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THE YEAR OF THE WATER TIGER

Ryan Terren BA FSSA, Feng Shui Consultant

Illustration: Ralph Kiggell

The Chinese Lunar New Year is the original moveable feast. Like Easter, the date is derived from fiddly astronomical calculations and nobody quite knows when it is until the takeaway shuts. Well, this year it falls on 1st February – that is the new moon nearest to the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.

The traditional Chinese calendar is generally much more complex than our Gregorian system of reckoning, concerned as it is with marking astronomical and seasonal phenomena as they occur. Like our calendar, it considers the orbit of the Earth around the sun but also those of the moon and the five visible planets. One benefit of tracking these conditions so comprehensively is the ability to organise life in easy accordance with nature’s rhythms.

There is a vast and rich tradition of Chinese wisdom that is drawn on at this time to make predictions for

the year ahead. This process is made more efficient by the simple fact that time, space and human beings are measured and qualified using the same parameters. That is to say that Heaven, Earth and everything in between, can be described by some combination of the Five Elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. As Hamlet suggests, this may be more than is dreamt of in your philosophy so if this is the case you may want to briefly suspend your disbelief while l explain the implications of this for the coming year.

We are now entering the Year of the Water Tiger. Animal names for the Chinese zodiac were added later but each actually represents a cluster of Elements that describe the energetic conditions of a particular moment in time. Time in the ancient Chinese sense being circular and fractal – so said moment in time could be a year, month, day or hour. Each animal is then qualified by a further Element (in this case Water). I won’t try and explain the intricacies of Chinese metaphysics here, suffice to say that unlike their ancient Greek counterparts the Chinese Elements represent processes not substances.

The Tiger is ostensibly Wood element, with hidden Fire and Earth. The Wood is fed by the Water which creates the dynamic of strong growth and expansion, winter into spring, night into day. A mood of progression could easily become one of aggression if it is frustrated by obstacles of any kind – but here we actually see blockages released and obstacles taken away.

The last two years of Metal Rat and Metal Ox have expressed, embodied and reflected the Metal Element - which has been out of balance. According to Chinese medicine, the Metal element is manifested organically in the Lungs. Metal also represents containment, protection, constriction, structure, grief, discernment, social control and medical intervention. These ideas might put you in mind of a certain respiratory illness that has been going around, and the accompanying disruption.

The expansive Wood energy of the coming year should be a relief after the strictures of the past two years. Expect to see growth (both economic and psychological), social reform, expansion of the built environment, ambitious creative enterprise, new currencies, group-forming, increased travel and a renewed appetite for independence. This is actually the beginning of an era of social and technological change, similar to the radical reforms of the Edwardian era and the mid sixties. How was the 1962 Water Tiger for you? If you can’t think back that far – or it’s over the horizon – go instead to February 2017 which as a Water Tiger month will have followed a similar, albeit more subtle, energetic pattern. That was the month parliament triggered Article 50 – the Tiger does like its independence.

Chinese metaphysicians will argue over many things, but one thing they agree on this year is that it is a good time for plantings trees! I’m not sure if Prince Charles has a Feng Shui consultant, but the Tree-bilee celebrations this year certainly seem timely. You may extrapolate that it is a good time to begin any creative project, from starting a family to launching a business.

As the Tiger has hidden Fire, that element will become particularly strong this year especially during the summer months. This is welcome in so much as Fire represents sociability, spontaneity and human connection, but there may also be more midsummer madness than is comfortable – flare-ups, misunderstandings, that kind of thing. Sounds ominous, but the Fire can be harnessed of course – enlightened thinking, creativity. The advice here is probably something around not getting caught up, finding ways to cool off and access the stillness which is actually – and surprisingly – at the core of it all.

So, what does this new time portend for the good people of Sherborne? I think we will see a comingtogether of the community into new groups; neighbours and co-workers will find new ways to meet, organise and collaborate. These might be welfare groups, cultural events and celebrations, business projects. This will accompany a kind of spiritual cohesion, an accordance with all that is joyful and useful. There will be an almost post-war kind of feeling – seeing us close together, looking back over the past, and making informed decisions about our future.

"I’m not sure if Prince Charles has a Feng Shui consultant, but the Tree-bilee celebrations this year certainly seem timely. "

TAKING YOUR TIME

Annabelle Hunt, Colour Consultant, Bridport Timber

Idon’t know about you, but as soon as the decorations come down after New Year, it feels like a welcome breath of fresh air. There’s something about seeing a familiar room in an uncluttered, pared-back state that starts me wondering if a new scheme might be a good idea.

That said, I am definitely not an impulsive redecorator and am firmly in the ‘slow decorating’ camp where spaces tend to evolve over time. You may think you would rather just get the job done, but when it comes to interiors, there are real benefits to the slow approach. Tight project deadlines can lead to rushed decisions, but when we adopt an unhurried attitude to furnishing our homes, we are less likely to make rash mistakes.

With sustainability in mind, we should all be reducing the amount of fast, throwaway products we buy and instead be thinking about a greener approach. The slow decorating philosophy allows us time to really consider how we can do this. Vintage and antique furniture caters to almost every taste and not only are they a fantastic green option, but many are also handmade items that will last a lifetime. Also, hunting down the perfect piece will add something totally individual to your finished room. If you are buying new though, look for brands which practice responsible design and manufacture or use natural, reclaimed and recycled materials. In fact, often we don’t need to buy at all, but can make effective changes by rearranging, reupholstering or repurposing items we already have in our homes. The trick is to enjoy the process and not feel the need to rush.

Nostalgic references to 1970s and ‘80s interior design is one of the key looks at the moment, which works perfectly with vintage furniture. Whilst full ‘70s retro may not be everyone’s cup of tea, strong greens, sunshine yellows, and warm orange hues give a gentle nod to the era. Sap Green W56, Bancha No. 298, Babouche No. 223, Dutch Orange W76 and Charlotte’s Locks No. 268 from Farrow & Ball are all great for creating this look.

If you prefer a more neutral look, whether classic or more contemporary, bring the natural world indoors with soft greens and plants, natural wood and terracotta tones. A silvery grey-green is perfect for living rooms as it is the colour of harmony and renewal, evoking feelings of calm and relaxation. Try F&B’s French Gray No. 18 or Treron No. 292 with Snow White W1. Introduce warmth with accents of earthy browns and soft terracotta tones –try Salon Drab No. 290 and Faded Terracotta No. CC8.

Beautiful, bold blues are perennially popular. Deep, dark tones provide a fantastic background for paintings and art and are super-stylish on kitchen cupboards and front doors. F&B favourite Hague Blue No. 30 was the most Googled paint colour last year, and for good reason. A more delicate blue is perfect for creating a calm and restful bedroom or a fresh and airy bathroom. For a light and aerial blue try F&B’s Skylight No. 205. By connecting us to the ocean or sky, blue has a positive effect on mood, calming the mind and promoting a feeling of tranquillity. And who wouldn’t want to begin and end the day feeling calm and tranquil?

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