Year of the Water Goat: part 1 | part 2 | Daily Forecasts | Feng Shui | Your Year Ahead

Richard Giles, writer, astrologer and Feng Shui consultant, was born in Adelaide, South Australia, spending his childhood in sunny bliss in the climate of the City of Culture. The Vietnam war and conscription turned him towards another way of life. Spiritual journeys in Thailand, India and Indonesia with Buddhism and meditation led him to a new analysis of the world. He took up the study of astrology and more recently Feng Shui.

Richard lives in sunny Queensland in the cool mountains in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast, where he works as an astrologer and Feng Shui practitioner doing consultations and continues writing for various magazines and newspapers.

2003. Chinese Year of the Water Goat part 2

February is always the commencement of the Chinese New Year. Traditionally, using a Solar calendar, the Chinese start the year on the 4th February beginning a new animal cycle in their twelve part zodiac. The New Moon on 1st February 2003 is the official lunar New Year celebration day.

FENG SHUI & FLYING STARS

One school of Feng Shui looks at the yearly stars that bring luck or difficulties to your house and business each year. They are known as Flying Stars and are represented by the numbers 1-9. Each number has a value and energy either for good luck or bad luck, so they are known as good or bad stars. Their influence moves year to year and each month possibilities rise and fall depending on their positions in your house.

The poor luck numbers are 5 and 2, especially the number 5. For the whole of 2003 until 4th February 2004, the 5 falls into the South East sector of your house/business and 2 falls in the North. Have a look at your building floor plan and work out where they are this year. Divide the house into 8 equal sectors - North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West and Northwest. Check out your Southeastern sector. Is it your front door or maybe your bedroom, or perhaps the kitchen? If they are recipients of the 5 then you need take remedial steps. There are also two good luck stars moving through the house and they also stimulate two sectors all year. They are 8 and 9 and are found in the West (creativity) and North East (learning and education) all this year. Support them all year.

How to adjust for the 5 and 2? Traditional cures use metal to drain the difficult energies of 5 and 2. Because they are both Earth element numbers the next element in the Chinese cycle, Metal, is the one that weakens them. Hang a six piece small hollow rod metal windchime (outside) in your South East sector all this year. In the North the traditional cure is to hang six metal coins tied together with ribbon (inside). Old Chinese coins work very well.

What do South East and North rule in your life? South East is about your wealth, success and blessings. The eldest daughter is found in the SE. So is flexibility, adaptability and devotion. In the body its thighs, liver, forehead and the eyes. The North rules your direction in life, your journey. North also rules the emotions, informality, communications, secrets and water. In the body its the bladder, kidneys, sexual organs and fluids. These health areas can all be challenged in 2003.

THE GRAND DUKE

The other influence of 2003 is the compass direction of the Chinese animal. Each animal has its own direction and the Goat comes from the SouSouWest. Directly opposite is the Ox (NorNorEast) and if you're born an Ox its considered you have to take it very easy this year. Being the opposite sign is definitely a disadvantage in 2003.

The energy of 2003 comes direct from the SouSouWest and is called the Grand Duke. He is a firm leader riding through the compass from SSW all year. Opposing the direction of the Grand Duke is considered to create huge difficulties. If you plan renovating the SSW part of your house this year put it off. If you cannot, then at least turn to the opposite direction from the Grand Duke when working or he'll ride over the top of you and you'll be run down. If your work desk faces SSW reorient it for this year. In addition don't do any renovations in the SE this year to avoid disturbing that tricky number 5.

If your front door faces SSW, a traditional way to deal with Grand Duke energy is to place a concave mirror above your door to visually reduce his size. If you're building a house with a SSW facing front door this year its going to be very challenging work. If you can, wait until 2004.

Using monthly numbers - there are some months when the 5s and 2s all gather together. This year they are April, July, October, and January 2004 with the poorest month being July. Double up on the Metal cures in that month. There are also two good luck stars moving through the house stimulating two sectors all year. They are numbers 8 and 9 and will be found in the West (creativity) and North East (learning and education) all this year. Good positions for you if your office, front door or bedroom are in those sectors.

Now lets have a look at your personal forecasts. What's in store for each of the animal signs this year?

GOAT/SHEEP (Years: 1919/31/43/55/67/79/91/03). This year is going to be your year provided you are smart with your work. You have the chance to kick off a few shackles and enjoy yourself. Keep your ear to the ground listening for the right notes as discrimination is important. Check any details in documents. You'll get plenty of personal support this year.

MONKEY (Years: 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92/04). You can achieve success this year if you streamline your activities down into simple formulas. You need to be selective in how you support others as they may be calling on you a lot. Its wiser for you to stick to projects that will benefit your directions rather than do anything on offer. Next year is your big year.

ROOSTER (Years: 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93/05). The year is very favourable to the Rooster and its one where you can gather resources to make sure you are influential. Its a good year to get your rewards for previous good works. Friends and acquaintances will rally around so take advantage of their support. You'll meet some very fascinating people this year to help you out.

DOG (Years: 1910/22/34/46/58/70/82/94). A year when you may find some difficulties. Its not a good year for renovating or rebuilding. Best to check everything you do when signing contracts and negotiating. Don't take things too seriously this year or you'll be too upset. Rely on yourself but don't be too hard on yourself. Relax and don't stick to routines.

PIG (Years: 1911/23/35/47/59/71/83/95). The Pig always likes to enjoy life and this year will be one that helps you do that. Its an advantageous year for your relationships and connections with others. You'll be in a good position for work, creativity and opportunities. Rewards will come with little effort.

RAT (Years: 1912/24/36/48/60/72/84/96). Since the Rat had a bad year in 2002 you'll be looking forward to something better this year. Your finances can improve slowly and you'll do some new learning with this year's Goat energies. You can improve your home environment. You'll also get back your pace of activities from previous years. Your anxieties from last year subside and security is returning.

OX (Years: 1913/25/37/49/61/73/85/97). In the twelve animal zodiac the Ox is positioned directly opposite the Goat so this year for you is going to be a testing one. Since the Goat year is about creativity and having more fun and the Ox is a bit of a worker and believes that hard work pays off, then its going to be a challenging year. Take your time, be open and review deeper aspects within yourself very closely and you'll deal with the Goat year okay.

TIGER (Years: 1914/26/38/50/62/74/86/98). Don't leap at this year too quickly, as Tigers can do, because what is there for you will unfold with time. Allow it to evolve and things will turn out better for you in the long run. Keep your patience and it will pay you off. There are great opportunities around for you this year.

RABBIT (Years: 1915/27/39/51/63/75/87/99). The Rabbit has a good relationship with the Goat so this is going to be a great year that suits you well. You can aim high this year and achieve much of what you want work wise. You'll impress others and you'll have rewards placed upon you. Others look to you for direction and help. Integrate this into your life.

DRAGON (Years: 1916/28/40/52/64/76/88/00). For you this year can be a bit of a challenge. The energies of a Goat year are not always in keeping with a Dragon's needs. But if you allow it to unfold, and don't overspend, you can build up alliances and friendships to help you in the following year. Results really come forward then.

SNAKE (Years: 1917/29/41/53/65/77/89/01). The Snake does well in the year of the Goat. This is an excellent year to pursue your creative side and its good for investing in the arts or in valuable assets. Friends will ask you to help them out and you need to offer your help, but also allow time for your own pursuits.

HORSE (Years: 1918/30/42/54/66/78/90/02). Last year was your year and things continue to flow for you into this year, especially the first half. A lot may have happened for you in 2002, and now is the time to balance out all you did and to continue those projects you started last year, albeit with more time to devote to details. You'll benefit from new skills.

Overall the Year of the Goat will bring new solutions to difficult problems and promises big changes. However, whatever is unresolved from 2002 must be settled this year. Best of Feng Shui luck for the year.

Richard Giles is a Feng Shui practitioner and astrologer who is available in Australia for consultations on your home and business. He has been involved in astrology for 15 years and writes for several Australian magazines. He is also the director of the Earth Healing School of Queensland, running practitioner courses in Earth Healing and Geomancy. Click to contact Richard Giles.

Year of the Water Goat: part 1 | part 2 | Daily Forecasts | Feng Shui | Your Year Ahead