According to the Chinese calendar, 2019 is the Year of the Earth Pig, and unlike last year's Year of the Earth or Mountain Dog, which was a year of highs and lows, market volatility, political and economic chaos and protectionism, the Year of the Earth Pig will bring a progressive business climate, more compromise and concessions. The Earth Pig is gentle, cherishes friendships, takes responsibility seriously and is willing to compromise, according to prominent astrologer, fortune teller and Feng Shui Master Y.C. Sun.
At their Lunar New Year celebration last week, Sun told members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors this year will bring an energy change that will impact people's behavior and thinking. People will tend to make a change, such as relocation, job change, commute or go abroad for job or travel.
Investments will increase, as will company mergers, buyouts, joint ventures or expansions. This year will be good for real estate as inventory will increase. Sun predicts parents will encourage and help their high-tech, healthcare and MBA children buy their first home or upgrade to more ideal homes. The market should experience a temporary rejuvenation and home sales activity should pick up by June. Also, because the pig likes to compromise, expect subprime mortgages to surface, but they will be better structured than in the past.
Sun predicts an end to the U.S.-China trade war, with a final deal struck in June. He said clashes between President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will continue. Pelosi, born in 1940, is a Dragon, and Trump, born in 1946, is a Dog. Dogs and Dragons clash in the Chinese Zodiac and can't tolerate each other.
Jobs and businesses in demand this year are information technology, software and high tech hardware engineers, data scientists, drug production particularly in cannabis and health care. There will be intense competition in the restaurant business, in electronics, computers, solar energy and entertainment.
Sun predicts the economy will start to stabilize in late August. The stock market will still be volatile, but there will be signs of rejuvenation in mid-August.
The pig can also be naïve and believe in easy money schemes. "Remember that there is no free money," warned Sun.
The feng shui master and astrologer added this year people should avoid overindulging on high fat, high cholesterol foods and junk food. Health problems could revolve around the spleen, kidney, intestines, eczema, gastroenterology, urinary tract, reproductive organs, cold, flu, and swine fever virus.
As for the fung shui effect in 2019, Sun said good locations are the center, northwest, north, west and east. To bring even more luck and happiness, Sun suggests placing a peace lily in these rooms, but one that blooms.
This year the "Disaster Star" resides in the southwest. This location will experience war, conflict, accidents, misfortune, disaster. Other bad locations are the southeast (loss of energy and money), northeast (health challenges), and south (conflicts).
Homes facing south/southwest may be hard to sell this year, but Sun says not to worry because feng shui has remedies to deflect the bad "chi." For southwest locations, place a Tibetan feng shui bell or hang six metal wind chimes; better yet, buy a fig tree. In the southeast room, place a glass of water or blue area rug.
Sun indicated the Chinese zodiac has 12 animal signs forming a 60-year cycle. The Earth Pig impacts each zodiac animal in different ways. Although one's fortune can be predicted with far more accuracy knowing one's birth date, time and place, in general, lucky Chinese zodiac signs in 2019 are the Dragon, Dog, Tiger, Rabbit, Horse, Goat and Rooster. He predicts conflict between the Pig and Dog this year.
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