2025 Year of the Snake: The Feng Shui Secrets Behind Rooster & Ox Luck

At the end of my last blog, I mentioned a Feng Shui adjustment method called “the Three Harmonies.” I will introduce this concept in more depth in this blog because of its strong connection to the Chinese Zodiac. The Three Harmonies principle was first introduced in Interior Design with Feng Shui by Sarah Rossbach.

In my January 29 blog, I discussed how three Zodiac signs — Rooster, Ox, and Monkey — are expected to be most impacted in 2025, the Year of the Snake. However, I did not explain why these three signs are more influenced than others. Today, we will focus on two of them — Ox and Rooster. As for the Monkey, that’s a topic for another time.

The Three Harmonious Combinations and Their Role in Feng Shui

Ox and Rooster are particularly affected in the Year of the Snake due to a Feng Shui Zodiac theory called “the Three Harmonious Combinations”. This principle is also the foundation of Black Hat Feng Shui’s “Three Harmonies” concept.

To understand this theory, let’s first examine the Three Harmonies chart (Figure 1), as shown in Interior Design with Feng Shui.

What the Three Harmonies Chart Reveals

In this chart, four mystical triangles are formed. At first glance, each triangle appears to connect three of the eight life situations at its angles. However, these formations are not based on the life situations themselves. Instead, they are determined by the positions of the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs, which do not explicitly appear on the Three Harmonies chart.

Even in Ms. Rossbach’s book, it is stated:

“The Three Harmonies use four mystical triangles on an overlapping chart of the Ba-Gua, twelve astrological stems, and five elements.”

Here, the term “twelve astrological stems” actually refers to the Twelve Zodiac Signs.

(Note: Figure 1 is from Interior Design with Feng Shui by Sarah Rossbach, p. 141.)

Understanding the Three Harmonious Combinations

The Three Harmonies chart reflects the positions of the Twelve Earthly Branches (the Twelve Zodiac Signs) on the Feng Shui compass.

In the Five Elements system, there is a principle known as “the Three Harmonious Combinations,” commonly referred to as “the Three Zodiac Harmonious Combinations.”

According to this principle, when three specific Zodiac signs come together, they attract one another, merging their energies into a single, more powerful force. In other words, three distinct energies unite into one stronger Qi. This fundamental principle is what Interior Design with Feng Shui refers to as “the Three Harmonies.”

The Four Harmonious Combinations

The Three Harmonious Combinations consist of four groupings, each transforming into a dominant energy:

Monkey (Metal) — Rat (Water) — Dragon (Earth) → converts into Water Energy

Tiger (Wood) — Horse (Fire) — Dog (Earth) → converts into Fire Energy

Pig (Water) — Rabbit (Wood) — Sheep (Earth) → converts into Wood Energy

Snake (Fire) — Rooster (Metal) — Ox (Earth) → converts into Metal Energy

Why 2025 Impacts Rooster and Ox More

Since 2025 is the Year of the Snake, we will focus on the Metal Energy grouping.

This grouping demonstrates that when three types of Qi — Fire (Snake), Metal (Rooster), and Earth (Ox) — come together, they merge into one dominant energy: Metal Energy.

From a Feng Shui perspective, the Metal Energy of the Rooster and the Earth Energy of the Ox are naturally drawn to the Fire Energy of the Snake in 2025. Theoretically, these three energies form a harmonious combination, which enhances the luck and opportunities for individuals born under the Rooster or Ox signs — especially those whose personal Qi field benefits from Metal Energy.

For them, 2025 is expected to be a fortunate year.

The Twelve Zodiac Signs and the Feng Shui Compass

By now, you can see why the Year of the Snake significantly impacts the Rooster and Ox. However, the deeper theories behind the Three Harmonious Combinations involve more advanced Feng Shui knowledge, which I will not go into detail about here.

Instead, I’d like to briefly introduce how the Twelve Zodiac Signs came to be positioned on the Feng Shui compass.

How the Zodiac Signs Became Part of the Feng Shui Compass

The current Feng Shui compass, known as the luopan , evolved from an ancient directional tool called the Tu Gui (土圭). Before the invention of the magnetic compass, ancient Chinese people used the Tu Gui, which applied the Twelve Earthly Branches to indicate the 12 directions corresponding to the Twelve Zodiac Signs.

With the advent of the magnetic compass, Feng Shui practitioners expanded upon the Twelve Earthly Branches by incorporating:

- The Ten Heavenly Stems

- The Four Trigrams of the Later Heaven Chart

This integration led to the development of the “24 Mountains” system on the Feng Shui compass, a crucial tool for precise directional assessment in Feng Shui practice.

Final Thoughts

The Three Harmonious Combinations are integral to Zodiac Feng Shui, influencing how specific signs interact annually. In 2025, the Year of the Snake, this principle is pivotal in enhancing the fortune of individuals born under the Rooster and Ox signs, due to their alignment with the Snake’s Fire Energy.

Understanding the Three Harmonies offers valuable insights into energy dynamics and cyclical patterns of luck. By aligning oneself with these energies, one can navigate the year more effectively and harness the auspicious influences specific to their Zodiac sign.