The Spirited Home: 9 Feng Shui Rituals and Design Trends for the Year of the Horse
Zen Bedroom New York UES design showcasing horses art photography - Marie Burgos Design
Galloping Toward Success: 9 Feng Shui Rituals for the Year of the Horse
The Lunar New Year is a time of profound transition. Since Feng Shui is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy, aligning your home with the year's specific energy is essential for harmony.
The Year of the Horse is characterized by momentum, passion, and decisive action. To help you harness this spirited energy, I’ve curated nine simple yet powerful ways to invite health, wealth, and success into your life and home.
1. Visualize Your Momentum
The Horse represents forward motion. Now is the perfect time to define your objectives using a Vision Board. Curate images and words that represent the "wins" you want to achieve. By placing your goals in a visible spot, you involve the universe in your race toward success.
2. Clear the Path: De-clutter & Reorganize
A horse cannot run through a cluttered field. To allow fresh energy and opportunities to flow to you, you must de-clutter your home and office.
The Edit: Empty closets and cabinets to remove stagnant energy.
The Gift: Donate items to local charities or sell them and donate the proceeds. When you release the old, you make room for the new.
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3. Vitality as a Priority
The Horse is a symbol of great physical strength. Start the year by checking in with your body—visit your doctor and ensure you are starting the season full of energy. Audit your medicine cabinet, toss out expired items, and renew your commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
4. An Abundant Sanctuary
In Feng Shui, a full pantry represents a life of plenty. "Shop with abandon" before the New Year begins. Ensure your refrigerator, pantry, and canisters are filled to the brim. This abundance in the kitchen sets the tone for prosperity in every room of the house.
5. Cultivate Your Social Circle
The Horse is a social, communicative creature. Review your professional and personal contact lists and ensure they are updated. Reach out to the people you value to wish them a prosperous New Year—strengthening these bonds creates a supportive network for your journey ahead.
6. Respect the Vessel of Wealth
Your wallet is a home for your prosperity. If yours is worn out or tattered, replace it. Keeping your wallet organized and "full" symbolizes that you will have more than enough resources throughout the entire year.
7. Invite Growth with Greenery
Plants and blooming flowers represent rebirth and the "Wood" element that fuels the Horse’s fire. Introduce a new green plant to your space to symbolize the health and growth of your family. It is a living reminder of your blossoming potential.
8. The Luxury of Big Dreams
Don’t be afraid to think big this year. The Horse energy favors the bold. Map out your travels, career changes, or the new classes you wish to take. When you prepare the destination, the path reveals itself.
Live Well, Be Well, Work Well.
Los Ángeles Living room design - Marie Burgos Design
The Year of the Horse: Decor & Color Palette
1. The Power Palette: Fire & Wood
To harness the Horse's high energy without it becoming overwhelming, we blend vibrant "active" colors with stabilizing "growth" tones.
Primary Accent – Cinnabar & Terracotta: Incorporate shades of red or burnt orange. In Feng Shui, red is the ultimate color of protection and luck. Use it in small doses—a silk throw pillow, a lacquered tray, or a piece of bold wall art.
Secondary Tone – Hunter Green & Sage: Since this is a Wood year, greens represent vitality and expansion. Large-leafed plants or olive-toned upholstery provide a sophisticated backdrop for the Horse's fiery nature.
Neutral Grounding – Sand & Warm Oak: Use light wood textures and sandy beiges to keep the space feeling airy and "fast," reflecting the open plains where a horse runs free.
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2. Symbolic Decor Accents
The Upward Gallop: A tasteful, sculptural horse figure placed in the South sector of your home or office can boost your reputation and fame. Look for materials like bronze, carved wood, or matte ceramic to maintain the Marie Burgos sophisticated aesthetic.
Vertical Elements: Wood energy moves upward. Incorporate tall floor lamps, vertical striped wallpapers, or high-reaching indoor trees (like a Fiddle Leaf Fig or a Dracaena) to encourage career climbing.
Light as Energy: The Horse loves light. Swap out dim bulbs for warmer, brighter ones, or add a statement crystal chandelier to catch and disperse "Chi" throughout the room.
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3. Textile & Texture
Natural Fibers: Use linen, cotton, and raw silk. These "Wood" element fabrics breathe well and feel organic.
Movement in Patterns: Choose rugs or wallpapers with fluid, organic lines rather than rigid geometric shapes. This mimics the flowing mane and the movement of a horse in motion.