OX-picious 2009 ...

Whilst memories of Wu Zi [戊子] remain fresh and its repercussions can still be felt throughout the usual transition period (21 Dec 2008 - 3 Feb 2009), the incumbent 2009 Ji Chou [己丑] can potentially bring forth ramifications as follows, or their associations:

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1) Continued depletion of wealth resources & strained businesses, leading to tight budget controls, emphases on savings as well as retrenchments incl. axing of top management;
2) Authority figures / leaders being confronted with difficult dilemmas;
3) Stiff competition among trades;
4) Stagnant stocks;
5) Delay, slowing down or cancellation of developments;
6) Sibling rivalries & betrayals, incl. that between long trusted friends or partners, esp. those once regarded as ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters’;
7) Environmental impacts of deforestation, incl. droughts, heat waves, landslides, water shortage or pollution;
8) Seismic activities, eg. earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, possibly resulting in the formation of new craters or plateaus;
9) Collapse of highrise buildings;
10) Fall of flag poles, possibly implying military invasion of nations, overthrowing of existing government, overhaul of established administration, or breaking away from traditions;
11) Demise of prominent figures, ie. politicians, spiritual leaders & movie stars;
12) Theft of precious stones, jewelry or pricey collectibles;
13) Shortage of medicine, possibly in times of an epidemic;
14) Digging into history, traditions, archaeological treasures or graves for commercial gains;
15) Issues involving health-care & insurance monies;
16) Exploitation or endangerment of cats (eg. tigers, lions) and scaled species (eg. monitor lizards, crocodiles, snakes);
17) Demand for gold, diamond or other precious ores;
18) Accidents involving helicopters or alternatively, advancement in helicopter technologies;
19) Issues relating to round fruits with stalk & leaves, eg. mandarin oranges, apples, pears, etc. etc.. Perhaps even golf balls / golfing industry at large, or TV innovations;
20) Health alerts relating to digestive systems (eg. spleen, stomach, intestines), cancers (esp. skin), liver hardening, kidney / gall stones, brain tumors, spinal cord, or insect bites (esp. by spiders, centipedes, scorpions);
21) Recurrences of Mad Cow Disease;
22) Rise of feminine power, esp. of unconventional beauties or women normally considered ugly, as well as heightened awareness of feminist issues;
23) Higher incidence of or news reporting on multiple births, eg. twins, quadruplets, etc.;
24) Canonization of Mother Teresa;
25) Rekindled interests in the evergreen Japanese manga - Doraemon, as well as Chinese Kung Fu icon - Bruce Lee;
26) Uninvited limelight on diamond mines;
27) Middle East warfares;
28) Global terrorist attacks;
29) Economy remains gloom, with more bailouts or borrowings from national reserves (possibly in March); considerable improvement expected only towards end 2009;
30) High profile legal cases.

Besides, for better or for worse, events or people pertinent to the following qualities will be more prone to gaining exposure in 2009:

a) Names with initials ‘S’ & ‘Z’;
b) Numbers ‘2’, ‘5’ & ‘8’, esp. if repeated, eg. 22, 55, 88;
c) English names or Chinese characters relating directly or indirectly to the Earth, Wood & Water elements, eg. Brown, Clayton, Oxley, Rocky, Tiger, Wood, Forrest, Bush, Dragon, Thunder, 田，黄，倪，张，纪，古，富，史，牛，洋，祥，彭，陆，城，菲，梅，谦，宗，李，林，季，沐，陈，霖，森，树，震，龙，雷，友，苟，桦，etc. etc.;
d) Repeated initials or syllables, eg. JJ, AIA, Coca-Cola, Coco, Mama, Baba, etc. etc.;
e) Chinese names with repetitive or only two characters, eg. 陶喆，张震，王菲，阿牛，成龙，晶晶，朋，etc. etc;
f) Countries with abundant lands, deserts, sandy beaches, plateaus, orchards, or rice producing nations, esp. if the padi fields are on terraced terrains.

In terms of trade performance, it is often difficult to pin-point which is more profitable, as profitability really depends much on individual’s business acumen. Nevertheless, there are certain perceivable metaphysical traits which may be taken as an alternative guide when considering decisions. For instance in 2009:

Opportunities are abound for the Wood [木] industries but actual gain is dependent on cross-trade synergy. They include education, printing, arts, publishing, textile, Chinese medicine, furniture, logging, landscaping, agriculture, vegetarian food, etc. etc.. Related colours are green & jade; related forms vertically upright & elongated.

Fire [火] industries may offer some pleasant surprises. They include information technology, internet, electronics, entertainment, lighting, recreation, airline, fashion, automobile, photography, energy (electricity, oil, gas, coal), etc. etc.. Related colours are orange, red, pink, purple or other bright colourful hues; related forms vertically triangular & pyramidal.

Metal [金] industries will maintain performance, eg. legal profession, banking, finance, pharmaceutical research & development, surgery, insurance, jewelry, hardware, gold, silver, precious stone mining, machinery, etc. etc.. Related colours are white, gold, silver, or other shiny metallic hues; related forms circular & spherical.

Water [水] industries will thrive better if founded on cross-trade collaborations. They include tourism, shipping, beverages, sea food, fish farming, aquarium, sex, etc. etc.. Related colours are blue & black; related forms wavy & fluid.

Earth [土] industries are the least prosperous and tend to experience the stiffest competition, eg. construction, property, Feng Shui, cosmetics, food (flour, meat), pottery, hospitality, etc. etc.. Related colours incl. yellow, brown, or other earthen hues; related forms squarish, cuboid & castellated.

Nevertheless, observing the followings may assist you to ride the tides of 2009:

1) Avoid commencing construction / major renovation activities or shifting into new premises in the 6th (07.07.09 - 06.08.09) Sui Po [岁破] and 12th (05.01.10 - 03.02.10) Tai Sui [太岁] solar months;
2) Refrain from carrying out new installations or demolition works at the inauspicious sectors, esp. North (0° ± 22.5°), Northeast 3 (52.5° - 67.5°), East (90° ± 22.5°), Southeast 1 (112.5° - 127.5°), West (270° ± 22.5°), while keeping the subject areas clean & tidy;
3) Avoid sitting with back towards San Sha [三煞] (52.5° - 127.5°);
4) Invest more resources in the favourable trades, exercise caution when dealing with the unfavourable trades;
5) Make use of colours or forms related to the favourable trades, esp. when launching new products or opening new businesses;
6) Be more alert about possible events or the potentialities of things, esp. if your subject business happens to be more sensitive to them;
7) Always remember team efforts is greater than individual strength;
8) Ensure top-down committment;
9) Be humble, ie. ask and you shall be given!
10) Heed the advice of your female partner (if any), or at least consider it.

In addition, you may place the following items to enhance your respective lucks:

Benefactor [贵人] -
“white jade or stone dragon seal” at Southwest 3 (232.5° - 247.5°)
“copper Monkey God statue” at North 2 (352.5° - 7.5°)

Conventional Wealth [正财] -
“pot of gold coins, eg. S$1 coins” at Northwest (315° ± 22.5°)

Windfall Gains [偏财] -
“round tank c/w a gold fish” at Southeast 3 (142.5° - 157.5°)

Romance [桃花] -
“vase of red flowers in water” at South 2 (172.5° - 187.5°)

Academy [文昌] -
“yellow jade Wen Chang pagoda” at South 2 (172.5° - 187.5°)

Now, despite all the doom-sayings, according to Chinese calendars (mapping both solar & lunar), 2009 Year Of The Plantation Ox is regarded as a Double Happiness Year since there will be two Li Chun [立春] (Arrival Of Spring) within one lunar year (ie. 26.01.09 - 13.02.10). Hence it is said, for singles, it is a good time to tie the knot. For marrieds, it is a good time to rejoice in marital bliss. And for all, may love blooms to usher in the double happiness and chase away the looming glooms!