Chinese astrological predictions for 2008:

The Year of the Rat is here

by Lakmal Welabada

The Chinese year of the ‘Rat’ starts on February 7 this year

Asiri Wanigaratne

Feng-Shui has been a mode of astrology practised by the Chinese for more than 5000 years. It was used as a secret method by the Royal families and the elite of China until it spread among the Japanese. Feng-Shui secrets were used to enhance many aspects of life, like wealth, marriage, education and health to name a few.

According to Chinese astrology, every person in this world is categorised and come under a name of an animal like, pig, horse, monkey and so on basically according to the year each person is born in.

The Chinese New Year starts in February and ends in January of the following year. Every year is named after an animal and an astrological forecast is given accordingly. For example year 2008 is a year of the 'Rat'. And those who were born in the years that are amicable with 'Rat' (i.e 'Bore' and 'Monkey') would reap good fortunes.

And those who were born in the years that are inimical to 'Rat' would have advers effects. However, if you wish to know the exact personal astrological forecast according to the Chinese Feng-Shui method you should first refer the Chinese calender and know your year of birth, and then check your forecast along with the predictions given for the year 2008, the year of the 'Rat'.

Asiri Wanigaratne, is a Feng-Shui Master who has studied the subject under many femous Chinese Feng-Shui Masters like Ms.Lilian Too and T. K. Lee in Malaysia and Singapore.

"Feng-Shui is a 'Vaasthu Vidya' and fortune telling method used in - China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and even in Japan. Europeans and U.S.A. nationals too are practising it at present. Feng-Shui is a method that can be practised easily by keeping your place clean and tidy, and placing a few Feng-Shui symbols on the eight magnetic directions of a house or office like North, South, North-East, South-West and so on," explains Asiri.

The Sunday Observer carried a series of articles on Feng-Shui at the beginning of last year so that it is hoped the brief account given on this subject here would suffice. Asiri Wanigaratne gives a basic precise and concise forecast for this year, and also some key points of 'do's and 'don't's which should be practised in general by Feng-Shui enthusiasts.

His first yearly workshop was held at the BMICH recently, and the second session in Colombo will be held at the same venue next Saturday. Apart from that Asiri will have a few more workshops in Negombo, Galle and Kandy during the course of this week.

The Chinese year of the 'Rat' starts on February 7 this year and will end up on January 25 in 2009. The special feature in the 'Rat' year is that the 'wealth luck' of this year is less when compared to the other years. So we have to work hard to gain more wealth unlike in the past years.

Easy money cannot be expected. If you wish to launch a new business venture this year, it would be successful to a certain point, but a profit can be expected only after the first six months. However, spend wisely as the wealth fortune is less for everyone in general this year.

There will be a salient competition in your career and business, so enhancing your knowledge by following a new diploma course or putting an added effort to your work more than in the past is indicated.

In general the year of the 'Rat' is good for technological and industrial ventures. Even the CD-Rom, lazer technology, video games, world's first radio service and the world's first TV service was launched or invented during the years of the 'Rat'. So there'll be a vast technological development in the world. If you also can do some technological invention, try your fortune, you might excel.

The health sector is given a prominent place this year than earlier. Every country in the world would think of developing the health facilities of the citizens and many hospitals will be constructed. New medicines will be found. If you are a writer who pens on health issues, this would be a successful year for you to publish a book on it. Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) was founded and had their first meeting in a 'Rat's year.

Stomach problems would be the prominent factor in ill-health we would experience during this year. Gastritis, afflictions connected to blood circulation and heart, eyes and skin diseases are also indicated.

Though the power of women enhanced last year, this year it has moved towards young men. So if your competitor is a young fellow, it's better if you can postpone challenging him as you tend to lose. Be alert on this. Also the eldest son of the family would experience extreme success this year. So if you are hoping to hand over your business to your elder son, of course this is the period to do so.

According to Chinese astrology, the fortune (wealth) star of this year has come to the East. People who live in the Eastern area of the country will experience a vast development in their areas as well as in their living condition.

The second fortune (wealth) star has approached the South-East (SE). So we can expect an equal development in this area as well. However, whether we like it or not the misfortune star has arrived to the North and South.

So those who live in these areas have to make an extra effort to enhance their personal progress. North-West (NW) has got the sickness star. So people who live in the NW should be alert about their health conditions.

Personal predictions in general will be as follows. Since the misfortune star has approached the North and South, and the sickness star the NW, better to avoid these directions as much as possible as you can (only for this year). If your bedroom is on either corner of the house, think about it twice. If you can, change the bedroom.

It can affect your work place as well by giving bad luck in your career and business. Also if you can, it is better not to use the doors in the South direction. Since the NW is meant for the father or the adult males of the family, pay more attention to their health. The East and the SE will bring you luck through out this year.

If your main door is facing the East, you will experience your 'wealth luck' with great success. Try to start a new business venture and experience the progress. You can enhance the luck in the East, by placing a container of water.

But if your bedroom is on the East never keep water there as water would give a bad effect when placed in a sleeping area. Instead you can place it on the East either in the sitting room or else where. If your kitchen is on the East, you will get plenty of food through out the year.

In this year, the North-East (NE) will enhance educational luck. So at least draw the study table of your children to the NE. Apart from that the centre location of the house and a room on the NE would intensify the luck in the education of your children.

The NE will bring you luck in romance as well. If you are still a bachelor or a spinster, why not use the bedroom on the NE as you tend to find a good partner this year. If you are a married couple who are using a bedroom on the NE, the physical relationship will be enhanced this year.

The fortune of the year and also your life in general can be developed through many symbols meant for different factors in Feng-Shui. But remember, hard work and honesty are the two elements that would give life long success.

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