What's new in the new year?

NEW Year’s Day is always a time for looking back and looking forward. The year 2012 has gone and proved unfounded the fear of the world coming to an end. There is no apocalypse predicted for 2013 which, in the Chinese lunar calendar, is the year of the water snake which begins Feb. 10.

So what’s in store for the year of the snake in Chinese metaphysics? Feng shui expert Ding Lu Torrefranca says he has a new feng shui guru in the person of Joey Yap who founded the Master Academy of Chinese Metaphysics in Kuala Lumpur. Ding was able to attend Joey Yap’s master classes in Manila and in Singapore.

According to Ding, the worst sign during this year of the water snake is the goat sign, followed by pig, snake, monkey and tiger. But it is easy to cleanse oneself of the bad luck: Just take a dip in salt water—the sea—on Feb. 4 to release the bad luck energy. The good luck signs are ox (wealth), horse (opportunity), and rat (dragon virtue) while the rest will have moderate luck.

Direction-wise, the good luck or auspicious directions are north, northeast, south and northwest while the bad luck directions are southeast, center, west and east.  

The nice thing about feng shui this year is that there are no charms to acquire: to acquire wealth and prosperity, just put water in the auspicious areas mentioned.

Ding adds that to become wealthy, put water in the southwest of your home or office on Jan. 25 at exactly 12:30 p.m. If you are into investments, also place water in the southwest of your home or office on April 21 at 11:30 a.m.

To resolve problems and legal arguments, place water in the north area on Jan. 16 at 6:30 a.m. To achieve academic or career excellence, put water in the northeast on May 28 at 6:30 a.m.

For family, and relationship and affair problems, put water on the southeast facing northwest on March 19. For the helpful, noble man’s luck, place water at 6:30 a.m. in the south on Jan. 17. A bad luck day for the entire 2013 is Feb. 28, specifically 9:30 p.m.

The auspicious elements in the Snake Year are fire, wood and water, which attract prosperity and money. Metal and earth elements are not good this year.

The official color of the Snake Year is green and pantone colors. For the Chinese New Year (Feb. 10), wear polka dots or a red-colored outfit combined with green to attract money. And for food, welcome the new year with fried meat or delicacies, sweets, and fruits.

The Snake Year, says Ding, is a turbulent one, shaking Mother Earth. There will be more typhoons, floods, earthquakes, air, land and sea accidents.

Some houses will collapse. He expects more scandals to appear, more issues between the government and the Catholic Church.

Health problems will persist as well as political wars that will result in more election-related killings.

Some prominent figures—celebrities and politicians—will suffer health problems or meet with accidents. Mindanao will have economic and social problems. Real estate business will not be so good anymore.

On the upside, Lapu-Lapu is at Wealth Star, booming, with fortune and virtue at its grasp. (A Wealth Star can represent wealth and prosperity of the premises and occupants.) And Cebu will be the center of education and information.

So this is how 2013 will be, according to feng shui expert Ding. But do remember that whatever life deals you, it is how you meet good or ill fortune that will matter to Him Who is the Giver of Life. Have a happy, fruitful and peaceful year!