2013 Year of the Serpent: A Forecast Based on the Five Elements Cycle
by Dr. Mao Shing Ni, Ph.D., D.O.M., L.Ac.
Welcome to the Year of the Serpent! For many years I have made New Year
forecasts that are based on the ancient Taoist science of Five Elements Cycle
that predicts the macro trends that affect each of us on a personal level. Many
people have shared with me their experiences with these forecasts and how they
were better able to minimize the negative tendencies in their lives be it health,
relationships or finance and accentuate the positives. You may find it useful for
your life too.
Before we look at what lies ahead for a new year, it’s always wise to reflect on
the past. In 2012, the Year of the Dragon was characterized by strong energy
and powerful forces—symbolic of the Dragon—that when marshaled in the right
direction can result in positive change. For instance, Nobel Peace Prize winner
Aun San Suu Kyi was not only released from house arrest but won a Parliament
seat in military junta-controlled Myanmar and facilitated the lifting of economic
sanctions against her country—something that was unfathomable just two year
ago.
However, the year also witnessed powerful forces of nature from the devastation
left by Hurricane Sandy, the wild fires that ravaged New Mexico and Colorado to
the tornadoes that ripped through the South and the Midwest. There were also
plenty of man-made tragedies ranging from the lost lives from the civil war in
Syria, the horrific shooting in a cinema in Colorado to the massacre at Sandy
Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, to name just a few. I think most people
would agree with me that they are happy that the Year of the Dragon has finally
passed.
So what can we expect for the Year of the Serpent? Elementally, 2013 consists
of Water and Fire. Energetically, the Water element is creative, flexible and
powerful while the element of Fire is dynamic, passionate and unpredictable. The
positive manifestations of these two energies are optimism, creativity and
entrepreneurial growth. On the other hand, Water and Fire are opposing energies,
and therefore conflicts cannot be avoided. However, compared to 2012 Year of
the Dragon, conflicts in this year will be calmer and more manageable, although
there will be tension and mistrust beneath the surface.
Let’s examine how the energetic cycles might affect your health in the five main
areas of your life: physical, emotional, spiritual, moral and financial.
Physical Health
Water Element relates to kidney, bladder, adrenal gland, and the
hormonal/sexual system. The Fire Element corresponds to the heart, circulation
2|2013 New Year’s Forecas t by Dr. Mao
and vascular systems which are sensitive to stress and blockages. In this year
one may experience a higher tendency for conditions involving heart, blood
pressure, circulation, kidney, bladder, hormonal system, fertility and adrenal
glands.
Physical Health Action Plan
Eat more beans like kidney beans, azuki beans, navy beans and black beans for
their phytosterols which support hormonal health. Drink cranberry, cherry juice
and a little apple cider to keep the kidneys and bladder from bacterial infections
and uric acid. Try adding more spices and herbs to your diet including my:
Heart Health Spice Blend: ground cinnamon, fennel seed, cloves, star anise,
white pepper, parsley, ginger, cayenne pepper, turmeric
Sexual Health Spice Blend: ground coriander, ginger, cayenne pepper, cloves,
turmeric, curry, chili, fenugreek, fennel seed, garlic, cardamom, nutmeg, basil
Avoid eating red meat, dairy, fatty, greasy, deep fried foods, processed and
refined carbohydrates, alcohol, and sugar. I also recommend taking fish and flax
oil which are high in omega fatty acids and are helpful for the heart, circulation
and inflammation. Take care of problems when they are small by being proactive
and seeking holistic care. Exercise consistently to keep your heart fit and help
your body stay strong.
Emotional Health
Water relates to fear while Fire relates to excitement, neither of which are healthy
in excess. Fear paralyzes and consumes energy and prevents one from taking
the necessary steps for healthy emotional growth and maturity. While thrillseeking may be exciting, it can result in hyper-stimulation of one’s nervous
system. Both emotional states create stress that can harm one’s heart and
overtax the adrenal glan, potentially upsetting both the hormonal and nervous
systems.
Emotional Health Action Plan
Meditate daily using guided meditations like Meditation for Stress Release, a CD,
or Meditations for Emotional Detox, also a CD, to lower your cortisol-stress
hormone level and increase endorphins that help you relax and experience inner
peace. Tai chi and yoga are also helpful. Keep a nightly journal to unload pent up
feelings. Talk to a therapist or counselor. Cultivate a state of gratefulness.
3|2013 New Year’s Forecas t by Dr. Mao
Spiritual Health
The nature of Water and Fire is movement. Water tends to flow downward while
Fire wants to blaze upward. With these two opposing forces colliding, the inner
conflict between desire for more material things, especially coming out of several
years of austere economic conditions, and the desire to simplify your
circumstances for a more satisfying spiritual life, will be more apparent. The
material and spiritual can co-exist to produce a constructive life when you seek
balance.
Spiritual Health Action Plan
The spiritual opportunity for this year is to work on strengthening your will power,
which emanates from your Water Element, and opening your heart. Increase
acceptance of others and cultivate compassion, all of which correspond to the
Fire Element. Acceptance of others begins with self-acceptance. Embrace and
love yourself with all your imperfections, just the way a mother loves her child.
Try reciting this simple but profound invocation:
wo shin jing roo bai lian (my heart is pure as the white lotus blossom)
and use it to work on your love, compassion and acceptance.
Moral Health
Your moral values govern how you interact with people and the world around you.
This directly affects the health of your relationships, intimate or otherwise. Since
the energies of 2013 portend a tendency for conflict, you would be wise to strive
for harmony. Since subtle feelings underlying a relationship are often the
saboteurs, it is important to identify what they are. The dynamic of Water and
Fire, just like feminine and masculine, must be harmonized for a relationship to
succeed. Since fear, mistrust and sadness cause one to close up and impede full
exchange in a relationship, it's important to recognize these blocks and resolve
them. All healthy relationships require patience, understanding and flexibility,
which are hallmarks of the serpent.
Spiritual Health Action Plan
Write down the blocks in your relationships. Is it fear of being vulnerable and
potentially being hurt? Is it that you don't trust the other person due to your past
experiences? Are you aloof and cannot fully make a commitment, thus
preventing the other person from trusting you? Find a time to discuss your
desires and concerns in your relationship and work on blocks together by
practicing behaviors that bring more trust, understanding and forgiveness. Focus
on specific behaviors and refrain from judgment and generalizing. Set times to
4|2013 New Year’s Forecas t by Dr. Mao
review progress weekly and revise when necessary. Successful relationships
require clear, calm and consistent communication and feedback. Get help from
relationship experts when you need it.
Financial Health
The Fire Element tends to be excitable, dynamic and unpredictable. It is no
wonder that during years when the Fire Element is present, the stock market is
prone to more optimism and rises accordingly. The Water Element on the other
hand is creative, flexible and powerful, so when combined harmoniously with the
Fire Element, it will be a good year for entrepreneurial activities involving creative
fields like entertainment, media, fashion and technology. The housing sector will
get a boost as well as businesses related to travel such as hotels, restaurants
and autos. Mining will also rise along with an improving economy, which will
happen most likely in the latter half of the year. Interest rates will surely begin to
tick upward. Finance, banking and insurance will also do better than in the past
few years.
Financial Health Action Plan
Engage a professional financial advisor or do-it-yourself with the many resources
available to help you take an inventory of where you are financially. Make a
realistic plan about where you want to be in the future. Set up a budget of
savings and expenses and stick to it. Resist temptations by the optimistic
pronouncements in the news media and invest your money prudently with
discipline. Review your progress regularly and adjust your strategies according to
your goals and needs in the future. Don’t forget to invest in yourself by increasing
your knowledge base, upgrading your skills and expanding your network.
Every year offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities. By following the
guidance of the Five Elements in 2013, we can learn to ride the Water wave and
avoid being scorched by the Fire. Have a Happy and Healthy Year of the
Serpent!