Auspicious Dates and Places for the (9th) month of the Earth Dog 2026. in the Year of the Fire Horse

 I Talk to the Animals (available via Amazon or any decent bookshop) a definitive guide to the Four Pillars of Destiny.

A 9 month                                     is typically one of revelation
A Dog Month                               blocks with a release valve around the 18^th.
Where not to be this month: North, East (& South all year)
Where to be this month:         tai chi, North West, South East
Favoured Animals:                    Dog, Rabbit
Especially challenged:             Dragon, Rooster

The Yin that is Yang: this Earth Dog Month.
 

This Dog is all Yang Earth, that is as fixed, faithful, loyal and resolute as it gets. I have worked with several successful women born under this Pillar (of 1958), women who were strong enough and smart enough to succeed in a business world designed, run and rigged by men. My friend Eve (not her real name) who died in lockdown was one such, a brilliant and innovative woman who was both sensitive employer and indomitable businesswoman. This is for her, the Yin that is Yang.

The Dog contains just a smidge of Yin Fire, that’s passion as well as a certain sparky kind of aggression. As I’ve pointed out before, world wars start in early September (phew), market collapses often around that spark, the Dog’s so-called “Hidden Stem” of Fire between the 17^th and the 20^th October. Check 1929 and 1987. It’s as if the last burst of heat is enough to force some sort of dispersal. There are Chinese Masters who can relate this more elegantly than I do.

As if that weren’t enough, technically the Dog combines with the Horse to make further Yang (that is more robust) Fire. For this last reason I’m pretty sure that this year’s pattern of Water then Fire then Water then more Fire continues. I would not be surprised if temperatures were still in the 20’s late in October and like you I expect, I’d love to just bask in the fine weather but this is a procession not a conclusion; the hottest ever El Nino is apparently on the way and meanwhile those icebergs, as I’ve said before, have to go somewhere.

Changes could be very public, Fire implies illumination and hence is all about visibility. There may be some very public backings-down but also some doublings-down too. The effect of the excess Fire on the stubborn/obstinate/loyal/consistent Earth of the Dog is like the effect of firing on clay: fixing, immobilizing, paralysing, reaching critical mass before bursting. We are likely to experience the best and the worst of human behaviour this month. And much of that in public: certain attitudes – to war, peace, human rights and basic decency – become very clear. Embarrassingly clear in some cases.

It’s the central quality of the Yin that Eve embodied that’s needed: “gentle and thorough but ultimately adamant” as the Book of Changes has it. And that might even manifest. Let us aim to recognise that as it shows up. As I said this one’s for Eve.
Richard Ashworth © 2026

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On Wednesday October 14^th we examine the ramifications of the Hexagram for this Earth Dog Month: Qian Hexagram 15, Earth over Mountain: Humility which speaks to subtle teamwork. What it’s centrally about is the cooperation that we must master if we are to progress and thrive both as individuals and as species. For that, debilitating pride has to go. The alternatives are few.

You can visit the highlights of this and every monthly session on my YouTube Channel. If you don’t have the stamina for all sixty four Hexagrams you can join us live via Zoom for a year by contacting: Sheilaashworthfengshui@gmail.com.

 
The kua central to this month’s lo shu (above) is 9, Fire typically representing the 2^nd Daughter Lei. Locate centrally for vision and adapt. The hazardous 5 wu huang or “Five Yellow” has landed North  where it accompanies the frustrating san sha or “Three Killings”. Steer clear as well of the East (7) for now. The North West (1) and tai chi (9) are the locations to populate and activate.

The Fire Sheep Year 2027 – what’s in store
This year we are as ever holding two events to review and forecast the coming year: one via Zoom from 3pm to 9pm on Saturday November 28th and another live here in the Surrey Hills all day on the following Saturday the 5^th. We will as usual cover which Zodiac Animals are most likely to flourish or not and offer ways to work with that either way. We’ll also identify the locations that are most and least helpful.
The Early Bird price is £125.
Please pay via this Paypal link or
Contact: sheilaashworthfengshui@gmail.com

 

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 2027 Annual Animal Fortunes will go up on the website in January. More detail about each Animal’s immediate future in my monthly Podcast.

Dogs are at home of course if a little warm. Which works for you on the 20^th but is surprisingly unhelpful on the 12^th that suits almost everybody else. You may find you are blocked between the 17^th and the 21^st, explosions then may be quite personal. Be as flexible as you can now to gain from the familiar feel of your own month.
Not the easiest year so far for Pigs. October though is more about you interfering than being interfered with. A month to let go a bit. You have some unusual influence on the 12^th Use wisely. Things are better done for you than by you this month. Notice and exploit this on the 20^th. Take no unnecessary risks on the 13^th or 16^th but Snake days like the 10^th, 22^nd and 2^nd are unusually lenient on you this month.
Technically Rat and Dog clash which may actually mean lady Rats get lucky on the 17^th and 29^th; there are other sorts of breaks on the 25^th but don’t push your luck. You may lack an appreciative audience for now.
When Ox and Dog meet, something is often lost; that could be abstract or solidly physical. Pay close attention to changed attitudes nearby. And take responsibility if you can. You can safely relax on the 29^th but vigilance remains the order of the month
Tigers: the Horse loves you; you are hot in all sorts of ways. But don’t overplay your hand especially on the 16^th though excess may be just what works on the 11^th and 23^rd.
Rabbit is the “Secret Friend” of the Dog. Accordingly this is a month to pursue contacts as high up the food chain as you dare. Fortune favours the brave and you probably have little to lose. Best days: 12^th and 20^th. Not the 14^th or 26^th when you might be discouraged. Know that for the fuel it is, not the fickleness of fate.
Dragons are in direct opposition to the Dog. Your own day the 9^th may be less fraught than expected but take great care on the next one on the 21^st and on the double Dog of the 27^th. Remember you have four pillars and free will The 6^th November may begin to make up for a great deal of disappointment and frustration.

Snake Fire bakes the Dog into immovability. This is a month to be aware of the power of your whisper. You are so much more influential than you think. The Rabbit Day, the 20^th accommodates you as Rabbit Days generally do, it’s a day to let others represent you. You have power on the 20^th but it’s a pretty floppy month dipping most probably on the 16^th which may involve loss.
Horses and Dogs like to work together. Can be chaotic but will be productive. Only the  18^th looks troublesome. The 12^th and the 20^th find you at peak power when you can push the boat out as far as it will go.
Sheep and Dog are a “break-up”. No surprises there. Lean on your friend the Horse if things look like falling apart. Lowest points: 15^th and 27^th when you may need to reach out for help. Your friendly neighbourhood Pig is your best bet, next month (ie Pig month) looks so much more helpful. Free hit on the 11^th 20^th and 28^th. Stick to your guns.
Monkey and Dog aren’t likely to relax together. Your Yang Metal can exhaust the Dog and may make for quiet times though the 25^th is pretty excitable. The 19^th may find you in the bleachers rather than onstage. But that’s probably alright for now. The 16^th is a bit of a sand trap.
Rooster days (14^th & 26^th) often so crowded are quiet this month. Just as well. Best day: 25^th. Not the month to strut your stuff, however tempted.

In this month’s Podcast out today – right on time – the brilliant Zoe Vita James tells us about her trip to assist a very complex new build in Texas. We talk about the opportunities and difficulties of women in business and how feng shui can deliver openings, plus the likely implications for each Animal and space this month and what we may each do about it. Join us.

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).

Helpful
Sunday 11^th October, Earth Horse, 3/4, Star, Success (3) **** competitive
Get crystals out tonight for the first night following the New Moon at 07:23am. Star/Success set the scene for connecting with the right people. In a Rooster Month such a day may bring jostles for attention.
Favours: all but especially Tiger, Dog, Sheep.
And extra-especially:
Earth(1998) Metal(1950) Tiger, Fire(1946) Earth (1958) Dog,
Fire(1967) Earth (1979) Sheep.
Activity: at the Dog (NW1/WNW around 295°) for relative stillness.
Caution: Horse hold back.

Not so much
Wednesday 21^st October, Earth Dragon 9/6 Basket, Destruction (2) ***** mercurial
Clashes Month Dog. Basket holds surprises; Destruction suggests they may not be welcome. Be very aware of mood today – yours and those of others. Patience could be tested. Although this is a Dragon day, it’s unlikely to be the Dragon’s day.
Activity: at the Rooster due West for a friend.
Caution: all especially Dragon, Dog, Rabbit.

Even-Handed
Thursday 22^nd October, Earth Snake 8/2, Dipper, Danger (1) pretty neutral.
Dipper can be miraculous; but Daily Officer Danger brings risk; problems if you’re risk averse; could feel like Christmas if you have the nerve. The day is yours to employ as you will. Move your feet for guidance as to where to place them next.
Locate: start at the tai chi (geometric centre) for clear expression.
Activity: at the Rooster due West for greater precision
Favours:
Earth(1989) Metal(2001) Snake, Earth(1969) Metal(1981) Rooster.
Metal(1961) Water(1973) Wood(1985) Ox
Water(1992) Wood(1944/2004) Monkey

Helpful & not so helpful locations in the 9 month of the Earth Dog.
 
 

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: 9
Perhaps surprisingly the 1 of Water and the 9 of Fire can work well together. You just have to get the proportions right. Technically a clash but then so is a Man/Woman relationship – love and friendship are not the same thing. And the perfect 10 that 1 and 9 make is a signal of the power of cooperation which is what this month, this year and indeed the rest of the century requires. For greater inspiration you can increase the Fire with the many ways light and heat express themselves. More likely this fiery year, what’s needed is further Water, that is emotional expression, truth, frank appraisal. But it’s your month. Oh and forget privacy.
Put simply: broadly benevolent – and powerful – with the above provisos. Add Water.

Helpful
North West: Authority: Year Star:2 Month Star: 1 Tin Yute Gwai Yan (NW3).
A Tin Yute Gwai Yan (that is Nobleman Helper Star) is still here to give advice. The visiting 1 Water Star can fuel the 2. Sincere communication brings cooperation between older men. #greaterthanthesumoftheparts
Put simply: this is the place, boys.

Poor
North, Communication: Star:6 Month Star:5 Sui Po (Rat);Y&M san sha; Month wu huang
Okay to face North this year – but only briefly this month – but for the most part don’t locate there. The nature of the upset likely in the North varies as the year wears on and the visiting 5 won’t help this month
Mitigate: t’ang lung may help, also quiet and stillness.
Put simply: risky location, variable orientation – all year.

Four Point Activation for 2026:
The simultaneous 4-Point Activation of Dragon Virtue, Sun, Moon and Fortune Virtue at Ox (around 30˚ NE1), Sheep (around 205˚ SW1), Rooster (around 267˚ W2) and Rabbit (around 92˚ E2) respectively, is said to clear any major blockage.
Locations are from the tai chi.

Important: Timing:
1. Activation is likely to be most effective on auspicious days. We identify these in the Monthly and Weekly bulletins available by subscription.
2. This year’s locations are pretty much safe all the time.

The locations:
(measured from the tai chi).

E3:  94˚    Fortune Virtue, abundance star. Effortless opportunities.      Add:
Water: glass vase at least 12” tall with max surface area (ie not a bottle).
Change daily or pump external best.
or
SW1: 205˚  Sun, mends, restores, blesses. Things fall into place.            Add:
                      Water: glass vase at least 12” tall with max surface area (ie not a bottle).
Change daily or pump, external best.
Plus

W2: 270˚   Moon, helps things add up, organizes, tcb. Unblocking.         Add:
Fire: candles two or three times a month.
or
NE1: 30˚    Dragon Virtue, burnishes & rescues reputation.           Add:
Elevation
 Fire: candles two or three times a month.

Next suitable Date: 11:00am-13:00pm local time 20^th October.

Four journeys this year. So you’ll need eight bowls and 120 rose quartz tumblestones. You may have some left over from the Snake Year; be sure to wash them thoroughly at the first New Moon of the Year on the 19^th January. For most Chinese that date in point of fact is the New Year when you can expect your local take-away to be closed.

1. Wash and leave your 120 tumble stones outside under each New Moon; dates and
times in my monthly bulletins.
2. Place a bowl of 30 tumbles at each of: SE, W, tai chi and NE.
3. Place an empty bowl at each of: the tai chi, SW and N.
4. Move one crystal daily from starting to end point of each journey ie:
1. One crystal from SE to tai chi                 
2. One crystal from West to South West
3. One crystal from tai chi to the North
4. One crystal from North East to North.

At the next New Moon you’ll have four different bowls each holding 30 tumbles each at the end points plus four different empty bowls at the starting points. The tai chi holds two bowls of course.

5. Wash stones again, leave them under the New Moon again, start again.
You are mixing  the energies of the two locations. So breath in deeply at the starting point and feel, then carry that energy with you to the end point. Notice the meanings of the Star numbers as you mingle them.
The direction of travel (which I myself often vary during the year) is not crucial; it is the connection that matters.

Richard Ashworth©
www.imperialfengshui.info © 2026
art by @elliespinelli ©

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.
Subscriptions (and further info): Sheilaashworthfengshui@gmail.com

Richard Ashworth©
www.imperialfengshui.info