EACH start of the year, metaphysics professionals are asked to contribute their thoughts on the incoming year from an astrological and metaphysical standpoint. For some reason that defies understanding, there is always an assumption that the average person is particularly interested in natural disasters, disease, and the stock market.
I think forecasting about natural disasters and disease is unimaginative and unhelpful. Natural disasters have little impact beyond being newsworthy or possibly, creating some havoc for holiday makers. Whilst it bleeds, it leads is useful for papers, the average person would rather be more interested in how they can make a few extra bucks surely? Comments on disease or illness equally don’t really make much of a difference to the average person - how many people would for example, imagine they would get ebola or dengue, if such a warning was issued?
Would anybody logically stay at home on the off-chance they will be on a plane with patient zero of bird flu? As for the stock market (or property market), few people are truly in a position to truly take advantage of this? If you have no spare cash and it’s a fantastic year for dragons to buy property (it’s not!), does that mean it’s the end of the world?
So with all this in mind, I’ve endeavoured in this annual forecast to make it more practical, useful and less frivolous for the average person. You will need to know more than your animal sign but with the proliferation of BaZi and Qimen calculators on line, plotting your BaZi or Qimen chart is pretty straightforward. Armed with that information, here is an actually potentially useful primer of the year to come.
Doggone myths
Let’s begin with dispelling the useless information that gets in the way of the real stuff. The year of the dog does not mean it is a good year to get a dog, or a bad year to get a dog. Remember, a dog is for life, not just for one astrological year. And in any case, no one should adopt a dog or otherwise, because of the animal year. Imagine having to find a komodo dragon to adopt in the year of the dragon.
Another common nonsensical view of the year of the dog is that it will be a compassionate year, filled with opportunities to meet a loyal and attentive friend or special one. Or perhaps, there is the pronouncement that it will be a ‘dog eat dog’ year because well, that does make for good copy, along with all the other ‘dog’ sayings and references.
The Year of the Dog is represented by the pillar Wu Xu. Unfortunately this pillar speaks of anything but compassion. Both Wu and Xu comprise of the Chinese character ‘Ge’ which references weapons. This denotes a high possibility that 2018 is likely to be a year of tremendous conflict and war. Within the Xu Earthly Branch, we have a hidden Ding Fire and Xin Metal - both these elements are associated with hidden threats or unknown aggressors, suggesting in additon to conflict and war, there may be guerilla attacks or more sleeper cells coming to the fore.
2018 will be a competitive year for a specific class of individuals, namely Ji Earth Day Masters. In BaZi,competitiveness is defined by the Rob Wealth Star. Wu Xu, viewed as a pillar,represents a formidable competitor to Ji Earth - a veritable mountain as it were, compared to the clod of earth that is Ji Earth. For Ji Earth Day Masters looking at professional advancement, financial upside or even just personal romance,do not be complacent or someone will eat your lunch before you do. However, it is not certain to be dog-eat-dog always - the Rob Wealth Star can represent personal popularity and an increase in personal network. Thus, those in the MLM business or politicians who are Ji or Wu Earth (hello President Trump) will definitely see some positive outcomes.
If there is an apt dog reference to use in 2018, it would be Wag the Dog. 2018’s outlook is determined by looking at the East Palace of the 2018 QiMenDunJia chart. In this palace, the Scenery Door is present, together with the Grain Star. We will definitely see politicians engaging in all kinds of political theatre, courtesy of the Scenery Door in the East Palace of 2018’s Qimen chart. The presence of the Scenery Door denotes a tendency for populist pronouncements and policies that seem to be all about the masses, but what it is really going on will be anyone’s guess.
Who is the top dog in 2018?
In a given astrological year, certain Day Masters will perform better than others in different spheres. In 2018, the annual elements will favour Wood Day Masters with regards wealth matters broadly speaking. However, because Wood Day Masters do not like Wu Earth and prefer Ji Earth, it will be a year where opportunities will exist for Wood Day Masters but not all these opportunities will convert into profitable opportunities. Thus, Wood Day Masters should not be greedy and focus on long-term rather than short term wealth opportunities.
Water Day Masters will have good opportunities for career advancement in 2018 - Gui Water will come out better than Ren Water in terms of securing internal promotions whereas Ren Waters will do well to consider changing jobs in an aggressive career leap. For Metal Day Masters, the year will be a mixed bag at best, with a risk of stagnation or at least, not achieving much progress. For Fire Day Masters, this is not a good year in which to engage in speculative investments and indeed, there is a need to guard against loss of wealth, specifically with regards property.
The QiMen chart for the year indicates however that women will be the ones calling the shots in 2018, due to the presence of the Moon Deity in the East Palace. The Moon can represent soft power as well, suggesting that titles will matter less when it comes to the levers of power in 2018. But the Moon indicates females first and foremost. Accordingly, women can expect to have more influence in 2018. In particular, women born in years with the Bing, Ding and Ren Heavenly Stems will find themselves growing in influence and indirect power.
Puppy love or in the doghouse?
Whilst a distinct lack of interest in disease, doom and destruction is likely with the average person, there’s no doubt that everyone’s interested in finding love.
A Peach Blossom Star will typically denote relationship opportunities - people will be just that much more frisky in Peach Blossom Star years. By contrast, the presence of a Graveyard Star denotes something that comes to an end, in itself. 2018 is a Graveyard year as the Dog Earthly Branch belongs to the grouping known as the Four Graveyards.
For those who are already in relationships that are either stale or seemingly on the verge of break-up or separation, it may just be the time in which to chose freedom rather than continue on in a dull and unfulfilling relationship. This is particularly the case for male Fire Day Masters and for female Wood Day Masters.
For ladies who are in the hopes of finding Mr Right in 2018, the odds are best for Gui Water Day Masters, followed by Metal Day Masters. For guys, Yi Wood is likely to fare better than Jia Wood Day Masters in the romance game, although Jia Wood males shouldn’t be too disheartened.
If you ever needed an excuse to be a bird dog, 2018 with it’s Indirect Wealth Star (denoting girlfriends or short-term relationships) is your license to play the field, before you settle down with Ms Right in 2019.
Datuk Joey Yap is the founder, CEO and master trainer of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
