It’s the Lunar New Year and the Chinese Year of the Horse. The horse is part of a 12-year-cycle of animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. These interact with the five elements: wood, metal, fire, water, earth. 2014 is the year of the wood horse, taking over from the year of the water snake.

GET READY TO RUMBLE

It will be a fast year full of conflicts according to some astrologers, who see wood as providing fuel for the energetic horse sign. The later part of the year is “yin fire”, increasing the potential for heated clashes even more. Feng shui practitioner Raymond Lo told Reuters: “The upcoming Horse year is also a 'yang wood' year, when people will stick more to their principles and stand firm. So it is hard to negotiate or compromise as there are more tendencies for people to fight for their ideals.”

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BAD FOR BUSINESS?

If you have a business involving wood or fire you will do well, according to Canadian Feng Shui expert Paul Ng. This includes lumber companies, agriculture and media companies. Property companies won’t do as well and as the horse is a galloper, the potential is for the prices to gallop downwards over the first six months. However, supported by the fire element in the latter half of the year they may gallop back up, according to Lynn Yap, Singapore’s Feng Shui Queen. Metals and waters will do badly: this will affect metal mining and precious metals as well as fishing. Financial business also have the potential to be unstable. We could have predicted that one though.

WATCH OUT FOR VOLCANOES

Countries in the Southern Hemisphere, like South Australia and South America may experience gunfire as well as volcanoes, because “ the fire energies are so strong” according to Chinese astrologer and Sydney Feng Shui master Lok Tin, who spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald about his predictions for the coming 12 months.

LIE LOW IF YOU’RE A HORSE.

When horse meets horse, the natural Ying-Yang opposition is no longer balanced and thus over the next year horses are due some tense situations and pressure in their personal life. However Foon Chik, of the Feng Shui Society says it is not that simple and meeting your own sign can be a time for self-reflection.

WHAT IF YOU’RE NOT A HORSE?

Well, what animal you are depends on what year you were born in and how the characteristics of this creature interact with the horse.

Foon Chik, of the Feng Shui society has compiled her predictions, reproduced here with her permission. You can read them in full here or flick through the gallery below.

Shape Created with Sketch. Year of the Horse predictions Show all 11 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Year of the Horse predictions 1/11 Rabbit RABBIT 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Don’t be discouraged and follow your dreams Paul Spike Reddington/PA Wire 2/11 Dragon DRAGON: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Do your own research and stand firm. Be cautious of offers that come with strings attached. Reuters 3/11 Tiger TIGER 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Exercise restraint, don’t be drawn into madcap schemes Getty Images 4/11 Rat RAT 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 200 Be prepared for change, and realise you can remain resilient no matter what drama the galloping year of the horse brings. Conflict is not the only answer. 5/11 Ox OX 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Romantic excitement is on the way so put yourself out there. Don’t be envious if you’re already in a loving relationship 6/11 Snake SNAKE 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 A year of competition and rivalry, but subtle tactics will help you come out on top. AP 7/11 Rooster ROOSTER 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 There will be romantic opportunities, but don’t be too fussy. The same applies if you are in a relationship. Be tolerant. AFP\Getty 8/11 Goat GOAT 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Count your blessings, there is no need to chase after what you want. Getty Images 9/11 Dog DOG 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Let the people who love you support you, if you need a helping hand. Facebook/Selfie Olympics 10/11 Pig PIG 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 Stop being such a control freak! You don’t need to plan every last detail GETTY IMAGES 11/11 Monkey MONKEY 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.. only forge ahead with challenging circumstances if there’s something you really want 1/11 Rabbit RABBIT 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Don’t be discouraged and follow your dreams Paul Spike Reddington/PA Wire 2/11 Dragon DRAGON: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Do your own research and stand firm. Be cautious of offers that come with strings attached. Reuters 3/11 Tiger TIGER 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Exercise restraint, don’t be drawn into madcap schemes Getty Images 4/11 Rat RAT 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 200 Be prepared for change, and realise you can remain resilient no matter what drama the galloping year of the horse brings. Conflict is not the only answer. 5/11 Ox OX 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Romantic excitement is on the way so put yourself out there. Don’t be envious if you’re already in a loving relationship 6/11 Snake SNAKE 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 A year of competition and rivalry, but subtle tactics will help you come out on top. AP 7/11 Rooster ROOSTER 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 There will be romantic opportunities, but don’t be too fussy. The same applies if you are in a relationship. Be tolerant. AFP\Getty 8/11 Goat GOAT 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Count your blessings, there is no need to chase after what you want. Getty Images 9/11 Dog DOG 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Let the people who love you support you, if you need a helping hand. Facebook/Selfie Olympics 10/11 Pig PIG 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 Stop being such a control freak! You don’t need to plan every last detail GETTY IMAGES 11/11 Monkey MONKEY 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.. only forge ahead with challenging circumstances if there’s something you really want

Watch a Hong Kong geomancer's 2014 predictions - warning Justin Bieber faces a 'streak of negativity'

