Feng Shui for YOU! applies feng shui principles to the personal energy of The 8 Elements. What we wear is not just an expression of our personal style. How we dress is not just a projection of what we want the world to see. What we wear to work is not just our attempt to dress for success. How we dress is not just a gauge on how well we keep up with the current trends or proverbial Kardashians. What we wear is not just free advertising for brand names, logos and slogans. How we dress is not just broadcasting our personal values, beliefs and preferences.

Each of the Five Elements are associated with a unique taste. Foods that have that distinct taste are the go to or favorite foods for The 8 Personal Elements. These are the foods they love or crave, the foods they get really good at making themselves or the foods they might eat every day without getting bored.

This morning I watched a video by Joey Yap, a feng shui and BaZi master, well respected worldwide. He was answering a question he got about feng shui for hair. A lady provided two photos of haircuts with different shapes and asked him to select the one that would improve her luck. His answer? There is no feng shui for hair. You cannot feng shui your hair for more prosperity or good fortune. One hairstyle is not more auspicious than another. A haircut cannot improve your "luck". And he's right!

There are two Chinese calendars, one yin and one yang. The yin or lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon. This is the one that determines the Chinese Lunar New Year and your Chinese zodiac animal sign. The yang or solar calendar is based on the solar longitudes that determine the cycles of the seasons. This is the one that determines the Feng Shui Solar New Year and what feng shui consultants use to determine your personal element.

On February 8th, the Year of the Red Yang Fire Monkey officially begins. The flying monkeys have swooped in, shrieking and hollering, capturing us all in their arms and carrying us away for a year of fun, games and adventure in the jungles of space and time. They are hanging from the school yard’s monkey bars, scampering through the tree tops of the haunted forest and swinging from branch to branch to be the monkey on your back in 2016.

In this part of the 2016 Annual Energy Report, you’ll learn about three of the aspects of the Mother Earth element:  her Physical Human Energy, her West House Group and her Young Adult Human Stage of Life.

Mother Earth years vibrate with the spacious and palpable energy of unconditional love. The affinity that you can enjoy within an intimate relationship with your equal, your opposite, your complementary partner. As the archetype of The Lover, they bring the potential for romantic relationships and marriage, conscious coupling and conscious conception. They honor the sacred feminine energy of women. They remind us of the value of femininity. Recognize the importance of the roles females play in our lives. Appreciate the responsibilities mothers and wives, sisters and daughters take on. See the beauty in feminine qualities and the strength in feminine forms of power.

Mother Earth is one of four yin energy personal elements. Yin energy has feminine qualities. It’s receptive and creative, intuitive and sensitive, compassionate and caring. It waits to be invited to participate and responds to initiated action. It is gently yielding in nature, opening, allowing and surrendering.

I recently took pause to contemplate the inherent and perceived value of my work. To consider its various applications and inevitable effects, once it is out in the world. To clarify my reasons for sharing my observations, pattern recognitions and insights. To concentrate my energy on authentic self-expression. To create some space for a little self-indulgent artistic license.

Upon embarking on my professional career in feng shui, I set the intention to provide the information and insights people need to create a life that serves them well and supports them in making their unique contribution to the world. Early on, I realized that there was only so much even a perfectly feng shui’d environment could provide. It was a good place to start but what was really needed was a feng shui’d life. What was really needed was Feng Shui for YOU!

What makes a study of the Mother Earth element so unique is that its characteristics apply not only to the people who personify this element, but to the planet herself. A thorough understanding of what the Mother Earth element exudes, needs and values, provides wonderful insight into the life experiences its inhabitants might be inspired to create. Humans are a product of their environment, a beautiful expression of the Mother Earth element, her personal energy, her conscious presence in the galaxy and her life-giving and life-sustaining essence.

The last two years have been especially confusing for many. Last year I talked about Soft Wood energy in a Yang Wood Horse year and this year I am talking about Hard Wood energy in a Yin Wood Sheep year. The term yin wood and the personal element Soft Wood are not necessarily interchangeable in every context; nor are yang wood and the personal element Hard Wood.

This gentle and graceful sign has much in common with the community oriented emotional Hard Wood personal element.

Sheep are polite, patient and peaceful creatures that co-exist in harmony with others and their environment. They are content to live a simple life in quiet pastures, by still waters, surrounded by natural beauty, where they feel safe, comfortable and mutually supported by their friends and family.

Each year is imbued with the energy of one of the 8 personal elements. 2015 is a Hard Wood year. For Hard Wood element people, this could be a great year or  it could be extremely challenging. Balanced Hard Wood people who are honoring their needs and living a life in alignment with their values will do well. Out of balance Hard Wood people will be given every opportunity and everything they need to heal themselves and their lives. The other personal elements will be effected by Hard Wood energy in various ways in every area of life. Following are some brief descriptions of the Hard Wood personal element and energy and what you can expect to experience in 2015.

Flippant pick up line? Yes! But also a valid question. People who are getting to know each other like to find out each other’s signs. In Western countries, when people ask, “hey, what’s your sign?”, they are referring to the Western astrological signs.