‘Shed what no longer serves, embrace opportunities ahead’
The Year of Wood Snake emphasizes adaptability, diversity, and lateral growth, said Chinese metaphysics master Venus Wang. It’s about shedding what no longer serves, she added, much like a snake casting off its skin to embrace the opportunities ahead.
Wang, who flew in from her native Singapore over the weekend, gave a Feng Shui talk on Jan. 24 at Shangri-La Plaza’s pre-Chinese New Year celebration, titled “Unlocking Wisdom and Wellness,” held at the mall’s grand atrium.
She emphasized that there are other factors that can affect a person’s fortune besides the 12 Chinese zodiac signs Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. There are also the elements of fire, wood, earth, water, and metal, plus the complementary forces of Yin and Yang.
In Chinese metaphysics, she explained, Year 2025 is a Yin wood. For the first half, it “denotes a delicate nature, flexibility, resilience, and mystery.” It also “fosters strength and improvisation,” while “requiring careful planning,” to inspire “new growth even under challenging circumstances.”
By the second half of the year, she pointed out, there’s a “fiery transformation” with an “undercurrent of rebellion” that requires “readiness to challenge the status quo.” She then suggested “grounding oneself into uncharted territory.”
Wang made it clear, though, that an individual’s yearlong forecast is also influenced by the element that governs not only the year they were born but also the day and month. She mentioned beauty queen and media personality Pia Wurtzbach as an example.
Based on the app that Wang shares in her engagements, Wurtzbach, who was born in the Year of the Snake, has a Yin fire in what the Chinese metaphysics master calls “day master.”
The Year of the Snake is going to be a very good year for those who have fire as their day master, Wang said. To boost the good luck, she recommended opting for the colors white, green, and red, as well as the numbers 7, 8, 4, and 5.
Lucky, unlucky areas
Wang, who’s also a real estate specialist, shared a guide on the lucky and unlucky areas in a house or office. For instance, the structure’s central space can attract illnesses and mishaps. To neutralize the negative energy in that area, trying putting a metal object, like a dumbbell.
Discord or burglary can occur in the north direction, so Wang suggested strengthening safety and security measures in that area. The same goes for the area in the northeast direction, where calamities or accidents could happen, and in the northwest to ward off contradictory energies.
The lucky areas in a structure, Wang said, are in the east, west, and south directions. The east side can be favorable for an investment opportunity or a job promotion, while the southwest may open windows for academic success or career advancement.
Aside from the Feng Shui talk, the pre-Chinese New Year event at Shangri-La Plaza also featured traditional Chinese dances performed by the Filipino Chinese Dance Theater Company. On Jan. 28, an eye-dotting ceremony and fireworks were held at the mall’s al fresco area.
Today, Chinese New Year, there will be a mall-wide dragon and lion dance, plus the opening of the 19th Spring Film Festival at the Red Carpet Cinema. Chinese movies are scheduled to be screened until Sunday.
