THE Lunar New Year, the annual celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar, officially begins this week. It marks the end of the Year of the Water Tiger and ushers in the Year of the Water Rabbit, the fourth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
BusinessMirror talked to feng shui expert and Yin & Yang Shop of Harmony principal Patrick Lim-Fernandez to offer readings and insights for what the new year may bring.
“There are a few positive energies we can all look forward to. What we’re seeing for spring for the Rabbit is rebirth, reinvention. So things are looking more favorable from a reinvigoration perspective. There’s also strong creative energy from the Yin waters stem,” he said.
The Chinese zodiac system, which operates on a 60-year cycle, provides a detailed perspective of the world and the heavens. Each year is assigned a specific element describing the fundamental components of everything in the universe and how they interact. It corresponds to different seasons and months: Fire is summer, Metal is autumn, Water is winter and Wood is spring.
Spring represents the beginning of the year. The astrological cycle starts with the Tiger, which represents the wood element and the emergence of new life after the dormant winter season. The Rabbit is said to embody the wood element in its most robust and prosperous form. The Dragon represents the wet earth element, which slowly overtakes and covers the dying Wood preceding summer.
“These elements are present, but it’s really up to us how we want to harness or subdue the energy, or to circumvent that if it’s not looking very favorable [to us],” said Lim-Fernandez.
He noted the potential for romance this year. “We also call the Year of the Rabbit the Year of the Romantic Water Rabbit because the [Rabbit is a] Peach Blossom star. In ancient China, this signifies romance. So, for single people, it’s time for them to put themselves out there.”
“In terms of relationships, there’s also liquid energy, so if you’re already married, [it can be an opportunity] to renew or strengthen bonds by doing selfless acts, putting the other person ahead of you. And then also, in general, this can extend to other family members or even a filial type of love or care. In the business setting, this would be a good time to deepen relationships with your business partners and your colleagues. Romance will be especially good for animal signs like the Tiger, the Horse and the Dog,” he said. On the other hand, it will be challenging for the Pig and the Snake. Lim-Fernandez advised being careful about communication breakdowns.
Another good energy for the year will come from the Nobleman star.
“In ancient China, the Nobleman star represents help when you most need it or someone who’s going to help you. And it could be requested or unexpected. So if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask. And then it’s also good to extend help to others without them asking for it,” he said.
“For money and career, it’s looking particularly good for the Rat, the Rabbit, the Dragon and the Goat,” Lim-Fernandez said.
Meanwhile, the zodiac animals who need to mind their spending and watch out for financial loss would be the Monkey and the Rooster.
“Each animal zodiac has a certain clash sign, and for the Rabbit, it’s the Rooster. So, try not to overextend yourself or have big expenses. Generally, be a little careful [in your finances],” he added.
Technology businesses, particularly software, are seen to flourish, as well as communications, media, entertainment and events that fall under the Fire sign element. “The Metal industries are also looking good. So, that will include industries like banking and finance, mining, metallurgy or even jewelry-making. In the medical field, health care and cosmetic care look pretty favorable,” Lim-Fernandez said.
“Usually, when talking about the Rabbit year, we also look at the feng shui energies and then we overlay that with data from the economy. In particular, we do a time series analysis. Here we combine data analytics techniques with feng shui trends to see what it looks like for the different years.
“True enough, the Tiger was below average in terms of returns. And we saw that happen to replay outside the world in different markets. Fortunately for the Rabbit, we’re already seeing some positive signs even this early in the year. It’s looking to be more like above average,” he said.
There is a lack of the Fire element for the year, which makes it a bit sluggish for the economy. “I think if we combine that with some of the economic forecasts we see for the year, that will line up with inflation, with energy prices, employment and some geopolitical uncertainties—it can be challenging. But on average, it should be a fairly good year compared to previous years,” he added.
This year also holds great promise for personal and professional growth and success for those born in the year of the Rabbit. The presence of an education star and an intelligence star suggests that they can absorb and utilize new information quickly and efficiently.
Lim-Fernandez advised to take advantage of this period by pursuing education or training in their field of work or in a related field they are passionate about. This can help them achieve greater career success and give them a sense of fulfilment and motivation. Furthermore, if they can apply their new knowledge immediately or even pass it on to others, their luck will likely increase in other areas of life.
The presence of a wealth star indicates that it is a good time for them to invest in assets, property and make wise financial decisions. However, individuals born in the year of the Rabbit should be aware of a tendency to become easily angered. They should try to maintain a level head and avoid conflicts with others to prevent discord.
In dealing with potential difficulties in the Year of the Water Rabbit, Lim-Fernandez put forth the notion that there are two different ways to approach the difference between a good year and not for certain signs or parts of one’s life.
The first approach is an internal one, where one must have the right mindset to accept and be aware of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. “If you know that there are things that are coming that you can maximize, then you can have the right mindset to accept it, be aware of it—and then do the right thing when it happens,” said Lim-Fernandez.
He added that seeking out mentors, expanding one’s professional network and taking preventative measures for any health stars can help maximize opportunities.
The second approach is the external one, which deals with ownership and the luck of the person and their properties. “We call it metaphysics, some people call it astrology, but it has to do with the person’s luck based on their animal sign and elements,” he added.
Lim-Fernandez, however, emphasized that it is ultimately up to individuals to make the most of the energies present in the new year, and to strive for success and prosperity.
2023 YEAR OF THE WATER RABBIT
Elements of the Year:
Heavenly Stem is WATER element
Earthly Branch is WOOD element
Beginning of Spring:
February 4, 2023 at 10:47H, Saturday
First day of the Lunar New Year:
January 22, 2023, Sunday
Four pillars of destiny for the year 2023:
Year: Yin Water Rabbit
Month: Yang Wood Tiger
Day: Yin Water Snake
Time: Yin Fire Snake
Opening business day and welcoming wealth:
January 23, 2023, Monday
Favorable directions:
North, Center, South, West, Southwest
Unfavorable directions:
Northwest, Northeast, East, Southeast
Directions to avoid renovation work:
Northwest
East (82.5 O—97.5 O )
West (232.5 O—307.5 O )
Directions to avoid facing:
East (52.5 O—127.5 O )
Zodiac signs offending the Grand Duke or Tai Suey of the Year:
Rat, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Rooster
Attending the annual Tai Suey Blessing Ceremony will help ease the pressure of the Tai Suey. For details and dates, call the Yin & Yang Shop of Harmony, 7752-5882.
Image credits: Karson Chan on Unsplash