Feng Shui & Chinese Astrology of 2020 The Year of the Yang Metal Rat
The Chi of the Yang Metal Rat
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The (Lunar) year of the Yang Metal Rat starts on the 25th of January 2020 giving us a time of strong Water Qi since Metal strengthens the Water of the Rat. This will be very good if your personal chart likes Water and very good for the arts and healing in general. Water governs the kidneys and bladder, so eat foods that support these organs like cauliflower, blueberries, cranberries and garlic. This year the Lunar new year (25 Jan) precedes the Solar new year (4 Feb) indicating that it will be a positive year overall.
Yang Metal is piercing, a gifted intellect that likes detail, strong Metal like an axe or sword. Geng can be the most strong-willed of all the Day Masters and is seen as the “knight in shining armour” or Robin Hood. Yang Metal people do like to see boundaries crossed and can make excellent coaches or trainers. When they are in a position where they feel pressured, they can lash out or become tyrannical.
The Rat is the first in the Animal Cycle and can denote new beginnings. Rat’s can be charming, adaptable, creative and inventive. Born leaders with a strong streak of originality, their minds are very active and there may be hidden artistic talents.
The combination of tough Yang Metal and the Rat’s Water Element indicates a year of contraction and hibernation following the healing and sustenance of 2019. This may play out negatively around the world as the last Rat year in 2008 (Yang Earth-Rat) saw the GFC take hold. Since Yang Metal governs banking and finance and the Rat is considered to be one of the money signs, we may witness another similar global event. Having said this, 2008 also saw many positives politically, and in science and the arts.
There are two Lifecycles for 2020 – Sai and Toi.
Lifecycles tell us where the Stem (Geng) is in relation to the cycle of the Branches (Zi), from birth to death.
These are mixed, Sai is also called ‘death luck’ however it is not necessarily bad. There will be a tendency to overthink things and rationalise in 2020. Sai requires action though, so the lesson will be to stop procrastinating and create the life you want.
Toi indicates new beginnings, curiosity and inventiveness which will help to balance out the stoicism of Sai.
If you are new to Chinese Astrology, you may not know that you have more than on Branch for the date and time you were born. While we will not be going into the effects of the annual Chi on the “Day Master’s”, it would be well worth your while to use a free online Chinese Astrology Calculator and check your whole chart, because you will actually have 4 Branches, one for the Hour, Day, Month and Year you were born.
A simple Four Pillars chart looks like this –
Find out your own Four Pillars BaZi chart here.
The Chinese Animal Signs in 2020
Yang Metal combines with Yin Wood. For men with a Yin Wood Day Master this is a good year to focus on career. For Yin Wood women it is a good year for meeting your soul mate and marriage.
The Rat and Horse are a clash involving Yang Water and Yang Fire. Take care when travelling in the Horse month from the 21st of June to the 20th of July, as accidents are more likely.
The Rat and Ox together form a “Six Harmony Combination”. This brings the Ox good luck during 2020, especially if there are two on your chart.
The Rat can combine with the Monkey or Dragon to form Water. This combination can go either way depending on the layout of your chart, and the fact that Water drains Yang Metal. If Water is a positive element for you, then 2020 will be very good for creativity, planning, solving problems, and pregnancy. If it is negative, then make sure you have a plan in place to limit spending.
The strongest combination will occur if you have both the Pig and Ox on your chart, which combine with the Rat to form Seasonal Water. You may find that there are plumbing issues at home, flooding, or since Water governs fears, you may have to face and overcome those areas that affect your deepest anxieties.
From a basic check of your Year Branch (Chinese animal zodiac), we can look at how the Rat will affect you –
子 Rat (’48, ’60, ’72, ’84, ’96, ’08): The Rat is obviously in their own year. This can be positive or negative depending on your own attitude towards self-analysis and change. When doubled it can also mean shifts in career and living arrangements, usually positive but only when care is taken. Your health will be very good all year, take steps to maintain it. Relationships with siblings should start to improve by the end of the year. To help yourself along, it is a good idea to ‘cultivate karma’ by helping others, making donations or volunteering.
丑 Ox (’49, ’61, ’73, ’85, ’97, ’09): The Ox has the combination with the Rat and will find themselves doing well especially in love and romance. Career and Justice stars are well aspected in 2020, so there should be rewards for working hard and applying yourself. If you have a Yang Wood, Earth or Metal Day Master and are born in the year, month or hour of the Ox, then 2020 will be a great year in all areas of life, however pick one goal to follow and the universe will help you achieve it.
寅 Tiger (’50, ’62, ’74, ’86, ’98, ’10): Tigers and Rats aren’t friends, but they’re not enemies either. Tigers are more aspected towards Fire Element though, so are moving against the Water flow of 2020. This means that career progress may be stalled, although the Tiger’s Hidden Wood and Fire indicates that love and romance remain positive. You’ll make some gains this year, but also some losses. The Rat year is a good time for you to decide who and what is important in your life.
卯 Rabbit (’51, ’63, ’75, ’87, ’99, ’11): According to many teachers, the Rabbit and Rat are a “3-Penalty” called the penalty of impertinence. This means that Rabbits may find themselves with their foot in their mouth in 2020. Mark Twain said it best – Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt. On a positive note, Water boosts the Rabbit’s Wood and will be good for romance and love life.
辰 Dragon (’52, ’64, ’76, ’88, ’00): Dragons who like Water on their chart will have a very good year, and in general all Dragons will find 2020 to be smooth. There will be more of a move towards stability and establishing a home base. Your ancestors (parents, grandparents) are or have been on your mind, so this is the time to mend fences if you need to.
巳 Snake (’53, ’65, ’77, ’89, ’01): The Snake has no direct interaction with the Rat, but its Fire is against the Water flow of 2020. Snakes do have hidden Yang Metal though which can be helpful for money. Your best luck will come through your personal appearance and style. Snakes have a good opportunity to shine and make connections this year.
午 Horse (’54, ’66, ’78, ’90, ’02): This year is a direct clash for Horses, between two cardinal Branches which can lead to instability in life and problems in finding direction. Horses can find solace in family and friends as there is plenty of support around you. Make sure to look after your health and if you can, consider donating blood as the Horse’s Fire governs the heart and circulatory system.
未 Sheep (’55, ’67, ’79, ’91, ’03): Children and work are the Goat’s main focus in 2020 and where the most satisfaction in life will come from. The Goat is one of Yang Metal’s helpers, so you may find that people will look to you for assistance, great if you are working in a consulting or service industry. Make stability your goal this year, and try to avoid drama or risky ventures.
申 Monkey (’56, ’68, ’80, ’92, ’04): Monkeys will have a good year in general for 2020 and get along well with Rats. There will be plenty of work, and since wealth is on the rise, you should start getting paid what you’re worth. You may have been felt hard done by in the last couple of years, but these feelings will lift this year and you may find yourself in a better job, city or home.
酉 Rooster (’57, ’69, ’81, ’93, ’05): Wealth is coming for Roosters in 2020, and the Rat is very well aspected for relationships of all types. You may be able to take advantage of the money coming to create stable investments for the future. You may have had trouble in your intimate relationships for the last couple of years, which will ease this year.
戌 Dog (’58, ’70, ’82, ’94, ’06): Dogs have a flip in Fate in 2020. If you’ve been doing very well then make sure that your assets and wealth are protected, as the flip can mean losing. Similarly, Dogs that have been doing poorly may find themselves suddenly in the spotlight. All Dogs should avoid being pulled into other people’s drama. Your best luck comes through movement, travel and meeting new people.
亥 Pig (’59, ’71, ’83, ’95, ’07): The Rat and Pig have a good affinity with each other, but won’t combine unless the Ox is present elsewhere on your chart. Pigs have hidden Yang Wood that benefits from the Rat’s Water, so there will always be support in 2020. Pigs may find that they need to give themselves a polish (take some lessons from a friendly Snake) before they head out into the world, as it will be easy to stay at home even though your best luck comes through movement and travel.
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FENG SHUI FOR 2020
The following interpretations and recommendations are based on two main schools of Feng Shui – San Yuan Flying Stars and San He.
San He is based around calculations between Stems and Branches (similar to Four Pillars astrology). The main way to use San He is to reduce the impact of any negative formations (in red), then to activate any positive formations that are available (in blue).
The good Flying Stars are 1 Water, 4 Wood, 6 Metal and 8 Earth (the best being the 8 because we are in Period 8, 2004-2024). The bad ones are 2 Earth, 3 Wood, 5 Earth and 7 Metal (the worst being the 5). The annual Flying Stars are best used in conjunction with the natal Flying Star chart of your house.
Even though you will get good results from following this advice, it is not a substitute for having a trained Feng Shui practitioner assess the energy of your house. At a minimum, your practitioner should know Ba Zi astrology and the Flying Star system.
The Luo Pan above has the annual formations from the Flying Star, San Yuan and San He schools of Feng Shui arranged for 2020 around the degrees of a compass. The Chinese representation of the compass is opposite to the Western, South is always shown at the top and the North at the bottom.
Center Feng Shui in 2020
The Centre has the 7 Metal star visiting in 2020. If you’ve been following these annual articles, then remove the crystals recommended in 2019, as the 7 Metal can indicate robbery and legal problems, Earth will only make this stronger. The Ba Gua 5 star that plays host to the 7 indicates that there will be an increase in mouth and throat related diseases, especially in October. A bottle of plain water can drain the 7 star, or convert the negative Earth and Metal using lucky bamboo.
South Feng Shui in 2020
The South’s 9 Fire supports the annual 2 Earth, meaning the ‘daughter supports the mother’ a good sign for mums everywhere. If this area has poor landforms (like power poles, rubbish, dead plants or trees) then the negative side of the 2 star will manifest especially since the San Sha (three thieves) and Year God Tai Sui are in this direction. This means illness for women and gossip.
To improve the South’s luck this year, clean it up and keep it quiet. Definitely no construction work in this direction. The traditional cure for San Sha is a statue of Kuan Kung facing towards the problem direction, though any ethical deity or saint will serve the same purpose. The usual cure for Tai Sui is a Dragon-headed Tortoise statue, although you can go to a Buddhist temple and purchase a Year God talisman to place here.
Southwest Feng Shui in 2020
The Southwest is home to the 2 Earth star which is clashing with the annual 4 Wood. Both are Yin stars so there is fighting between the mother and eldest daughter, the opposite of the South’s energy. Try to keep this area calm and looking nice, and use 6 I-Ching coins in a small jar of water to bridge the gap between Earth and Wood.
West Feng Shui in 2020
The West is Metal in the Ba Gua clashing with the annual 9 Fire. Once again, both stars are Yin, so there is potential here for arguments between women. There could also be politics and manipulation happening behind the scenes, adversely affecting the Peach Blossoms, which is usually positive. To shift the Qi to a more favourable direction, use both Water and Wood Elements and colours together. Avoid red and use water loving plants.
Northwest Feng Shui in 2020
The Northwest has the annual 8 Earth star supporting the Ba Gua 6 Metal. The Northwest represents the father, Earth is the son, so here the ‘son supports the father’. This direction is very good for career and property deals. If you are selling, this is a very good area to activate with crystals, symbols of wealth and a small water feature.
North Feng Shui in 2020
The North has the annual 3 Wood being supported by the Ba Gua 1 Water, which should mean that the two sons get along. Along with the Oppression and Sui Po formations it can indicate travel, bad tempers, arguments and even physical violence. A small amount of Fire Element would help to keep the thunder to a minimum, so burn a small candle every day or two. It would be good to avoid construction or a lot of movement here.
Northeast Feng Shui in 2020
The Northeast has the host 8 Yang Earth in the Ba Gua clashing the annual 1 Water star. This is an interesting situation, as the host clashing ‘outwards’ is considered a good sign, and both are positive and indicates good luck through real estate and property. The best luck will be from 23rd July to 18th August when the 6 Metal arrives. You can bring this luck forward by combining 8 Citrine crystals with 6 I-Ching coins here. The San He formations will tend to balance each other out.
East Feng Shui in 2020
The East has the annual 5 Earth star and is the home to the Ba Gua 3 Wood star. This is another example of clashing outwards, where most problems are smoothed over, however the 3 and 5 can also bring problems relating to the joints, bones and gall bladder. Keep this area clean and quiet, add Metal in the form of I-Ching coins, or try using a saltwater cure or two.
Southeast Feng Shui in 2020
The Southeast has the annual 6 Metal visiting the 4 Yin Wood palace. controlling inwards, the guest offends the host. There may be scandals involving older men and younger women or family breakups for buildings that have a prominent Southeast sector (front door, bedroom, stove). Help convert the strong Yang energy by using Water (blue and black) and Wood (green) colours and items. Moving water like a water feature won’t be helpful as it will support the Yang Chi.
This article was written by Dean French in April/May 2019 and first published in Wellbeing Astrology Annual Magazine 2020. It is not available for download, and is presented as written at the time as an example of Dean’s portfolio.
3 thoughts on “2020 Wellbeing Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology”
It’s the accuracy for me. Author, I first read your article about the 2022 year and was finding it a little difficult to accept. Having gone through the assessment for 2021 and the assessment for next year, I’m really impressed. Not many can do what you do with such certainty and consistency. I honestly wondered why it took me this long to find your blog. Big thumbs up. Even though it has been a long time, putting the Chinese zodiac and astrology to use like this is…wow.
I love reading your articles, they are so interesting and informative! Something I definitely needed to hear today is, “stop procrastinating and create the life you want.” It’s something we all probably learned from experiencing life in 2020 when we had nothing but time. But now that I’m back to the daily grind, I needed to be reminded, so thank you!
I really loved learning about the two Lifecycles of 2020. It’s very interesting that both Sai and Toi balance each other out. I also didn’t know about there being more than one Branch for when I was born. Will be looking into that more!