2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon - but what does this mean for your home?
The Year of the Wood Dragon coincides with a new 20-year Feng Shui cycle which means it's time for change
Something major is happening to the feng shui of homes around the world, and whether or not you use this powerful resource to support the good energy of your property, you're likely to notice things changing around you.
Chinese New Year, a time of celebration across the Far East, always brings a host of predictions for the year ahead. But 2024 is particularly special. February 4th marks the beginning of a new 20-year Feng Shui cycle, lasting until 2044. This period promises to infuse homes and lifestyles with positive energy and challenge the status quo.
Developed over millennia, Feng Shui combines knowledge of land, astronomy, and architecture to enhance fortune, health, and wealth. These principles have shaped various Eastern philosophies, including the Chinese animal calendar and Bazi.
The Year of the Wood Dragon and Feng Shui Cycle 9
2024 marks the Year of the Wood Dragon and Cycle 9 in Feng Shui cycles – but how does this impact our homes? Below, I reveal my predictions for this exciting period of time.
The Last and Upcoming Feng Shui Cycles
Cycle 8 (2004-2024): A Period of Technological Growth
The outgoing cycle, known as cycle 8, was all about money, the rise of influential young men, property, construction, and technology. Consider how Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg have transformed how we think and communicate over the last two decades.
Cycle 9 (2024-2044): The Rise of Mid-Life Women and Technological Innovation
The coming period, cycle 9, will change the dynamic, with mid-life women stepping into their power. Predictably, there will also be a rise in innovation and technological advancements we can only dream of. With the use of AI, jobs, and lifestyles will be altered irrevocably.
Much attention will refocus on having wealth in the form of good health, which has come under so much pressure in the last few years. There is an expectation that more people will use feng shui to create a nurturing, supportive home environment that provides a strong foundation in a fast-changing society.
We're certainly seeing an upturn in people recognizing that their homes feel 'unlucky' or that their relationships have changed since moving to a new property or undertaking remodeling. A local real estate agent called me to say she has taken on ten new homes for sale since Christmas. Each home had been recently extended or refurbished, and in every case, the previously happily married owners have decided to divorce.
She explained that since learning a little about Feng Shui house features to avoid, she can spot homes that are 'Good for Money/Bad for People' (and therefore at higher risk of disharmony) as soon as she walks through the door.
The Impact of Cycle 9 on Homes
One interesting aspect of Cycle 9 is that all new homes completed during the next 20 years, and those that are remodeled, significantly renovated, or extended, will likely fall into one of just two categories:
Good for Money and Bad for People: Which means finances will be generally
good, but there is a higher predisposition to divorce, stress, illness and unhappiness.
Bad for Money and Good for People: Which will see overwhelmingly happy families living with constant financial pressure.
The great news is that Feng Shui improves the energy within a home and neutralizes any negative energy, which means the 'Bad for' aspects can be resolved, leading to revitalized marriages, increased career and financial success, happier families, and a greater awareness of working with the home rather than against it.
The Year of the Wood Dragon
As we enter the year of the Wood Dragon in February 2024, I have a few predictions:
The somewhat less than cheery suggestion is that 2024 will be a year of upheaval for the earth, with natural disasters, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, significant earthquakes, and flooding. A good practical step to take is to be comprehensively insured at home for peace of mind. Weatherproof windows and waterproof your basement to protect against incremental weather.
Closer to home, metaphysical experts suggest a desire for greater simplicity and understanding, with more people recognizing the value of self-care and personal development. Expect to see wellness in design and material palettes that promote well-being in the home.
There is an expectation that more people will choose to downsize the scale of their homes, moving into smaller properties and apartments in locations that support their personal preference and offer a more comfortable, simpler lifestyle. Initially, this may be for financial reasons or due to economic challenges, but as time passes, more people will see the value of selling more spacious homes to younger generations.
A greater number of divorcees and seniors will realize they prefer living in smaller homes rather than rattling about alone in impractical over-large properties, freeing them up to travel, socialize, and enjoy life without the burden of an extensive house or garden to maintain.
Feng Shui Cycle 9 and the Year of the Wood Dragon have the potential to be exciting times for us all if we go with the flow rather than fight against it. My final thought on the subject is to emphasize how important it is to tune into your own needs and those of your home and take steps to ensure they are fulfilled now and in the future.
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Suzanne is an Interiors Therapist, Feng Shui consultant, and author of Welcome Home, how stuff makes or breaks your relationship. She specializes in understanding the energetic impact of homes and certain possessions may have on all aspects of life, health and relationships, and the ways in which ‘stuff’ can actively prevent people and families from thriving and enjoying the lifestyle they deserve.
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