Auspicious Dates and Places for the (1st) month of the Metal Tiger 2026.in the Year of the Fire Horse

I had a great conversation last month with Brian D. Smith about his important transformational work and of course my new book I Talk to the Animals (click to sample or purchase). A brave and good man. There are some brilliant people out there.

The Traffic Lights on the Road to Damascus

Auspicious Dates and Places for
the (1^st) month of the Metal Tiger 2026.
(04:15am 4^th February to 22:00pm 5^th March inclusive)
in the Year of the Fire Horse.

An 8 month retains and conserves
A Tiger Month is usually a kick start.
Where not to be this month: North & South West, South East (& South all year)
Where to be this month: East, West, North West.
Favoured Animals: Tiger, Horse, Dog, Pig
Especially challenged: Monkey, Snake

The Traffic Lights on the Road to Damascus: this Metal Tiger Month.

It fascinates me how far the Chinese Zodiac Animals share characteristics with their zoological namesakes. The astrological Tiger like the jungle cat, has vision, patience and the ability to move rapidly when necessary. We do not mess with Tigers. Both varieties also need space, so in the jungle or the boardroom be ready to share yours. This is the flavour of the time we are entering: fierce, fast moving, unsentimental, featuring accelerated change and accompanying opportunity as well as regular pitfalls.
This year’s winners rise to it.
I also know, which you may not, that Tigers are part of a sam he or “Three Harmony” combination with Horse and Dog which produces yet more Fire. And here we are Tiger Month in Horse Year, right at the opening of an incendiary time. If you thought the Ox Month moved faster than usual, prepare for the rush of the Tiger followed by the express train of the Horse Year. Be extra cautious on Dog Days like the 5^th and 17^th.
Here’s another thing: I’ve been doing these calculations with greater or lesser efficiency for over 25 years now and I cannot recall a month with fewer helpful days. If I haven’t made this clear already, proceed with caution.
Having said that, this is a year of opportunity for pretty much everybody. But we have to step up. Expect haste, hurry and bright light all year. This may not be comfortable but it’s likely to be less comfortable to attempt to hide away. And how you employ it best, relates to the totality of your ba zi or Four Pillars. Taking the advice that applies to your Year Animal is not likely to be enough.
So it’s axiomatic not to mess with a Tiger; the Tiger never forgets. Not a slight and indeed not a favour. They are for the most part – remember Tigers out there you are much more than your Year Pillar – creatures of fixed views. So in a sense Tigers are divided between the bitter and the sweet. That describes where we are at: it’s a hell of a year – with certain opportunities – opening with a hell of a month.
The Tiger brings the first flush of the heat that will soon be everywhere: the hurry, the haste, attention and bright lights. Your motives may be mixed. As a reclusive Dragon I’m wary of the limelight but it looks like it’s coming my way with a new book and other doors opening after so long. The rational choice is to go with it.
For those who crave attention, publicity or promotion there are so many opportunities coming up. The Tiger presents a wave of photons which may be good or bad depending on what you choose to make of it. It may be worth reminding you that you always have choice.
As I’ve written elsewhere this is a polarising year: you welcome Fire or you dread it. There’s so much here already and it’s not going anywhere.. The message is to step up, to welcome opportunity. It’s never been more true that the right answer is usually yes.
There is in ba zi theory a configuration known as Follow the Fire. Which identifies a chart containing so much Fire that it might as well welcome it. This year embodies something like that structure: broadly Snake, Horse, Sheep, Dog, Tiger and Rabbit are used to Fire and can readily make use of it; broadly Rat, Ox, Dragon, Monkey, Rooster and Pig are not and will need extra Water. Water means communication, opening to emotion and staying cool and hydrated as well as concentrating important activity to the hours of darkness and the watery months listed above. But either way there’s no getting away from the Fire which calls us all to step up.
Whichever way you slice it this is a hell of a month opening a hell of a year. Best consider everything else in this bulletin in that light.

Note: My full (paid for) bulletins lay out the dates useful and otherwise for the full month at the beginning of each month. Sheilaashworthfengshui@gmail.com can tell you more.

The Hexagram from the Book of Changes for the Metal Tiger Month 2026

Above is the Hexagram for February, 30, the Earth Ox, Fire over Fire, Lei, sometimes called Clarity. It speaks of moments of vision.

My monthly Yi Jing (that is Book of Changes) class
(next one: Wednesday March 11^th) examines the ramifications of the Hexagram for next Month i.e. March, the Metal Rabbit Month: this time Zhong Fu Hexagram 61, Wind over Lake: Inner Sincerity.

You can visit the highlights of this and every monthly session on my YouTube Channel. You may not have the stamina for all sixty four Hexagrams but you could also join us live via Zoom for a year via Sheilaashworthfengshui@gmail.com.

The Lo Shu or Magic Square for the Metal Tiger Month 2026

S
7      3       5
6      8       1
2      4       9

The kua at the heart of this month’s lo shu (above) is the conservative 8. Note that the 4 in the North is shaded because the san sha or “Three Killings” has landed there. So not settling in the North, South West (5) or the South East (7) in February is wise as is spending more time in the West(1) and North West (9).

This Metal Tiger Month – Winners and losers.

Remember you have at least four Animals to consider in your own Ba Zi chart (one each for Hour, Day and Month of birth as well as Year) and that it is as unlikely that they’re all suffering this Month as that all are making hay. Each Animal illuminates a particular aspect of life. To know this about yourself may be timely. My 2026 Annual Animal Fortunes will be on the website mid-January, ready for the Chinese New Year. More detail about this month in the Podcast.

Tigers demand space, the Metal Tiger tends not to take no for answer. Misuse of power is one gloss, restless ambition another. In this highly illuminated year these may be common pretexts for advancement. You may have quite a fierce reputation. It’s not big or clever. The 25^th brings breaks. Share them I should.
The Rabbit can find a Tiger month overwhelming. This is a great year for you, allow for a few setbacks: three forward, one back is not too bad a record. Keep your head down on the 16^th.
Dragons and Tigers can experience mutual envy. If you milk it you risk a rebound. Grace suits you better. You may have to wait till the March 3^rd for an even break but there’s plenty to get on with meanwhile in this year of – in the nicest possible way – plate-spinning. Beware the 17^th February which may prove frustratingly blocked by the yang Earth of Dogs in many forms.
Snake: at your worst you’re very tricky. You can get away with a great deal on the 13^th and 25^th when you are scarcely visible in the glare of the Horse. Attempt nothing controversial on the 6^th on 18^th however tempting.
Horses: max Fire may suit you. Here’s when you find out as the Tiger brings a shockwave of photons. You’ll be in the spotlight, best love it. Sometimes (the 13^th) it may suit you; sometimes (the 17^th) it may not.
Sheep gets hotter in all sorts of sense as the year develops. You’ll enjoy the 13^th, the 20^th perhaps not. Don’t get mean.
Monkey and Tiger are diametrically opposed; on the clock, the calendar and the floorplan. Keep your head down. For now. You’ll need to brave the Elements a couple of times: the 3^rd March may be particularly unhelpful. Use this experience to set up your strategy for the year. It’s going to be hot however you play it.
Roosters: may feel like they’re melting as we move toward the meridian of the year in June. Melting means Water which itself represents communication, especially of emotional truth. Speak up, it won’t kill you. Very little traction for now but keep giving.
Dog is the 3^rd Party of the Sam He or Triple Combination of this month. You are surely used to it by now; there is a tricky spark of Yin Fire in your makeup. Bask in it. The 13^th and 25^th look like fun. The 23^rd doesn’t.
Pig is usually happier with Water than Fire but this is a big year of learning for you. You’re apt to make unforced errors on the 17^th Feb and 21^st March when thinking ahead could forestall all sorts of nonsense. As Tin Yute Gwai Yan (or Nobleman Helper), your angle is in demand.
The Rat provides fuel to the Tiger. Service suits you better than subterfuge and your home is in the North facing the Horse wher you also host the san sha or Three Killings (don’t take this hyperbole too literally) Hard cards to be dealt. This month as well as the year will be uncomfortable if you stay on the sidelines critiquing. Get stuck in, you have nothing to lose. Best day for it: the 3^rd March.
The Ox has given up her influence as she generally does at this time of year. You gain brief influence on the 4^th and on the 3^rd March while much of the rest of the month is pretty humdrum. Roosters may offer useful advice and actual physical help but you’ll have to ask.

Podcast: Feng Shui, the Real Thing

In this month’s Podcast out the 1^st week in February, the brilliant Zoe Vita James and I look at the Tiger Month, the likely implications for each Animal and what we may each do about it plus the usual feng shui and ba zi banter, where to be and not to be, the well-being of Reggie the dog, Zoe’s bedroom/office makeover and lots more. I may be drawn on a the month’s surveys. I’ve been working with artists.
Watch out also for our digest of the coming Fire Horse Year on the same link. It’s going to be a hell of a year.

The Month of the Metal Tiger Day by Day:
Use these forecasts to plan and prepare appropriately.

Below is listed a little about the energy, tone and implications of every day of this month – some suit certain Animals and activities more than others. Some suit nobody and my notes offer advance warning. To get most value you need to compare each of the Animals in the Four Pillars of your ba zi against the portents of the day

How do I know which affect me in particular?
To find out if you’re especially favoured (or not) notice that your ba zi consists of Five Animals, one each for the Year, Month, Day & Hour of your birth plus a Life House. When any one of these is name-checked below my comments apply to you, with different nuance of course depending on which Pillar the Animal indicated inhabits. The numbers in brackets indicate a year but each Pillar also corresponds to a Month Day or Hour. If baffled, do ask.

Your Year Animal will relate to parents, family and origins as well as the physical, the obvious and the immediate, the family you grew up with, hereditary traits and patterns; deep history, deep heritage & your public face.
Your Month Animal relates to career or business as well as education, peers, siblings, exes and the work environment; shallower history, shallower heritage.
Your Day Animal represents you personally and your significant other. You may need a Chinese Calendar or professional advice to establish your Day Animal.
Your Hour Animal represents your deepest dreams, your children and the future. Which for many of us are pretty much the same thing.
Your Life House represents the voice that calls to you. It may be summoning you to your true calling but it may be no such thing. That’s a decision for you to make.

I rate Favoured days with Stars from * (helpful) to ***** (take that leap) and Cautionary days from * (watch your step) to ***** (wrap up in a blanket & don’t stir).

The Metal Tiger Month: Helpful Days (or not)

Helpful
Friday 13^th February, Earth Horse 3/4, Ox, Stable (1) **** mobile
Friday 13^th is generally reckoned unfortunate in the West; not this one, the first half-decent day for more than a week. Ox & Stable with Horse suggests things have settled into unfamiliar places. Thus or otherwise, a good day to move house and innovate.
Favours: all especially Tiger, Dog and Sheep but not Horse who should hold back.
Special Favour: Earth(1998) Metal(2010) Tiger.
Activity: tai chi (geometric centre) for dialogue and the flexibility of a balanced view.

Not so much

Sunday 15^th February, Metal Monkey 7/1, Void, Destruction (3) ***** very poor
Fierce and uncompromising, a day to take great care not to be misunderstood or in the wrong place at the right time. Could be global implications as well as local. Home’s a good place to be.
Caution: Monkey, Snake.
Activity: to the tai chi (geometric centre) for constructive discussion.

The Metal Tiger Month: Helpful Locations (or not)

Note:
Every house is different but certain forces affect us all wherever we are. What follows identifies which areas are better served by those forces (or qi) this month & which worse. That applies to all enclosed spaces. What to do about it depends very much on the individual house where the energies will be individual and may qualify or contradict my suggestions. But…. wherever a wu huang 5 Star is located place a t’ang lung. And wherever there is a 7, exercise caution. Ask if in doubt.

For guidance:
Fire: upwards motion, bright light, arrangements of 9; pointy, triangles, pyramids.
Earth: stillness, crystal, stone, quiet, arrangements of 2 or 8 flat, level shapes
Metal: circular motion, music, arrangements of 6 or 7, circular & globe shapes.
Water: random motion, chatter, emotion, arrangements of 1, the shapeless, still Water.
Wood: constant motion, plants, arrangements of 3 & 4, upright, columnar shapes.

Summary
Tai chi, Home, the centre: Year Star: 1 Month Star: 8
With the addition of a Yang Metal 6 Star 1:8 can mean prosperity: 8 Earth conserves; 1 Water shifts the Earth as the Metal prepares, calculates and makes precise. Suits a bank job or similar. This is done simply by placing something Metal (nothing pointy) to absorb the qi of the other two Stars. May especially inspire Rat, Dog & Monkey.
Put simply: effort and planning makes productive.

Location by Location
Helpful
West, Intervention: Year Star: 3 Month Star: 1. Moon Tin Yute Gwai Yan (at Rooster W2)
3:1 Career combination. Promotion, selection, election follows frank communication. Expect to have to work for it here. The type of advancement is hierarchical.
For assistance: a glass vase of Water at W2.
Put simply: help is at hand.

Not (yet) so much
North East, Beginnings & Endings: 4 Month Star: 2 Year Dragon Virtue (Ox N1)
Out of bounds till totally free of the wu huang around the 18th. Keep young men out.
Mitigate: t’ang lung may help. But best left alone altogether.
Put simply: getting better but steer clear for now.
Note: Directions are from the tai chi (ie heart of the property)

Richard Ashworth is one of the most respected Western Feng Shui Masters. A good taster of his approach may be found on Audible . You can also see him at work on tv’s Housebusters Most Thursdays and Fridays he is to be found teaching both feng shui and ba zi one-to-one online (times by mutual arrangement) with students from Seattle to Belgium.
Richard has worked from Lebanon to Bermuda, in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and with stars such as Naomie Harris, Kelly Hoppen and Gillian Anderson. Unusually for a Western Master, he has addressed the Grand Masters at the International Feng Shui Conference in Singapore.

Every month we send (at a modest fee) retainer clients a more comprehensive monthly bulletin than this one, covering in detail right places to be (and when) as well as the most helpful days Animal by Animal and much more from the Chinese calendar.
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