The Year of the Pig, 2007, is symbolized by the two elements, fire and water. The symbol is fire sitting on top of water. According to the inter-relationship between the elements, fire is conquered by water. Therefore, fire sitting on water is a symbol of conflict and this may bring a relatively less peaceful year. The last time fire and water appeared was in 2002 which was the year of the water horse, immediately following September 11. This combination again can bring international conflicts and discord that can signal uprising and unrest, and the changing of governments.

As the Chinese calendar year follows a 60-year cycle the last year of yin fire on pig was 1947. In 1947, the race to produce nuclear weapons began and India and Pakistan became independent in what was a not so peaceful birthing process. So there is reason to anticipate these will again be in the headlines on 2007.

The pig year can motivate the travel industry, but with the combination of fire and water this can also indicate an increase in air and sea accidents.

The Pig clashes with the Snake, and forms a not so good aspect to itself, Therefore those born in the years of the Snake and the Pig need to be careful in 2007, especially with travel. The Tiger is the symbol that minimizes the negative influence of the clash, so carrying or wearing the tiger may provide some protection, according to Chinese tradition.

Those born in the year of Snake will experience a more turbulent year with travelling and change, such as moving house or office.

The Five basic elements also represent different parts of our body, with fire associate with circulation and the heart. This is also a yin year and yin fire also represents the brain, the eyes and the nervous system. So in 2007 there is a need to take care of the health of the heart and mental well-being. People born on a yin fire day in particular need to learn to relax more and pay more attention to a healthy low fat diet.

The recent worries over bird flu outbreaks are likely to continue to cause concern in 2007. Fire pig years can relate to outbreaks of widespread contagions, due to the excessive nature of the Pig and the easy spread of fire. The Plague which started in Europe in the 1347 was also the year of the fire Pig.

Economically, it is likely that the stock exchange will rise in the first half of the year, again with the excess of the pig and the boon of the fire. It may not be building on reality though, just speculation and this can see a readjustment in the 2nd half. It is not likely to be the extremes of a boom and bust year though. NASDAQ itself was born in a Pig year, although this was not that surprising given the nature of the stock market.

The Pig also tends to coincide with extremes of weather, but don’t be fooled by the Fire component as there will be extremes of cold as well as heat. The last year of the Fire Pig, 1947, saw much of Canada buried under snow during a ferocious blizzard, it was also the beginning of the ‘Cold war” between the USA and USSR. It was also the year that U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act into United States law creating the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Defence, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security Council.

On a lighter note, it was also during this last combination of Fire and Pig that the then, Princess Elizabeth, married the Duke of Edinburgh. There could be some health issues for one or both of them in 2007.