Spiritual Forum

Happy Chinese Year; Year of The Horse of Wood; February 4, 2014

I don't know squat about Chinese astrology. I know that in accordance with Chinese astrology, I am a rat (and because I don't work for the U.S. Federal government, it is fair to say that such lack of employment with such a government prevents me from being labeled as a "dirty rat," at least for the time being).  Here's a chart to help you find your animal sign:

And here's a general prediction from UK's newspaper The Independent:

GET READY TO RUMBLE

It will be a fast year full of conflicts according to some astrologers, who see wood as providing fuel for the energetic horse sign. The later part of the year is “yin fire”, increasing the potential for heated clashes even more. Feng shui practitioner Raymond Lo told Reuters: “The upcoming Horse year is also a 'yang wood' year, when people will stick more to their principles and stand firm. So it is hard to negotiate or compromise as there are more tendencies for people to fight for their ideals.”

BAD FOR BUSINESS?

If you have a business involving wood or fire you will do well, according to Canadian Feng Shui expert Paul Ng. This includes lumber companies, agriculture and media companies. Property companies won’t do as well and as the horse is a galloper, the potential is for the prices to gallop downwards over the first six months. However, supported by the fire element in the latter half of the year they may gallop back up, according to Lynn Yap, Singapore’s Feng Shui Queen. Metals and waters will do badly: this will affect metal mining and precious metals as well as fishing. Financial business also have the potential to be unstable. We could have predicted that one though.

WATCH OUT FOR VOLCANOES

Countries in the Southern Hemisphere, like South Australia and South America may experience gunfire as well as volcanoes, because “ the fire energies are so strong” according to Chinese astrologer and Sydney Feng Shui master Lok Tin, who spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald about his predictions for the coming 12 months.

LIE LOW IF YOU’RE A HORSE.

When horse meets horse, the natural Ying-Yang opposition is no longer balanced and thus over the next year horses are due some tense situations and pressure in their personal life. However Foon Chik, of the Feng Shui Society says it is not that simple and meeting your own sign can be a time for self-reflection.

And here's the horoscope of China, dated and timed when Mao Tse Tung (or Mao Zedong) pronounced the start of the People's Republic of China. They have a very nice placement of very positive stars on the personal points of the chart; maybe too good to not have been planned. The big negative is the conjunction of Mercury and Neptune in the eighth house (indicating problems with being understood by others AND problems with secret communications and research). However, note that rock star Jim Morrison had a similar hard aspect of Mercury and Neptune, and despite being misunderstood, he obtained success.

There are two big astrology issues that China will have to address regarding the timeframe of 2014 to 2015:

(1) The transit of Saturn into their tenth house, after crossing their natal MC (Midheaven). This is going to be a time whereby the authority and reputation of China will be tested, and probably in ways that they may not care for. This is a "make it or break it" transit. And unfortunately, I have noticed that people and entities that survive this transit and end up doing well usually end up with "egg on their face" after this transit. The negative side is more pronounced and alarming; people and entities who cheat or do things underhanded during this transit usually take falls from power in the worst way. Richard Nixon and Watergate is a very good example; Nixon got re-elected as U.S. President with Saturn in his ninth house ("limitations or restrictions in views of philosophy aspects or the law"). As Saturn entered his tenth house, he "fell from power" and resigned in disgrace due to the Watergate scandal (which took place with underhanded tactics while Saturn was in Nixon's ninth house, and "limiting his views of philosophy and the law").

ADVICE FOR CHINA: be honorable, sincere, and follow the rule of law. Otherwise the toes you step on may be your own.

(2) Transit of Pluto Square Natal Mercury Conjunction Neptune. With Pluto transiting China's twelfth house and forming a square to the combination of Mercury and Neptune in the eighth house (and Neptune currently in the sky and in conjunction with the star of Formalhaut (Archangel Gabriel)), this could bring to the surface an aspect of China that the Chinese government may not want to be revealed: workings of their espionage activities or banking issues. I have noticed that transits of Pluto to Neptune bring forth "transformation or changes in ideas or beliefs" OR "disappointments with one's ability to influence or change others."

ADVICE FOR CHINA: do not speculate with financial dealings and diplomacy success via the ability to direct or deceive others. International success via financial ties or surveillance controls over others does not prevent banking or government problems (or scandals in these areas) from taking place. 

Here's the Chinese New Year Horoscope, or first New Moon of the new year:

Interestingly, this horoscope suggests issues may arise in financial areas. Mercury and Neptune ("disappointing or confusing news or communications") is in opposition with the star of Regulus, and Regulus is strongly related to gold metal. And also note that the Year of The Horse calls for problems in precious metals. And China is currently trying to back their Yuan currency with gold! I looked at gold, and there is a strong probability that if gold breaks the line support drawn below, the Yuan may lose much in value (BUT THE YUAN IS STILL VERY FINANCIALLY STABLE WITH GOLD BACKING, COMPARED TO THE "full faith and credit..." BACKED RISKY U.S. DOLLAR VALUE).

A drop below $1175 per ounce would constitute a "third time" break below the trendline drawn above, and in accordance with traditional technical analysis of price charts, this has very negative implications for the price of gold (and thus unfortunate positive implications for the bull$hit U.S. dollar), but the pouring of champagne at the Federal Reserve (and in Washington D.C.) will be brief. There is simply too much U.S. government red ink to pronounce the U.S. dollar as a safe currency and a safe investment.

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE STOCK MARKET OR THE "strength" IN THE U.S. DOLLAR. Keep your gardens well-planted, good food and precious metals stored away, and some sort of means to protect yourself. As I mentioned with the ISON prediction, things could get nasty. But the future is bright; it is always darkest before the dawn of a new day (or a new age).

God Bless Everyone, And Happy Chinese New Year.

Love,

Malcolm