Inviting the God of Wealth this Lunar New Year.

It is customary for Chinese families around the world to observe the Lunar New Year with all things auspicious. Perhaps there is no better way than to include the invitation of the God of Wealth into the home for prosperity and wealth all year round.

As in many observations, the invitation of the God of Wealth has been infused with part cultural, part religious practices. More prominently, the God of Wealth has been personified into a roly-poly figure often depicted with a gold ingot on one hand and a sceptre on the other. There is nothing wrong in that as this is done all in the name of a rich heritage and culture.

However, it is equally important that we try to understand its origin, the true intention behind such a practice and an explanation which can be logically linked to this belief.

To start with, it is found that the act of inviting the God of Wealth is the identification of a star, one that hangs in the sky at a specific time and to add to an air of an auspicious feel, is linked to the hour just as the Lunar New Year kicks in.

Often accompanied by prayers and observation of setting up a table of offerings, this identification of the star that astronomically links one to some positive energies become accepted as a ritual. And this is why the invitation of the God of Wealth is seen as a religious affair, complete with burning of incense, candles and paper offerings.

The logical way to invite the God of Wealth is a far more simpler act. There is no dance and song segment nor are you required to be seen in an entire red attire.

Here are the simple steps:

1. The time is 30 minutes past midnight of the arrival of the Lunar New Year or 12.30 am on 25 January, local time to wherever you are.

2. Identify with a compass and know where the West sector and Northwest sectors are from your inside home. If you stay in a landed property, you can observe this in your yard or garden. If you stay in an apartment, it is best you can observe the West or Northwest sector from inside your home where it is a common corridor, balcony, a yard or anywhere that has a window or opening.

3. Light up your home and open up all windows and doors.

4. Set up two small chairs and a table at 11.30 pm on Lunar New Year's Eve, 24 January 11.30pm. Prepare some savoury, snacks and drinks. Wine to be enjoyed would be perfect.

5. Settle down at midnight, observe the sky towards the direction of West.

6. You should be able to observe a star that shines brighter than the rest. You have identified the Wealth Star or the God of Wealth.

7. Look towards the direction of Northwest.

8. If you are able to observe a star brighter than the rest in this direction, you are connected with the Nobility Star.

9. Make your wishes. Enjoy the affinity and feel the connectivity. 30 minutes into this and you are done. You have invited into your home and for the good part of the year, the God of Wealth who is said to bless you with much success, happiness and fulfilment of your hopes and wishes. Good luck.

2020 - Opportunity to turn in years of Success.

There are 3 reasons why tomorrow, 1 January 2020, is a timely reminder for us all to breakthrough whatever we aspire for the future, short term and long.

First, it is the start of a new decade which will end in ten years in 2029. Second, 2020 marks the Year of the Rat, a recognizable start to the new cycle in the Chinese zodiac system. And finally, in three years' time, we embark onto a new twenty-year-cycle of the Period 9.

All these offer us the vision of a new future and a chance for us to think, design and plan for our very own path. Amidst the merrymaking, many of us will be marking the new year with resolutions that usually fizzle off by the first quarter of the year.

The Year of the Metal Rat in 2020 also throws light into what may be forthcoming for us to leverage. Let's understand this from the fact that the Rat years have been proven to be peppered with economic slowdowns and with them, opportunities to turn them into quick turnarounds with massive results.

In Chinese astrology, we throwback the last Rat year in 2008. The biggest debacle was the Lehman Brothers' meltdown. That issue was in fact triggered on 15 September 2007, the previous year. The subprime disaster was then bailed out by the intervention of governments and central banks around the world. Recovery was swift and in eighteen months, economies around the world was humming at a pace never seen before.

2020 is a very different specie. In line with the impending Period 9 which officially arrives in 2024, technology and artificial intelligence penetrate into every aspect of our lives. It is a world of data science, analytics, 5G speed, online battles, user experiences, robotics, augmented reality, regenerative medicine, cryptocurrency, crowdfunding, quantum computing, a sharing economy and more.

Due to the speed of technology, the human mind will lag if we do not get into the realms of the future. As it happens today, technology has changed the way we live and more will be introduced that will affect our behavior, social interaction, culture, thoughts and psychology.

Payments, banking, shopping, entertainment and many of our daily activities have already merged online.

Without a personal identity or presence online, life will not be functioning at its optimal level. Sure, technology, just like many things in life can be double-edged. But that's the way the world is moving and it will be foolish to swim against this tidal wave. While we need to be cautious about the exposures on the internet world, we need first to embrace technology.

Our online presence can be represented in many levels. It can be as simple as an account on social media like Facebook and Twitter. Or it could be a more pervasive presence with a commercial website to represent our personal interest and enterprise.

If one can agree that an online presence is important to secure our future and create a personal presence, then our existence and success are linked, not in full, to the virtual world of the internet.

As many would already have. How then does one stand out from the rest, not just for the sake of being different ? What can one do to leverage on technology to succeed ?

Finding friends, creating an interest group, starting a small online business, funding a cause, looking for a job, searching for relationships, trawling for information and making your voice heard. Most activities are linked online and if we know how, then, we will Do Less for More.

The common mistake of people claiming to be 'live' online by virtue of a media presence and a website often drives them to near non-existence.

Small and medium size enterprises believe that having a live website will draw business to them while they are sleeping. The reality is, having a website is only a presence like inactive volcanoes. Can we see them ? Yes, only if we have that momentary need. See one and you've seen it all. What is the spectacle ? The volcanoes spewing out the smoke and fire. That is contents.

For this new year: Update your contents. Upgrade your personal development. Innovate your creativity. That would be about the best resolutions you can make.

I wish you mush success and happiness in your pursuits.

Happy New Year to All.

dollarDEX 2020 Outlook and Feng Shui.

11 January 2020.

I am delighed to be invited by AVIVA to be one of the speakers for this prestigious event.

Looking forward to deliver my thoughts on the industries outlook and the various opporunities for the investors.