By Raymond Lo
Editor’s Note: The article is an abridged reproduction of Lo’s forecast of what can be expected in the year of the Metal Ox
THE Chinese New Year will start on February 12 and it will last until January 31, 2022.
The Ox is the second out of the 12 animal zodiac signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
The Metal Ox Year comes right after the Metal Rat Year (2020) and before the Water Tiger Year (2022).
People born in the Ox Year (1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) are said to be “offending the Grand Duke.” This means he/she is offending the energy of the year.
Therefore, it is recommended to carry a jade pendant of the Rat to reduce the negative influence. Famous people born in the Ox Year include Meryl Streep, Richard Gere, Lionel Richie, Barack Obama, Michael J. Fox, and George Clooney.
The animal sign that is most unfavourable to the Ox is the Goat. If you were born in the Goat Year (1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015), you are in direct clash with the year.
Clashes will bring turbulence, movements, accidents or big changes (both positive and negative). You can anticipate more traveling opportunities, and it is a good year to change jobs or move offices or houses. You must carry the Rat pendant for protection.
Economic outlook
The fearful energy of the Water Element cycle is going to take over and prevail in the coming year. Pessimism, cynicism, and despair will set in and contribute to economic decline.
Many activities undertaken during the year are subject to longer-term setbacks while more economic crises are poised to arise. Because Fire is lost until 2025, we can expect a longer bearish market ahead.
But which industries can still thrive in a bearish market?
Industries belonging to the Fire Element can expect prosperity because Fire conquers Metal, and Metal is Fire’s money. Fire industries include energy (oil & gas), power generation, restaurants, and entertainment.
Next are industries belonging to the Earth Element because Earth conquers Water and produces Metal. Metal means activity and productivity while Water inside the Ox also means money, and Water is Earth’s money. Earth industries include real estate, land development, mining, insurance, computer software, and the technology sector.
The Metal industries are expected to face serious competition this year. They include automobiles, engineering, banking, and machinery.
The Water industries will also not make money this year because there is a total absence of Fire which is Water’s money Element. Such industries include shipping, transportation, communication, and beverages.
The money prospect for the Wood industries is also weak because while the Ox is Wood’s money Element, this Ox is very weak. These industries include businesses linked to fashion, media, books, the environment, and climate change.
In summary, industries belonging to the Fire and Earth Elements will prosper and make progress. All other industries will suffer or experience an uphill climb.
Stock market outlook
In the Five Elements system, the Fire Element is happiness and optimism. The Fire years prevailed between 2013 and 2017. Fire’s presence can boost people’s confidence about the economy and consequently, promote good performance in the stock market.
This was the main driving force behind the stock market boom in those years. However, the cycle of the Fire Element ended in 2017 with Yin Fire Rooster.
And with the arrival of the Dog Year in 2018, Fire entered the grave, resulting in a setback in the economic atmosphere through the creation of a lacklustre zero-sum year.
Then came the Yin Earth Pig Year in 2019 which represented the termination of the Fire Element. The pessimism of the Water energy – the symbolic emotion related to fear – has begun.
Hence, the world economy has been greatly affected by the trade war talks between the US and China which generated a lot of fear and uncertainty for global investors.
The years 2019, 2020, and 2021 all belong to the Water and Metal Elements with the Fire Element non-existent until the year 2025.
Because 2019 represented the termination of Fire, 2020 means Fire enters the embryo stage. Finally, in 2021, Fire moves into the nourishing cycle. Therefore, the general economic atmosphere is mostly bearish with the economic pace anticipated to be gloomy and slow even in 2021.
Remember the last recession of 2008 (during a Rat Year)? The collapse of the mortgage business generated fear and catapulted the financial tsunami that lasted from 2008 until 2013 when the Fire Year returned.
Likewise, in 2020, the powerful Water Year brought on the COVID-19 pandemic – generating insurmountable fear – while forcing the world to come to a standstill with the shutdown of most international trade and travels which resulted in grave worldwide economic impact.
Going into 2021, the strong influence of Water will continue to cast a dark shadow of fear all over the world. The atmosphere will feel dull, cold, and grey. The continuous decline in economic growth will force investors to be more conservative and the public to spend less (demand will go down).
In general, the Yin Metal Ox Year (with Yin Metal on the top and weak Earth on the bottom), is a symbol of a harsh and cold atmosphere that incites disharmony, conflict, assassination, and terrorism.
As the world economy continues to decline, the atmosphere of distrust will lead to more social unrest, political struggles, international tensions, assassinations, subversions, and coups.
Moreover, with the drastic and extreme nature of Yin Metal, brute force and cold-blooded killing will frequent the news and heighten the emotional intensity of the year.
People may choose to resort to violence in achieving their ideology, hence this will bring about more protests, demonstrations, and anti-government sentiments.
Natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, sea and air accidents, environmental disasters, and world epidemics will continue to persist and prevail. – Feb 12, 2021
Raymond Lo is one of the most sought-after professional feng shui and destiny consultants in the world. A Hong Kong native, he is one of only five people alive to earn the title of “Grand Master” from the International Feng Shui Association (IFSA). His full article can be accessed here.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
