Also known as the 15 Day Festival as the 15th day marks the first full moon after the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Moon is celebrated not only in Asian countries but also around the world by other internationally minded individuals.

The Lunar New Year goes hand in hand with the Chinese Zodiac, with a new Chinese Zodiac animal named each year. 2023 was the Year of the Water Rabbit, while on 10 February 2024, we welcome the Year of the Wood Dragon. The year will end on 28 January 2025.

SO, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME, YOU MAY ASK?

Every individual has a unique BaZi chart which documents the type of Chi energy – known as Heaven Luck – around at their time of birth. How your unique Chi energy interacts with the energy of the Wood Dragon will determine how fruitful your year will be. Understanding the Chi energy will help you make informed choices and shape your destiny.

This year is going to be memorable and auspicious as the Dragon symbolises good luck, strength and health, and is one of the most important animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac, alongside the Rabbit. Furthermore, according to Chinese astrology, there are a total of nine time periods, each of 20 years’ duration, making up the 180-year Great Cycle. Each cycle comprises a different type of Chi energy. Significantly, on 10 February, we leave behind the last 20-year cycle, Period 8, which was characterised by earth energy.

This cycle provided stable and solid energy, giving rise to the predominance of traditional business activities. However, this will change as Period 9 will be much less traditional than Period 8, with the lively fire element predominant.

Period 9 will be a time of innovation, new technology, new and less conventional types of business, as well as more focus on metaphysics. It is a time of marketing, branding and promotional activities.

There will be huge opportunities for women. No one alive today has ever experienced the energy of this period in their lifetime, so it is a very exciting time in which individuals can experience different energy, leave behind the past and start afresh with new purpose. It is important to lay good foundations at the outset of this 20-year cycle.

Opportunities will come fast and must be grasped quickly. Learn as you go along. Don’t hesitate. Take chances. Seize the moment!

HOW DO PEOPLE WELCOME THE CHINESE NEW YEAR?

Be ready to welcome not only the Year of the Wood Dragon but also the new Chi energy for Period 9 and the next 20 years.

Typically, people who celebrate Chinese New Year:

• Get rid of any clutter, broken items and old clothes before 10 February. Prepare to say goodbye to old, stagnant energy and create space for new opportunities.
• Spring clean their home from top to bottom. After they have finished, they can wipe down everything with salt water to rid their house of negative energy. Use a good quality sea or Himalayan salt. Be sure to finish by 10 February. And do not clean at all for the full 15 days of Chinese New Year as new opportunities may be swept away.
• Buy new clothes and wear them every day during Chinese New Year. Red and gold are auspicious colours symbolising health, wealth and prosperity.
• Keep a positive attitude at all times. Do not think negative thoughts nor say negative things.
• Decorate their home with beautiful red lanterns to drive away bad luck, watch fireworks and try to attend a lion dance in the local area to promote peace and reconciliation for the New Year.
• Decorate using paper cuttings of good fortune imagery, for example, rabbit figurines, dragons, gold ingots, mandarin oranges, chrysanthemum flowers, peaches, phoenixes and so on.
• Pay tribute to ancestors and departed loved ones.
• Fill their home with beautiful fresh flowers, plants and fruit.
• Use orange trees as they are good luck and symbolise an abundant and prosperous year.
• Use orchids to lift the energy of the room. Use deep purple to symbolise wealth and abundance.
• Display lucky bamboo plants which signify good luck, fortune and prosperity.
• Place plants that have leaves in the shape of coins around their home. Try the money plant (pilea) or jade plants. The anthurium plant has bright red leaves and is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.
• Use peace lilies to keep the air clean as they have healing properties (NASA endorses this plant).
• Place nine oranges or nine lemons in a bowl to signify wealth and abundance.
• Give out Hong bao (red packets or envelopes) filled with money to symbolise good wishes and luck for the new year ahead. Putting a gift of money in the red Hong bao packets and sealing it represents sealing a symbol of prosperity within the symbol of life. You can put any amount in depending on your circumstances – acceptable amounts are two, six or eight new and clean bills. However, avoid four at all costs, it is the homonym of death.
• Enjoy traditional dances and music.
• Feast on a whole range of ‘lucky’ foods. Dumplings resemble the Yuanbo or gold ingot and symbolise wealth and prosperity. Fish (or Yu in Chinese, which has the same pronunciation as the word for abundance, Zhu) symbolises surplus and fortune.

Noodles denote longevity and a long life while oranges and tangerines symbolise goodness and gold. Glutinous rice balls made from stick rice flour with a black sesame filling are eaten at family reunions while glutinous rice cake – sweet or salty – steamed, boiled or fried, symbolises increasing prosperity year after year

Dr Tanya Hames

Dr Hames is a fully qualified Feng Shui consultant and is registered with the International Feng Shui Guild (the only person in the Channel Islands). She is not only a member of the Guild but has taken additional testing and achieved ‘Red Ribbon’ status. She lives in Guernsey from where she runs a Feng Shui and lifestyle company perfectsanctuary.org.

OTHER SIGNS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WOOD DRAGON

The Dragon’s secret friend is the Rooster but it also has good relationships with the Rat and the Monkey, so these signs may have good relationship luck this year.

However, some signs get on less well with the Dragon, especially the Dog which is in opposition to the Dragon. The Dog may have more relationship challenges this year and must be ready to deal with misunderstandings. If you are born in October which is the Dog month, you may be affected by career challenges. The Rabbit could also experience challenging moments, including betrayal.

With regards to relationships, the Ox and the Goat will enjoy Nobleman’s luck this year, which shows that they will receive useful help and advice in this area. The Rat and Monkey will be extremely popular, both socially and in their relationships.

The Snake will have excellent wealth luck, so make the most of opportunities. The Pig will have windfall luck and the Goat will do well in all business-related activities. The Dog should keep a low profile in business, career, wealth and in general. The Dog and the Rooster should protect themselves against risky investments.

The Rat (Zi)

The Rat will do very well in social circles this year. Make the most of your popularity. The fact they have such good communications with the Dragon can be used to their advantage. This is the time for Rats to make a bold move as they will have power, courage, leadership and influence.

The Ox (Chou)

Oxes will experience Nobleman Luck this year, so they can expect plenty of help, guidance and support. Make the most of your year! Attempt to connect with others, socialise and mingle at key social events. Attend every social event possible as you will be in an environment where you can enhance your status. You may gain important social status this year.

The Tiger (Yin)

Overall luck will be an improvement on 2023. The Tiger will be very busy with an auspicious Sky Horse sign in their chart. This will be beneficial in career matters. Take advantage of this star if you work in sales or are an influencer.

The Rabbit (Mao)

It could be a challenging year for Rabbits, due to the negative influence of the Dragon. Avoid South East 1, North West 1, and West in the home or office. The Dragon (Chen) Although this is the Dragon’s year, it does not mean it will necessarily be good for the Dragon. Your year can sometimes be a year of obstacles and setbacks to provide challenge. Stay strong and face obstacles head on. Focus on your creative and artistic talents. Work on beautifying your surroundings. Use your unique skills to their best advantage.

The Snake (Si)

The Snake is one of the few animals with overall excellent luck in 2024. The Tai Yang Star will positively affect their career, wealth and business, enabling growth and success.

The Horse (Wu)

The Horse will experience average luck this year. Tread carefully, be steady and do not aim too high. There will be a feeling of instability, but those in education or related activities will experience some advantages.

The Goat/Sheep (Wei)

This will be a good year for the Goat. Goats will experience the influence of the Nobleman’s Star on their sign, so they will get plenty of help, support and protection. Make the most of tips and connections in this positive year.

The Monkey (Shen)

The Monkey’s overall relationship luck will improve this year. This is a year where the Monkey can tap into their resourcefulness and learn, improve and upgrade themselves. This is a friendly year and they should be open and engaging with others. Be sure to develop business connections. Attend conferences and events and make the most of networking.

The Rooster (You)

Roosters will experience the Peach Blossom Star in 2024, which will mean they will be more romantic, passionate and charming. It’s a good year for single Roosters to look for love. They will have a good year of creativity, optimism with an interest in their looks, art and love. Other animals will be friendly to them so they can leverage this advantage to suit their objectives.

The Dog (Hsu)

There is a clash for Dogs this year. There may be emotional issues and personal disputes through 2024. There may be changes. Accept them and adapt. Embrace the change. They may find themselves switching careers, moving house or travelling frequently.

The Pig (Hai)

The Pig may experience good luck in 2024. They have various auspicious stars which will help them enhance their wealth, luck and career. They should take advantage of calling in help from people with authority and status. This may be a great year for those in research, education, writing and students too.

GUERNSEY CELEBRATES CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH YEAR OF THE DRAGON STAMPS

Guernsey Post has released its 11th set in its Chinese New Year series to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. The stamps have been designed by Chrissy Lau, who has worked on the entire series.

The stamp set includes a souvenir sheet depicting a dragon whose body is filled with a scroll pattern and chrysanthemums to reflect vitality and happiness. It also wears a lucky longevity knot.

‘Since our series began in 2014, we have been delighted to celebrate Chinese New Year with our vibrant stamps,’ said Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post. ‘In China, colours feature symbolically in ceremonies, festivals and rituals; Chrissy has carried this through to the stamp designs, which feature red to represent good fortune and joy, whilst gold symbolises wealth, prosperity and happiness.’

THE STAMPS

The Chinese symbol for dragon appears on the top left of each of the six stamps, which comprise:

Lucky Number Eight Dragon (Guernsey letter):

The dragon and the number eight represent good fortune in Chinese culture. The dragon’s body is covered in a fiery flame pattern with which it is synonymous.

Fiery Dragon (Guernsey large letter):

This dragon is adorned with a peony pattern to symbolise wealth and prosperity.

Lucky Lantern Dragon (UK letter):

The dragon holds a lantern with the ‘Fu’ symbol, symbolising good fortune. It is decorated with a scroll pattern inspired by Emperors’ robes. Auspicious Dragon (Europe letter): the dragon is flying among the full moon adorned with an auspicious cloud pattern.

Mother Dragon (UK large letter):

This dragon fiercely protects her baby, adorned with plum blossom patterns symbolising resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Lucky 88 Dragons (Rest of world letter):

These dragons represent wealth and good fortune and are adorned with a scroll pattern inspired by Chinese ceramics. For full information and to order see guernseystamps.com