11:36 pm on April 13 heralds the advent of the Khmer New Year, with the snake

replacing the dragon as the year's animal symbol according to the traditional Cambodian

lunar calendar.

Em Borint, consultant for the Committee for Research on Astrology and Khmer Culture

and Customs at Cambodia's Council of Ministers, predicts a bleak year ahead for the

country in general.

According to Borint, a near-biblical litany of heavy rains, floods, destruction of

crops and disease are set to beset the Kingdom, which is still struggling to recover

from the damage wrought by last year's record floods.

Borint warns that up to half of Cambodia's crops could be wiped out by the a combination

of bad weather and crop infestation.

For individuals (who are obviously not farmers) the year will bring mixed blessings.

In keeping with the weather it's predicted to bring, people born under the sign of

the snake are attributed characteristics like impatience, short temper and generally

extreme behavior of all kinds.

Understandably, these snakes often end up making enemies due to their behavior, though

their saving grace is that they can also cool down as easily as they flare up.

"Corrupt society and the lack of education can turn these people vicious, like

snakes, whereas if their restless energies are channeled in a positive direction,

they can excel in both their personal and professional lives and bring honor to their

community," Borint says.

Borint's predictions are particularly uncharitable toward girls born under the snake,

who could be 'easily fallible' as they are prone to fall for the seductive charms

of any man.

For parents worried about the marriage prospects of their daughters born under this

sign, he advises special prayers at home to neutralize the negative snake sign influences.

In Khmer astrology, the sign of the year is either of a male or female characteristic

as a reigning tevoda or deity and is characterized by either of the following elements:

gold, earth, fire, water, iron and wood.

The elements are believed to be the derivatives of the four elements of life as mentioned

in Hindu philosophy - fire, air, water and earth.

For a peek at what may lie ahead for Post readers of all astrological signs, Borint

provided a quick prediction sampler for each sign while cautioning that specific

predictions for individuals required consideration of such factors as the date and

time of birth.

The Rat (Year 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996)

A male sign characterized by water, Borint says our male leather-tailed friends could

be in for a tough year. For male rats born on Sunday the year of the snake could

bring suffering in the form of disease, punishment, loss of money, property or employment.

Females rats, however, will apparently not be affected by the vicissitudes of their

male pack-mates and will enjoy happiness and prosperity.

The Ox (1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997)

The Ox is a male sign, its element being earth. For a male born on Monday under this

sign, the prediction for the new year is a good fate and success in every job. If

the man is single and of marriageable age, he will meet the love of his life this

year, and if married, he will see the birth of a son, family expansion, happiness

and good luck.

Female oxen will reap more tragedy than an American soap opera. Brace yourselves

for quarrels, ruptures in close family ties and betrayals by family members.

The Tiger (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998)

The sign for this year is female and the element is wood. For a man born on Tuesday

under this sign, the year will bring good luck, similar to that predicted for oxen.

Male student tigers will rip through their exams with ease.

Female tigers share this bright outlook, with promotions predicted for those in the

civil service and honor and good jobs for others. Married tigers will get the beautiful

child they've been waiting for.

The Rabbit (1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999)

The rabbit year is also a female sign and its element is wood. Male rabbits born

on Wednesday might want to stick close to the burrow until next April, with the risks

of injury, disease, suffering and disappointments pegged high for the year. Female

rabbits, however, will get much needed support during their troubled times and get

an unexpected award from a kind person who could be an elderly person or a woman

or both.

The Dragon (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988)

The dragon is also a male sign, the essence of its tevoda being gold. Male dragons

born on Thursday will bag good jobs with impressive titles and receive unexpected

good luck. Windfalls of property and cash are also likely. Female dragons can look

forward to good luck only if they're willing to take risks to reap it. For others,

the year will essentially mark a change of fortunes with good luck for those in a

bad state right now and vice versa.

The Snake (1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989)

A male sign with fire as its element. Since this year is their year, both males and

females born under this sign will receive good luck, honor, success at work, money,

property and happiness, particularly if born on a Friday.

The Horse (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990)

Horses are represented by a female sign and their element or nature is fire. A male

born on Saturday under this sign is bound for a year of sadness and suffering. Its

a give and take year, with gains in one area of their lives balanced by losses in

another. But for those who dare to take on the challenges, the times will be better.

For females, unexpected upgrades in job titles, public honors, money and property

are on their way.

The Goat or Sheep (1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991).

The goat is a female sign, the element of its tevoda being gold. For a man born

on a Sunday under this sign, an award from a kind person is predicted this year.

Support during troubled times and granting of favors are also in store. For females

the year holds the risk of accident, disease, loss of money or property and sadness

and disappointments that result.

The Monkey (1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992)

The monkey is represented by a male giant, its nature or element being iron. For

both males and females, especially if they were born on Monday, the year looks quite

good, with expected jobs, success in examinations, promotions, honor and rewards

predicted.

Remember the Post as you experience a year marked by a holistic happiness of the

mind and body and success in every sphere.

The Rooster (1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993)

Roosters are also represented by a male giant, its element iron. For males born under

this sign, especially if the day of their birth was a Tuesday, the year could bring

troubles marked by arguments with relatives, court cases and betrayal. Be careful

of small-minded, envious bottom-feeders anxious to wreak your downfall. For females,

success and honor is in store.

The Dog (1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994)

Dogs are represented by a female giant, its nature being earth. The most auspicious

or dangerous tides are predicted for dogs born on Wednesday. Male dogs will have

a generally a good year and get the jobs they want, but females risk barking at the

moon due to lost love.

The Pig (1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995)

The last in the list of the 12 year lunar cycle is a female sign and its element

is water. The year ahead for both males and females born under this sign will be

a rewarding one with good luck from a far and unexpected source expected, especially

if they were born on a Thursday. Pigs can count on hopes for foreign travel materializing

in the coming year.