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Hong Kong (CNN) - It's the busiest time of the year for So Man-fung Peter, one of Hong Kong's most famous geomancy consultants.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, celebrated on January 25, many are eager to know their fortune and hear ideas about what the Year of the Rat brings.
Those who enter So's office may feel a bit disoriented. Its oversized desk and raised office chair dwarf whoever sits in front of it, are some of the many decoration options made with feng shui in mind, to increase wealth and health.
"A feng shui master is like an interior designer," he told CNN Travel with a smile.
"If something feels bad in someone's house, I rearrange things to make them feel more comfortable."
A stylist become a feng shui master
So Man-fung Peter, geomancy and globetrotter consultant. (Credit: Maggie Hiufu Wong / CNN)
So, who wears a tight suit and an elegant low ponytail, is a master of several studies of Chinese divination, including feng shui (the study of places and environment), face-reading, palmistry and BaZi (card reading natal).
“When I was just a child, I went to a second-hand bookstore on Shanghai Street and chose books on mountain faces reading from other publications,” recalls So, who is 60 years old.
"In 1982, I was working in a hairdressing salon when the boss introduced me to a Chinese divination teacher from Shanghai."
So he spent the following years learning from the teacher and offering fortune readings at the Temple Street market in Kowloon, between periods as a lobster supplier.
“It was a fun time,” says So. “My friends were waiting for me at my street stall, so then we were going to drink and party at the clubs.”
After traveling for six months in Tibet in 1987, So returned to Hong Kong and opened a Tibetan religious articles and utensils store.
"Sales can be boring," he says. “So I put a sign on the door that said I could read fortunes. I earned HK $ 8,000 [about US $ 1,029] in the first month, which was a pretty decent salary then, and I was invited to go to Scandinavia for feng shui consulting work, ”says So.
Word got out of his skills and he was eventually seeing up to 1,000 clients every year. At one time, there was an 11-month waiting list to get an appointment. It is a familiar name, has appeared in many television shows in Hong Kong and has even starred in movies.
The teacher attributes his success to a mix of BaZi and his presentation skills.
How a feng shui teacher travels
Today, So has decreased his occupations to have more time to pursue his passion for travel.
"Call me 'travel-holic' (travel addict)," he says. “I have increased my prices, so now I am not so busy and I can travel more. I traveled 137 days last year. ”
So, does a feng shui teacher travel differently? … Well, something like that.
“I travel like everyone else, except when it comes to hotel rooms,” he says. “I never stay in a room in front of a construction site or the last room in the corridor, or in a dead end. It is a poor feng shui for health. ”
Feng shui can be used to decode the energy of a place, but it should not dictate where travelers should go or not, he says.
“According to the feng shui readings, destinations in eastern China, such as Taiwan, central Japan and the west coast of the United States, are overshadowed by a big star of the disease next year. This means that it is more prone to being caused by man and [that there are] natural disasters.
“But you can't know when it will happen. I shouldn't dissuade you from exploring the places you want to go, you just have to pay special attention when you go to these places. ”
So travel advice number 1, however, has no relation to feng shui: "Bring your suitcase and worn clothes so as not to attract too much attention: you can walk virtually everywhere in the world with that combo."
So says that Hong Kong can have a more harmonious 2020. (Credit: VIVEK PRAKASH / AFP / AFP via Getty Images)
Fortune Predictions for the Year of the Rat
Chinese astrology and feng shui are not about changing your destiny and predicting exactly what will happen, says So.
"They are a calculation of probability and a study of statistics," he explains.
“It's about finding that law and the flow of the universe. When you know how to calculate it, you can predict trends for everything. If you are enjoying a run of luck, you know that you can give yourself the confidence and courage to start your own business, ”he explains. "If you're plagued by bad luck, recognizing it can help you avoid unnecessary risks."
So how does it work?
For each of the signs of the Chinese zodiac, luck will depend largely on the positions of Tai Sui, the star that presides over you and is opposed to Jupiter.
To discover what the Year of the Rat means to you, first determine your animal sign by finding your year of birth before reading the So predictions below.
Rat: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Dragon: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Sheep: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Dog: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Pork: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Rat
Looking for a romantic relationship? The good news is that your love affair last year will last until April 4, 2020. Relationships that can last until May have a real chance of becoming long term.
Now the bad news. People born in the year of the rat offend Tai Sui, the star that represents the presiding god this year.
You may be prone to negative thoughts and more disruptions in life, such as accidents.
To alleviate the impact, you must travel more in 2020 and consider donating blood to avoid spilling blood by accident.
But not everything is bad. You should be able to accumulate some wealth, especially if you are self-employed or if you are an entrepreneur.
People born in the autumn and winter months should avoid giving up on impulse.
Ox
Being in union with Tai Sui, people born in the year of the ox can expect a comfortable year without major surprises and unexpected changes.
You are blessed by some lucky stars this year.
You may receive advice and help from powerful figures or supervisors, especially male figures.
Although it is easier to gain confidence and receive offers this year, those offers may be withdrawn at the last minute.
Tiger
Yi Ma, the star that represents mobility, shines on people born in the year of the tiger in 2020.
He suggests that many trips will be made and will have a lot of movement this year.
Apart from that, tigers have no immensely lucky or unfortunate stars in their constellations.
It is important that you take care of your mental health this year, since your mood can be affected by the presence of Gu Chen, a star that represents bad mood and sadness, in his constellation.
This can make you feel sad for no reason.
Rabbit
People born in the year of the rabbit probably enjoyed a year of excellent relationships in 2019.
This year, rabbits can continue to get lucky in interpersonal relationships and in love.
Thanks to Hong Luan, a star that brings positive relationships, you'll have a good chance to meet someone special this year.
It is also an ideal year to get married if you have been considering it.
You can get useful advice and help from powerful female figures in life.
Another key reminder for 2020: Improve your education and improve your job skills.
Dragon
Last year, people born in the year of the dragon were enjoying excellent relationships thanks to the star of Hong Luan. The residual effect will last until April 2020.
The rest of the year, however, you may find yourself involved in gossip, stabbing and possible lawsuits.
It is better to step back when discussions arise this year.
Don't frown yet. Fortunately, you are also in triple union with Tai Sui. The good effect will help solve some of the problems in relationships.
Another great star that shines on you is San Tai, the star that represents a high social status.
If you are an employee, you can be promoted if you do your best.
Snake
People born in the year of the snake had a year of instability and drastic changes last year.
Bad news: the impact may be on you until April of this year.
Good news: you are in a hidden union with Tai Sui in 2020, which means you will receive a small dose of help.
Yue De, a lucky star that means mishaps that can become good fortune, can be found in your reading.
It means that your goodwill and good deeds, such as forgiving someone, could turn misfortune into good luck.
This year, hard work and income go hand in hand with snakes.
Also, be careful when it comes to lending money to your friends; They may not be able to return your money in a while.
Horse
This year, you are in conflict with Tai Sui.
But it is not a completely bad influence. While people born in autumn and winter must go for sure this year, those born in spring or summer can benefit from these conflicts.
It also means that you will face a year of changes in relationships.
That may mean that you will enter a new romantic relationship, get married, break or have a child.
Be very careful with your finances and expect to work harder than normal in 2020.
There may be considerable expenses on your way, whether you move out of the house or have to pay dentist bills.
Sheep goat)
People born in the year of the sheep are rummaging Tai Sui this year.
This annoying act can lead to gossip and discussions, but it shouldn't be enough to bring bad luck.
It is a good time to have a medical check-up, especially for women born in the year of the sheep.
The good news is that you will have two lucky stars, Zi Wei and Long De, in your constellation. Your presence generally means that you will benefit by getting more help and useful advice in your life.
Monkey
The monkeys will enjoy a peaceful union with Tai Sui this year.
You can anticipate a year of stability and good interpersonal relationships.
People born in the year of the monkey can gain power or climb the social ladder in their lines of work this year.
If there is a job you have been looking for, it is a good time to apply.
There may be unexpected financial losses this year, so it is advisable to invest in tangible objects or a fixed-term savings account instead of more risky options.
Rooster
The year 2020 may be easier for you if you want to build a lasting romantic relationship.
If you are already in a stable relationship, it may be time to take your relationship to the next level.
As for the race, you would gain more power thanks to the presence of Tian Xi and Xian Chi, both are lucky stars that govern relationships.
Don't be afraid of being ambitious at work if you want a promotion.
With respect to health in 2020, people born in the year of the rooster can get injured more easily than usual.
To avoid that, you can consider "orchestrating" a mini bloodshed, donating blood or going to a dentist, for example.
Dog
People born in the year of the dog have the opportunity to meet someone special in the first months of 2020.
In 2020, dogs do not strongly disagree with Tai Sui, which means a stable year ahead.
After a 2019 worker, you can finally relax and recharge in 2020.
It can be the year to gain a promotion or build a better reputation for your business if you work on your own.
Pork
You deserve a slap on the back for the hard 2019 you had to endure.
While you can stay for a while longer, your luck is likely to improve in 2020.
It is especially notable in terms of personal relationships and wealth.
Blessed by Mo Yue, the star of social status, you are likely to get a promotion or an improved business.
It will be easier to get along with people.
On the other hand, you should be careful with your personal belongings this year.
You can also experience some short-term romances.
Feng shuihoroscope
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