High-spirited Year of the Horse gallops
High-spirited Year of the Horse gallops
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
If the Year of the Snake lived up to its prediction of
upheaval and disasters, many believe the Year of the Horse, which
begins Tuesday, could be different but no less bumpy.
Practitioners of the Chinese art of geomancy, Feng Shui, here
believe that prudence and personal will will be tested in the
year symbolized by an animal known for its virility and
unrelenting spirit.
Feng Shui masters say horses are the stormy nomads of the 12
Chinese Zodiac signs, galloping from one endeavor to the next.
Consequently, just as a horse is often unrestrained, 2002 will
likely see "adventurers" cropping up both in the political,
business and personal spheres of life.
Some say the Year of the Horse is a lively and high-spirited
year in which "action" will be the key word, while others believe
it should be a time of dialog and compromise to tame the wild
nature of the horse.
In one's love life, breakups are likely to be caused by a
third party and thus loyalty is stressed.
Not surprising really since the horse in our dreams is often
equated with sexual lasciviousness and prowess.
As one Feng Shui master predicts, scandals -- sexual and
political -- will abound.
It seems that hard work and temptation will be key traits to
look out for.
In politics there will be a crop of opportunists trying to
exploit events for short-term personal gains.
In financial affairs, people are being urged to work hard but
not to be overly adventures as they must remain prudent and fight
the temptation of greed.
At a time of uncertainty, equated to a wandering wild
stallion, impulsiveness and recklessness are not helpful.
The start of the Lunar New Year is the biggest celebration for
ethnic Chinese around the world -- about one-fifth of the world's
population -- and most spend the week feasting with family and
friends.
In the Chinese lunar calendar one complete cycle takes 60
years and is made up of five simple cycles of 12 years each, with
12 animals assigned to each year of the cycle.
Feng Shui masters say the Year of the Horse is marked by the
element of fire, which clashes with elements for the year --
water.
During the complete 60-year-cycle each of the animal signs is
combined with the five main elements: wood, fire, earth, metal
and water. The element of an individual's lunar sign is believed
to influence their lives.
The fundamental part of Chinese philosophy is the inter-
relationships between these five elements, which are divided into
conducive and controlling inter-relationships.
Pondering what the new year will bring is a big part of the
holiday, and many use the 12-symbol Chinese horoscope as a guide,
especially when planning pregnancies.
Many ethnic Chinese like to have children who are dragons,
tigers or horses.
People born in the year of the horse are believed to be
hardworking and friendly. Famous horses include Genghis Khan,
Vladimir Ilich Lenin, Nikita Khruschev, Theodore and Franklin D
Roosevelt and Paul McCartney.
Chinese art and literature are filled with references to
horses.
The Chinese character or ideograph for the word "horse," or
"ma" in the widely spoken Mandarin dialect, looks like a steed
galloping at full speed.
Generally speaking it is believed that those born under the
Chinese sign of tiger, goat, dog and pig will be the one's most
in harmonious alignment with the horse. It could be a lucky year.
Less so will be those with the sign of buffalo, rabbit, horse
and chicken. Worst off still is the rat, who are expected to
encounter many challenges with little luck going their way.
The predictions have been coming in fast and furious from
"masters" all over the world.
Li Fengcheng, a geomancy master in Quanzhou, a city in China's
southeastern Fujian Province was quoted by the Associated Press
as predicting that the war on terrorism won't wrap up in the
coming year.
But he agreed with other fortune tellers who said the world
economy could bounce back, suggesting a strong recovery in April
and May.
Taiwanese fortuneteller Hou Dejian, who consults the ancient
Book of Changes, said the year will be good for trading and other
forms of exchanges.
"The global economy could thrive if the major powers could
rely more on dialog and less on force," Hou said.
However Feng Shui master Peter So in Hong Kong predicted a
gloomy outlook for many business sectors.
"There is a lack of vitality for sectors belonging to the
element earth such as construction and those in fire, such as
electronics, electrical appliances, hi-technology, computer,
plastics and fuels," So said as quoted by AFP.
He also noted that under the 60-year cycle, the last Year of
the Horse saw global conflict with World War II.