Happy Chinese New Year!
Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Chinese astrology is a fortune-telling system that uses the Chinese lunar calendar, the five elements, and the 12-year cycle of animals, known as the Chinese zodiac.

A 60 year cycle is used, with the even years being yang, and the odd years being yin. The cycle starts with the rat, and ends with the pig. The twelve zodiac animals are, in order, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Each lunar year consists of twelve months of 29 ½ days. The start of each lunar month coincides with the new moon.

There are various stories regarding the order of the animals in the zodiac. One legend states that a race across a river was used to decide the order. The rat, according to the fable, won the race by hopping on the back of the ox as the ox crossed the river. The rat jumped ahead and reached the shore first, and won first place, with the ox coming in second. The pig came in last because it got hungry during the race, stopped for food, and then fell asleep. After napping, the pig finished the race and was named as the last animal of the zodiac cycle.

The animal that rules the year that a person was born influences the person. An example of this is the Tiger, who rules the current year. The Tiger is a sign of courage.

If born under the sign of the Tiger, a person is both feared and revered. People born under the sign of the Tiger are well-liked and charming, and are natural leaders. They can be both rash and hesitant, but this contradiction doesn’t keep them from being successful.

Some people born in the year of the Tiger are Jodie Foster, Demi Moore, Tom Cruise, Rosie O’Donnell, Bill Murray, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Marilyn Monroe, Karl Marx, and Beethoven.

This year, the Chinese New Year falls on February 14. The year of the Tiger runs from February 14, 2010 to February 2, 2011.

People born in the year of the Tiger tend to have the following traits:

They are natural leaders, intelligent, alert, and are unlikely to give up, even when frustrated. They are self-reliant, optimistic, loyal, and protective of their family.

Some negative traits associated with the character of the Tiger are being stubborn and selfish, and they can have quick tempers. They can be unpredictable and distrustful.

The year of the Tiger is expected to be one of massive change, and social upheaval, both on a personal level as well as world-wide.

If you were born in one of the following years, you were born during the year of the Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, and 2010.

Enjoy your year!

Copyright 2010 by Jeri Petz, MSOM, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., ADS      Jade Acupuncture Clinic Ltd.