The Year of the Snake will be a time of contradictions and polarization, in the economy, the weather — and in the specific markets of art and luxury goods.

This is according to Edwin Ma Lai-wah, chairman of Hong Kong Fengshui Master Association and Lu Shan Kuntun Taoist Institute. He excels in Chinese astrology, physiognomy, feng shui, and has consulted for major companies in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Master Ma tells us what to look out for in the coming lunar new year:

General Overview

According to the Chinese Almanac, the 2013 Year of the Snake is when the “10 dragons controlling the flood waters” will arrive. This means plenty of wet weather throughout the first few weeks of Chinese new year, particularly between the time of New Year’s Day (February 10) until the Earthly Branch Morning of the tenth day of the Year of the Snake (February 19). But 2013 is also known as the “gui si year.” This means it will be a year of polarization. So, in terms of climate, some countries will suffer through floods or other water-related catastrophies, while other countries will see droughts. 

The water element is related to the flow of money. For the economy, an abundance of water translates into inflation around the world, bringing negative forces to our lives. For the first half of the year, the economy will be relatively weak. Some relief will be seen, financially, in the third and fifth months of the lunar calendar (April 10 – May 9 and June 8 – July 7). The economic situation will persist until the eighth month of the year (starting September 5), when we will see a turning point. Whether this will be good or bad is unclear.

In the last month of the year (January 1 – January 30, 2014), we can see auspicious and inauspicious omens, meaning it will be a tumultuous month of changes.

Art Market

Out of the five elements, the wood and earth elements are outstanding in the coming Year of the Snake. This means that for art, works related to wood and earth may become more popular, such as wood sculpture, ceramics, and oil paintings. 

Subjects that will be of increased interest to artists and art consumers include nature, landscapes, and works related to ancient music.

At auctions during the Year of the Snake buyers will also become more picky, though there will be a great desire among collectors to acquire more artwork and build collections. 

In terms of art trading, there will be a polarized situation. This means some of the high-value works and the low-value works will sell easily. However, the mid-range works will be more difficult to sell. 

Watch out for the eighth and ninth months of the lunar calendar (September 5 –  November 2), as these are when the most deals will be made. 

Luxury Market

Luxury goods like fine wines, jewelry, and watches will continue to be in high demand, but their buyers will become more careful about spending. 

Again, the market will polarize. Consumers will move towards known and high-quality brands, or they will demand trendy affordable goods. Again, mid-range items will be difficult to sell. 

One point to watch out for is the demand for a wide variety of goods to choose from. Buyers will want suppliers who can offer many choices. Eventually, retailers will have to consider widening their range of offerings this year to attract more customers. This will mean a larger inventory, which may not sell entirely and could become a burden. If the inventory is too narrow, however, it may not attract enough customers. This dilemma will be a big one for many retailers in the coming year. 

The best months for sales will be 8th, 11th, and 12th months of the Year of the Snake (September, December 2013, January 2014).