Human beings are not the only living creatures in a house. Animals are powerful totemistic symbols in feng shui, and come in many forms. Obviously, we have the actual creatures themselves as pets, but each of us was also born under a Chinese animal sign. We must also consider the influences of pictures and representations of animals, and of shapes and shadows that resemble animals, for these too will exercise a weak power over the feng shui of your house.
Chinese folklore, bereft of a million vampire films to scare it, has a positive attitude towards the humble bat. When in repose, the bat hangs upside down, a habit that seems not to bother it. For this reason, the Chinese regard the bat as a symbol of unique perspective and original inspiration. Bat images in a home will encourage the occupant to look at the world in a different way. Hang them in the N sector to encourage an original approach to a career move, and in the NW to encourage a real change of scene or acquaintances. Since bats are nocturnal creatures, their images encourage occupants to burn the night oil: studying in the NW, laboring in the SE.
The philosopher Zhuang Zi wondered if he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was a man. Ever associated with flightiness and feather-weights, the butterfly is a Chinese symbol of a carefree life. It is the butterfly that flits around the garden and enjoys the flowers for what they are, a fact that the hard-working gardener would do well to remember from time to time. Its placement in the home will encourage the occupant to enjoy life and stop taking everything so seriously. In houses which have recently suffered a bereavement, the butterfly is a symbol of the newly-departed soul, and of the occupants’ desire that they should rest in peace.
The cat is associated with business acumen in China, and many premises have a "lucky cat" placed somewhere near the cash register, with one paw raised up in supplication. In other sectors of your life and luck, the cat is less auspicious. It is a symbol of canny business sense, but also of the will to control and manipulate others, to take without ever giving anything in return. The cat may be a wise creature, but its wisdom is eternally directed at looking after number one, and those who love it can never hope to have their feelings reciprocated. Best avoided, especially in the sectors associated with family and romance.
Moths, butterflies, centipedes and caterpillars are not regarded as pests in China, understandably when you remember the riches brought by the humble silk worm. The centipede in particular is regarded as a very lucky charm; it is called a "cash-dragon" because its undulating length resembles a string of coins. If you find a centipede in the SE sector of your home or garden, it is a sure-fire sign of riches around the corner. If you don’t find one, feng shui lore says you can encourage the fates to make it happen by putting one there. Do not kill a centipede within the confines of your home, it will destroy any riches you have in the sector where it occurs.
The dog is one of the signs of the Chinese zodiac, and will exert a powerful influence over occupants born in the Year of the Dog. Dogs are great guardians and watchmen, liable to scare off burglars and other intruders, although sometimes they may misguidedly scare off friends. They can be extremely useful in the W sector as protectors of children, or in the SE as charms against con-artists. If their influence is too powerful within your home, you may find yourself becoming snappy and overprotective. The dog is also a symbol of the element Earth, so take care that its presence or image does not upset the balance of the other elements within your dwelling.
The dragon is another zodiac sign, and one or more of the occupants of your house may have been born in the Year of the Dragon. The dragon is a symbol of the Earth element, and is the most popular symbol in Chinese folklore. The dragon protects, brings luck and success (by flying without wings), and is the divine bringer of storms that clear the air. Chinese dragons are not the evil creatures of western mythology; as long as they are treated with respect, they will always be kind and friendly to the occupants of a house.
Ducks, especially the Mandarin duck, are symbols of marital fidelity because they mate for life. A powerful image when used in pairs, the obvious placement is in the SW (marriage) sector, although the duck can also be employed in other areas of feng shui. In the N sector it can bring a powerful influence to business mergers, in the W it can bestow good prospects on the marriages of the occupants’ children. If placed centrally in the room, images or representations of ducks may cause the occupants to neglect all else in pursuit of love. This may be detrimental to education and career, but is ultimately harmless, since willingness to love love itself is a sign of enlightenment.
The elephant is a symbol of great wisdom because it lives to a great old age, and because the Chinese word for elephant ("xiang") rhymes with the word for a minister. Chinese chess is called "Elephant Chess" as a game for wise players. The elephant is also associated with great strength because it is the largest and most powerful animal on land. Even before the Chinese had heard of the legendary Elephants’ Graveyard, they were using statues of these beasts to protect shrines and cemeteries. Useful as a symbol of power and glory, the elephant can be placed in your weakest sector to strengthen and protect it from marauders.
The frog (or toad, Chinese folklore does not really distinguish between them) can encourage great leaps of activity, although not necessarily in the right direction. It can also be a symbol of misguided ideas, since thanks to the bulging set of the eyes, the higher a frog stands on its hind legs, the less it sees except what is actually behind it. Frogs are sometimes used in feng shui designs to encourage quick thinking and fast reactions, but you are advised to look before you leap.
The horse is one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, and a symbol of the element Fire. An animal greatly revered in Asia for the power brought to Genghis Khan by his cavalry, the horse is a symbol of hardy endurance, a willingness to work, but also of occasional fits of temper (as you might expect from a creature ruled by Fire). A horse will benefit study in the NE sector, and career in the N. In the SW, it will aid marriage because it is also a symbol of loyalty. An image of race-horses emphasizes speed over endurance. Never place a horse and a deer side by side; a "horse-deer" is a Japanese "idiot."
The monkey is one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, and ruled by the element Metal. In Chinese legend, it was the Monkey King who stole the peaches of immortality from the Divine Emperor’s garden, and the monkey has always been associated with tricks and jokes. His inherent playfulness is sometimes welcome; in fact, it may be all that is required in the E or W sector to drag children out of a depression or illness and back to normality. However, the monkey is notorious for playing all day and never working, and a monkey influence (including baboons, gorillas and chimpanzees) in the study or career sectors could spell disaster for the occupant who wants to get ahead.
The ox is another of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, ruled by the element of Earth. The loyal creature that pulls the plow and cart, the ox is associated with help and friendship. It is a strong talisman for bringing friends in time of need, especially if placed in the NW sector. The drawback with oxen and representations of oxen is that they can be a little stubborn, and may need to be encouraged with a few stern tugs. This is particularly likely during the winter months, when traditionally cattle had little else to do but sit around munching on food and fattening themselves for an unknown fate. Too many oxen motifs can make you complacent and gullible.
If the dragon is the powerful, male symbol of China, then the phoenix is the nurturing, female symbol. It is also a strong water influence because of its purity. The phoenix only appears in times of great prosperity, but is said to grant long happiness, happy marriages, and a thriving peace throughout the world. Its images are particularly strong in the SW (marriage) sector, but will bring harmony to all the others. A symbol of eternal life because it is constantly reborn, the phoenix happily sacrifices itself because it knows it will return. Too much phoenix imagery around your home may encourage some occupants (especially the lady of the house) to compromise too much and believe that nobody appreciates them.
Another Chinese zodiac sign, the pig is greatly revered in China, both for its meat and its legendary sensitivity. A symbol of family happiness (the Chinese character for "family" is a pig under a roof), it is also ruled by the Water element. The pig in feng shui is a softening component, used to soothe and calm enemies and potential problems. It will ease a troubled atmosphere at work in the N, bring compassionate friends in the NW and pour oil on troubled marital waters in the SW, but take care that it is not used to excess. Overuse of pig or Water images will make the occupants of a room oversensitive, easily hurt and quick to take offense.
A proud and feisty sign of the Chinese zodiac, the rooster is ruled by the element Metal. Fiercely protective of his family, the rooster is the chivalrous knight among the animals; with a crown on his head and spurs on his feet, he combines images of nobility and courage. Still used as a fighting creature in Asia, the rooster brings pride and daring into whichever sector it finds itself. Nervous job applicants should place rooster imagery in the N sector to steel their resolve, timid suitors should place it in the SW to help them pop the question. But if the rooster imagery is used to excess, it will make the occupants boastful and cocksure, and pride still goes before a fall.
The sheep is another sign of the Chinese zodiac, and one ruled by the element Earth. Kind-hearted and gentle, sheep are naturally successful in business because they produce wool without any effort. For this reason, sheep imagery is particularly powerful in the N and SE to encourage business success, but should not be used too often. Sheep are notoriously indecisive, and can run into trouble without a strong shepherd. If you have to make an important choice in life, keep sheep imagery away from your feng shui. In Chinese astrology, the sheep is sometimes replaced by a goat, and this works in feng shui too. Sheep are best kept away from those born in the Year of the Tiger.
Sometimes called the "little dragon" of the Chinese zodiac, the snake is ruled by the element Fire. The snake is a fiercely intelligent creature, highly manipulative and a true believer in the pre-emptive strike for dealing with enemies before they even become enemies. A bad influence on friendship, but not necessarily so in business, the snake’s charm and cleverness can work wonders in the appropriate sectors. Best kept out of the W (children) and SW (marriage), because the snake will always be a predator and a sneak. May bring success in business in the N, but it may also bring hazards, for who will be the cunning schemer to benefit? Will it be you, or your enemies?
The tiger is another sign of the Chinese zodiac, and ruled by the Wood element because its favorite hunting ground is amid the trees of the forest. Chinese warriors painted the image of the tiger on their shields, hoping to use the feng shui representation to bring some of the tiger’s warlike spirit into their own souls. The tiger is a symbol of bold leadership, and a powerful influence if you are already in charge of something. If you are not, it is a symbol of dissension, because, like all cats, the tiger does not follow orders willingly. Keep tiger imagery away from new arrivals, especially if they were born in the Year of the Hare, Pig or Rooster.
One of the sacred animals of China, the tortoise is a symbol of great longevity, and of slow but sure effort and improvement. A story was told in ancient times that the tortoise had forgotten the Eight Rights and Wrongs: Its image in the W will make children behave, but in the SW it will make the lady of the house misbehave. The tortoise’s shell makes it a symbol of impregnability, but also of unsuspected flaws, for how is the tortoise to know what will happen when it is upended? A hill behind your house in the N is said to protect it like a turtle’s shell. A turtle image in the NW may help combat impotence.
The Chinese unicorn or
jilin (called a
kirin in Japan, and still a brand of Japanese beer) is a sign of peace and wise rulership. It also bestows fame and fortune upon the children of a household, and is most powerful when placed in the W (children) sector. Even when their children have grown up and left home, many Chinese couples still have a unicorn image in the W to bring luck to their offspring, and, by association, to themselves. If the occupants of a house are plagued by an important decision, the unicorn image will help them make the correct choice. The Western image of the unicorn is a reasonable substitute if you cannot find the Chinese variety.
The wolf is seen as a kind of dog, yet wilder, and as a kind of tiger, but more cooperative. It is also regarded, mainly in the old rural communities, as a pest and a predator like the fox. In feng shui it remains a symbol of the loner and the hermit, and possibly of a noble warrior unjustly cast out of loyal service. The wolf is a powerful image to use in your feng shui at times when it appears all others are against you. It may be lonely in the dark forest, but the dawn will come, and with it, absolution. If used to excess, wolf imagery may cause a violent temper.
