Ary Hermawan and Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Surabaya
Last year was the Year of the Pig, which, we were told, would bring all sort of calamities, and so it did. But now, with the advent of the Year of the Earth (or possibly Fire) Rat, we can say good-bye to floods and storms, and look forward instead to fires, drought, and possibly a volcanic eruption.
Feng shui practitioners and soothsayers have predicted that cataclysmic events will mark the course of the Year of the Rat, which begins on Feb. 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
"The mounts of Anak Krakatau, Merapi and Kelud, which last year did not generate a relatively huge explosion, may spew their infernal lava this year," Jakarta-based feng shui expert Master Tan told The Jakarta Post, placing the eruptions between March and August.
"To tell you the truth, I am so worried about these three volcanos... I hope this time my prediction misses."
While mainstream Chinese astrology lists this year as an "Earth" year, Master Tan says it is a fire year, combining the sky element with its positive soil and the earth element with its positive water, producing "fire thunder".
Surabaya-based feng shui practitioner Putri Wong Kam Fu has had the same vision of the three volcanoes.
"I don't know when they will erupt. But if we all repent, they will not explode as a volcanic eruption is actually an admonition of us humans," she said.
The positive soil of the sky element will take the form of dried out and infertile soil, triggering water scarcities and extreme drought, particularly for people living on the Equator.
"The dry season will start in April and May. Certain regions may suffer from a drought that could cause famine," Master Tan said.
The Fire Rat is also seen as posing a threat to warehouses and other combustible assets and business people are warned to be cautious.
"But it is a good year for investors and investment brokers in the capital market. Overall, the national economy is good and gives investors enough confidence," Master Tan said.
Politics will be less rowdy than last year as the wood element, which symbolizes politicians, does not float up in the Fire Rat year.
"They (the politicians) may appear to be quiet on the surface but they are scheming their dirty tricks.... Graft allegations by politicians to knock down their rivals will be one of the tricks since in a Fire Rat year, corruption may worsen," Master Tan said.
But Wong Kam Fu divined a great political upheaval would occur by the end of 2008.
"According to the book of divination (primbon), there will be a leader who will break his promise to his people, who suffer from hunger. Is this leader SBY? I don't know," she said, referring to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Dutch-born soothsayer Mama Lauren has also predicted a year of disasters and agreed with her colleagues on the subject of volcanic eruptions.
She does have some good news -- Indonesian scientists will find a cure for HIV/AIDS -- but a new mysterious disease will start killing animals.
The celebrity world is also not free from drama. Master Tan foresees the careers of several celebrities crumbling, while Mama Lauren says that a female and two male stars will die.
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