Chinese New Year Feng Shui

Out with the old and in with the new

By Sally Philips

Would you like to celebrate the new year all over again? Now's your chance: this year the Chinese New Year begins on Sunday, February 14 -- a double whammy with Valentine's Day!

Each year, Chinese New Year celebrations begin on the eve of the first New Moon of the Chinese calendar -- a different day every year, usually in late January or early February -- and end with the Full Moon 15 days later. So in 2010, Chinese New Year festivities run from the evening of February 13 through the last day of the month, February 28. Here are some tips for how you can use this auspicious holiday to set the stage -- Chinese style -- for a happy, prosperous and healthy year ahead.

Feng Shui makeover
In China, celebrations focus on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, much like in western cultures ... but the Chinese start getting ready for the New Year weeks in advance by giving their homes a Feng Shui makeover.

The Chinese believe that bad energy can get stuck in spaces that are messy, dirty or too cluttered ... so the first step in any Feng Shui makeover is to make room for good energy by giving your home a thorough cleaning. If you have a lot of junk laying around that you never use, now's the time to haul it to a thrift store or a recycler.

Place platefuls of fresh and dried fruits around the house as symbols of abundance. Blooming plants are also considered to bring good luck, and in some climates it won't be long before you can replant them outside. These items also make good Chinese New Year gifts.

China is one of many places in the world that welcome the New Year with fireworks, because explosions are thought to scare away evil spirits. Even if you aren't keen on lighting them, some Chinese fireworks are beautiful and you can use them to decorate your home.

Get your affairs in order
Your next step is to give your finances a once-over. Pay all of your neglected bills and organize systems to keep track of your finances in the coming year. In America, it's not too early to start getting organized for taxes.

Next take stock of your personal life. If you have any disagreements or ill feelings with anyone at work or amongst family and friends, now's a good time to do what you can to clear the air. Simple apologies may be in order, or perhaps just dropping a dispute all together.

Chinese New Year Feng Shui | Tarot.com -- Continued »