My friend Chee Weng shared this, I think it is interesting to know.....
You are also welcome to post your feed-back and comments on this blog.
Forwarding for your info.
Subject:
The coming year of RAT
From:
"Yeoh Chee Weng
Date:
Sun, November 11, 2007 5:49 am
I am not much of a believer in horoscope nor of feng shui. Subjects
such as these only tickle my inquisitiveness.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly....
Leave the rest to ....
Chee Weng
================================
The Year of the Rat, 2008, in the Hsia calendar, is symbolized by two
elements - with earth sitting on top of water. According to the cycle
of birth and destruction, which governs the inter-relationship between
the elements, earth is the conqueror of water. . Therefore, earth
sitting on water is a symbol of control. But the water of the Rat year
is very strong and the earth floating on top of water has no
foundation and cannot control the ocean of water. As such, instead of
conquering water, it is more like confrontation between earth and
water elements. The Earth on top is Yang earth which symbolizes a
mountain, and mountain gives sense of stability and firmness. But such
floating earth in the ocean is weak in foundation and the stability
appears to be fragile. This elemental relationship will bring a year
which apparently is more stable but there are a lot of underlying
tensions and confrontations.
The Chinese calendar year goes on 60-year cycle. This means that we
have experienced the same year of yang earth on rat in 1948. This was
a year when the confrontation between USSR and the west intensified
with the Blockade of Berlin started and the formation of the Western
Union by the Brussels Treaty to confront the threat of USSR; this is
the predecessor to NATO. In May this year, the State of Israel was
established and also the confrontation between Israel and Arabian
countries began leading to the Arab-Israel war. .
The Chinese character for "Yang Earth" represents a big mountain. . It
is associated with the quality of a firm and steady person. People
born in a day of "Yang Earth" .is often calm and steady and faithful,
practical and "down to earth". . Some examples of famous earth people
born on a "Yang Earth" day are Hillary Clinton, Danzel Washington,
David Beckham, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Michael Jackson, Dick Cheney, Eric
Clapton and Ben Affleck .
The Rat belongs to the strongest water element and it is the first of
the 12 animal signs. So it also represents the beginning of a new 12
years cycle. As such, the Rat year can bring a new beginning of
international relationships and social order ; this could bring new
regimes with new government in some countries. Indeed, there will be
many major elections happening between 2007 and 2008 with change of
leadership in many countries including U.S.A., United Kingdom, Russia,
France, Taiwan,...The rat is also considered as a "Flower of Romance".
So years of the rat will stimulate more romance and sex scandals. The
Rat is in clash relationship against the Horse. . This is a clash
between water and fire elements and will often bring accidents related
to both fire and water, air and the sea. The Rat is the most powerful
ocean water and it will bring heavy flooding or even tsunami disaster.
The most famous water disasters in history, such as the South Asia
tsunami on 26/12/2004 and the sinking of the Titanic on 14/4/1912,
both incidents happened on a date with prominent appearance of the
Rat. Looking at past history, in 1228 a year of Earth Rat, there is
big flood in Holland killing 100,000 people, and in 1588 another year
of Earth Rat, the Spanish Armada encountered storm in Ireland and 5000
people died in this heavy storm. In 1888, year of Earth Rat, there is
"Great Blizzard" in the east coast of the USA and 400 people died. The
clash between fire and water will also bring accidents related to fire
and the airline business is in the category of fire element. As such,
it is observed that the year of the Rat seems to experience more air
disasters. A typical year with many aviation disasters is the previous
Rat year in 1996. During this year, there are over 20 major airplane
crashes including the U.S. TWA Boeing 747 crashed in July, 1996
killing 230. Looking at the immediate last Earth Rat year in 1948,
there were also quite a numbers of airplane crashes including the
hijack of a Cathy Pacific airplane in June, 1948.
Yang earth on the rat also symbolizes unstable earth, this will also
bring earth disasters such as earthquake, landslide, collapse of
buildings. The Earth element is also associate with homosexuality. It
so happens many famous homosexuals is born on the day of earth - this
includes Leonardo Da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Tchaikovsky, George
Michael, Boy George, Andy Warhol, Tracy Chapman, K.D. Lang. Rosie
Odonell etc. As such, there could be more issues in this aspect in
2008. It is not really clear how earth element is linked with
homosexuality. Perhaps earth is an element of more neutral nature,
compare against the other four, water and fire, wood and metal.
The clash between the Rat and Horse is a serious clash between water
and fire elements. This will often bring injury and bloodshed.
Therefore people born in years of Horse have to be particularly
careful in 2008. As it is water clashing against fire, the danger
could be associate with water and fire disasters such as traffic
accidents in the air or at sea. Therefore, for people born in the year
of Horse, it is recommended that they carry the pendant of an Ox which
will help to attract away the Rat, so as to minimize the negative
influence of the clash. Anyhow, people who are born in the year of
Horse will experience a more turbulent year with more movements and
traveling, changes. It is suitable to engage in such movements, such
as moving house or moving offices. Traveling is also good but one
should avoid going straight towards the North direction as it is the
direction of the Grand Duke in 2008.
The Rat also forms a penalty relationship with the Rabbit. Such
penalty may cause disharmony, worries and irritations, or hidden
sickness. Therefore people born in the year of the Rabbit is also
recommended to carry the pendant of the Ox to minimize such penalty
influence in the year of the Rat.
The Five basic elements also represent different parts of our body,
earth in general relates to stomach, pancreas, muscle and cells. As
such, the health problems related to earth could be stomach problem,
food poisoning, and diarrhea. Disorder of earth elements can mean
problems of muscle and cells, this can bring obesity, diabetes, and
cancer .these are all sicknesses caused by imbalance of earth
elements. Diabetes is a sickness caused by disorder of insulin which
is produced by the pancreas which is also symbolized by earth element
in Chinese medicine. . So diabetes problem is also caused by imbalance
of earth element. As such, these kinds of health problems will also
come in focus in the Earth water year of 2008.
In recent years the most imminent issue threatening the survival of
human race is Global warming. The polar ice caps have been melting
down in an alarming speed and there are forecasts that many coastal
populated cities will be submerged under the sea by the year 2050. In
2007 we have experienced dramatic change in climate and there are more
weather triggered disasters. It is expected such serious impact of
Global warming will intensify in 2008. The pair of elements, yang
earth sitting on the rat can be interpreted as the image of floating
mass of ice on a big ocean. And this is an alarming sign that the
melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice will become more and more alarming
in 2008. If we examine the fateful moment of one of the biggest water
disaster - the Titanic, we can see the Titanic collided with a
floating iceberg at mid night of 14th April, 1912. and when we
translate this fateful day and time into the Chinese calendar, we can
see the mid night hour on this day is actually Yang earth over the
Rat, with yang earth representing the floating iceberg. And this is
identical to the elements of 2008. It is anticipated there will be
more flooding and water disasters associate with climate change in
2008. Such alarming signal not only shows up in the Chinese calendar,
it is also reflected in feng shui. In 2008, the feng shui flying star
number 1, symbolize water element, is in the centre. This centre
number often reflects the focus of events prevailing in the year. Take
for example, in 2005 we have Flying star 4 in the centre and the
number 4 symbolizes the chicken. So this the year the threat of avian
flu began. In 2006 the star 3 in the centre represents conflict and
earthquakes, 2007 the number dominate the centre is 2 which is
sickness and it has brought the alarm of avian flu in focus again. So
we have to assume the number 1 in the centre in 2008 will bring more
problems with flooding and water disaster. Global warming is an issue
concerning the entire human race and every one of us has the duty to
take up effective measures to preserve our environment and support the
move to reduce CO2 emission.
Regarding the economy, fire element is often the driving force behind
the stock market. In the year 2008 there is yang earth on the Heavenly
stem with water underneath. The dominating element is water. As such,
it is a year of cooling down after the heated economic atmosphere in
2006 and 2007. Fire is the symbol of the financial market and strong
fire will stimulate optimism and speculative mentality. Without fire
investors will play cool and conservative. However, the strong water
element is the symbol of money to the earth industry. With strong
water showing up, the property market is still active and profitable.
Despite the absence of fire element in the year 2008, the spring and
summer months still shows strong wood and fire influences bringing
upward surge in the stock and property market. But investors will be
more cautious and practical and there will not be dramatic
fluctuations such as in the magnitude of yin fire year in 2007. In
general 2008 is a year of cooling down with more stability and
calmness in the stock market. .
The strong water of the Rat year favors earth and metal industries, as
earth conquers water, so the Rat is a symbol of money to the earth
industry, which includes property, mining, hotel, chemicals, insurance
. As for metal industries, metal gives birth to water, so the strong
water element in the year indicates productivity and strong activity
in metal industries - this include machinery, computer, high tech
industries, skincare, health business. The Wood industries, which
include textile, fashion, books, publications, paper, forestry,
furniture is also into a profitable year as wood conquers earth, so
the earth showing up in 2008 symbolize the money of wood industry. But
the profit will only be superficial as the earth element is weak.
The less prosperous industries in 2008 will be businesses of water and
fire elements. Water industries refer to shipping, communication
drinks.etc . The strong water appearing in the Rat year will bring
stronger competition in the water areas and this will very much weaken
the profitability. Fire industries refer to finance, stock market,
energy, electricity, entertainment, and airline businesses. As fire
conquers metal and produces Earth element, so to Fire industry, metal
represents money and earth represents productivity. In 2008 metal
element is absent and earth element is weak. . That is why it is a
relatively weak year for the industries related to the fire element.
The property market is symbolized by the earth element. This industry
had stronger activities in the past years of monkey and rooster in
2004 and 2005 as the metal elements represent productivity of earth
industries. There had been some slowdown in 2006, as the fire ad earth
year brought stronger competition and eroded profitability. However,
in 2008, the water element of the rat will bring some money luck to
the earth industry, despite there is no strong activities in the
property market owing to absence of metal element.
With respect to the hi-tech industries sector, as represented by the
NASDAQ. I have postulated that this industry is mainly represented by
the metal element. As such, the prosperity of hi-tech industry
requires the strong appearance of water and wood, which are symbols of
productivity and money of the metal industry. In 2008 the water
element, meaning activities to hi-tech industries is very strong. As
such, it is anticipated that the year is favorable for hi-tech or
internet types of business. But the absence of wood in this year could
mean there are more activities without real substantial money gains.
In summary, the industries that will perform well in the year of the
Pig will be industries related to earth and metal elements - such as
property, hotel, mining, insurance, machinery, engineering, health,
computer, and high tech industries. The sectors relating to water and
fire will not be doing so well. Water industries include shipping,
communication, drinks, and fire industries are stock market, finance,
energy, electricity, entertainment business. The wood industries -
such as textile, publications, fashion, furniture, etc are into a year
with some superficial prosperity but not substantial.
In general, the yang Earth Rat year, with earth on top failing to
control water below, is symbol of apparent calmness on the outside but
such calmness lacks a solid foundation and the mountain can tumble and
devoured by the ocean of fierce water. Some kind of new world order
began to emerge but it will take time to consolidate into stability. .
Still there will be international conflicts and uprisings and unrest
but such events may be less turbulent than 2007. The new beginning of
the 12 animal cycle led by the Rat will be first step to cool down or
slow down the acceleration of Global warming problem.
The animal sign which is most unfavorable is the Horse which is in
direct clash against the Rat. Such clashes will usually bring about
turbulence, movements, accident or changes... So people born in the
year of the Horse will anticipate more traveling, or movements such as
changing jobs or moving house. It is necessary to carry the pendant of
an Ox as protection to attract the Rat away. For the Horse people, the
clash against the Rat could bring accidents related to the water and
fire element, such as explosion, fire disasters, and air and sea
traffic accidents. For people who are under clash with the year, it is
ok to travel more, making changes such as moving house, or change job.
However, for people born in the year of the Horse, it is recommended
not to travel directly towards the direction of the Grand Duke, which
is the north direction, and it is also not recommended for them to
travel by sea. The other animal's signs facing unfavorable positions
are the Rabbit and the Rat. When Rabbit encounters Rat year will form
"Two Penalty" relationship. . Such penalties will usually bring
disharmony, irritation, worries and frustrations. Also people born in
year of the Rat are offending the Grand Duke which is also not
auspicious and it is necessary to carry Ox pendant to minimize the
negative effect. The imbalance of fire and water elements brought
about by the Horse and the Rat may bring fire and water diseases, such
as high blood pressure, heart burn, irregular heart beat,
inflammation, diabetes, and kidney problems. As such, it is necessary
to take heavy dosages of anti-oxidant, omega 3 oil or COQ10 which is
good protection against cardiovascular diseases, hyper-tension and
inflammation problems. .
The animals combining with the Rat year are the Ox, the Monkey, and
the Dragon. These animals are into a year of harmony. However, such
animal astrology is not totally reliable as the system is not
recognized as a formal type of fortune-telling. For more reliable
assessment of ones fortune in the year of the Pig, it is recommended
that one checks the full Four Pillars of Destiny, which requires full
birth data information of the Year, Month, Day and Hour of birth. As
the animal signs can appear in all four pillars in a person's birth
data, the clash and penalty relationship with the Rat will not only
cause impact on people born in the year of Horse and Rat and Rabbit.
Such clash and penalties can also impact any one who has such animals
in the birth month, or day or hour.
Some examples of famous people born in the year of the Horse and under
clash in 2008 are Paul McCartney, Danzel Washington, John Travolta,
Condoleezza Rice, Richard Li, Angela Merkel, Victor Yuschenko, Kiefer
Sutherland, Warren Buffett and Katie Holmes. There are people who are
not born in the year of Horse, but they are also under clash because
they are born on the day of Horse, so they will also face a
challenging year. Some examples of these people are - Chris Martin,
Lura Bush, David Furnish, Elizabeth Taylor....
People born in year of the Rat is said to be "offending the Grand
Duke" and it is also recommended to carry pendant of the Ox. Examples
of Rat people are Prince Charles, Prince Henry, Gwyneth Paltrow,
Cameron Diaz, John McCain, Olivia Newton-John...
For people who are born in the year of the Pig, the Rabbit, and the
Goat, the Rat year will bring "Flower of Romance" so one can
anticipate a more sociable year with more opportunity to develop
friendship with the opposite sex... Feng Shui energies also change
from year to year. Therefore, it is necessary to watch for the
re-allocation of good and bad energies at the beginning of each year,
so that we can take necessary precautions if some bad energy happens
to arrive at important locations of our residence or offices. In the
year of the Rat, the bad energy called "Five Yellow" - symbolizing
obstacles and misfortune, arrives at the South. If your South of the
house is an important area such as bedroom or entrances, it is
recommended that one hangs a metal wind chime there to dissolve this
bad energy. The worst months will be in February, August, and
November. Another bad star number 2, symbolizing sickness, will arrive
in the Northwest in 2008. The traditional method to dissolve this 2 is
to hang a string of six metal coins in the affected area in the
Northwest of the house The Grand Duke this year is in the North, hence
it is not favorable to "move earth" or make substantial construction
work in this direction. It is also not recommended for one to sit with
back against exact South as you will be sitting against the
unfavorable energy called "Three Shars" or "Three Killings". As well
as the "Crash position" against the Grand Duke. The bad star 3 is a
star of conflict and robbery. This is present in the West of the
house. It is necessary to put a piece of red paper in the West to
minimize such bad influence. Also the bad star 7, representing
scandals is in the Southwest, the traditional solution for this bad
star 7 is to place 3 or 4 of bamboo plant grown in clear glass vase of
water in the Southwest location.
