Chinese Zodiac for 2021: Year of the Metal Ox

Guest User January 13, 2021

Happy Lunar New Year! Happy 2021! To help you make the most of this new year, I put together an overview of what you can expect from 2021, the Year of the Ox, based on your zodiac animal. (If you’re not sure what your animal is, read on!)

To welcome the lunar new year, Mindful Design School is offering a New Year’s Reset Package, which includes a live ritual to peel away the old year and welcome the new one. This is an especially powerful ritual in 2021 for some people depending on your birth year animal, but everyone can benefit from these practices! To find out more about who can get the most from this ritual, be sure to check out our podcast episode Welcome the Year of the Ox.

BTB Feng Shui always recommends carrying a three-dimensional charm to welcome good luck and protection each year. This year, since the Rat is the Ox’s best friend, we recommend a three-dimensional Rat charm, available in the color of your choice in the Holistic Spaces store!

*Please note, if your birthday is in January or February, your animal sign may be the preceding year. If you were born on the cusp, we we recommend you find your natal chart online .

Rat 子

Resourceful, like to be busy, can sniff out opportunities
Years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Rats are best friends with Dragons, Snakes, Monkeys, and especially Oxen! The Ox and Rat are considered best friends in the Chinese Zodiac, so this means it’s a good year for Rats!
Overall energy of the year: Good
What to do: Embrace the calmer energy of the Ox year. Don’t push riskier endeavours.
You are most compatible with: Dragon, Monkey, Rat and Ox.
You clash with: Horse.

Ox 丑

Steady eddy, hard working, ploughs through problems calmly
Years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Oxen are great friends with Snakes, Roosters, and Rats. You may think that since it’s the year of the Ox, it would be a very lucky year for anyone born in the year of the Ox. But in fact, it may be a little more challenging for Oxen. In BTB feng shui we practice a protection ceremony called the Golden Cicada Ritual. Think of it as a way to smooth out the rough edges, and to bring more ease in the coming year. If you’re interested, there is a class available here, we also recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat) with you for extra support.
Overall energy of the year: So-so
What to do: Make time for self-care and take breaks. Oxen work too hard!
You are most compatible with: Rooster, Snake and Rat.
You clash with: Ram/Sheep.

Tiger 寅

Dynamic, self-reliant, Tigers leap forward with creative ideas
Years: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Tigers are friends with Horses, Dogs, and Pigs. The creative and dynamic tiger finds the Ox’s stead-fast work ethic a little tiresome.
Overall energy of the year: Mostly neutral
What to do: Take advantage of the calmer energy (may feel boring to tigers)
You are most compatible with: Horse, Dog and Pig.
You clash with: Monkey.

Rabbit 卯

Easy-going, sociable, the rabbit hops along with grace
Years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Rabbits are friends with Rams, Pigs, and Dogs. Rabbits will enjoy the quieter, more stable energy of the Ox. For extra support and ease with Ox, we recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat) the Ox’s best friend.
Overall energy of the year: Neutral
What to do: Gracefully bunny hop over minor set-backs, and enjoy the slower pace.
You are most compatible with: Pig, Sheep and Dog.
You clash with: Rooster

Dragon 辰

Energetic, strong, dragons fly through life with purpose
Years: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
Dragons are best friends with Monkeys, Roosters, and Rats. Dragons respect the Ox’s work ethic and tenacious nature.
Overall energy of the year: Pretty good
What to do: Align your powerful Dragon energy with the stable and determined energy of the Ox
You are most compatible with: Rat, Monkey, and Rooster.
You clash with: Dog

Snake 巳

Intellectual, Snakes slide through life with wisdom and grace
Years: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Snakes are best friends with Rooster, Monkey, and Ox; this is good news for the Snake. Snake’s wisdom will serve them well, and is looked upon favorably by the Ox.
Overall energy of the year: Good
What to do: Use your subtle influence and keen intuition
You are most compatible with: Rooster, Ox and Monkey.
You clash with: Pig

Horse 午

Strong, active, horses will gallop by looking for adventure
Years: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Horses are best friends with Tigers, Dogs and Rams. You just came out of Rat year, which was a tough one -- for all of us :) Horses are efficient and hard-workers which the Ox respects.
Overall energy of the year: Ease
What to do: focus on projects that were left undone in 2020 (Rat) and channel that Ox energy into tackling them.
You are most compatible with: Tiger, Dog and Ram.
You clash with: Rat

Ram 未

Gentle and kind, but under that soft, wooly exterior is strong determination
Years: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
Rams (Sheep or Goat) are friends with Pigs, Rabbits and Horses. The good-natured Ram is not a fan of the hard-working Ox. Because Ram clashes with the Ox, so it is important in BTB feng shui to practice the Golden Cicada Ritual. If you’re interested, there is a class available here. We also highly recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat)
Overall energy of the year: Might feel like Ox is a bit of a task-master
What to do: Tap into your strength and determination
You are most compatible with: Rabbit, Pig and Horse.
You clash with: Ox

Monkey 申

Clever, curious, Monkeys will charm others with their ap-peel
Years: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Monkeys are friends with Dragons, Rats, and especially Snakes. Monkeys will do well this year if they focus their energy and don’t try to take the quick way to doing things. Use the Ox’s hard-working energy to balance your curious nature, the Ox won’t tolerate any monkeying around.
Overall energy of the year: Pretty good
What to do: Use your clever Monkey and ways to channel your energy for success.
You are most compatible with: Rat, Dragon and Snake.
You clash with: Tiger

Rooster 酉

Articulate, astute, Roosters strut with confidence
Years: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Roosters are best friends with Snakes, Oxen, and Dragons. Roosters like the solid work ethic of the Ox. They make a good team and appreciate each other's focus and determination.
Overall energy of the year: Supportive
What to do: Just because you have the opportunity to do a lot and accomplish much, doesn't mean you should. Don’t get caught up in working too hard, take time for yourself.
You are most compatible with: Ox, Snake, and Dragon.
You clash with: Rabbit

Dog 戌

Loyal, dogs look out for others and they are dogged protectors
Years: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Dogs are best friends with Tigers, Horses, and Rabbits. They are in a mostly neutral relationship with the Ox. Dog and Ox see eye-to-eye on being fair and steadfast. For extra good luck and support, we recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat) this year.
Overall energy of the year: Neutral
What to do: Don’t pick fights, instead choose to channel your inner peace-maker.
You are most compatible with: Tiger, Horse and Rabbit.
You clash with: Dragon

Pig 亥

Good-nature, trust-worthy, fun-loving. Pigs are always there to help ‘snout’
Years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Pigs are best friends with Rabbits, Rams, and Tigers. Pigs are hard-working but know how to have to have a good time. Yes, Pigs work hard, but the Ox doesn't appreciate the Pig’s bon-vivant side, so we recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat) to soften the relationship and give the Pig more support.
Overall energy of the year: So-so
What to do: Be selective of who you do business with, and use the stable and analytical ways of Ox to support you.
You are most compatible with: Sheep, Rabbit and Tiger.
You clash with: Snake

To learn more about what you can expect in 2021 based on your birth year animal, make sure you listen to our podcast Welcome the Year of the Ox!

Don’t forget to grab your three-dimensional rat charm this year, here at Holistic Spaces!

Check out our New Year’s Reset Package here!

If you're really interested in more personal, in-depth predictions, please reach out to a Four Pillars or Bazi practitioner for a consultation!

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Visit the Holistic Spaces Store

Q&A Sunday: The Best Feng Shui Bed Position

Guest User January 10, 2021

What is the best way to position a bed in feng shui?

This is a great question, because your bedroom is an especially important area of your home in feng shui. Your bedroom represents you, and changes you make to this part of your home can be really effective. Your bed in particular is even more closely connected to you, and since you spend so many passive hours there sleeping, your bed really has an impact on your energy.

When it comes to the position of your bed, you first want to make sure your bed is in the commanding position. This means that you can see the door while lying in bed, without being directly in line with the door. This allows you to feel safer and less stressed, because you can see anyone or anything that might come in through the door. The commanding position is especially important for your bed, because feeling safe and at ease here will allow you to rest and sleep more deeply. If it’s not possible to set up your bed so that you can see the door, place a mirror so that you can see a reflection of the door instead.

You also want to avoid being in the coffin position. This is when you’re lying in bed and your feet are pointing out the door. The coffin position is energetically draining and makes you more vulnerable. You’re also not in command. Ideally, don’t set up your bed in this way, but if you can’t avoid it, don’t panic! You can adjust this placement by hanging a feng shui crystal ball halfway between the bed and the door.

Lastly, make sure you’re supported by a solid wall. You want to have a stable wall right behind you and a stable headboard, such as this one, that is fastened to your bed frame. This will provide support for you while you’re laying in bed. Ideally, you don’t want your bed to be up against a window, especially if you tend to have low energy, if you feel fearful or unsafe, or if you’re on the ground floor. If you have no choice and you have to put your bed against the window, that’s ok. You have to work with what you have. In this case, make sure you have a solid headboard supporting you.

I hope that helps!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". If you have personal questions, we encourage you to check out Practical Feng Shui or hire one of Anjie's Grads.

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Welcome the New Year with Feng Shui

Guest User January 6, 2021

In addition to wishing you a happy new year, I wanted to offer some direction from a feng shui point of view on how to welcome 2021, and a few things that I’m doing. The start of a new year, whether it’s the western new year, lunar new year, Jewish new year, or another date that marks a new cycle, is a good time to reflect on the passing of time and also to welcome in new energies, especially with ritual. In feng shui, we do a lot of rituals that relate to the home.

My approach to feng shui is to begin by looking at the home, because we can make changes there that feel doable and even exciting. However, it’s really important to see that our inner environments and our homes are interconnected and interdependent, and they’re not separate from each other. There’s a lot we can learn from our homes.

One thing I like to do to welcome the new year is to acknowledge that my home is something that is connected to me, and not separate from me or from any of us. This helps me appreciate my home and environment. Even simple practices like offering gratitude to your home can start to change the qi, or energy, in your life and in your spaces.

Another thing I’m doing is to start working on a beautiful journal I received from a friend. Part of what I’ll be doing there is looking at how I can begin to simplify my life, and also reflecting upon what I learned this year. I did a self-led meditation retreat over the holidays, and something that’s been coming up for me is that although it’s been a really challenging year for all of us, I’m grateful that the pandemic brought us together on a global level, and we all began to see how we’re all interconnected and interdependent. Even oceans can’t separate us. We’re all connected in this vast network, and we can resonate with other people from all over the world.

This network of connection includes our homes, too. Like I said above, we’re connected to our homes and our spaces. You can talk to your home in English, in another language, or just talk through your energy, but I recommend you offer thanks to your home somehow. Then, make a list of what you’d like to keep and what you’d like to let go of, and how you can simplify. It might also be interesting to see if there’s anything you can do in your feng shui to correspond to how you are simplifying your life.

I hope this gives you some ideas for how to welcome 2021, and I’m wishing you all a happy new year!

by Anjie Cho