The Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year or Spring Festival) began yesterday. We want to extend special wishes to all of our Chinese readers and all of our other readers who celebrate this holiday. For those of you who do not know, Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally begin on Chinese New Year's Day, the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, when there is a New Moon, and run to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month, when there is a full moon.

2013 is the year of the Snake. The year of Snake is meant for steady progress and attention to detail. The Snake is the sixth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 Animal Signs. The Snake is the intuitive, introspective, refined and collected of the Animal Signs. Contemplative and private, the Snake is not outwardly emotional. He can appear cunning and reticent and works very modestly in the business environment. The Snake will plot and scheme to make certain things turn out exactly as they want them to.

Well what does this all mean? Here are some predictions according to Paul Ng, a Geomancer and Philosopher in Ontario, Canada:

  • “Business involving ‘earth, metal or water’ would do well. Those involving ‘water or earth’ had to work much harder. This is a year of instabilities, especially in both Middle East and Southern Europe.”
  • ‘The governing sign ‘5-Yellow’, plus the central trigram ‘Earth-Mountain Humble’ indicate that the world would once again become unstable. There would be many power struggles. USA would re-focus more on South-East Asia. However, problems in Middle East would split its efforts.”
  • “The governing sign ‘5-Yellow’ and its flying star sign of ‘Earth-Mountain Humble’ may force the world to go through more tests. The world may tend to take a more conservative mode in many policies”
  • “Most illnesses could be due to food sources. Contagious illnesses related to the respiratory system would be common. The illness source would tend to be in the Central and Southwestern regions.”

Additionally, many business journals say the year of the snake is not good for stocks. “What to Expect” a pregnancy blog, says it brings mixed tidings for pregnant women. Although I can’t find any predictions regarding life science research, I can say put on a red shirt, shoot off some fireworks with your family and friends, and have a happy, healthy and wonderful New Year!