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This is not really a prediction here but a “sensing of the energies that are already in motion” for this upcoming year.  I don’t really believe in “predicting the future,” but there is a frequency – a current –  in place, and I offer this because it’s fun for me to tap in and get some impressions.  My intention behind this effort is to bring us a bit more awareness and clarity about what’s to come, in order for each of us to have a certain perspective so that we can perhaps navigate the year a little better.

As we know, perspective is everything.

So, let’s take a look!

2025 is the Yin Wood Snake year and begins on January 29, the first new moon of 2025.

Snakes, like Dragons (2024’s Chinese zodiac animal), have a questionable reputation in Western societies. They are associated with a great mystery, a darkness even, for they are creatures very unlike humans.  No arms, no legs – just a slithering thing – one would think we would laugh at Snake, thinking “How silly!”

Yet, it is one of the most-feared creatures by humans on the planet.

Again – Snake has no arms or legs!  Yet here we are.

So, yes, Snake is greatly misunderstood.  And while it has its protective measures – venom, the death squeeze, and the like – note that the symbol for Western medicine depicts a staff with two snakes weaving up it.

From a larger view, Snake brings Transformation.  We use the word “healing” in this culture, but the word “transformation” is preferred in this context.

There will be some carelessness and recklessness this year, and many people will feel powerless in light of this but know that Snake is at the center of it all, silently weaving her way through, as if to insinuate a Great Transformation is here.

This transformation won’t come in some big event, but on the sly, as if slipping through the cracks.

Some people will choose fear this year – misunderstanding the true power of Snake – and will go to great lengths to avoid the change that is inevitable.

But have you ever held a Snake?

They are gentle and sensitive – their looks deceive us.  They do not mean harm, and they never have.  They are simply part of the circle of life, needing to eat and recharge like us all, and yes, will absolutely strike in defense.

But other than that, they are passive creatures.

And so the message for 2025 is this:  Beware of acting from a place of fear.  This is a lower vibration and will add to the chaos.  Snake is here to bring positive change, and while it may look one way to you, know that Snake’s gift to us is that of transformation and purification.

The fact that this is a Yin Wood year as well means that the transformation that is truly occurring is within (Yin).  Coupled with the energy of Wood, which stands for “growth,” there will be some push and pull and that may feel uncomfortable, but know that all is well, and when the skin is finally shed, there will be rejoicing and new clarity that will make you wonder why you ever doubted Snake in the first place.

It will not be an easy year for folks who haven’t made the time and space for self-reflection over their lifetime.  The mental health industry is going to continue to be tapped out.  These people will suffer the most – the ones who will project outward.  If you’re reading this and feeling like you need some support in these areas, secure a mental health professional now.  We will all need support this year.

If you can turn your attention away from the “play of the moment,” you’ll get a glimpse of Snake, bright green and beautiful.  She stands for something new on the horizon – she stays calm and confident, with direction, and she doesn’t get caught up in chaos.  She can slip right through, untouched.

This will be a time when we need to keep our focus on this quiet undercurrent of transformation that is happening, rather than the drama of the times  – stay out of fear and let the gentle beautiful Green Snake energy be a guide.  The energy will be intense this year, but the Snake herself is not.

Snakes hibernate (Yin).

They listen (Wood energy is also associated with sound).

They sense the world around them.  (Snake)

Take time to sense the energies of the Earth – the natural rhythms – instead of what is playing out in the human game.  Get on the ground some.  Look to the lovely green grass and to the roots beneath the trees.  Remember too, Wood is also the element that corresponds to spring.  And spring brings new beginnings and hope.

THEMES:

Transformation

Growth

Introspection

Withdrawing from drama

Maintaining mental health and balance

Keeping to natural rhythms with connection to oneself and nature

MANTRAS:

Only good can come from this.

Everything is always working out for me.

PRACTICES:

Meditation

Communing with Nature

Gardening

Allowing

Positive thinking

It’s always fun to be written up regarding Feng Shui!  Enjoy this article by the Sarah Kirton in “Mystic Magazine” — Thanks, Sarah!

Check out this fun and funny cover from 1955 of a comic magazine of the same name ~ I couldn’t resist posting. 🙂

The Year of the Wood Dragon is upon us.  Every year, I do a meditation and tap into the messages to see what’s in store and what the new energies of the year are bringing.

Here are my “predicitions” for 2024, Year of the Wood Dragon, which begins on Feb 10:

The first impression I received was liveliness and laughter.  The Wood Dragon carries a lot of JOY.  Despite how Western culture tends to depict dragons — as something that needs to be slayed and destroyed — this 2024 Dragon pierces through the clouds with color and ease.  He/she brings LUCK and and blessings and a lighter spirit than we’ve seen in a long time.

Expect more comedies, lighter storylines in books and movies, happier music, and brighter art!

This Dragon reminds us not to take life so seriously — and reminds us of the power of perspective.  Think: a “dragon’s eye view” as she floats above the world, getting the “bigger picture.”

Dragons sometimes get a bad reputation due to their size and power.  People who aren’t comfortable in their own true empowerment, (I.e. who use manipulation, bullying, and other tactics to overpower rather than relying on alignment and connection to Source/Great Spirit/Inner Being) will try to bring the joyful and playful and powerful Dragon down.  But the Dragon only laughs!  He or she can easily dodge those pitiful attacks.  There is quite literally nothing the folks who are out of alignment can do in face of the Dragon!

Source

This message reminds me of the scene early in the Wizard of Oz, where the wicked witch flies in and confronts and threatens Glenda in Munchkinland.  Glenda basically laughs and says, “You silly witch, you know you have no power here.”

This year, 2024 ~ Year of the Wood Dragon ~ is a reminder that being powerful doesn’t equate to conquering and terrorizing or even overcoming.  Being in true power means being at peace with yourself and KNOWING that you are powerful in the way that we are all equipped with amazing inner guidance and wisdom — and if we befriend ourself in that way, nothing can threaten us and bring us down.

This is the year to Have Fun.  Take up dancing or juggling or snow skiing.  Do something different to keep yourself young and keep perspective that life is meant to be ENJOYED.

In 2024, the younger generations will also have their day in the sun.  The Wood Dragon adores the spirit of Youth, and we will see many young people “taking the microphone” and busting up any old cultural beliefs that are not serving the collective good.  So take heed if you’re not a fan of generational change — it’s coming.

It’s going to be an exciting — and again — vibrant year.

Remember, the Dragon’s message is:  the best way to disarm an enemy is not to engage in their game.  Laugh instead.  Rise above, and if someone won’t give up the fight, the dragon reminds you that, when you’re confident in your own strength, a smart swish of the tail is all it will take.

Summary:  The Wood Dragon wants to take us on an exhilarating ride!  If you cling too tightly or haven’t faced your fears, the ride could be a little intense or uncomfortable.  However, if you go into this year with curiosity, a playful spirit, and knowing that you’re safe, strong, and powerful, the Wood Dragon promises a year of fun and delight.  Stay open-minded, take care of your bodies with fresh foods and plenty of exercise, and keep your spirit light this year for best results.

The Wood Dragon can bring you all sorts of luck and blessings, but you’ve gotta be RECEPTIVE to it, and the best way to do that is to tap into your own youthful spirit.  It’s beckoning!

JOIN KATIE’S NEWSLETTER to attend the FREE Zoom@Noon discussion on how to make the best of the Year of the Dragon using Feng Shui and other techniques.  Happens Friday, Feb 2, 2024.  Go to www.katierogersfengshui.com to receive the Zoom Link, etc.  (Recording will also go out in the newsletter if you can’t attend or reading this after Feb 2.)

See you there!  

I had a fun opportunity last month to help a friend.  Andrea Dapkus, an interior designer here in Birmingham, called me on a Sunday night to say, “Hey, you know how E. is going in the hospital on Friday?”  “Yeah,” I said.  E. had a double mastectomy scheduled, having been diagnosed with breast cancer just six weeks prior.  “You and I are going to re-do her room for her.”

How could I resist?  E. is a sweet friend: a woman who gives everything to her family and community and rarely gives to herself.  Her bedroom decor is the last thing on her to-do list.  Correction:  it wasn’t even on her to-do list!

For the next five days, Andrea and I colloborated with Andrea as lead designer.  We scrambling to find new pieces of furniture and handymen who could install on Friday and Friday only!  We found people so generous, inspired by the story, who changed their schedules around and made things happen, so that when E. returned home on Saturday, her new room would be put together!  It was amazing, fun, and a complete whirlwind.  Andrea got to learn a thing or two about Feng Shui too!  (No, the cool blueprint art work of the Titanic would NOT work in their bedroom, which also happened to be the Money gua.  No sinking ships in the Money corner, please!). And I learned a lot from her as well.  (Okay, okay, the bronze bull can stay — hello, Ferdinand.)

On Friday morning at 6am, this is what the room looked like:

BEFORE:

And by 7pm, it looked like this:

Andrea did the detail work so that by Saturday, the mostly finished product looked like this:

E. was delighted, and she kept writing us texts on how she felt like she was living in a hotel, how it was the best place to come home to, etc.   After all, she was going to be spending weeks in that room in recovery.

I hope this is incentive for you to GIVE TO YOURSELF and put some love and time and energy into your space!  No one can deny the difference in the chi by looking at these Before and After photos.

NOTE:  Please know this is HIGHLY unusual for me to decorate a room without feedback from the client.  In Feng Shui, we spend a lot of time getting to know a client’s tastes and even their life goals before making changes.  However, because Andrea and I have both known E since childhood, and we had E.’s husband and mother in the mix too, this was a very rare exception to that very serious rule!  

We hear this term often:  MINDSET

But what does it really mean?  Dictionary.com defines it as:  “the established set of attitudes held by someone.”   Verywellmind.com takes it further and explains “mindset” to be “a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation.”

I think it’s safe to say that one’s mindset is one’s belief system.

Our beliefs show up in all areas of our lives, and what better topic to explore our belief system than the topic of Money?  Why?  Because it’s loaded.  There are so many cultural concepts around money, and it’s up to you to decide which beliefs and attitudes you’d like to adopt and call truth, and which ones are absolutely not serving you.

Here are a few MONEY BELIEFS that circulate in our culture:

1. Money doesn’t grow on trees.
2. Who do I look like, Rockefeller?
3. Money provides opportunities.
4. Blessed are the poor.
5. Making money is fun.
6. Time is money.
7. Rich people are superficial/cheats/not spiritual.
8. It’s tacky to talk about money.
9. No matter how much money I make, I feel broke.
10. I don’t know where the money goes.
11. Your eyes are bigger than your pockets.
12. Money is freedom.
13. It’s not easy to save money.
14. I’m not an ATM.
15. Make lots of money so you don’t have to depend on others.
16. I love money.
17. A girl’s gotta eat.
18. There’s money available to all.
19. Money is a finite resource.
20. Money comes to me easily.
21. I don’t really have to worry about money.
22. I have a good handle on money.
23. It doesn’t matter how much money I get, I spend every penny.
24. I never have enough money.
25. I have to work really hard for money.
26. I’m not good at earning money.
27. Rich people have a lot of problems.
28. Do something you love, and the money will come.
29. Artists don’t make much money.
30. Running a business is hard.
31. I feel guilty for having money when others don’t.
32. It’s not my money so I can’t do what I want with it.
33. Money is sexy.
34. You gotta have money to be happy.
35. …and more!

Did you hear any of these concepts growing up?  Which ones are you subscribing to now?  Can you see how certain beliefs can absolutely block a healthy relationship with money?!  Even if it’s “true,” that doesn’t mean you should subscribe to it.  For example, sure, money doesn’t literally grow on trees, but how would repeating that saying over and over again affect the way operate when it comes to your finances?

Feng Shui can reveal to us our belief systems in amazing ways.   And once our belief systems are revealed to us, we can become more conscious around what we think and feel about certain aspects of our lives in order to have more control and influence.

One way to get a glimpse into your psyche when it comes to money is to check out the Money/Prosperity/Opportunity area of your space.  This is generally the back left section of your home if it was divided into 9 equal sections, like a tic-tac-toe board.  If you’re standing at your front door, what’s in the back left?  Is it your kitchen?  Your bedroom?  A  mudroom? Or a cluttered closet?  A bathroom with the broken toilet?  Or the basement entrance with the door that always seems stuck?  Now, look at it symbolically.   Does this space represent “having enough?”  Does it represent “luxury”?  Or does it feel clogged or lacking in some way?  Are there items there that you don’t love or use?  Or does the room feel comfortable and inviting, clean and fresh?

There are so many ways that money beliefs can show up in a space.  The bagua is just one place where I look when I’m consulting for money blockages!  To learn more about Feng Shui & Money, consider taking the Feng Shui & the Energetics of Money eCourse the next time I’m offering it for a thorough look at your own personal mindset as well as to receive dozens of Feng Shui tips to course-correct your money beliefs towards empowerment and freedom, all while learning about Feng Shui.

The basic notion is this:  When you put some love and attention into your space, (i.e. freshening up the tired spots or decluttering the clogged areas), your Money mindset will naturally improve, via intention and awareness.  Enjoy the process and the prosperity that springs from it!

There are a lot of myths and superstitions linked to Feng Shui!  If you’ve ever Googled to topic, you’re likely to get confused because there is so much.

While there are nuances to Feng Shui that only an expert can detect, there is also a lot of common sense to it.

Join me on Friday, April 1 (April Fool’s Day) for a special FREE discussion on this topic!  Learn what Feng Shui is — and what it isn’t — and please bring your questions!  Register Here to receive the Zoom link the day of.  See you there!

ROAR!  Yep, it’s the Year of the Tiger starting Feb 1, 2022!

And yep, it’s time to prepare, because it’s going to be an interesting one!  Every year, I do a meditation to tap into the “energies” that this new year is bringing us collectively.  This year the element for 2022 is Water.

Water is the element of the emotions, so expect some “cleansing” this year. Water also symbolizes clarity and reflection, so expect to see things in a new and, ultimately, better way.  Remember, water can be refreshing and lovely in its flow, or terrifying in its power.  This will be a year where we learn to harness certain energies, especially the emotional body, so that moving forward, we feel more in control and empowered.

As far as the animal itself, the “Water Tiger” is graceful, steady, and focused.  She waits for the right time to make her move.  She is watchful, and did I say, focused?  The Water Tiger knows what she wants, is hyper-aware of her surroundings, and yes, she is fierce…when provoked.  Luckily, her reputation proceeds her so those around her know not to mess with her.

2022 is a year of great power.  The Tiger, again, is watchful, never taking her eye off either her prey (desires) or anything that could be threatening her or her cubs.  She is a great protectress, and she will not tolerate anyone who wants to put her – or those she loves – in danger.  Tigers are great nurturers too.  She carries her babies to safety and always alert.  WATCHFUL is a word for 2022.

Even though the element of Water may seem contradictory to the Tiger, indeed, these large cats are not turned off by that element, but actually take to hiding in shallow waters from time to time.  They are even known to frolic in water!  In fact, because of the reeds that surround some of the shallower waters, it is a place where they feel safe and free to do so.

So remember, tigers do have their playfulness.  They are big cats, after all, and what videos are most-watched on YouTube?  Cats!  Because they are cute!  Grooming.  Lounging.  Cultivating a sense of self. Tigers command great respect because of their assuredness.  Bask in the energy of “royalty” that large cats exude so that respect will come naturally to you.

This is a year about getting still so that when it’s time to act, you feel ready.  STILLNESS is key.  There are big things coming!  And if you’ve squandered your energies, then you will not feel strong when they do come.

It’s a big year for cultivating a true sense of power, if you can learn to BE.

Message:  Know that your time is coming.  Know that your desires are worth waiting for.  Know that focus is the name of the game this year.  Know that there will be time for play, time for nurturing, and yes, a time for protection and vigilance.  Don’t be in a hurry, but also know that if opportunity comes your way, it’s game on, and you should take advantage of it, using your skills and great focus.

Practice for 2022:  Meditation, of course.  Sitting still for periods of time, observing your surroundings.  Practice listening to your environment and tuning in.  Perhaps consider some sort of martial arts or balance endeavors, like yoga.

COMING UP!

Sign up NOW for the “Make Space for Grace” Declutter eCourse for accountability buddies and emails in your inbox to prep for the Chinese New Year!  It WORKS!  Free Zooms with Katie too, if you sign up now!

Also, the 2022 Feng Shui Odyssey (with the Feng Shui consultant certification program add-on option) begins in March.  APPLY TODAY to have a free 1:1 Discovery Call to see if this is for you!

The short answer is YES!

Well, if they are well-loved and taken care of.

And if you have a good vacuum cleaner.  (wink, wink, you know what I mean.)