The Horse Year 2014

The Snake is leaving, but before it leaves, it wants to show its power by swinging its tail so people will remember it. This can be seen through the floods and cold spells in Europe; cold spells and droughts in the United States; the passing of respected people, like Nelson Mandela. And now the Horse Year is arriving.

The Year of the Horse will reflect the gentle, mild temperament of the horse. Natural events will be calmer and less extreme. There will still be political ups and downs, but they will be smoother and less haphazard. The economic situation is in a holding pattern in Europe. While the United States seems to be ready for a recovery, no real recovery should be expected. The economic growth will mostly be in Asia.

There will be some surprising lucky breaks in situations that have seemed unsolvable, like the Korean and Iranian situations. The situation in Ukraine has been intensifying for the last two months. If people can hold on, there may be a continuation of the Orange Revolution in the form of a Soft Revolution, a transformation that does not involve any major disruptions.

This will also be the twenty-fourth year of the Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute. From the beginning, the Blue Mountain emphasis has been on natural principles, and on Feng Shui as a manifestation of natural principles. The other emphasis is chi, the formative energy of nature. The focus was therefore at first, on environmental design. But chi and natural principles by their very nature are not restricted to one area of activity: they penetrate every kind of activity, since no activities are outside of nature.

Over the past few years, we have explored the ways in which chi and natural principles work in other fields as well, especially health, communication, and personal cultivation. The emphasis of focus has gradually shifted from environmental design to the wider range of applications of energy and natural principles, and to understanding how they can be applied in any field.

For this reason, the Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute will become the Blue Mountain Institute, and the focus will be the spectrum of applications of chi energy and natural principles. Environmental design will continue to be one focus. Another focus will be on the direct, simple application of natural principles to health. The third focus will be the application of natural principles to communication and personal growth.

The long-awaited book, Form Defines Energy, after many revisions, is scheduled to be published in May of 2014. In addition, the Institute is developing a series of short videos on Feng Shui subjects, to be posted on YouTube and on our web site.

On the personal level, this will be a very auspicious year for people born in the years of the Dog and Tiger. For people born in the Horse year, too, this will be a year of very positive change.

People born in the year of the Rat may have some challenges. People born in the years of the Rabbit and Ox can expect some difficulties, and the need to work harder. However, this particular Year of the Horse is a lucky one. So, even those who can expect challenges will find the challenges easier to overcome.

People born in other years will find that their lives will tend to increase stability, and they will be able to advance bravely and calmly through the year. Everyone will find the year better than expected. This is a year of stable luck. As we go forward through the year, we will experience gentle progress.

In conclusion, after the turmoil of the Dragon and Snake years, things will be calmer. But horses are brave, and charge forward, so there will be progress and change. The essence of working with the Horse Year is to approach things gently, and with a quality of low-key humility. Then it will be possible to maintain a balance between the Yin and Yang aspects of the year, and navigate through its challenges with skill and serenity.

Shan-Tung Hsu, January 27, 2014
Source: Blue Mountain Institure, Seatle