IT’S almost Chinese New Year, which, according to the lunar calendar, falls on January 31 this year. It’s the day when the auspicious Year of the Wooden Horse starts. But is it a year to look forward to, or will it turn out to be a continuation of the not-so-favorable 2013? What’s in store for you in the Year of the Wooden Horse? Nobody knows exactly for sure, because only God knows what His plans are for you, but during the Yee Sang Lunch held at Makati Shangri-La Manila’s Shang Palace last week, attendees got a general idea of what’s in store for them in the Year of the Wooden Horse with the Luck in 2014 booklet distributed by hotel officials to everyone. It’s written by Maggie Chan, who has been practicing feng shui and Chinese astrology for the past 20 years.
If you want to have an idea of what the Year of the Wooden Horse has in store for you, these general forecasts made by Chan may be able to guide you along.
RAT
(1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 200
Career: Not a great career year for you. Try to stay clear of disagreements and arguments, and keep a low profile this year. There will be a lot of traveling, and relocation for a new job obligation or even a new job is possible. You might suffer from great stress from work. But crisis coexists with opportunity, so if you work hard, you will get succeed.
Money: Your pocket of gold will be pretty fair, although you have to struggle a bit for it. Don’t be greedy with money or your income will drop. It is best to have a good scheme for daily income and expenses. Study plans carefully before making an investment.
Love: Relationships will not get any better this year. Males, though, will have a better chance to meet relationship opportunities compared to females. Calm down when there are any conflicts with your partner.
Health: The year will require a lot of energy from you, so conserve your energy and relax whenever possible. Pay close attention to intestines and stomach problems, and be careful when engaging in sports or driving.
OX
(1913,1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009)
Career: You’ll have a lot of opportunities, which will also bring on some pressure. But there’ll be some people who will help you through that struggle. Basically you will have a better career year than last year. Take note that there will be much competition at work this year.
Money: Money flow will be quite fair. Just make sure you have a job with a stable income. Don’t get into any short-term investments. Go for investments in real estate or house improvements.
Love: It will be a great year for you to meet new people and develop new relationships, but no long-term relationships are going to happen. Married people should be careful about extra-marital affairs.
Health: Be more concerned with your health. Traveling will not always be a safe journey. Focus on the road when driving, and take a break once in a while to relax. Watch your digestive system.
TIGER
(1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)
Career: It will be a great year for you to improve on your working ability and responsibility and to express your creativity. A sign of extra income appears, but may mean promotion at work, but your workload will increase.
Money: Stick to your job for a steady income, although financial investments may increase. Make proper use of your money to avoid having too many expenses.
Love: Love relationships will be good this year. Make sure that you pay good attention to your partner. You are advised to get married on an auspicious day this year.
Health: You’ll be bursting with energy. You may become more outgoing and do a lot of traveling. Apart from minor illnesses such as colds, avoid drunk driving to avoid serious accidents. Pay attention to your cardiovascular and digestive systems.
RABBIT
(1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)
Career: You will be able to handle the challenges of your career. You will have good relationships with people around you, but no job promotions yet. A salary increase may be in the picture.
Money: Your money luck is looking up this year. You’ll make money, but if you’re lazy, it’s not going to happen. There’s a sign of money loss relating to friends, so be careful.
Love: Love relationships will be great. If you’re trying to find love, start going out. If you’re already in a relationship, it’s time to go deeper into it. There is a chance of engagement or marriage. 2014 is also a good year to welcome a newborn baby if you’re already married.
Health: Get a lot of rest and energy. Keep an eye on your cardiovascular and urinary systems.
DRAGON
(1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)
Career: You are expected to welcome good opportunities, including the chance to be promoted. You should be competitive to turn those opportunities to your favor. Do not be impulsive.
Money: You will enjoy good financial fortune in the second half of the year, although there will be much competition in the first half. It is suggested to be thrifty and make wise use of the capital on hand.
Love: Your fortune in love life is fine. Singles should welcome matchmakers. Those in relationships may decide to get married this year. Married people should avoid extra-marital affairs.
Health: Your physical condition will generally be good, except for some unexpected discomforts due to working too hard. Do regular exercise in your spare time.
SNAKE
(1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)
Career: It’s going to be a great career year for you. A job promotion or salary raise is possible. Seize all good chances in the beginning of the year to make a solid foundation for the latter part of the year. For those intending to start a business, prepare early.
Money: Your wisdom is the key in earning more money this year. You might start a new project or make an investment, but males will have better luck in making investments than females. Consider having one or two part-time jobs owning a business.
Love: Great luck in love life will happen. Singles may meet several pursuers, but it is always wise to seek the advice of seniors and friends.
Health: Your health won’t be as great as the other aspects of your fortune this year, but it won’t be a big problem, either. Get enough rest, have a good diet, exercise and hygiene. Outdoor sports like jogging will benefit your health. Females should keep a healthy diet and the intake of cold food or snacks should be lessened.
HORSE
(1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002)
Career: There is a sign of power and leadership this year, but there is also a sign of competition. Build good relationships to improve your career because you tend to sometimes fall short of self-confidence and to have a not-so-harmonious relationship with colleagues. Keep a low profile.
Money: You will be dealing with a lot of money this year. Do not loan money to people because loans may lead to arguments later on. Investing money on uncertain businesses is also not a good idea. Your financial fortune will be generally unstable.
Love: Your love relationships will be fine. The development of a relationship may be kind of slow. Singles may meet several people, but none will turn out to be Mr. or Miss Right.
Health: You’ll have a stronger body and mind compared to the previous year, but your mood will not keep up, and this will have an impact on your health. Avoid dangerous sports activities. Be extra careful to avoid unexpected injuries caused by knives and other sharp objects. Pay attention to your cardiovascular and urinary systems.
SHEEP
(1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003)
Career: All your hard work in 2013 will pay off this year. A job promotion is possible if you keep doing great at work. Although there will be competition, you will get through it all the time. If there are targets in mind, 2014 is a good year to achieve them all. Every amount of investment will be smooth.
Money: You will find the right people to help you manage your money. Invest on something long-term. Your main money source will be your job, but extra income will come from projects related to your job.
Love: It’s a good year for females to find an ideal partner. For those already in a relationship, it’s time to develop a deeper connection with your loved one. Married people will have a sweet and smooth married life.
Health: No big issues concerning your health will arise this year, just minor illnesses. If you eat properly and get enough sleep and rest, you should be able to recover quickly from such minor illnesses. Drinking in social gatherings should be protect your intestines, stomach and urinary system.
MONKEY
(1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004)
Career: Your career year will be just as stressful as it was in 2013. You’re going to have a really busy schedule, with more projects and a lot of travels. The opportunities for promotion, though, will come this year, so seize all opportunities.
Money: There will be opportunities for money in 2014, but you have to figure out how to translate them to money on your hands. There won’t be easy money. Handle large amounts of money very carefully in case of loss, traps or even lawsuits.
Love: Your love life will be fair. There will be a few bumps on the road once in a while. It’s difficult to find the ideal partner in life in your present environment. Those in relationships will find it a bit challenging to balance career and love this year.
Health: You need to get a lot of rest and sleep. Drive safely and try to avoid engaging in dangerous sports activities. There is an unlucky sign regarding family members. Shake off your loneliness tendencies; otherwise, you might suffer from insomnia or anxiety.
ROOSTER
(1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005)
Career: You’re going to have a lot of job opportunities but also a ton of pressure from it. You’ll find help from a female. It is important to build good relationships with people you work with. Employees among you will find a chance to show your true talent and worth and possibly get a higher salary as a result.
Money: The opportunities to make money will be there, but you have to make an effort to make those opportunities work in your favor. Generally, no financial problem will bother you this year, but remember not to be too greedy.
Love: You’ll have very good luck with relationships. Marriage is possible this year. Make sure, though, that you stick to one partner.
Health: You will have slight illnesses during the year. Just monitor your health and get a lot of rest. Seniors should pay attention to their respiratory system. Try to live in an environment with cleaner air and less pollution.
DOG
(1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006)
Career: Career opportunities will open for you. There’s a sign of power and leadership, but you’ll have strong competition. Keep a low profile and be humble and modest when the competition/enemy is around. Chances are you just might get that promotion at last.
Money: Your money flow will be stable but not overflowing. There won’t be easy money for you. Generally, as long as you make a wise investment, you will gain profits.
Love: Great fortune in relationships will happen to you. For singles, this will be a good year to find your ideal companion. Those in a relationship will enjoy good fortune in the coming years if you get married this year.
Health: Get enough sleep and rest to regain strength over minor health problems. Avoid dangerous activities. Watch your diet to prevent problems with your digestive and urinary systems, although there’s no sign that there will be any serious health problem. You tend to easily get inflamed or constipated, so eat less meat.
PIG
(1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007)
Career: You’ll have a busy schedule this year, so you’ll need a lot of energy and brainpower. The year will bring you a lot of career opportunities, so this means there will be more money for you. Work hard to earn your reward.
Money: Your money will come from your knowledge. You’ll have good money luck. There is a chance for money loss, though, if you try investing in anything risky or if you work with greedy people. Spend your money wisely.
Love: It’s a good year for singles to find a relationship. Lower your standards and give someone you like a chance even if she’s not such a stunning beauty/hunk. Those already in a relationship and are already married will have a fine relationship.
Health: You’ll be spending a lot of energy at work this year, so this could lead to a lot of stress. When you feel stressed out, just stop to take a break. In general, you will be fine in 2014, but some latent diseases also require your close attention.
So, there you go, the predictions and forecasts of feng shui expert and Chinese astrologer Maggie Chan for the Year of the Wooden Horse. Remember, though, that these are just predictions and forecasts. It is still God who knows His exact plans for us.