"Sorajja" - the regular fortune-teller for Sakulthai magazine - is famous for his prediction of the September 11, 2001, tragedy in the US. This year, he is not optimistic, citing the likelihood of many violent incidents in and outside the Kingdom. He even predicts that the violence in the South will spread to Bangkok.

I find his predictions pessimistically dark. But after searching the Internet, I was surprised that other fortune-tellers were also pessimistic.

Any Chinese calendar shows we are in the Year of the Pig. But this year the pig is not very tame, as 2007 is a "Red Fire" Pig Year, according to www.chinesefortunecalendar.com, due mainly to the high "yang" element. That's why they call it a "wild" or "fire" boar. The year of the Fire Boar occurs only once every 60 years, the last time in 1947.

According to www.aquariuspapers.com, 1947 wasn't very peaceful. There was tremendous political upheaval and unrest everywhere. In world affairs, there was the Truman Doctrine, the National Security Act and the CIA, Eastern European Bolsheviks seized Hungary and Romania, the Jews accepted and the Arabs rejected the partition of the Holy Land.

What about this time?

Aquariuspapers.com says that the energy associated with this year is stubbornly opinionated, and we can expect battle lines being drawn between progressives and conservatives everywhere. Convictions run high and strong during this year, so flexibility will be a virtue.

This will be most needed when people get grumpy or start complaining about things. The best thing is to stay open to new ideas, read more, learn more, blending the wisdom of the old with the acceleration of new energy in the present. This can be good for building bridges with others who have different views.

The site said there is an element of Water in the Boar, and the meeting of Fire and Water can create steam and fogs that either obscure things or, when contained, create steam that can power huge engines. It also said the boar could "slip", meaning that things could get out of control easily.

It is coincidental that Thailand is embarking on a year of different opinions, particularly in the political field. I really don't know if listening will be enough to keep the "wild boar" in the cage. Do we really have to deal with another year of difficulties?

achara_d@nationgroup.com