part of your home. Metallic colours or a bowl of coins should also work well. If your front door or study falls here, prepare for success!
Tips for a fortuitous 2012
1. To invite more luck in your life, beautify your front garden and entrance.
2. For prosperity, hang a crystal suncatcher in your home’s western sector.
3. Place metal windchimes in your home’s south to boost your career.
4. Avoid renovating or disturbing your home’s south east sector in 2012.
5. To bring love, place Mandarin ducks or romantic objects in your home’s east.
Kids’ gift guide … by the stars
07 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Astrology links Tags: astrology, Kids' gift guide, Starsign gift guide
Need to buy a child’s present, but stuck for ideas? Simply find out their star sign and I promise you’ll be guided in the right direction. You might even find inspiration for bigger people too!
Aries
March 21 – April 20
Toys and gifts that shake, rattle and roll are ideal for little rams. Red is their ruling colour, so steer away from pastels – big and bold is their natural style.
Gifts for an Aries could include: squeaky rattles; Jolly Jumper, plush little lamb; spinning top; baby play gym; sparkly red shoes (think Wizard of Oz); balls and sporting toys of all types – with safety gear of course; action hero dress-ups; road activity play mat; trampoline; toy racing cars; running shoes; sports bag; bath salts; rollerskates; beanbag chair; ballpit; bright red raincoat; adventure stories; disco light; sequined dress-ups; tent; sleeping bag; pogo stick; marbles; waterproof watch; toy rockets; red bicycle; percussion instruments; electric guitar; swing set; cowboy/girl outfit; brass-rubbing kit; character hats or wigs; model solders; suction dart set; stopwatch; Twister; swimmers; flippers; skateboard and helmet; surf mat.
5 ways to lift your home’s feng shui
08 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Feng shui links Tags: feng shui your home, feng shui: beautify your home
Tip 1: Beautify your entrance
To attract uplifting energy into your home, keep your entrance as clean and attractive as possible. Porch lamps and garden lights really energize a home, whereas weeds and peeling paint will drag it down. Diseased plants can bring sickness, so lavish them with TLC or replace them with healthy specimens. Cracked paths, creaky gates and wobbly steps all hinder the flow of chi, so grab your toolbox or sweet-talk someone handy into helping out. Don’t forget to cast a critical eye over your letterbox and front door as well.
Tip2: Clear the clutter
As they say, “Out with the old and in with the new”. Chinese new year is an ideal time to clear your cupboards, purge the pantry or cast out anything that stirs up unpleasant memories. Ditch, donate or sell clothes that you haven’t worn in the past year, or if you’re not sure, pack them into storage boxes. And if you don’t already have one, buy a filing cabinet or expander file. Too much clutter can trap you in the past, so cull books, magazines and DVDs as well. Clear some space for fresh stories to enter your life!
Tip 3: Lift the vibe inside
Start your ‘space clearing’ by throwing open all the windows. Then, to banish sickness and bad luck, burn some sage leaves or sandalwood incense in every room, fanning it into all the nooks and crannies. Artwork and wooden furniture can exude an especially strong resonance, so if an old piece has always bothered you, sell it, shift it to a spare room or bathe it in cleansing sage smoke. Finish your space clearing by making a racket: shake bells, beat drums, clap your hands or grab a favourite CD and crank up the volume!
Tip 4: Support your wealth corner
Not sure where your finance sector is? Grab a compass and locate the south-eastern corner of your home; search out this spot in your study or living room too, then start beautifying. Plants, bamboo and wooden furniture all support this sector, along with water features (either indoor or outdoor) and fish tanks. Colourwise, splashes of blue or green might boost your bank balance, but on the flip-side, red can drain this area. For an extra oomph, try displaying a group of four crystals – amethyst or citrine are ideal.
Tip 5: Rev up your love life
If you’re after romance, or simply want to improve your relationships, try sprucing up the south-western sector of your home, garden or bedroom. Shades of pink and red should energise your love life in a flash; alternatively, add some pretty lamps, hang romantic artworks or fill this part of the garden with flowers. When displayed in pairs, ornamental ducks and lovebirds are also said to attract romance, or try two pink candles or rose quartz crystals. Make this sector as bright, beautiful and clutter-free as possible.
Feng shui colour therapy
16 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in Feng shui links Tags: colours, feng shui colour therapy
Next time you feel unwell, try some colour therapy.
To aid the healing process, bring more blues or greens into your bedroom, in the form of sheets, curtains, rugs or bedspreads. Green promotes balance, both emotionally and physically, while strengthening the heart and chest areas; blue exudes a cool, calming energy, making it ideal for fevers and throat infections, and as a bonus it’s said to aid communication when worn near the throat (an aquamarine, blue tourmaline or sapphire pendant would be perfect).
On the other hand, if you need an energy boost or want to inject more excitement and passion into your life, accessorise your outfits with red (ruby or garnet rings can work a treat) or add a few dashes of red to your bedroom decor. If you’re feeling depressed or lonely, try wearing more pink, sleep on pink sheets or place some pink flowers in a prominent spot.
Finally, to regain your equilibrium after an accident or emotional trauma, surround yourself with orange, nature’s “shock absorber”. It may be a coincidence, but emergency workers have got it right.
