Introduction
It’s time to bid farewell to the Year of the Yi Wood Snake (乙巳) and welcome the Year of the Bing Fire Horse (丙午). As this transition approaches, it’s wise to implement key Feng Shui adjustments within your home or business before Li Chun (4th February), ensuring you and your family are well supported by beneficial ch’i for the year ahead.
As we know, invisible energies, known as ch’i, exist within our environment. These forces can be supportive, enhancing wellbeing, harmony, and prosperity, or they can become problematic, contributing to misfortune, illness, or financial loss if left unaddressed.
Importantly, these energies are dynamic and shift in cyclical patterns over time. To maintain positive outcomes, it’s essential to identify and manage these influences at the beginning of each year.
In 2026, the Lunar New Year falls on 17th February. However, the transition of annual Feng Shui energies is traditionally determined by the Chinese Solar Calendar, marked by Li Chun. Accordingly, the Year of the Bing Fire Horse (丙午) commences at 04:16 hrs (LST) on the 4th of February 2026.
Annual Feng Shui Energies for 2026
Each year, there are several major annual influences that demand close attention – specifically, four powerful Sha (煞氣, inauspicious energies) and four favourable Lucky Stars. These annual Sha are particularly significant, as they have the ability to override the Flying Star chart, regardless of how strong or auspicious the Natal Chart of a home or business may be.
The four major Sha are: the Grand Duke (Tai Sui 太歲), the Three Killings (San Sha 三煞), the Year Breaker (Sui Po 歲破), and the #5 Yellow Star (Wu Huang 五黃).
In contrast, the four positive annual influences are represented by the Lucky Stars 1, 6, 4, and 9. When correctly supported and activated, these stars can enhance opportunities related to creativity, academic achievement and romance (Star 4), authority and leadership (Star 6), plus wealth and prosperity (Stars 9 and 1).
By consciously avoiding disturbance to the major Sha and strategically activating these favourable stars, you can significantly increase your potential for success and stability in the year ahead.
Annual Lo Shu Chart for 2026
When applying annual Feng Shui remedies or activating auspicious energies, it’s important to remember that not every area of a home or business needs to be addressed. Effective Feng Shui is selective and prioritised, not indiscriminate.
Your first priority should always be the major annual afflictions: the Grand Duke (Tai Sui 太歲), the Three Killings (San Sha 三煞), the Year Breaker (Sui Po 歲破), the #2 Black Illness Star, and the #5 Yellow Misfortune Star (Wu Huang 五黃). Once these influences have been appropriately managed, attention can then shift to supporting or activating the areas of life that are most important to you.
It’s also essential to consider the Flying Star energies within each Palace as determined by the Natal Chart of the property. These natal stars are referred to as the Host energies, and their interaction with the annual Guest stars must be carefully evaluated, as their relationship can either enhance or weaken the overall effect.
Additionally, from September 8th to October 7th the Annual and Monthly energies coincide, resulting in a doubling, and therefore a magnification, of their influence. During this period, extra caution is advised. In particular, if your bedroom is located in the South or North-West Palaces, it would be prudent to temporarily relocate to minimise exposure to these intensified energies.
- Star 1 resides in the Central Palace and signifies financial growth, career advancement and academic success
- Place a bowl of clear water here, but remember to keep it clean and fresh
- Star 2 resides in the North West Palace and brings the potential for windfall wealth, as well as health threats
- Place a string of 6 metal coins and a metal Wu Lou Gourd or other large metal decorative object in this location
- Take extra care of your health if your main entrance or bedroom is located in the North West Palace
- Star 3 resides in the West Palace and can bring quarrels, conflict, legal problems and theft
- Place a lamp or red object in this location, or alternately burn a candle or some incense here
- Star 4 resides in the North East Palace and brings the potential for romance and academic success
- Place a healthy, vibrant plant in this location
- Star 5 resides in the South Palace and is associated with misfortune, financial loss, accidents, illness, and sudden disruptions
- Keep this area clean, calm, and free from clutter
- Remove or avoid any active objects such as fans, loudspeakers, televisions, or excessive movement
- Ensure the South Palace is well lit and properly ventilated, allowing stagnant or harmful ch’i to disperse naturally
- Place a substantial metal object in this sector of your home or business to weaken the untimely Earth energy of #Star 5
- Alternatively, a traditional salt water remedy may be used. To prepare this you should:
- Place a glass bowl or jar on a ceramic, terracotta, or glass saucer
- Fill the bowl approximately one-third full with coarse rock salt
- Carefully place six Chinese coins on top of the salt, arranged in a circular formation
- Fill the bowl with water to the brim, ensuring the coins are fully submerged
- Top up the water as it evaporates, taking care not to disturb the coins or the salt crystals that naturally form
- The South also overlaps with Tai Sui this year, so any groundbreaking or renovation should strictly be avoided in this area
- Star 6 resides in the North Palace and represents authority and leadership
- This star may also bring travel, especially for the father of the house
- To activate this area place six Chinese coins with the heads facing upwards
- The North also overlaps with Sui Po and San Sha this year, so any groundbreaking or renovation should strictly be avoided in this area
- Star 7 resides in the South West Palace and can bring gossip, sex scandal, robbery and fire hazard
- To combat this troublesome energy, place a glass vase of fresh flowers or 3 pieces of Chinese Water Bamboo here
- Star 8 resides in the East Palace and while still relatively lucky, it is no longer the main prosperity star
- In Period 9 (governed by Fire), Earth (Star 8) can represent slower energy or health issues, particularly for the elderly or weak
- Focus on balancing its Earth energy with Metal to prevent it from becoming stagnant or causing health and vitality issues
- Place metal sculptures, coins, or white/gold-colored decorations in the sector where the annual Star 8 resides
- Star 9 resides in the South East and is auspicious star for wealth and happiness
- Place a lamp, red object, candles or incense in this location
- You can also place a water feature here if you have a timely energy in the Natal Chart of your home or business
The Grand Duke – Tai Sui
2026 is the Year of the Horse (午) which means that the annual energy comes to our homes and businesses from the South. Therefore, this year the energy known as the Grand Duke or Tai Sui is located in the Mountain of South 2 (172.5° – 187.5°).
In Chinese mythology the Tai Sui （太岁）is actually a position in the celestial heavens which determines the annual fortunes of all mortal beings for a particular year. A person’s happiness, health, luck and fortune are all under the jurisdiction of the Tai Sui and hence he serves to remind us to avoid misdeeds, carry out charitable activities and care for our health.
The Tai Sui General for 2026 (Year of the Fire Horse) is General Wen Zhe and he is responsible for overseeing earthly matters in 2026, encouraging wisdom and disciplined progress. It pays to heed his location and avoid disturbing or offending him, as this can bring misfortune and problems. It can also be problematic to move into a house in 2026 that faces towards the South.
Recommendations:
- Avoid renovations or major changes in the South Palace. If this area is disturbed then you are likely to experience problems including arguments and illness. If you must renovate or repair your home, then ensure that you commence and finish all work in the adjoining sectors
- A special date and time should also be selected for groundbreaking, renovation or moving in, but this requires the skill of an experienced Feng Shui Master
- Never sit facing the Tai Sui or sleep with your head pointing towards his direction, as this is said to be confronting him and may lead to misfortune and problems
- Appease the Tai Sui by placing his pet, the Pi Xiu in the affected sector or by wearing the Pi Xiu pendant as an amulet
- vi_piyao.gifAlternately you can also place the figurine of a Goat or Dragon Tortoise in the South sector and face it towards the Tai Sui, as this is another simple way to harmonize the influence and ensure his support
San Sha – Three Killings
The Three Killings or San Sha (三煞) is one of the major annual afflictions in Feng Shui and is a very challenging combination of three energies – namely the Year Sha (Sui Sha), the Robbery Sha (Jie Sha) and the Disaster Sha (Zai Sha).
Obstacles that set you back may be caused by the Year Sha; wealth losses may be due to the Robbery Sha and frequent mishaps and misfortunes could be brought on by the Disaster Sha. Hence it is good practice to find the location of this incoming energy each year and treat it accordingly.
In 2026, the San Sha is located in the North Palace, spanning 337.5° to 22.5°. As previously noted, it is essential that this sector remains undisturbed throughout the year, so avoid any form of renovation or ground disturbance in the home or garden, including drilling, hammering, or excavation. Where possible, also avoid sitting with your back facing North, as this may symbolically activate the San Sha energy.
If the San Sha is disturbed, it may result in accidents, health concerns, legal disputes, financial losses, unexpected mishaps, and a sequence of underlying problems that can create ongoing difficulties throughout the year.
To minimise these risks, keep the North Palace calm and inactive, and place three Celestial Guardians in this sector to help suppress potential misfortune. Appropriate choices include a set of three small golden Dragon Horses (commonly known as Chi Lin), or a traditional trio consisting of a Fu Dog, a Chi Lin, and a Pi Yao.
Sui Po – Year Breaker Star
The Year Breaker Star, also known as Sui Po (歲破), is always located in the sector directly opposite the Grand Duke (Tai Sui 太歲). For this reason, it is regarded as an energy that clashes with Tai Sui and must be treated with the same level of caution.
Accordingly, any form of major disturbance, including ground-breaking, renovations, or heavy construction, should be avoided in the affected sector of your home or business throughout 2026.
In particular, this applies to the North sector, and more specifically the North 2 (子) mountain, spanning 352.5° to 7.5°.
With this in mind, now is the ideal time to begin your Chinese New Year preparations, ensuring all necessary adjustments are completed in advance. This allows you to move forward with confidence and fully embrace the opportunities and fresh beginnings ushered in by the Year of the Bing Fire Horse (丙午).
Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái and may 2026 bring you happiness, good health, and lasting prosperity!
