I Ching oracle speaks about 2016

The future is considered by many as something that is unknown, despite the relatively clear appearance of events and trends that point towards the future. For some, the future can be grasped today, and it is a matter of expressing it in the present moment. But research into the future must include certain basic assumptions, a lot of experienced-based data, and most of all, the use of the time-tested principles as expressed in the ancient books of the I Ching, and the Taoist Book of Days.

Combining the principles stated in the Book of Change with the modern historical-and-trends analysis of events does make sense and can lead to sometimes startling but challenging conclusions. When I completed this study, I was hesitant to share this with the public. My hesitation comes from the insight and the gut feeling that my personal observations might not be appropriate at this time, especially when everyone feels the world is in turmoil.

On the other hand, even if the future is filled with uncertainty, volatility, and much due to our blindness to the inner workings of nature, we can still guide ourselves and steer the present towards a safer, better, and more livable, productive and richer future.

So I decided to share some of my findings here, with the hope that we can use the predictions to avoid accidents, prepare better for any disaster and create a better future for ourselves and our children. However, let me caution the reader that these predictions are not absolute but are simply qualitative likelihood estimates based on the science of change as expressed in the I Ching and the Taoist Book of Days. I would rather call these predictions as observations of the future of the possible.

We begin by knowing what the year 2016 is all about from the viewpoint of the Taoist Book of Days. The ancient Chinese text uses symbolism to show energy cycles, yearly cycles and daily cycles and is expressed briefly in the table below, as follows:

Based on the above-mentioned principles and looking at the hard data of events in 2015 (the past year) as well as the trends of events, 2016 is going to be a year that is ripe for explosions, whether from volcanic eruptions or manmade explosions.

Explosions can be physical, psychological, psychic, creative, technological, biological and, or spiritual. It is a male year and the yang energy is dominant, expressing the monkey’s aggressiveness in almost every facet of living.

The influence of the Earth element from the 2015 character will blend with the Fire element in 2016. In addition, the Fire element in 2015 continues to be present in 2016 making it more combustible with Metal. Increased earth-based explosions such as volcanic eruptions and industrial fires will in all likelihood dominate the global scene after the New Moon in February and will continue to become an awesome experience and a spectacle on a bi-monthly basis, reaching its peak by the 3^rd quarter of June 2016.

Sea transport-based disasters will in all likelihood take place more frequently than in 2015. Land transport-based disasters involving freight trains carrying oil will be affected, even with the present new safety policies on oil transport delivery. A number of large oil rigs might be affected by the fiery energy of the Monkey.

Technology will explode with the emergence of hundreds of innovations based on thousands of start-ups that would be immediately put to use.

Investors will most likely express impulsiveness at funding new technological business, as an expression of the Fire Monkey’s leap into the unknown, and still emerging victorious over the elements of Fire and Water, the two forces that would act as a natural balance in the daily cycles of life. Risk-taking in every facet of life will be at its highest in 2016 beginning in April until June and will wane by July. New products will literally dominate the scene.

Unfortunately there will be also new wars that would be fought in places that were not thought to happen before. The Monkey’s unruly fire energy will likely lead to new invasions in the Middle East, in the sacrosanct places of the Islamic world on this planet.

Formerly peaceful and stable countries will be placed at risk such as in Europe and in the Asia Pacific, although one can make more specific observations for a country as more data is gathered.

Let’s go back for a moment to the previous year and see whether its character jibes with the major events worldwide. The configuration of 2015 based on the 60-year Book of Change cycle is as follows:

2015 is a female year where the yin energy is dominant. The Wood Sheep characterizes non-aggressiveness and patient waiting, although it contains the Fire element combined with Earth, This can also be viewed as an explosive combination. In 2015 we find a number of volcanic eruptions in different parts of the world, ten of which were major eruptions—from Chile to Mexico to Italy to the Philippines.

About 73,700 acres (29,800 hectares) of forest lands were burned in the Valley Fire California on September 12, 2015 (Wood-Earth) not to mention the forest fires in Indonesia. The Sampson Flat bush fires, and Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia destroyed 12,500 hectares (31,000 acres) of native forest, farmland, vineyards and 27 houses, but with no human fatalities. We can also cite other major fire-events worldwide such the recent Dubai Hotel fire, the industrial fire in Valenzuela Philippines that killed 72 people, the residential fire in Baku, Azerbaijan that also killed 15 people and the fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, Romania where 60 people were killed.

The major wars that are ongoing today are a continuation of the previous years’ influences but are highlighted in 2015 in the combination of the Fire and Earth elements (i.e., “Fire meets Earth” in the almost daily bombing sorties of NATO on Syria and Iraq). 2014 was a male year (Major Wood Horse), the positive yang aggressive force that also assumed a Wood-Fire character in its yearly cycle. This year also receives much from the influence of 2013 and 2014 that is passed on to 2015. We are passing through a series of “fire years,” and 2016 would be the peak of this global experience.

2015 also saw breakthroughs in technology as mentioned in technologyreview.com. The breakthroughs reflect yin energy configuration that is related more to ‘personal development,’ whether it be biological or social, such as Liquid Biopsy, Brain Organoids, Car-to-car Communication, Apple Pay and Nano Architecture.

The other breakthroughs that would have immediate wide scale global implications are: creating 3D imagery through Magic Leap, Project Loon that could get billions of people online, Megascale Desalination or cheapest reverse osmosis, Supercharged Photosynthesis and Internet of DNA. Most of these breakthroughs can be seen as “non-aggressive” technologies reflecting a yin character.

In business, Yahoo Finance reports the Trans Pacific Partnership would promote economic growth and provide protections for workers on both sides of the Pacific. Overall, the world economy is recovering in preparation for a more aggressive business moves in 2016. In New York, stocks ended nearly unchanged after a quiet session as traders weighed mixed corporate earnings and waited for the government's monthly jobs report, due out in December 2015.

According to Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, every challenge has a theme, and this year's (2016) theme for him is invention.

Invention requires some form of creative aggression and the new spirit of the male Fire Monkey will catapult inventions to heights never seen before. Technology has always been a major hallmark of the 21^st century but this year will be one of the brightest in terms of the impact that new technologies will bring.

The Monkey’s unexpected, unruly moves combined with its Fire character will both move the enterprising spirit of the year, making huge leaps for money and wealth, taking larger risks than last year, but will also literally burn down old ways and structures. It is a year of renewal of the personal, social, financial and spiritual spheres of individuals and organizations, with more unexpected events to happen at all levels from the physical to the spiritual.

The unexpected will thwart the expected.

The coexistence of both the Fire and Water elements in the character of this year will balance the extreme behavioral tendencies of people and events.

On more specific levels, my observation of the future of the possible may be gleaned below, although I wish to emphasize that these are based on heuristic analysis and the qualitative algorithm of the I Ching and the Taoist Book of Days.

Man is an integral part of the natural world. His actions determine not only his future but the future of the natural world as well. Yet, we have not considered ourselves as friends of the natural environment. The occurrence of the so-called natural disasters is a way of forcing us to communicate with nature. And so when an earthquake strikes, we flee in fear. When a volcano erupts, we feel the wrath of Nature upon us.

Fire Monkey Heats Up the Planet

World temperature will still continue to rise above the 1-degree Celsius pre-industrial level as predicted by some quarters in 2014 as the world’s largest economies consume large amounts of fossil fuel. For 2016, the possible temp increase would be 0.85^oC. If you’re a world traveler, take precautions as heat waves will likely be experienced in parts of China, Indonesia, Israel, Australia, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, France, Poland, Portugal, Spain, UK, Philippines, India; including but not limited to the US and South America specifically: California, Montana, British Columbia, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Mexico. Heat waves would occur even before the Summer Solstice, as early as March 2016.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 6.5 to 6.9 could occur in New Caledonia, Baia Formosa Brazil, Papua Guinea, and Vanuatu, Southern Philippines, the southeastern part of Indonesia, the southern part of Malaysia and the coastal areas of Uruguay, including possibly, Chile and California by the 2^nd Quarter of 2016. Earthquakes of Magnitude 2.5 to 4.5 would continue to occur on a daily basis in different parts of the earth.

Fire Splashes

The eruption of ten active volcanoes in 2015 has enhanced the interconnectedness of volcanic pathways underneath the earth, as magma energy flows within the “ring of fire.” There is a strong likelihood these active volcanoes would erupt in greater intensity in 2016, and would be added by other more active volcanoes along the Pacific Ring of Fire. These include: the Villarica and Calbuco in Chile, Bulusan, Kanlaon and Mayon in the Philippines; Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, Wolf Volcano in Ecuador; Sinabung, Kelud and Sangeang Api in Indonesia; Piton de la Fournaise at Reunion Island, Colima in Western Mexico, Tungurahua in Ecuador, Etna and Stromboli in Italy, Bardarbunga in Iceland, Mount Ontake in Japan, Pico do Fogo in Cape Verde, Pavlof in Alaska and Fuego in Guatemala that erupted only in January 3, 2016.

Allow Safety Measures

The Fire element is strong this year, and while it is not going to be a global conflagration, local fires would be common. Safety awareness to prevent accidents that would lead to deadly fires must be instituted at all levels of society. Even before the arrival of the Major Fire Money on February 8, 2016 we are already seeing deaths on the local level due to fires. We would also see a number of forest fires in other countries. 2015 was a year of raging wildfires, but these need not happen if we are super careful about our actions relative to the natural environment. Monkey wit and alertness can overcome deadly fires. Proactive measures are important in preventing further damage to our environment and deaths of people.

Hot Wars

2015 was a female year expressed in the character of the Sheep, an animal that rarely shows aggressiveness. The energy “blankets” that the Sheep assumed in 2015 was Wood-Earth in its Yearly Cycle and Fire-Earth in its daily cycle. Fire-Earth is the aggressive nature of the Sheep, and in 2015 armed conflicts occurred in 18 countries including the unrest in Burundi. Syria topped the death list with 55,219 deaths followed by Afghanistan with 34,475 deaths. Mexico’s narco-wars had 6,028 deaths while the armed conflict in India, the least of the countries, had 717 deaths.

The targeted operations in Syria and Iraq by US and coalition forces by about 13 countries including the US netted 9,379 air strikes (Fire) on Iraq and Syria (Earth), destroying about 18,388 targets (i.e., buildings, tanks, armored transport facilities, staging areas, fighting positions, oil infrastructure, etc.). This was the energy expression in 2015.

The 2016 Year of the Major Fire Monkey will likely see a significant increase in the number of armed conflicts and an unexpected opening up of new wars on new fronts we have not seen before. The Fire character of the male Fire Monkey combined with Metal in its Yearly Cycle will produce new weapons with unprecedented firepower and will be used on old and new wars. The number of purchases of military arsenal by least developed countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa will increase significantly.

The purchase of guns, high-powered firearms and ammo by private armed groups and households in various countries will also see a steep rise this year. Armed skirmishes on existing fronts will also likely increase in the 18 countries mentioned in 2015. The Middle East will open a new theater of operations, aside from Syria and Iraq, most likely in Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Surprisingly, the Major Fire Monkey’s daily cycle includes the Water element. This could mean the Monkey’s unruly character could open up a new theater of operations in an area surrounded by water. Could this be the Spratley Islands? We will see. There will also be a shift of armed conflict from the Middle East to Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific. A leader of a powerful country not allied with the coalition forces could instigate a new shift in the geopolitics of global war.

The conflict in Mindanao, Southern Philippines (or its peace process) could be affected by the realignment of political powers and in the conduct of new wars. The UN and the US will continue to become the police and peacemaker of the world, despite the latter’s involvement in the Middle East Wars. The Water element will balance the Fire element found in the UN.

As of January 2, U.S. and partner nation aircrafts have flown an estimated 63,290 sorties in support of operations in Iraq and Syria. http://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0814_Inherent-Resolve.

Fiery Seas

The Water element in the daily cycle combined with the Metal Element in the yearly cycle could bring in a number of sea disasters in 2016. These could be either boats on fire due to accidents or technical problems on the sea, or sea crafts hit by enemy fires. There would be a higher likelihood of industrial fires at sea, including possibly oil rigs and oil tankers. Extreme caution and proactive action are necessary when undertaking sea-based transport of people and products, especially products that are volatile.

Hot Air and Land

The Air element in 2016 will be influenced by the fire, earth and water elements, but the strongest elements in 2016 are Fire, Metal and Water. The Earth element was strong in 2015 but its influence will still be felt in 2016. There were more air disasters in 2015 than sea-based disasters, about 21 disasters recorded online. Since air is more of a yin force, it jibes with the Yin energy of the Minor Wood Sheep. The reverse might happen in 2016 where sea-based accidents and disasters would happen more than air disasters.

The Metal element which is strong in the yearly cycle will combine with the double Fire and Water elements, making sea travel a bit shaky this year. And since Earth is still influential (from 2015), the likelihood of train, bus and car accidents that would happen to exceed last year’s number is not far-fetched. Another distinct possibility is the destruction of sea crafts by missiles fired from unfriendly forces which could be one of the surprises this year, but not for the Monkey who is the master of surprises (involving fire, water and metal elements).

Overall, air disasters will be lesser this year compared to 2015. Still Nature provides us with the means to employ proactive measures to lessen the number and magnitude of sea, air and land-based accidents and disasters.

This element is strong in 2016 in the Monkey’s Daily Cycle, and the explosive combinations between Fire and Water could lead to unexpected and surprising scenarios in places not prominently known to the global public. Enhanced El Niño and widespread heatwaves will (Fire on Earth) will accelerate the evaporation process and lessen the amount of water available in certain areas where it is needed most. Water will become a prime commodity more precious than gold due to its scarcity, and could become the basis for new armed conflicts in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Turbulent storms, typhoons and tornadoes would still bring floods death and damage to the environment, most likely on or before the 6^th month of the lunar year which is July. The months previous to July will also experience a number of damaging splash cycles in Europe, Asia, the US and the Asia Pacific.

The dates to watch for any significant event, whether beneficial or not, positive or negative, creative or destructive, personal or official, of national or global significance, micros or macros and related to the predictions above are the following non-dogmatic dates [NOTE: The first month of the Year of the Major Fire Monkey begins on February 2016, the last month on January 2017. The 5^th month is a crucial month as the energy of the planet waxes until after the Summer Solstice and this month is when the maximum energy flow impacts on humans and the environment]:

February: 10, 12, 17, 19, 20. 21, 24, 29

March: 1, 5, 6, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24, 28, 30, 31

April: 1, 3, 6 10, 11. 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 28

May: 1, 3, 6 10, 11. 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 28

June: 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 27, 28

July: 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28

August: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 25

September: 1, 2, 6, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 23, 24

October: 1, 2, 6, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 23, 24, 28, 29

November: 1, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21

December: 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21

January 2017: 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21

This is a year of challenges and competition from the large-scale enterprises down to the individual personal businesses where inventiveness, some shrewdness, and tactical thinking would be required more than strategic long-term planning. Your strategies have been placed in 2015, and it is now time to implement them and prepare for the unexpected turn of events that would require tactical decisions. Unconventional solutions to conventional problems and situations would come up as the Monkey lights his Fire. Be alert at all times as the events in your life unfold. There is no time for procrastination. This is a year of implementation.

The Metal element in the yearly cycle would favor the mining industry and gold trading at all levels. Virtually every conceivable legitimate business can be implemented this year including food and restaurants, communication, and metals production. Car sales and gun sales will increase this year. Creative businesses, including new start ups in technology would proliferate and find their mark in 2017. Some new tech star-ups would be presented to the public by the 3^rd quarter of 2016 and would get wide public acceptance.

The Monkey could create the conditions for a Bull market in finance and stocks. New investments would pour in, globally and nationally especially in the area of water search, water containing, processing and distribution since Water is one of the elements in the daily cycle of the Major Fire Monkey, along with Fire. The global military hardware market would benefit from the new, surprising conditions that would emerge in the field this year, as Metal is combined with Fire.

Individual success in money-making through legitimate means or right livelihood for the individual will depend on his or her birth sign in the destiny chart. However, the conditions that would favor personal success are present this year and should be taken advantage of. There will be a strong tendency to invest in new businesses as risk-taking becomes a rule. Blind impulse or following however should be avoided. Watch out for con artists who will ride on the energy of the Monkey. As in politics, tactical alliances would find their way through the maze of business relationships. Make sure Memorandum of Agreements or Memorandum of Understandings are signed before going into joint ventures.

Unconventional solutions to the energy problem would solve the problem of energy shortage. This year will introduce new energy-generating technologies developed years before but will be tested in 2016. Dependence on fossil fuels will be minimized starting this year and will become an acceptable solution in the years to come.

Love and romance, as in business would be more unusual than usual, startling and unique with the surprises that would unfold along the way. Only the courageous, the risk-taker and the creative love-seeker or lover would fully benefit from the apparently dizzying, annoying and emotional pace of the Monkey. Be ready for the unexpected encounter. Consult your dates of births or Zodiacs for better match-ups.

It is a year of transition from the conventional to the unconventional as part of the cosmic learning process. By harmonizing your activities with the energy flow of the Universe from February 2016 to January 2017, as expressed in the Year of the Major Fire Monkey (which by itself is a symbol of the specific energy flow for the year), success becomes second nature.

The Human Activity System is generally the same across cultures in the modern world. The differences are in the specific nuances of implementing activities. Scheduled meetings are conducted in the corporate world as in groups among families and indigenous cultures, for instance. Plans are made by people everywhere. Social and business activities are scheduled and done throughout the whole year. The Personal Activity Guide is designed to match your plans and activities to the harmonizing energy of the Fire Monkey.

You may have your own set of plans and activities. See if the listed activities below can match your own. Try to find similarities. The highlighted dates are the suggested dates to undertake such activities. If you have already made fixed schedules, consult your intuition, or consult your partner{s}, then make your decision. Nothing is final or dogmatic. The energy flow configuration is expressed in the dates placed after the activity as the auspicious times to undertake such activities. Always find time to talk to Nature.

Activity Systems and Auspicious Dates

Set A: Reflection, notation, evaluation, assessment - Feb 29 / Mar 28-32 / Apr 21, 28 / May 21, 28 / Jun 27, 28 / Jul 27, 28 / Aug 25 / Sep 23 / Oct 23 / Nov 21 / Dec 21 / Jan 21

Set B: (1) Establish/attend organizational meetings. (2) Sign Contracts. (3) Undertake creative or technical production. (4) Launch business/product in public. (5) Undertake Ad/Sales Campaign. (6) Go on a date. (7) Marry someone, start a family, build a house - Feb 10, 12, 17, 19 / Mar 13, 15, 16 / Apr 10, 11. 12, 13, 15 / May 10, 11. 12, 13, 15 / Jun 6, 10, 11, 12 / Jul 6, 10, 11, 12 / Aug 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 / Sep 1, 2, 6, 10 / Oct 1, 2, 6, 10 / Nov 1, 6, 7 / Dec 1, 5, 6, 7 / Jan 1, 5, 6, 7

Set C: (1) Finish creative or technical production. (2) Resolve issues with family. (3) Resolve organizational issues - Feb 20 / Mar 18 / Apr 19 / May 19 / Jun 15, 17 / Jul 15, 17 / Aug 15, 16 / Sep 14 / Oct 14 / Nov 10 / Dec 10 / Jan 10

Set D: (1) Travel with group, family, and friends. (2) Attend socials - Feb 9 / Mar 9, 10 / Apr 8, 9 / May 8, 9 / Jun 4, 5 / Jul 4, 5 / Aug 2 / Sep 2 / Oct 31 / Nov 30 / Dec 30, 31 / Jan 30.