Forecast for the Gui Mao year of 2023: meet change with stillness and prepare to act

Forecast for the Gui Mao year of 2023: meet change with stillness and prepare to act

 

Looking back at the fortunes of 2022

 

For many people, 2022 was a difficult and bewildering year. The severe economic damage following the pandemic caused shops and businesses to close one after another, while interest rate rises and inflation further intensified market pressures. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER), in its recently released Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion, found that 73% of surveyed businesses expected the overall economy to deteriorate over the coming months. This was the business community’s most pessimistic outlook since the survey began 53 years ago.

 

In fact, my earlier ‘Forecast for the Ren Yin year of 2022’ had already identified these trends in the market economy and international affairs. Funding pressures, deteriorating relations—war and international tensions—and continuing interest rate rises were all destined to be themes of 2022.

 

The upheaval and transitions of 2022, the shake-up of industries caused by market instability, and the rise of new industries all signal the arrival of a new journey and era—

 

Life lessons from the fortunes of 2023

 

The Gui Mao year of 2023 is a particularly significant and unusual year. Viewed through its heavenly stem and earthly branch, Gui is the last of the ten heavenly stems, marking the end of a cycle. Its element is Water, symbolising a quiet, gently flowing stream. The earthly branch Mao belongs to Wood and represents new growth, an image of abundant vitality and upward momentum. Gui Water nourishes Mao Wood, teaching us to overcome strength through gentleness, meet movement with stillness and gather strength before acting. The more uncertain external circumstances become, the more we need to steady our minds so that we can focus on our goals and strike home when we act.

 

Furthermore, 2023 is the final year of Period Eight in Xuan Kong feng shui (2004–2023), making it a crucial year in the transition of fortune from Period Eight to Period Nine. Period Eight corresponds to the Gen trigram and the Earth element. The commentary on Gen states: ‘Gen means stillness. When it is time to stop, stop; when it is time to move, move. When movement and stillness are both timely, the way is bright.’ Gen reveals ‘the possibilities for change under different circumstances’, and the response is to act when action is called for and stop when it is time to stop. During Period Eight, we enjoyed a property boom and a flourishing economy. The world appeared prosperous and peaceful, but this also nurtured material desire and greed, drawing us far from our true selves. The sudden pandemic brought the world to a halt. In the cycle of global fortune, it also offered the best opportunity to return to our true selves, for only then can we move more smoothly into Period Nine of Li Fire (2024–2043), which is associated with spiritual civilisation.

 

Overall outlook

 

In the Gui Mao year of 2023, the annual Four Transformations in Zi Wei Dou Shu astrology are Po Jun transforming into Prosperity, Ju Men into Authority, Tai Yin into Distinction and Tan Lang into Obstruction. This combination signifies that the old must be broken down before the new can be established, 2023 is certain to be a year of major transformation: alongside market instability, the world situation will remain turbulent. Individual strength alone can no longer withstand the shocks of this transition. This year, we need to bring together strength from all quarters to break through difficulties, create and rebuild, and carve out new possibilities amid the challenges.

Po Jun transforming into Prosperity represents initiative and the ability to put plans into action. Its highly destructive force points to obstacles during change, with potentially very modest gains, especially at the outset. Every transformation brings growing pains; continuing to act is the right course. 2023 will be a major year for policy, with countries continually introducing new measures. However, divisions will be pronounced and the range of differing circumstances will expand, so business decisions require a view of the whole picture, while business goals should remain short term throughout the year. 2023 favours speculation rather than investment, and large investment projects should be avoided. In addition, countries will further ease border restrictions, supporting tourism, international trade, logistics, seafood and other Water-related industries.

Ju Men transforming into Authority governs verbal conflict. In 2023, diplomatic disputes between countries will increase substantially. The Russia–Ukraine war will enter a protracted phase, with deteriorating conditions and heavy casualties; there is also a fear that more countries will join the war. Controls and restrictions on freedom of expression will remain intense. For personal development, it is essential to keep communicating and speaking up, as this is key to building a reputation and networks. Ju Men is a dark star, making 2023 prone to disputes and gossip; throughout the year, guard against malicious people causing harm behind the scenes.

Tai Yin transforming into Distinction governs reputation and a steady trickle of wealth, indicating that this year’s wealth will be closely linked to reputation. In 2023, reputation will come through word of mouth within an industry and remain limited in scope; the year is less suited to building a public profile across society. Tai Yin is the Moon, an energy of gentleness, restraint, humility and methodical progress. It suggests that in 2023, we should stay true to our original intentions and maintain a stable livelihood. Tai Yin also governs women. 2023 favours women: their influence will strengthen, movements in women’s thinking will rise rapidly, and major events involving women will have an impact worldwide.

Tan Lang transforming into Obstruction governs material losses, indicating that wealth losses will remain severe in 2023. A series of problems will persist for a time: slower economic growth, reduced fiscal revenues internationally, a high cost of living, continually soaring prices, rising bank interest rates and difficulty borrowing. Tan Lang also governs romantic attraction, signalling recurring sex scandals and the risk of trouble through sexual desire. Relationship disputes, mental health problems and accidents are also likely to arise this year.

 

Market trends and industry prospects

 

Markets will remain subdued in 2023. Although global inflation will ease somewhat, economic growth offers little cause for optimism, and livelihoods will remain under considerable pressure. The funding shortages of the Ren Yin year of 2022 will continue, with the overall situation feared to worsen in 2023, putting more businesses at risk of closure. The global economy will also gradually move away from globalisation towards disintegration and fragmentation.

 

Viewed through the combination of heavenly stems and earthly branches, 2023 is a year in which Gui Water nourishes Mao Wood. The industries most favoured in 2023 are therefore those associated with Wood, including education, culture, animal breeding and aquaculture, decorating materials, landscaping, interior design and timber manufacturing. These industries will recover across the board. Green and new-energy technology sectors, such as environmental protection, artificial intelligence and information storage, also belong to Wood and will experience a groundbreaking year in 2023. Water-related industries, such as trade, aquatic products, media, fishing, tourism, transport, gaming and consultancy, will also enjoy a relatively favourable overall outlook.

 

In 2023, Earth-related industries, such as land development, property sales, construction and insurance, will remain weak and subdued throughout the year because Mao Wood restrains them. People working in these industries need to seize opportunities in relatively favourable months, such as the third, fourth, fifth and sixth lunar months, to achieve growth.

 

Metal-related industries, such as metal manufacturing, processing, mineral ores and rough stones, hardware retailing and machinery, will decline further in 2023. Banking and finance need to guard against risks in allocating funds. Share markets, futures and cryptocurrencies will experience unfavourable fluctuations throughout the year, making rash entry inadvisable.

 

Fire-related industries, such as technology, energy, hospitality, film and television, aviation, mind–body–spirit services and the internet, will spend the year gathering strength in readiness to act. With the energy of the approaching Period Nine of Li Fire behind them, they are advised to put down deeper roots and expand their reach in 2023, preparing fully for the new period.

 

Health and illness

 

The Gui Mao year of 2023 has Gui Water as its heavenly stem and Mao Wood as its earthly branch, making it a year in which Water nourishes Wood. Yet the heavenly stem Gui combines and transforms into Fire, which is also nourished by Mao Wood, making 2023 a year of strong Fire. In terms of illness, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, chest pain and palpitations are likely to occur. Viewed alongside the Four Transformations of Zi Wei Dou Shu, Tan Lang transforming into Obstruction governs the liver, gallbladder and nervous system, making 2023 prone to liver and gallbladder diseases. It will also be a year of high incidence of mental and neurological conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, forgetfulness, neurasthenia and epilepsy. Tan Lang transforming into Obstruction also governs accidental injuries and bloodshed, indicating that 2023 will be a major year for surgery, with sudden deaths and similar incidents also likely.

 

Furthermore, from the perspective of annual Xuan Kong Flying Stars, the Four Green Wen Qu star enters the central palace and takes charge. Four Green corresponds to the Xun trigram and the Wood element. Xun represents Wind, which governs movement and manifests as epidemics, known in traditional Chinese medicine as pathogenic wind. Within this medical framework, Wind represents breathing and governs epidemic respiratory diseases. This suggests that the world will still be affected by the COVID pandemic in 2023. However, the pandemic’s overall trajectory is weakening, and it is hoped that it will gradually subside in the second half of the year. In addition, strong Fire restrains Metal in 2023. Among the body’s organs, Metal governs the lungs and respiratory system, so respiratory illnesses and epidemic illnesses associated with wind and cold will remain serious this year.

 

From the perspective that the five internal organs house aspects of the spirit, the heart houses the spirit and the liver houses the ethereal soul. This year’s excessive Heart Fire and damaged Liver Wood also signify an unsettled mind and a sense of being adrift. People will be prone to extreme thinking, depressed moods and strong self-destructive feelings, which can also lead to suicide or harm to others.

 

The months with a high incidence of illness and psychological problems are the third, fourth, ninth and tenth lunar months.

 

Natural disasters and accidents

 

From the perspective of annual Xuan Kong Flying Stars, the Xun trigram enters the central palace and takes charge in 2023. Xun governs Wind, indicating a major year for typhoons. Xun belongs to the Wood element. On entering the centre, Xun Wood restrains the Eight White Gen Earth of the period chart and the Five Yellow Earth affliction of the original chart. Wood restraining Earth is certain to bring earthquakes, alongside Earth-related natural disasters such as debris flows, landslides and building collapses.

 

Xun governs the movement and unpredictability of Wind, making polarised weather patterns likely, with extremes of heat and cold, flood and drought. As the Earth Mother Classic says: ‘Spring and summer bring much rain and hail; autumn arrives with little rain.’ Abundant water in spring and summer followed by autumn drought can cause problems for crop harvests, further worsening the food crisis.

 

In the annual Four Transformations of Zi Wei Dou Shu, Tan Lang transforming into Obstruction corresponds to the Kan trigram and the Water element, so it also governs natural disasters caused by too much or too little water. Typhoons in 2023 are also likely to cause flooding and rivers to overflow.

 

In terms of human-caused disasters, Xun represents rumours and deceptive claims that mislead the public. Combined with the Gen trigram of the wider period, it forms ‘Mountain over Wind: Gu’, with Gen Mountain above and Xun Wind below. Its commentary states: ‘When wind meets a mountain and turns back, all things become disordered, a sign of trouble. Gu means affairs and confusion.’ Gu carries images of manipulation, strange powers and supernatural disorder, indicating frequent inflammatory ideologies and ‘movements’ in 2023, originating both within countries and from outside them. Gu also symbolises correcting abuses, restoring order and reform. Multiple forces of correction and punishment will emerge worldwide, also indicating geopolitical tensions across the world in 2023. At the same time, because Gu necessarily confuses people’s minds, extreme and vicious incidents in society are also likely in 2023.

 

Continuing the challenges of 2022, 2023 will remain a major test of human nature and the human heart. The governing hexagram for 2023 is ‘Wind over Fire: The Family’. Its host trigram is Li and its guest trigram is Xun. With Xun and Li superimposed, Li represents Fire and Xun represents Wind: the image is of fire causing hot air to rise and become wind. This signifies that all things begin within before extending outwards. Among the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching, The Family follows Darkening of the Light. The Sequence of the Hexagrams states: ‘Those injured outside must return home; therefore The Family follows.’ Wind over Fire: The Family tells us that today’s external circumstances arise from humanity’s collective karma, and that we must turn inwards to remedy them. ‘The Family’ means both the household and the human heart. Thus, the Commentary on the Images also explains this hexagram as: ‘Wind comes forth from fire: The Family. The noble person therefore speaks with substance and acts with constancy.’ Our inner selves determine our words and actions, and the principles and standards guiding those words and actions are the true key to success or failure.

 

‘First establish what is greater within you, and what is lesser cannot displace it.’ Troubled times inevitably produce heroes. How can we build a lasting enterprise amid so many difficulties? I believe that putting character first is the wisest strategy.