Chinese New Year

01/14/2011 Feng Shui Florida

lanterns

 

In the weeks leading up to the Chinese New Year, it is customary to make preparations for the 15-day Spring Festival.  Here are some tips!

Before the New Year

  • Clean your home thoroughly, including basements and attics.  Wash windows, paint, clean filters and drains, dust, clear clutter
  • Organize files, closets, drawers,  calendars and schedules
  • Replace, repair or remove anything that is broken (especially clocks and watches)
  • If you have an altar in your home, clean and re-state your intentions
  • Pay your debts and balance accounts
  • Reconcile any disputes you may have
  • Clean and optimize your computer files and drives

On New Year’s Eve

  • Sweep the entire house, starting at the front door and ending at the back door
  • Get a haircut
  • Prepare a reunion gathering and meal that continues through the midnight hour, bridging the old year and the new
  • Replace your front door mat to avoid dragging remnants of last year’s energy into your home in the new year
  • At midnight, open all windows and doors to allow old energy to escape and new energy to enter – smudge or ring bells to clear
  • Light firecrackers or display decorative Chinese firecrackers to frighten away unfriendly spirits and introduce yang energy to your celebration
  • Set your intentions for the New Year

On New Year’s Day

  • Put all brooms, knives and scissors away so as not to cut into or sweep away good fortune for the year
  • Welcome deities from heaven and earth to guide you through the year
  • Honor and pay respect to elders
  • Wear new clothing to put your best foot forward in the new year
  • Do not lend or borrow money on this day
  • Do not cry so as not to bring sadness with you into the new year
  • Decorate with and wear the color red – the color for joy and virtue
  • Distribute red envelopes (ang pow) to children
  • Display fresh flowers (especially peach and plum blossoms) for abundance
  • Put out a bowl of oranges
  • When leaving your home, the words exchanged with the first person you meet influences the luck of the year so make them positive!

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

Wind and Water Feng Shui Consulting

Wind and Water

www.windandwaterfengshui.com

Email   diane@windandwaterfengshui.com    Telephone   727-459-1459