Using 'feng shui' to analyze U.S. presidential candidates

By Mauro Rahardjo and Dewi Mariana

BANDUNG (JP): The international event that has captured most of the public's attention has been the U.S. Electoral Vote for the presidency held in Florida. The result seems to be in favor of Texas Governor George W. Bush, although his rival, Al Gore, the incumbent vice president, has not admitted to Bush's slight winning margin.

It is interesting to make an evaluation of the pillars of both candidates to see the results of the election from the prospective of feng shui (Chinese geomancy). In the following analysis, both candidates have the same abilities to be the next president of the United States, and it will depend on the factor of elf time to indicate who may win.

Bush was born on July 6, 1946, and his pillars are as follows:

The pillars of destiny of George W. Bush

Bush's birthday is on a day of yin metal during the summer when the fire element is most prosperous. In his day pillar, this metal sits on the fire element. Since fire melts metal, Bush's self-element, metal, is very weak in strength.

Observing Bush's pillars, three fire elements are found. For a metal person, fire symbolizes power, and hence Bush was born a leader and his destiny is very strong in authority luck. In fact, Bush has been in politics and power since he was young.

Five elements (three fires, one wood and one earth), which surround Bush's metal, are all exhausting the metal, therefore, Bush belongs to "follow the leader". In such a case, his destiny is determined by the element leader, which is fire. This means that in a period when the fire element is strong, luck will side with Bush; whereas when it is earth, the element that supports metal is strong, and luck may turn away from him.

When Bush turned 22 years of age, the fire element appeared and this was possibly the beginning of Bush's career in power. During this period, luck, in terms of power, always sided with him. Between 52 years and 61 years of age (Bush's astrological age is 55 years) he is working with yang metal and yin water. The appearance of elf metal (the same as his self-element) means Bush has a strong rival.

The year 2000 is of metal and earth. This also means that during this year Bush has a big rival; however, the earth element means his luck is not yet on his side and his supposed victory is not yet in his hands.

Al Gore was born on March 31, 1948, and his pillars are as follows:

The pillars of destiny of Al Gore

Applying this method to Gore will show that his birthday is distinguished by the wood element. Gore was born in the spring when wood is quite dominant. There are three other woods in Gore's pillars, hence Gore is a strong wood person.

Unlike Bush, Gore does not have metal(s) in his pillars. Metal for a wood person would mean good luck in power. Therefore Gore is not a lower-type person. His luck in power comes in his ten- year period between 43 years and 52 years of age. There are two yang metals that work in his destiny, which means his career is more determined by this time dimension.

Entering the period between 53 years and 62 years of age, Gore again gains two metals and therefore his career in power still lingers on. Many woods in his pillars show that Gore has always had rivals in life. In spite of it being 2000, the year of metal and earth will mean Gore has good luck in power.

To explain this is simple since wood's excessive energy in Gore needs to be balanced with metal and earth during the year of the dragon so this is a good year for Gore. For Gore, his luck depends on the time dimension and that is when the elements of metal, fire and earth appear.

Next year will be the year of the golden snake and it is symbolized by the metal and fire elements. For Bush, fire is his lucky sign, whereas metal is the symbol for competition. This will be a good year for Bush. For Gore, metal and fire are both his lucky signs as well. Metal indicates luck in power, whereas fire, which is needed for his excessive wood, is a symbol of aspiration.

Looking at the above analysis, it is possible to conclude that both candidates have a balanced chance to win the election. It depends on the time dimension. The day and the month during 2000 or 2001 when the final vote is determined, will show who really wins the election.

Dr. Mauro Rahardjo is the director of the Feng Shui School of Indonesia, and Dewi Mariana is his Feng Shui assistant.