Thread: Usher in the Year of the Monkey with feng shui

Chinese around the world will ring in the Year of the Monkey Monday, and with it will come countless questions about what lies in store for the lunar 2016.

Enter Chen Shuaifu, a noted feng shui master and longtime chairman of the China Fengshui Association, which has more than 50,000 members.

Over the years he has given his predictions to NBC News, most notably declaring that marriages and relationships would suffer in 2013 during the "Year of the Widow" and that Russian President Vladimir Putin, born in the Year of the Dragon, would do well in 2015 — the Year of the Sheep.

For the superstitious in China, the astrological divinations of a local feng shui master can be important guidance in making decisions for the coming year. For many others, the annual predictions are just for fun.

Unfortunately for anyone seeking reassurance about the worldwide economic turmoil, Chen does not have any encouraging words.

"In 2016 we will see a big slide in the world economy," he warns. "The global economic situation will be terrible and lots of companies will be bankrupted."

He recommends postponing important financial decisions in 2016, but warns that those looking to grow families or resolve questions of the heart shouldn't wait any longer.

"It's a good year for people to give birth and to look for love," he says. "Babies born in the Year of the Monkey are regarded as very hardworking and lucky."

Chen expects good times ahead for anyone born in the Year of the Snake (1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013), the Dragon (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012) and the Sheep (1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) because those animals "get along well with monkeys."

He says that portends well for President Barack Obama, who was born in the Year of the Sheep. He was quick to note that Chinese President Xi Jinping, born in the Year of the Snake, would also enjoy good fortune in 2016.

On the other side of the coin, Chen predicts those born in the year of the Tiger (1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010), Rabbit (1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011) and Pig (1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007) will generally not have a good year ahead.

Also predicted to have an unlucky 2016 are those born in the Year of the Dog (1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006), including Republican Presidential hopeful, Donald Trump.

"The monkey year is not good for people born in the Year of the Dog. Donald Trump will have a difficult campaign year," says Chen, who also notes that Hilary Clinton, who is born in the Year of the Pig is expected to have good luck and has a face that "conveys strong personality and ability."

For Trump and those born in unlucky years, Chen suggests eating more red apples and storing them at home because monkeys like fruit and the red color will bring better fortune. In a nod to the monkey's natural forest habitat, Chen also recommends wearing more green.

What Feng Shui Experts Predict for Year of the Monkey - NBC News

Has he got any lottery numbers?

Lunar New Year turbulence as 'fire monkey' swings into action

As the Lunar New Year of the Monkey swings into action Monday, fortune tellers foresee 12 months of political and financial turbulence at the hands of the mischievous, unpredictable creature.

Hong Kong's respected feng shui masters expect an incendiary mix as the monkey combines with the fire element, but also say the year ahead will be a boom time for clever innovation and women will be in the ascendant.

The monkey is seen as belonging to the hard metal element, while fire represents the sun, says Hong Kong-based celebrity feng shui master Alion Yeo.

"When the two things combine, it creates an extremely high temperature. We have to be prepared for a lot of disputes, sickness," he told AFP.

"One can even associate fire and metal with missiles, bullets or rockets," he said.

Feng shui --- literally meaning "wind-water" -- is influential in many parts of Asia, where people adjust their lives and renovate offices and homes to maximise their luck and wealth according to its tenets.

It is based on ancient philosophy and the belief that all events are dictated by the varying balances in the five elements that make up the universe: metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

Feng shui masters in Hong Kong also combine astrology into their art.

Hong Kong-based soothsayer Thierry Chow warned of shocking events at the hands of the "fire monkey".

"Fire is dominant in the five elements. When fire is atop monkeys they will be swinging around, they will be difficult to predict. A lot of things will be unexpected," said Chow.

The last fire monkey year happened in 1956, when Britain and France invaded Egypt during the Suez Canal crisis, a pivotal event that historians believe marked the demise of British imperial power.

But while the monkey may bring instability, it could also herald major innovation, said Chow, as technology falls into the "fire" category.

"There could be major breakthroughs in solar-powered energy, fire-related technologies, or the Internet," she told AFP.

The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and Chinese folklore ascribes 12 animals in rotation. The monkey is in the ninth position.

- Financial rollercoaster -

In its annual tongue-in-cheek "feng shui index", CLSA, one of Asia's leading brokerages, predicted a "volatile ride" for financial markets.

"There are going to be a lot of ups and downs. The monkey is a creature who is tricky and cunning," Cherry Ma of the firm's feng shui team said.

"There will be fluctuations but it also means opportunities for fast-movers," she said.

The outgoing Year of the Sheep saw turbulence in global markets and a rout in China stocks with fears of an economic slowdown on the mainland.

Yeo predicts February and August will be the roughest times for investors, as the months clash with the presiding cosmic deity of the year, known as the "Tai Sui".

"There will be a transfer of wealth (in February and August)... money will be lost," Yeo said.

- Trump to meet match -

The Year of the Monkey may look foreboding, but feng shui masters say women may benefit, as they fall within the fire category.

This is particularly true for Taiwan's president-elect Tsai Ing-wen, born in a fire monkey year in 1956, according to Chow.

Tsai won a landslide victory in January, unseating the ruling Kuomintang to become the island's first female president. She will take the reins in May.

"Women are compatible with the fire element. They will be empowered. They can go to the front of the stage or get promotions," says Chow.

The year promises a "big change" and "house moving" for Tsai, she adds.

It could also spell trouble for United States presidential hopeful Donald Trump -- heavily criticised for his sexist views -- as he campaigns for the Republican nomination. Hillary Clinton is campaigning for the Democrat nomination.

"The divination for the US is that the sun will be eaten by the moon... the sun represents men and the moon represents the women," said Yeo.

"The sun eaten by the moon means the woman will dominate and win."

Lunar New Year turbulence as 'fire monkey' swings into action