Chinese New Year: What to expect from the Year of the Goat?

• Marie France Asia: What does the Year of the Goat signify?

David Tong: This means that astrologically, according to the Chinese Solar Calendar, the Earth has completed its rotation around the Sun.   The Wood Goat pillar is basically the Chinese system of time keeping based on the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Every pillar has a Yin or Yang property as well as 5 elements associated with it.

Contrary to popular belief, the Year of the Wood Goat does not start on the first day of the Lunar New Year, which falls on the 19^th February this year. That is based on our Chinese customs, not Chinese Metaphysics. In fact, the Year of the Goat starts on the 4^th February on the Georgian calendar in 2015. This is known as the “Li Chun” or “Beginning of Spring”.

For Year of the Wood Goat, it is a year whereby the Wood element sits on top of the Earth element. According to the cycle of birth and destruction, this is a destructive cycle as the Wood on top counters the Earth below. This implies disharmony and challenges, hence do expect more conflicts and clashes around the world, whether in the forms of protests, war, gun shooting, explosions or terrorist.

• MFA: Overall, how does the year look like especially compared to the Year of the Horse last year?

David Tong: Although last year, which is the Wood Horse year, is a productive cycle, the excessive fire of the Horse from the Wood above makes it an explosive year. This year, with the Wood counter Earth destructive relationship, do expect even more turbulences as a whole this year, both economy and international conflicts.

As the Goat Earth is the strongest of all the earth element, this excessively powerful earth energy, coupled with the penetrative Wood above, may bring about more earthquakes, landslides, forest fires and other earth related disasters. In Singapore, this destructive earth relationship may cause the property prices to slide further this year.

• MFA: Any specific areas that this year is good/ not so good for?

David Tong: The annual sickness star 2 is at the Southeast this year. Expect more sudden illnesses, diseases, accidents and unexpected epidemic or disasters in the South Eastern part of the world this year. Similarly, the other negative energy 5 Yellow disaster star is at the West this year. Hence, do expect similar problems in the Western part of the world this year as well. Expect more natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, hurricanes, tsunami in those part of the world that might cause extensive damages.

As this year’s wealth star is at the North, Northern part of the world are expected to perform better economically.

• MFA: What should be taken advantage of/ be wary of this year?

David Tong: For those looking at buying property for the first time or upgrading your property in Singapore, this will be a good year as property prices are expected to hit one of the lowest point this year. For those investing in speculative stocks and investments, do be careful this year and don’t put all the eggs into one basket. Economy is expected to be turbulence and rocky this year.

• MFA: Which zodiac animals are compatible with the Goat and how will that affect their year?

David Tong: The compatible zodiac for Goat year will be Rabbit, Pig and Horse. Generally, these zodiacs will have a more harmonious year compared to the rest of the zodiac signs, especially Rabbit and Pig. They will have better career and wealth luck this year and less obstacles. Horse, on the other hand, although compatible with Goat, will have only moderate wealth luck. However, these are in general terms only. To be more precise and accurate, a person full birth data, which is the birthday and time of birth, must be taken into consideration.

• MFA: Any particular sign to be affected badly this year?

David Tong: The zodiac that clashes with the Goat year is Ox. Those born in the year of the Ox generally will have more obstacles and challenges in career and wealth luck this year. It is best to keep a low profile and avoid changing job this year. There is also a risk of stomach, digestive and intestinal health issues this year as Ox and Goat clash usually implies health problems related to those areas.

Read more about the Year of the Goat:

Feng Shui practices for good fortune
Chinese horoscope predictions for each sign

David Tong is a Singapore-based Feng Shui Master offering residential and commercial Feng Shui consultation, Bazi Destiny Analysis, Wedding dates selection, Qi Men Dun Jia Luck Enhancement and offers corporate seminars. For more information, please visit his website.