DON’T look now, but even before the Christmas tree has been set up in the living room, and the colorful parol has been hung, some are already busy preparing for the Year of the Fire Monkey, which swings in on February 8, 2016.
Renowned feng shui expert Joseph Chau unveiled his predictions for the coming Chinese New Year after a sumptuous dinner at the Mabuhay Palace of Manila Hotel last Monday, and which are published in his new book Feng Shui Essentials. The Hong Kong-based Chau, once the resident geomancer of the late great Mandarin Oriental Manila, continues to visit the country to check in on his loyal clients and to announce his general forecasts for the Chinese zodiac signs, each represented by an animal, as well as predictions on where the Philippines is headed, economically and politically.
To prepare for the Chinese New Year, it’s time to get rid of our old stuff. Chau stressed: “There is an old Chinese saying that goes, ‘If old things do not go, new things will not come.’” Ridding ourselves of old furniture, unused items, appliances that have fallen into disrepair, will help usher in positive “chi” or energy into our lives. A general cleaning of one’s home (or office) is in order from January 23 to February 7, 2016.
After cleaning one’s property and getting rid of damaged, old, or unused items, he advices to “use a new piece of cloth and a basin of water boiled in pomelo leaves to clean the altar.” An altar is where one usually connects with a Supreme Being (i.e., God, Allah, Buddha), ancient deities or ancestors, and represents one’s belief system or faith. On it goes religious icons, statues of saints, cremains and photos of dead relatives, among others.
He also said it would be more fortunate for families to have reunions either before or after the Lunar New Year. “We must have dinner with all family members, whether the celebration is held at home, or in the restaurant.”
Chau added we will also feel lighter if we pay our debts at least a month and a half before the Lunar New Year. “It is considered unlucky to owe debts when a new year starts,” he stressed. “It will affect their luck in finance and reputation forever, and they will have endless debts in the years to come.” (Note to self: Pay off those humongous credit-card bills now!)
People from all walks of life are encouraged to hold a Thanksgiving ceremony, the details of which are contained in Chau’s book. The following should be offered during the ceremony, as per the book: a whole lechon de leche; whole steamed chicken with head, feet and intestines intact; a whole roast goose or duck with head and feet intact; five kinds of fruit like apples, pineapples, pomelo, oranges and bananas; three cups of Chinese rice wine; three cups of tea; three bowls of cooked rice with three pairs of chopsticks; glutinous rice ball with peanuts and white sesame seeds as special offering “to the god of kitchen and landlord (Toh Ti Kung).
Chau admonished people to take care of their health, by “keeping away from sharp objects, because in the year 2016, it is easy to have a car accident. That means car accidents will cause injury to limbs. You should be careful.”
Also, he said people should pay attention to their abdomen, eyes, brain, heart, blood pressure, or any medical condition that could lead to a stroke.
He warns of a “big super typhoon” in the Year of the Fire Monkey, as well as robberies, car accidents, train accidents, and a plane crash.
Chau said the lucky directions for the year are the Southeast, South, Southwest, West and East.
The unlucky directions are Northeast, North and Northwest.
In fashion, the “lucky colors are red, pink, violet, maroon, orange, white, gold and silver.”
Feng shui (literally, “wind and water”) or geomancy is an ancient Chinese philosophy that seeks to harmonize people with their surroundings to unleash positive energy (chi). It uses the compass directions and one’s birthdate to make this possible, and also determines their fate for the year. Animal signs represent each year in the Chinese zodiac calendar.
According to Chau, the lucky zodiac signs in the Year of the Fire Monkey are the Pig (1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007); Rat (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008); Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009); Snake (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013); and Goat (1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015).
The second group is “also lucky but not as good as the first group”: Monkey (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016); Tiger (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010); Rabbit (1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011); and Dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012).
Those signs “who are not so good because they lack lucky stars for protection” are Rooster (1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005); Dog (1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006); and Horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014).
He added Monkeys, Tigers, Snakes, and Pigs “are conflict with the Tai Suey [grand duke]. But even [when] they offend the Tai Suey, they are still lucky because they have lucky stars shinning bright.” The Tai Suey are stars that represent a powerful energy from Jupiter, which exert influence on the Chinese zodiac signs. Some zodiac signs, of course, are more affected than others, and as such, talismans or feng shui objects are usually used to ward off the bad luck befalling those particular signs.
But Chau stressed: “This is a general forecast for zodiac signs. A reading based on your exact birthdate and time of birth is more accurate. So people [in the last groups] should not be disappointed. If you are disappointed, the more you make yourself unlucky.”
Wise words from the master.
- Feng Shui Essentials may be purchased from major bookstores by the end of the month.