Chinese New Year is Wed! Here's How to Prepare for More Wealth & Health
Jan 29th: Enter Year of the Snake
I think it’s safe to say that this 2025 New Year did not get off to a great start. But I’m here to tell you there’s redemption! The Chinese New Year officially begins on Jan. 29th (this Wednesday), and this is one serious customer when it comes to setting intentions and setting up the year you deserve.
Years ago, I got certified in Feng Shui. Feng Shui, literally translated, means “wind and water,” and it’s all about creating an even-keel energy around you as well as a world that’s auspicious instead of inauspicious. We all want that, right?
I love Feng Shui because it’s all about setting intention and letting positive energy help you do the work. So, when Chinese New Year rolls around – this year, it’s celebrated for 16 days until Wed., Feb. 12th – you have a splendid opportunity to re-engineer your direction and intention.
This year, we move from The Year of the Wood Dragon to The Year of the Wood Snake. This means the fiery chaos you might have experienced in the last year will mellow out into what many claim will be a “year of harmony.” The Year of the Snake is linked with wisdom, greater intuitive power and problem solving. The year of the “Wood” Snake (one of the four elements in Chinese astrology) is particularly known for imagination and creativity. I’m all for that.
So, let’s take a look at how we can welcome The Snake into our lives …
Now, I’m sure there are a MILLION truly amazing Feng Shui experts out there who will correct me on what I’m about to offer as tips and hints to prepare for Chinese New Year (also referred to as Lunar New Year in countries like Thailand and Vietnam). This is what I do in a combined effort to prepare for Chinese New Year and employ Feng Shui at the same time in my life, and it works marvelously. I find it energizing and fun. And, yes, this applies to your home and workplace.
Complete these steps before 12:01 a.m. on Wed., Jan. 29th.
Step #1: Clean and De-Clutter Your House
The biggest aspect to prepare for Chinese New Year has to do with cleaning out the old. Really clean your house. Get the cobwebs and dust bunnies out. Then, clear stacks of clutter wherever possible to allow “chi” (fresh energy) to move freely through your home without getting stuck, cornered or encumbered. (I cleaned all day Saturday.)
Note: ABSOLUTELY NO CLEANING ALLOWED ON NEW YEAR’S DAY (Jan. 29th) as the Chinese claim it sweeps good luck out of your home. I don’t even turn on the dishwasher!
Step #2: Get Rid of Dying Plants or Repot Plants
If you have silk plants, give them a good water spritz and dusting, too. Today, I picked up a great marbelized red pot at Ruben Flores’ Laguna Nursery and replanted a large fern whose roots were overrun.
Large plants inspire healthier family and spousal relationships in the east section of your home, or the east section of any room. Smaller plants inspire wealth in the southeast sector of your home. I keep jade and bamboo plants – both big on wealth – here in my southeast.
Step #3: Sage Your House
This is particularly important if you had a particularly crappy year in 2024. You can find inexpensive sage sticks at The Chakra Shack in Laguna, with simple instructions for lighting. You don’t want to set the whole thing on fire, for heaven’s sake, just light the end like a cigar until it settles to a smolder with a wisp of smoke. Then, speak a positive intention on what you prefer in your life this year as you move through your home, wavin’ that bit of smoke around (keep a dish underneath to catch any falling ash. When you’re done, place the sage stick in your sink and quench the embers with plenty of water. Let it dry in the sink before storing it for your next saging event.
Added tip: Himalayan Salt Rocks (typically light pink) are known for their ability to neutralize negative energy, too. I just found a treasure trove of these at Chakra Shack, too. You can find them in raw format or electrified as lamps with tiny night light bulbs inserted. This provides a lovely, mellow light.
I keep mine “on” just about every day of the year, but Chinese New Year’s 16-day stretch is important. (Note to the wise: This is truly SALT, so be sure to put a dish or plant saucer underneath it so that the salt doesn’t mar your furniture or floor.)
Step #4: Buy Red Clothes and New Year Decor
Shop for a new piece of clothing, specifically in red (even if it’s just underwear!), and buy red Chinese paper lanterns, red candles or candle holders, red vases, red whatever. For 16 days, you want to infuse red into your home.
Today, I purchased a red blouse to wear on Jan. 29th from The Vault for Women on Forest Avenue downtown (next to Rebel Omakasse), and I brought my red hummingbird feeder out of storage (Ruben at Laguna Nursery has plenty of these). I also purchased a bunch of red candles and grabbed a great red paper lantern from Laguna Nursery, too. Then, I brought out my red dishes and red wine glasses for the 16-day event.
If you need great decor ideas, just head over to Laguna Nursery where Ruben Flores has room after room set up for your shopping pleasure. He has all sorts of red paper lanterns in stock, and offers a plethora of Chinese/Asian decor, too.
I also love nosing through Laurie Alter’s Tuvalu on Forest downtown and, then, Nuance’s great dishware and red candle collection, also on Forest just down from the Lumberyard restaurant.
Added tip: The south of your home (or a designated bedroom or living room) is your “red” area specifically, as it generates recognition, pay raises and fame. Lighting red candles here is especially auspicious when you want to bring these elements into your world.
Step #5: Get a Fresh Wreath for Your Front Door
The typical Chinese New Year wreath looks a lot like a bauble-y Christmas wreath with a lot of red and gold ornaments. Whatever you do, don’t buy anything with dead sticks!
If red and gold isn’t your style for your front door, purchase a pussy willow wreath with fresh greens, as it signifies great health and vitality (Small fact: North American Natives use the pussy willow bark and roots for pain killer and fever reduction. Small coincidence, right?)
Step #6: NO Knives In Use in your Kitchen on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day (Jan. 28th and 29th)
This might seem a tough rule to follow, particularly as the next step encourages you to have a New Year’s Eve Feast with people you love. Chinese families don’t allow knives in the kitchen during the entire 16 days, which requires weeks of careful food planning and preparation in advance!
My simplest solution - EAT OUT for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day! We have plenty of options here in Laguna Beach and I’m sure they’re all ready with specific Lunar New Year feast items (see Step #7 below!)
Mandarin King in North Laguna Beach (still family owned for more than 40 years)
Peony’s “to go” food on Broadway by Carmelita’s
Thai Bros downtown, 238 Laguna Avenue
Saigon Beach Vietnamese just south of Mozambique between Agate and Pearl
Starfish Laguna in South Laguna Beach in the shopping center where Gelson’s used to be (Starfish is specifically celebrating with new menu additions and Lunar New Year libations as well as a gift card specials (buy $100, get $15) for those red envelopes of yours (see below!)
Step #7: New Year’s Eve Feast (Tuesday, Jan. 28th)
Popular foods on Chinese New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day have significance, too:
Soup: “Everything better than last year.”
Chicken: Wealth
Whole Fish: Togetherness and sustainability of relationship
Shrimp: Abundance
Mushrooms: Longevity
Steamed buns and dumplings: Good luck
Long Noodles: Long life (don’t ever cut them during the Lunar New Year!)
Apples: Peace and harmony in the New Year
I’ve already asked friends to join me at Starfish on New Year’s Eve. Then, on “New Year’s Day” (Jan 29th) I’m fixing my shrimp and salmon soup with mushrooms, Soba noodles and dumplings (from Trader Joe’s because I’ll never figure out how to do homemade dumplings).
Step #8: Stay Up Till Midnight on Tuesday Night and Ring a Bell
Much like what we American’s have adapted with a falling ball at Times Square, Chinese New Year’s Eve keeps people up until midnight, but they normally ring bells in their home, or go to a popular square where gongs and bells are played at midnight. Once again, our friend, Ruben Flores, has plenty of Tibetan bells and wind chimes at Laguna Nursery - perfect for this necessity.
Then, for Chinese New Year Day - Feb. 12th
Step #1: Pile a Bowl with Fresh Oranges and Tangerines
Oranges signify wealth and tangerines good fortune. Today, I brought out my gold fruit basket (which I don’t use any other time of the year) for my 16 days of fruits. Be sure to replace any fruit that is aging or showing spots during this time period.
Step #2: Distribute Red Envelopes with Money
A long-held tradition, New Year’s Day and the 16 days that follow will see people giving red envelopes to each other … and every envelope has money or gift cards! This is done as a sign of gratitude and an offer of fresh starts and good luck ahead.
Red envelopes are given by parents to kids, and friends to friends. I’ll typically distribute to service providers in my world, like my beloved nail gal, gardeners, housecleaners, etc. The envelopes are often embellished but plain old red envelopes work just as well!
I taught this concept to my coaching clients and had one amazing woman distribute many red envelopes to complete strangers - she’s continued the tradition ever since.
Important Tip: If you receive a red envelope, just remember that it’s impolite to open the envelope in front of the giver.
Most importantly! A 2-week timeframe to focus on what you really want for the year ahead
Tied to Feng Shui practices, the Lunar New Year is a 2-week focus on two things - what you’re grateful for in your life + what you wish to bring into your world in the year ahead.
I offer two additional steps to help you start the next Lunar Year with real intentional change for your year ahead … but that’s not my standard “Best of Laguna Beach” written fare. If you’re interested, pop over to my “Golden Ticket” blog where you’ll find an almost identical article to this BUT with two additional steps for your intentional manifestation that I encourage specifically during the 16-year Lunar New Year celebration. That’s here:
Enjoy the great new energy as our New Year unfolds this week!