The Year of the Dragon
To most Chinese, the Year of the Dragon, which is the symbol of the Emperor, signifies power, might and imperial influence over everything.
At the same time, the Dragon sign is also considered to be a symbol of benevolence stemming from the legend that the Dragon lost its primary place in the race of Zodiac animals due to its decision to stop and help a village in need, resulting in the Rat gaining first place followed by the Ox, Tiger and Rabbit, and the Dragon having to settle for fifth place. Thus, it is considered by the Chinese to be the best year to have Dragon babies who will carry strong energy and talents that it can use for good.
That strong belief, according to geomancer Patrick Lim Fernandez, is reflected in China by a five percent uptick in births during the Year of the Dragon.
Upon the invitation of SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, a select group of journalists and tenants of SM Supermalls was invited to a pre-Chinese New Year lunch at Conrad Hotel’s China Blue restaurant to hear Patrick, a well-known geomancer or feng shui expert and principal of the Yin & Yang Shop of Harmony, give his forecast of what the 2024 Year of the Imperial Mystical Dragon has in store for individuals, the business sector and professionals.
While the Dragon Zodiac sign generally contains very strong energy, Patrick pointed out that it also carries a conflict energy and difficulty of compromise that does not bode well and is already manifesting in the world right now geopoliticallly, making it harder to find common ground. Additionally, he explained, there is also an interplay of elements this year of wood and earth.
With the Dragon also being an earth animal, Patrick foresees natural disasters that are actually happening already as seen in the natural disasters in Japan and the US, earthquakes in particular.
Businesswise, Patrick observes, there is strong energy for wood industries that also have to do with the knowledge industries such as teaching, education, training, consulting, “or anything where you are helping learn.” Those industries are seen to be good.
Another industry, he cited, are ones that are tied to nature and the environment, and product of trees. So these would include garments, furniture and interior design.
In the professional realm, Patrick foresees strong energy for legal and the accounting profession, as well as for journalism which combines the knowledge industry.
But this year, Patrick added, there is a larger trend that has to do with period nine on the feng shui side and has more to do with properties, land, office, home, and real estate, and will last for the next 20 years, to which there is a very strong yin energy tied to it.
The yin energy, of course, Patrick pointed out, is tied to female energy. As such, he predicts the rise of the “she economy” and which he sees already in leaders of business, leaders of nations, leaders in local governments.
For houses built this year and over the next 20 years, Patrick sees an energy imprint that feng shui experts can help enhance or protect against negative energy. As such there will be certain orientations that will be luckier for the next 20 years than the previous years, so for those planning to build a house, consulting feng shui experts can help plan the best directions, with the general lucky directions facing north and south.
For businesses and wealth, Patrick advises paying particular attention to the north and southwest parts which can be found by standing in the middle of the office and finding those two particular directions. To activate those directions, he advises putting things that are alive or moving like plants, aquariums, humidifiers or fountains, or feng shui items like wealth buckets or money catchers.
One area to avoid for businesses this year, Patrick warns, is the south which has to do with robbery or unexpected losses. Thus, Patrick says, “if your desk is in the south, remove it away from the south sector.“
For women particularly, Patrick recommends wearing jewelry that have the golden needle stone or citrine, while the good luck color for this year is green.
Dovetailing to Patrick’s forecast, the lunch at China Blue was comprised mostly of women including The STAR’s lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil, Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Che-Che Moral and Tessa Prieto, Candy Dizon of Lifestyle Asia, Rhoda Campos-Aldanese of Vogue Philippines, Roxanne Farillas of Plains and Prints, Alu Koa, a luxury retailer and wife of JohnLu Koa of the French Baker, Kai Lim, wife of Brian Chan of Bench, Baby Lim Fernandez, mother of Patrick, who is also a long-time bag supplier of SM, Grace Magno, vice president for marketing of SM Supermalls, as well as Mitch So and Joanne Solano, also of SM.
The lone thorn among the female journalists was Arnel Patawaran, lifestyle editor of Manila Bulletin. The Chinese New Year lunch feast prepared by China Blue’s Chef Kohr started off with the tossing of the prosperity Yee Sang salad, which was the followed by a trio of appetizers of steamed Yin Yang shrimp dumpling and chicken mushroom truffle dumpling, and deep-fried roasted duck and dry shrimp hand bag pastry puff that were perfectly sculpted and beautiful to look at, but were oh so delicious to not eat and were thus gone in a flash.
The main course started off with a golden roast US duck with pancake wrappers, a braised money bag on a bed of broccoli in yellow sauce, quickly followed by deep fried Lapu-Lapu fillet with Guangzhou Mijui with citrus sauce. To symbolize long life, a superior crab roe noodle with clam sought to ensure that all the guest are satisfied. But to end the beautiful and delicious meal, a divine snow birds nest with honey lemon jelly and sago pearls was served that some actually requested a second round of, but alas were prepared just for the number of guests.