The position and arrangement of the study table is a crucial factor.  It aids concertration, creativity and memory to attain better acedmic results.  To begin with, you have to identify your child’s literacy direction or known as wen chang position.  Refer to the chart below for literacy direction with the zodiac and year indicated.

After you have determine the direction, simply place the study table in the sector or against the wall or window of this orientation to increase the concentration and efficient of the child’s study. Try to leave as much space as you have behind the chair to encourage unlimited potential.

There are some other useful pointers to encourage good results.  These are:- 

• Make sure your child is not sitting with their back against the door.
• Avoid glass table.
• Make sure that nothing sharp or piercing is directed towards the chair.
• Open up window daily to air the room.
• Keep toys away from study area.
• Keep loose papers, books and your stationery tidily organized at all times.
• Avoid overhead beams or uneven ceiling directly above the head and the study table.
• Proper lighting is essential but avoid lighting directly above head.
• Avoid having aircon blowers behind the chair.

Achieve better academic results by observing these Feng Shui principles!

One of the fundamental principles of Feng Shui is – Qi should be allowed to flow freely through your home and that the objects in your home should emit positive energy. 

If you are keeping junks that create stagnant and negative energy, you are not following the basic principles of feng shui, and it won’t matter how many plants, crystals, paintings or how colour-coordination of your home is.  

When one hangs on to too much old stuff or having too many objects, a home will be filled with stagnant memories, and not joy from the present or even new hopes. 

Good Feng Shui cannot be generated with mess and junks.   Get rid of all the old files, old magazines, unused bottles and containers or that torn cloths or cloths you can’t put on anymore, old receipts, unwanted applicants.   

Let go of old attachments. Create new memories; allow positive thoughts, invite new opportunities with smooth flow of Qi when you make space in your home.  This is the quality of live!

Jing Zhe means awakening the insect. It was believed that on this day, all insects are awakening from their hibernation when a loud band of thunder strikes the earth and soon after the insects will harm the crops and the hungry tigers will hurt lives and thus people start praying for safety and good harvest by offering to the Tiger God.

And today, whoever wants to ward off backstabber and troublemakers will visit the temple to give offering to the Tiger God. A generous piece of raw pork, fresh duck eggs, greens beans, sesame seeds, joss stick, incense paper and offering set is used for the prayer. A handsome piece of raw pork is rubbing and placed on the Tiger’s mouth to symbolize feeding the Tiger. Throwing of green beans and sesame seeds on the ground is to chase away problems and trouble. To complete the offering, it’s to offer raw duck eggs, burning of joss sticks and incense paper of Guardians of nobility.

This year, Jing Zhe falls on 6^th March 2010, 00:46 Hour.

Li Chun is a term in the Chinese solar calendar.  Li Chun, also known as Da Chun, is the first term of the 24 solar terms.  It marks the beginning of the season of spring.  But it is not the 1^st day on the Lunar Calendar which we Chinese celebrate our Lunar New Year.  In ancient China, Li Chun is the day where farmers begin their work on the field after a long rest.  

Li Chun normally falls on the 3^rd or 4^th of February of the Gregorian calendar, the calendar commonly use today. 

 Base on the lunar calendar, the year of Ox in 2009 would commence on the 26 January 2009 and ends on 13 February 2010.  This would means there is two Li Chun within the year of Ox, which falls on 4 February 2009 and 4 February 2010.  It is referred to a year of double spring.  It is an auspicious sign promising good harvest and double good news or celebrations.  

If the Lunar New Year starts after the 1^st solar term – Li Chun, it would be referred to as a blind year or a widow year, like this year of Tiger in 2010.  This year of Tiger commence on 14 February 2010 and ends on 2 Feb 2011.  In the Chinese custom, it is a bad omen of unfavorable outcome or unsuccessful year.  Chinese would avoid marriage and giving birth in a blind year.

Each year, there will be a new Yearly God on duty, looking after all matters on earth.  His appointment would commence on the 1^st solar term – li chun.  And the next would take over the baton on the following li chun.   

Each year there will be some zodiac with opposing forces with the Tai Sui.  It can be determined base on the earthly branch of the pillar of destiny.  It can further be classified under offend, clash and punishment with the Tai Sui.  

This year, Year of Tiger 2010, the Tai Sui is Wu-1 Huan-2.  

In the Taoist practice, praying to the Tai Sui at the beginning of the Lunar Year seeking for protection and peace would deflect the negative impact for those who has offend, clash or punishment formation with the Tai Sui.  

For the year of Tiger, praying to Tai Sui begin before the Lunar New Year.  The ideal time for prayer is around 4 Feb 2010 which is the first solar term.  

For the Year of Tiger 2010, those born in the year of Tiger is in a offend formation with the Tai Sui.  And for those born in the Year of Monkey is in a clash formation with the Tai Sui.  Lastly, for those born in the Year of Pig and Snake is in the punishment formation.    

If one do not fall under the above category, the person’s pillar of destiny might still have clash, offend or punishment formation with the Tai Sui.  

This theory is also used in feng shui. In fact it is an important aspect of concern.  It is associated to the orientation of a premise determined using the Chinese Fengshui Compass known as Luo Pan marked with the 24 mountains.  The position of the Tai Sui changes every year.  The location where the Tai Sui resides should best keep quiet with no disturbance.  Activities like renovation, ground breaking, earth digging, repairing and nailing on this area must be avoided till the following year.  If the Tai Sui is disturbed, misfortune would befall on the residence such as injuries, financial losses, business failure or sudden illnesses.  The impact varies according t the pillar of destiny.

In the year of Tiger, the Tai Sui is located at 52.5 to 67.5 degree of the Northeast.  If the main entrance of a premise is located at this specific degree, opening and closing of door is also considered as disturbing the Tai Sui.

Bring along with you sweets, cakes or cookies to share with colleagues to symbolize harmony and joyous relationship for the year.  Many bosses distribute red packet also known as ang bao to staffs on the first day of commencement of business as a gratitude and encourage better performance in the New Year.  

For the year for Tiger 2010, the auspicious dates to commence business are as follows:

Base on the Chinese tradition, some procedures should be observed such as getting a new broom, duster and cloths for the spring cleaning. Pomelo leaves are are used to tie on broom and duster to sweep and cleanse the entire house. You can also soak some pomelo leaves and flowers to clean affected area in the home or office. 

The cleaning should begin from the main entrance and work inwards to the premise if you have enjoyed a favorable year. Otherwise you should sweep from the most inner part of the premise and out of the main entrance to clear all energy that has been build up in the premise and allow the new auspicious “qi” to fill your space. 

The Dates stated below are selected from the Chinese Almanac which is meant for this activity of “cleansing & removing the old and welcoming the new”.

Dong Zhi normally falls between 21^st Dec to 23^rd Dec of the year.  This year, Dong Zhi is on the 22^nd Dec 09, Singapore. 

Dong Zhi has the shortest daylight of the year as the hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun.  For many cultures including the Chinese, this day represent treat of chilly air, long hours of darkness and seasonal affective disorder. 

Base on the theory of yin and yang, the yin energy, which is at its most powerful, meets the yang energy at the Northern hemisphere and make their turning point, giving way to the light and warmth of yang.  For this reason, Dong Zhi is a time for hopefulness. 

Chinese feast like a New Year on Dong Zhi as they celebrate the good year they have had.  It is also an occasion for family reunion and put on new clothing.  Some dishes are must to have on this day such as dumpling, sweat glutinous rice ball soup, red bean congee and wine. 

Dumpling is belief to stimulate a person intellect and making the person more intelligent and hardworking for the year ahead. 

Sweat Glutinous Rice Ball called Tang Yuan is a popular Chinese desert, which symbolize family unity and prosperity.  Many choose to eat 9 rice balls during Dong Zhi as 9 is the most Yang number and is a complete number for Chinese. 

Red Bean Congee is belief to be able to ward of evil spirit, bad luck and troublemakers (xiao ren) for the coming year.    

Wine is of course to keep warm and to keep the gathering into the long night. 

On the day of Dong Zhi, it is important keep yourself warm as the yang energy on earth is unbalance.  Anyone who falls ill on this day is belief to have bad fortune on the coming year.  

Try some of the above dishes to keep warm and have a wonderful year ahead !