Women rule in the Year of the Wood Sheep
MANILA, Philippines - With the Year of the Horse galloping out of sight with a whimper, we welcome the Year of the Sheep (Goat), meek as a lamb, with new hopes, new dreams, new aspirations.
“Welcoming a new year always marks a new beginning for each one of us,” says feng shui expert Master Hanz Cua. “Starting fresh means making changes that will hopefully bring us more blessings in the years to come. In feng shui terms, it means ushering in new energy to bring in abundance and success.”
Over a feast of Chinese specialties at Mabuhay Palace of Manila Hotel, Master Hanz gives his fearless forecast for 2015, the Year of the Wood Sheep.
• This is the year of womanpower, what with the southwest direction (signifying women) being lucky. The gentle loving hands that rock the cradle will surely rule the world. Female energy is at its peak, which may point to a woman ruling the presidential race in 2016 in a possible scenario of last-minute changes.
• Because of the presence of the five elements of Chinese astrology (earth, fire, water, metal, wood), the Year of the Wood Sheep brings in a lot of opportunities — more investments coming in from abroad, more jobs for everyone. The only problem is people will tend to be lax — and to relax. So, wipe that sheepish grin off your face; exert extra effort and be more hardworking.
• Because the Year of the Wood Sheep brings the earth element, there will be a boom in real estate. Other lucky industries are tourism and publications/printing.
• The lucky part of the house is the north — the luckiest sector. So, if your door is in the north, this will bring a lot of opportunities for family members.
• In showbiz, the scandals will be related to third party involvement; a lot of cheatings and betrayals will hog showbiz headlines.
• Because the Philippines is in Southeast Asia and southeast being the illness star, we should watch out for epidemics.
• There will be new diseases/epidemics to watch out for, such as skin diseases and diseases related to the immune system.
• Because the sheep is an earth element, watch out for earth-related disasters such as earthquakes and landslides in the months of September and October. Excess water in the chart may also signify water calamities.
• Watch out for the south direction. Wars and conflicts will escalate in the southern part of the Philippines as well as in other countries.
PROSPERITY TIPS
Master Hanz also gives these handy tips to welcome the New Year 2015 not only literally with a bang:
• Clean and cleanse. Prepare your home by doing a general cleanup of both the inside and the outside of your house. De-clutter and get rid of broken appliances or gadgets. Broken objects and shabby surroundings invite poverty. When all is done, cleanse the premises by burning incense.
• Have a bountiful media noche spread. Celebrating New Year’s Eve in a bountiful manner guarantees a year of prosperity. Fill your table with meat, fish, and greens as well as different types of fruit and cakes for good luck. Leave some leftovers of each dish, which signifies you will not run out of food for the rest of the year.
At Manila Hotel, we got a delicious peek into the bountiful Chinese New Year offerings of Mabuhay Palace. To kick off an eight-course feast, we had roasted duck and salmon yusheng salad, expertly whipped up by chef Sun Bing. To ensure a whole year of good blessings and prosperity, we were supposed to lift our chopsticks as high as we could when reaching for our salad. Next came the dried scallops with bamboo pith and fish maw soup — a soup-er delicious mix of many ingredients to signify the coming together of families on Chinese New Year. Coming in third was the stir-fried shrimp with broccoli flowers and sweet walnuts — shrimply yummy, the shrimp represents silver while the walnuts are gold, both of which invite good wealth and fortune. The “lucky” dishes laid out before the lucky guests also included: crisp fried pigeon to welcome spring and the promise of better days ahead after a long cold winter; pan-fried lamb chops with red wine honey pepper sauce; steamed pit lobsters that reminded us of dragons, covered in garlic sauce; sweet and sour fish chrysanthemum style; stir-fried rice with Chinese sausage and black mushroom in lotus leaf to signify good harvest. And what’s a Chinese New Year celebration without tikoy? We were delighted to nibble on our assorted tikoys, hoping that like this glutinous treat, our good fortune would be as sticky the whole year through.
Meanwhile, Cafe Ilang-Ilang cooks up a feast for its buffet lunch on New Year’s Day. Fourteen buffet stations and eight live stations take guests on a food trip around the world. For inquiries on the hotel’s Chinese New Year promos, call 527-0011 local 1175 to 1178 or email resvn@manila-hotel.com.ph.
• Check the plumbing and electrical system. Any leaks in your pipes and faucets correlate to leaks in your finances. Light bulbs, outlets, and switches should all be in good condition. Burned-out light bulbs and faulty wiring denote poor chi flow, which means your good luck suffers, too.
• Give ampao (or red envelope). These small red envelopes, decorated with gold Chinese characters, are given as gifts by the elderly to the children or younger generation on the eve of New Year. The ampao signifies protection and good luck.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE YEAR OF THE WOOD SHEEP
RAT (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008)
• Wealth: Like cheese served on a silver platter, money comes easily to the Rat in the Year of the Sheep. Opportunities are open for sidelines. But when it comes to investing, be on the conservative side. Be cautious and avoid risks.
• Career: It’s not a good year to transfer or change your job. Keep a low profile at work. Avoid friction with your boss. This year, the stress is on how you should handle your stress.
• Relationships: Romance-wise, the horizon looks bleak. If you are committed, be wary of a third party. Resolve any arguments you may have with your partner. Single Rats should mingle and socialize.
• Health: Take precautions when you’re driving/traveling. Road accidents are likely to happen. Rats should also watch out for stomach issues. Watch what you eat.
OX
(1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2014)
• Wealth: Your wealth luck is positive, what with the support of #8 Heaven Wealth Star. But though money may be the least of your worries, you should still keep a close tab on how you spend your money.
• Career: This year brings many challenges to the Ox’s career. You may have some miscommunication with your boss. Keep calm when talking to your client. This is not a good time to change business or work.
• Relationships: For the single male Ox, romance may not be oks na oks this year. Married couples should try to be more tolerant and understanding of each other.
• Health: Start the year right with an annual physical exam. The Ox should not delay medical treatment, observe proper diet, and get some exercise.
TIGER
(1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1986, 1998, 2010)
• Wealth: Tigers should earn their stripes and learn to save, because money can come easily but slip away just as easily. A strong windfall luck in money is coming in your direction.
• Career: The year brings strong support luck from your boss. Your hard work will pay off and pressure will push you to be successful.
• Relationships: An auspicious Love Star shines bright for you. Single Tigers will meet their special someone. Married couples are in for a year of bliss (hopefully, no blisters in sight).
• Health: The stress and pressure of work will take a toll on your immune system. But Lady Luck smiles on you; a good and competent doctor will come to the rescue.
RABBIT
(1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)
• Wealth: Rabbits will be jumping (make that hopping) for joy for this year will, indeed, be a 24-carrot year for them, with tons of improvement in bank money. Expect a salary increase and some bonuses because of hitting your quota. Lots of luck with property and stocks. But avoid being greedy.
• Career: Improve your interpersonal skills with your co-workers. After work, go out to dinner with your officemates, socialize with them, and build strong bonds that may last a lifetime.
• Relationships: Be careful with what you say and be more sensitive as you have a tendency to offend your love partner, and this may ruin your relationship.
• Health: Your health is not that strong so try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Be careful with stomach aches and diarrhea, be wary of what you eat. Avoid risky sports that may lead to serious injury.
DRAGON
(1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)
• Wealth: It’ll be a fiery good year for Dragons, who will see more salary increases and bonuses. The Dragon’s wealth will improve immensely this year. With their good fortune, they will enjoy the finer things in life.
• Career: There’s an opportunity for you to be pirated by another company. Go where the grass is greener. Be more confident in your job, and you’re bound to unleash fire and bravura in your chosen career this year.
• Relationships: Your Romantic Star shines intensely this year. Any relationship disputes will easily be resolved. You should be careful though as you can be a victim of rumormongers and back stabbers who are jealous of your lucky love life.
• Health: Health luck is positive and you have no major health issue to be worried about. Learning meditation will enhance your well-being and help you stress less.
SNAKE
(1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)
• Wealth: Money will flow smoothly for the Snake this year. Put your money in long-term investments. It’s a good year to pay all your debts and settle all your accounts while all these resources are available.
• Career: There is strong luck in career promotion. Caring people at work will help you accomplish tasks. Take advantage of the blessings around you. Repay favors and build bonds with your workmates.
• Relationships: The Peach Blossom Star, associated with romance, is not strong. Single Snakes will need extra effort to find the right partner.
• Health: No strong health luck for you, Snake, so watch out for accidents and injuries. Be extra careful, especially when you’re driving.
HORSE
(1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)
• Wealth: The Wealth Star appears weak for the Horse. There will be financial losses this year. So, saddle up — it’s best to monitor your finances and rein in your expenses. Take caution also because you are prone to be cheated.
• Career: There is challenge in work luck. Make sure to finish one task at a time. You need to focus and not let your work pile up.
• Relationships: Not much luck in terms of romance. But the single Horse looking for the perfect partner will have a good chance of finding the right one or a long-time partner.
• Health: You will have minor health problems. Seek medical treatment immediately to prevent serious illness.
SHEEP OR GOAT
(1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)
• Wealth: The Sheep’s wealth luck is moderate this year. You need to prepare for the rainy days; setting aside some money may prove very useful. Extra work effort is also needed.
• Career: The Sheep needs to adopt a conservative approach — avoid being too assertive and follow instructions from the boss. Be smart in your strategy and approach. Try to think things through before doing anything.
• Relationships: The Sheep will not have strong luck this year. The single Sheep needs to be more persevering to get into the right relationship. Your marriage is prone to misunderstandings.
• Health: The Sheep needs a complete medical checkup at the start of the year. Learn to relax by taking a vacation. Leisurely travel will help you to de-stress. Relax and keep calm by taking trips to peaceful places.
MONKEY
(1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)
• Wealth: The Monkey’s wealth luck is average this year, so no more monkey business. Monkeys need to avoid risky ventures and make only short-term investments.
• Career: This year, the Monkey’s career luck shows promise. Expect to improve at work, gain support and guidance from the opposite sex.
• Relationships: Single Monkeys will be extremely lucky in love this year. Mingling with people may lead to a successful relationship.
• Health: Burdened with work, the Monkey will neglect his health. The Monkey should focus on a balanced diet and exercise. Sufficient sleep and rest will help to prevent illness and stress.
ROOSTER
(1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
• Wealth: The Rooster has nothing much to crow about as his Wealth Luck Star is dim. It’s best to keep a low profile to avoid any losses.
• Career: Good planning and strategy will help you overcome any obstacles at work. Prepare for major changes and delays at work. Make sure you have enough time to meet deadlines.
• Relationships: Single Roosters need to work harder at their relationships as the Peach Blossom Star is weak. Married couples need to spend more time together.
• Health: Avoid any aggressive activity or sports prone to accidents and injuries. Limit yourself to calm and beneficial exercises and diet to keep healthy.
DOG
(1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)
• Wealth: No more doggone days, this is an excellent year for Dogs to become wealthy. Keep your eyes peeled for legal wealth opportunities. But sit, don’t roll over — avoid being impulsive because the Greedy Star may bring about financial losses.
• Career: The Dog needs to maintain a low profile at work — so no more barking now — as there may be trouble that could jeopardize his chance for advancement. There will be career recognition from your boss.
• Relationships: Married couples having extramarital affairs could be facing serious problems. For the Dogs who are single, there is a strong chance of finding the right one this year.
• Health: Health luck not so good this year for the Dog who will be susceptible to illnesses. Maintain the right weight. Exercise and seek early medical treatment.
BOAR OR PIG
(1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)
• Wealth: This year, the Boar/Pig will have strong wealth luck. The businessman and the self-employed Pigs will bring home profitable returns.
• Career: Arm yourself against attacks from gossipmongers and back stabbers who are likely to pounce on you. But since you have supportive stars coming into your chart, you can expect helpful friends at work.
• Relationships: Pigs will enjoy harmonious relationships. It’s a good year to get married. Single Pigs should be more proactive so they can easily find the right partner.
• Health: The Pig should stop pigging out and cut all that fat. Do low-impact exercises and avoid aggressive sports.
Welcome the Year of the Wood Sheep! Come what may, remember to count your blessings instead of sheep!
