Feng Shui Your Way to Career Success

The beginning of the year is always a great time of reflection, and part of that might be on your career. Whether you’re seeking a pay rise or a new job, it can’t hurt to apply a bit of feng shui to help you out. We speak with feng shui master Key Tsang about home decor and fashion tips to boost your luck based on your Chinese zodiac sign.

Lucky home position: northwest

According to Tsang, this year the ‘celebratory ’ direction is northwest, which means if your home’s front door is located in the northwestern area of the layout, good things – such as a wedding or a career move – might be in the cards for you. To encourage this good luck, place red items such as fai chun (paper with good luck wishes on them) or crystals in the northwestern corner.

He also reports smooth sailing ahead for companies involved in travel, aviation, service industries and beverages.

What’s your sign?

Take Tsang’s advice and up your decor and fashion game based on your Chinese zodiac sign.

Pig

Year of birth: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Every office needs a pig: they’re famed for their honesty and will always tell you the real deal. This year, pigs should have tiger-themed decor on the east side of their homes, stock up on accessories that resembles a tiger or opt for green garments to move ahead at work.

Rat

Year of birth: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

This is a good year for the rat. Intelligent and quick-witted, this sign is also ambitious. They can aim to achieve those career ambitions by placing ox-shaped pottery items or a golden ox statue in the north of the home. Choose clothes from a brown palette to ensure an auspicious year.

Ox

Year of birth: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

If keen for a promotion, the tough ox place a rat ornament in their home’s north side, and wear a rat-shaped item such as a small pendant necklace or key chain. Blue, black and grey colours are your best sartorial bet this year.

Tiger

Year of birth: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Courageous tigers are extremely daring, so dream big at work this year. Pig-shaped items will be everywhere this year, so place one in your home’s south side and wear one as accessories, and stick to dark clothes.

Hare

Year of birth: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Rabbits tend to be outgoing and creative in the workplace. Place a dog decoration in the west of the home, and wear brown, khaki and camel-coloured clothes or a dog-shaped accessory to ensure that qi flows in all the right ways.

Dragon

Year of birth: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Leadership positions are often full of ambitious dragons. If you are keen to climb that corporate ladder, try placing chicken decorations in the west of the home, or even wear rooster-shaped accessories. Look to white, gold and silver-coloured clothes to ensure career success.

Snake

Year of birth: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Snakes, although eloquent and wise, will have to overcome bad luck this year. Avoid too many problems by putting monkey décor items in the southwest of your home, wear monkey accessories paired with metallic and white clothes.

Horse

Year of birth: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

This will be an extremely lucky year for the aspirant horse so aim for greatness and put a sheep picture in the south of your home, carry sheep accessories like a discreet watch or mobile phone case and wear colours like light brown, camel, orange and red to make the most of the year.

Sheep

Year of birth: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Kind-hearted and polite sheep make for obedient employees. Enhance your luck by placing a horse at your home’s south side. Wearing horse accessories and dressing in all the colours of the rainbow can help you break out from the corporate herd.

Monkey

Year of birth: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

If you have a work issue you just can’t fix, set a curious monkey on it. This highly intelligent sign is also witty, so they always liven up a meeting. Monkeys should place a snake statue in the southeast of their home, put on snake accessories and wear red, orange and pastel-coloured clothes.

Rooster

Year of birth: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Roosters are extremely communicative and intelligent, so teamwork is their forte. They’re also ambitious, and to reach their career goals they should place a dragon depiction in the east side of their home, wear a dragon ring and dress boldly in stripes and patterns.

Dog

Year of birth: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Dogs make for loyal, honest and responsible employees, and they will likely seek a promotion rather than a new employer. Improve your chances by placing a hare in the east side of your home, wear hare-themed adornments, and dress confidently in stripes, floral patterns and green camouflage.

Now you know what items you need in the Year of the Pig. Let’s hear some style tips from the fashionstia for the new year here.