When the Chinese New Year begins on Feb. 4, at noontime, expect the year to be filled with uncertainty and instability, said Hong Kong-based feng shui master Joseph Chau.
“The prediction is based on the Four Pillars that is Feb. 4, 2019, at noontime,” he said in an e-mail interview. To determine the luck or destiny for the year, the Four Pillars are calculated. These consist of the year (2019, the Earth Pig), the month (Fire Tiger), the day (Water Monkey) and the time the year begins (Fire Horse).
“The first day of spring this year involves four zodiac signs: Pig, Tiger, Monkey and Horse. The study of the four pillars shows that 2019 is a drifting and floating year. Society lacks stability. Things are easily out of control. Demonstrations will happen. The relationship between the employer and employee will be tense, due to misunderstanding. Since fortune is obstructed, expect hardships and distress. People must be patient and calm to wait for change. It is important that they stick to their principles and stay firmly at their post at work. You need to be courageous to face severe challenges and the power to tolerate difficult people,” he said.
To neutralize the negativity, Chau recommends that one should lead a values-based life, and do more charitable actions. “Don’t be materialistic so that you will feel fulfilled and enjoy a new life,” he said.
As in most feng shui forecasts in the Year of the Earth Pig, prospects for the world economy are dim. “The trade wars among countries will heat up. Therefore, businessmen must be cautious of their investments and be more conservative in handling their work,” he said.
Chau warned of hidden enemies: “Businessmen have to think before they act. Do not be too eager or greedy when signing business deals. This will avert falling into the monetary frauds. Maintain good relationships with employees to avoid labor problems.”
Industries that will thrive are restaurants, electronics, computers, telecommunications and petrochemicals.
The second group of industries will encounter challenges: tourism, hotels, trading, transportation, logistics, garment, fashion, bookstore, health, food, lumber, furniture, designer, architecture, construction and real estate.
Tough luck will fall on the financial market, machinery, banking, car sales, raw materials, medical and entertainment businesses.
On health, people born in the Year of the Tiger, Monkey, Snake and Pig must keep away from sharp objects and pay special attention to road safety.
Chau warned that they should not attend funerals and wakes within the year. According to the Chinese, misfortune or evil spirits might follow the guests after leaving the service.
“They have to be careful with their heart or cardiovascular system, and kidney and bladder. There is a possibility they can get a stroke. They should also watch out for violence: car, train, ship or aviation accident; and robbery,” he said.
Chau foresees natural catastrophes such as typhoons, floods, big fires, volcano eruptions, earthquakes and landslides.
“On love affairs, the Romance Star is weak but chances will be open for young ladies and mature gentlemen. They should treasure this good opportunity to cultivate relationships. For those whose emotions are ripe, they should get married. Otherwise they will face many unexpected problems or even separation,” he said.
Based on Philippine Independence Day, Chau said the country is an Earth Dog. “In the Year of the Earth Pig, prospects for the Philippines will be better than last year, especially in the second half of 2019. The economic situation will stabilize,” he said.
Chau advised Filipinos to work hard and not to be too trusting or naïve in business dealing. He quotes a Chinese motto: “Strength is not less than wealth.”
“People have to work to get what they want,” he said. “However, they should not be too avaricious. Otherwise, they can fall prey to financial scams.”
Asked about politics, Chau refused to make any comments.
The feng shui master has published forecasts for the Year of the Earth Pig for each of the animal signs.
He shares excerpts:
2019 forecast for 12 zodiac signs
PIG: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Zodiac’s nature: Courageous, sensitive, indulgent, sensual, cheerful, generous, tolerant, hates quarrels
Pigs are said to be offending the Grand Duke or Tai Suey (the subtle force that dominates destiny) of the year so there is grave crisis. Pigs will face lots of challenges as they will be surrounded by gossip, disputes and conflicts both in business and daily life this year. Keep a low profile but build relationships and strengthen existing personal and professional bonds. This will help to clear the way for future career advancement.
Overall, the luck of the Pigs is not so bad because of the appearance of two lucky stars shining on them. They are able to handle their obstructions easily and will rise above crises. The problems at work will disappear and the personal disputes will subside.
Financially, this is not a very profitable year for Pigs. It is easy come and easy go. They need to work hard and be patient during the tough periods, especially in the lunar months of April and October.
They have to bear in mind the Chinese saying: “Don’t look for immediate or overnight success. The more you are hasty, the more you will fail.”
Pay close attention to road safety and keep away from sharp objects. Pay attention to the digestive system, kidney problems and limb injury. Get a medical checkup in the beginning of the year.
RAT: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996
Zodiac’s nature: Charming, resourceful, hardworking, intelligent, determined, bright, sociable and ambitious
This is a beneficial year for Rats. Work is smooth sailing
—without many difficulties. Benefactors will guide them and help reveal their talents so that they can reach the peak of their careers. However, they must keep a low profile and shouldn’t be too smug about their achievements. The Chinese proverb says: “A big tree easily catches the wind.” To be a winner, they should follow procedures accurately so that they will not have any problems in reaching their goals.
Financially, this is a profitable year for Rats. Money comes from all sources. There are abundant and stable profits in business income.
On health, the appearance of the Sickness Star indicates that they must watch their diet and food hygiene. Face the facts and do not daydream too much. Pay attention to kidney and bladder problems.
OX: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009.
Zodiac’s nature: Patient, hardworking, reliable, courageous, loyal, intelligent, helpful, self-confident
The luck of the Oxen is tough this year. Be mentally prepared to face many obstacles. Misfortune outweighs good fortune. Work is hectic and stressful. There is hope: bad luck is followed by good fortune. There are some hidden lucky stars under the sign to guide them so they will be victorious over bad luck.
Hence, the Oxen should not be depressed too much. To be successful, remember the Chinese motto: “Good mood and smiling face will bring money and better life.”
Financially, this is a year of hard work for the Oxen. Remember: more work, more gain, and they reap what they sow.
On health, there is a tendency to get involved in accidental mishaps. Thus, be mindful of road safety and take more time to rest and relax. Avoid going to funerals and wakes this year.
TIGER: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Zodiac’s nature: Rebellious and dynamic but royal, a natural leader, courageous, active, self-assured
The Tiger is the most compatible zodiac sign with the Pig. Work progress is easily achieved with minimum effort. Career luck is good.
On the other hand, due to the influence of the Backstabbing Star, they have to keep a low profile to avoid the envy of others. Stay away from disputes. Maintain good relationship with others in order to succeed without any obstructions.
Financially, this will
be a profitable year for Tigers. Money comes from all sources. They will enjoy abundance in business and will benefit from making diversified investments.
On health, pay special attention to diet and food hygiene to avoid food poisoning. Get enough sleep and relax more to avoid headaches. Beware of gastrointestinal problems. Avoid going to funerals or wakes or visiting sick people for the whole year.
RABBIT: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011.
Zodiac’s nature: Clever, peace-loving, generous, intuitive, intelligent in business with creative ideas
The Rabbit is one of the zodiac signs compatible with the Pig. People born under this sign have excellent fortune and high morale at work. Career luck is good. Work may be hectic but more efforts will reap more results. They will have opportunities for leadership.
Financially, this is a fortunate year for Rabbits. Money luck is optimistic. They will reap abundant rewards from their investments and hard work at yearend. However, good times don’t last long because of the influence of the unlucky star. They should beware of money traps. Don’t be too trusting of others.
On health, get enough sleep to avoid exhaustion. Engage in gentle exercises. Do not drink too much alcohol. Also pay attention to personal safety to avoid accidents.
DRAGON 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Zodiac’s nature: Independent, enthusiastic, magical, intuitive, shrewd, successful, daring, materialistic and very lucky
The luck of the Dragon is reborn. They are prosperous, and life will be smooth sailing. The difficulties they encountered in the past two years are over.
Two powerful auspicious stars bless this sign so that they can change their bad luck into good. They should make good use of this opportunity to share their talents to gain more achievements. Make the first move before anybody else to advance, achieve success and enjoy the fruitful results by yearend.
Financially, it is a good year. The financial star is shining on them. This is advantageous for any financial gain. They can consider making investments for a start-up or purchase properties. Pay close attention when signing contracts.
Health is not ideal. They should get enough sleep, relax more and exercise to strengthen their body. Younger Dragons should not struggle with others or that might affect their personal safety. Senior Dragons should diet and keep away from oily food to avoid sudden collapse or stroke. Beware of wet floors.
SNAKE: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Zodiac’s nature: Philosophical, deep thinkers, wise, calm, understanding, intelligent, mysterious, self-regulating
Snake is the sign that directly clashes with the Pig this year. They are affected by an unseen force from Jupiter in the solar system. In other words, they are clashing with Tai Suey (the position in the celestial heavens that determines the events, health, wealth, fortune for the year). Thus, Snakes must be mentally prepared to face challenges of the year. To counteract their bad luck, they should carry a Tai Suey Metal (amulet of an image of the celestial general for protection) and a Safety Medallion (a key chain with mantras and auspicious symbols).
Career luck is tough. They will face many obstacles that lead to more complications. Keep a low profile and be patient during the whole year to avoid attracting jealousy. Be calm and cool-headed when solving problems and disputes.
Financially, the year is not promising. Any negligence will cause grave failures. Be realistic when solving problems.
On health, since this is a clashing year for Snakes, they should be humble and maintain good relationships with the others to avoid creating conflict. Keep away from sharp objects. Do not go to funerals or attending wakes. Pay special attention to road safety.
HORSE: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Zodiac’s nature: Cheerful, charming, loyal, friendly, hardworking, independent, energetic and self-centered
The luck of the Horse is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Still, a powerful auspicious star shines brightly. Things go smoothly. They will get help from their benefactors so that their businesses will thrive beyond expectations. They should treasure this opportunity by being clear about their goals and by concentrating on their work.
Don’t get into distractions to reach the peak of their career. Observe closely and act accordingly in order to reach their achievements.
Financially, money luck is excellent as it comes from all sources. It is especially lucky for those with a stable income from salary, renting, bond, interests from the bank and stock market, etc.
On the other hand, due to the influence of the Robbery Star, they have to be alert for cheating by their staff, friends and relatives.
On health, it is not ideal that they get physically and mentally exhausted. Get enough sleep. Pay close attention to water and road safety and be cautious of theft. Senior Horses have to pay attention to their diet and beware of digestive problems.
GOAT: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Zodiac’s nature: Honest, sincere, kind, helpful, creative, peaceful, intelligent, artistic, good-natured and generous
People born under the Goat sign will have good luck because of the Noble Star shining bright. Progress at work is smooth-sailing with guidance from benefactors. They will have the chance to gain achievements. Once they have achieved success, they should not get complacent.
Be humble and don’t draw attention to the self at work. Try to accept advice from the others in order to have better prospects at work.
Financially, it is an optimistic year. It will be beneficial for investments. They will earn reasonable profits and returns by yearend. However, it is crucial that they pay special attention when engaging in contract signing to avoid money traps. Do not look for overnight success or try to challenge the law to avoid getting into legal troubles.
On health, it is not in an ideal condition. There are many unlucky stars under the sign. They have to keep away from sharp objects. There is a possibility that they might have to undergo an operation. Be cautious of accidental mishaps. Remember that safety is the biggest concern when outdoors.
For health protection, it is recommended that they get a blood test or prophylaxis to remove dirty blood from their body. They should also get more sleep, and avoid infectious diseases. It is best for them to carry a safety medallion and health medallion for protection.
MONKEY: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Zodiac’s nature: Lively, quick-witted, intelligent, inventive, innovative, independent, a fast learner with good memory
Monkeys are affected by an unseen force from Jupiter. Technically, they are offended to the Tai Suey (Pig). The luck of the Monkey is bitter first and sweet later. There are many hidden problems appearing one after another. It causes them to easily be in a negative mood that could ruin their work achievements. Fortunately, after the bad comes the good. A Salvation Star appears to solve the problems. They are able to change the bad luck into good fortune. Apart from this, there are three powerful lucky stars shining brightly. Don’t hesitate to seize this opportunity to strive for success. Otherwise it will slip through their fingers and they will have achieved nothing this year.
Financially, money luck is prosperous with luck in investments. If they can make good use of these opportunities, they will be able to gain very fruitful results. It is important, however, that they know when to stop. They must not be too greedy so that they can maintain the good fortune and long-lasting success is ensured.
Health will be vulnerable. Pay special attention to diet. Get enough sleep and rest to avoid exhaustion. It is most important that they should not go to funerals or attend wakes for the whole year and beware of road safety.
ROOSTER: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Zodiac’s nature: Courageous, honest, hardworking, productive, resourceful, capable and confident
The luck of the Roosters is difficult this year because the unlucky star, Big Evil, falls under this sign. Roosters should be mentally prepared to face many obstacles especially in work. Be more conservative and be flexible in order to cope with sudden changes and act according to the circumstances. On the other hand, there are two lucky stars shining bright under the sign that will bring them good luck and initiate change. There are many opportunities for them to exhibit their talents and abilities. However, their profits are less than their fame. It is most important that they should think positively. Do not dwell on to the past as this will only ruin future prospects. Overall, they will face many problems both in business and in their private life. They should not worry too much about it because the lucky stars will protect them and help them overcome most of the hurdles.
Financially, they will have stable incomes, but it is easy come and easy go. They should budget their expenses and save money for a rainy day. Pay special attention when engaging in contract signing. It is vital not to calculate your losses too much or you will suffer. The Chinese believe that instead of looking at what is missing; seek to gain other good things. Sooner or later, they will overcome all difficulties and turn defeat into victory.
On health, it is problematic. Beware of getting infected with influenza and lung problems. Pay close attention to food hygiene. Make sure to have sufficient rest and sleep early to avoid a breakdown from mental and physical exhaustion. They should not go to funerals and attend wakes during the year.
DOG: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Zodiac’s nature: Honest, loyal, responsible, sensitive, has a deep sense of justice, moral, trustworthy and imaginative
The luck of the Dogs is much improved from last year. They will be full of energy and vibrant. Make good use of this opportunity to plan strategies in order to succeed. With their loyalty and sincerity, they will enjoy excellent fortunes. Their obstacles and problems in the last few months will be eradicated. Personal disputes will gradually clear out. Work will be on the right track again and will be smooth-sailing.
However, it is important to be mentally prepared for danger in times of peace. Do not be overly trusting of others. Don’t be too serious. Be light without being flippant to gain success. Thus, the future will be bright and excellent.
Financially, it is pretty good but luck for speculative investments or windfalls are not good. It is advisable for them to consider buying properties. With the appearance of the Robbery Star, they should pay special attention when engaging in contract signing to avoid becoming a victim of monetary scams.
On health, it will be problematic this year. They are physically quite weak. Pay attention to their food hygiene. Hectic schedules and pressure from work can burn them out. Therefore, get enough sleep and rest to avoid exhaustion. —CONTRIBUTED
