It's nice being in that 25% of the world's population involved in Chinese New Year. Just as those resolutions are starting to look like a lost cause, and the new car smell of 2009 is wearing off, bam, another fresh start. And Chinese years have personality. Instead of an infinite linear sequence, Chinese years are a combination of the twelve animals that showed up at the Buddha's calendar-making party, and the five elements that give rise to each other and spin us on the wheel of life.

Therefore, this Chinese New Year isn't just an ox, it's an earth ox. And nothing Chinese escapes the great and nameless Tao, meaning that this will be a yin earth ox year. What a relief. Last year's yang rat plagued us with turmoil. In comparison, the female energy and earthy grounding of this year's ox promises peace, quiet preparation, and rebuilding from the rubble.

"Hooey" you say? Well, President Obama was born in a yin earth year, as was Abe Lincoln. And our last yin earth ox year was 1949, the year NATO and the PRC were born out of the ashes of a war-ravaged world.

But peace and re-building will just be the general tone, folks. Depending on what year you were born in, not only the moon but the many stars will exert a cosmic influence on your daily doings. Of course we've gone ahead and divined what the Chinese year has in store for all you animals.

Year of the Goat - 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

Those artistic inclinations common to the goat won't find much outlet this year. Keep your punk band in the garage and your watercolors in the bottom drawer. If you're creative for a living, this is the year you might have to graduate from booze to more exotic stimulants to keep the juices flowing and the muse in sight. May we recommend two tablespoons of nutmeg? 

You goats are nice social herd animals, but you do like to bleat about other people's intimate affairs. With two stars of gossip shining on you through the ox year, the chances of your rumor-mongering coming back to bite you are double. Speaking of scandal, there's high likelihood of a love triangle in your new year. Be on the alert for lipstick stains and guilty looks.

Year of the Monkey - 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Yi Ma, the star of mobility, shines bright on monkeys this year. Fortune will smile on those of you who seek new careers in distant places. Thought China was far enough to go to teach English? Try the Philippines. Or Indonesia. If you must stay in China, take up a traveling career, like selling Japanese history books door-to-door. Since you're naturally industrious, the Ox will reward your efforts this year with long-term gains, meaning you put your swear jar savings into a nice sensible CD, not that wind power stock.

 

Year of the Pig - 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995

Normally you hogs are content with an extra-large serving of beef noodles and a warm bed to loll around in. However, the loneliness star Gu Chen will haunt your horizons, leaving you uncharacteristically moody and angst-ridden. If you feel complacent or unchallenged at work, this is the perfect year to join that non-profit organization and turn your unfounded fears into fulfillment. Don't worry about the pay-cut; Chinese people love caring for pigs. Just watch your juicy back on festival days.

Year of the Rat - 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996

Why you sneaky rat....you've always got a scheme or two brewing that your other partners don't know about. This is the year the Ox may well deposit a ton of home-made fertilizer on your plans, if you don't focus your beady eyes on one project. In better news, Tian Qu, the food and drink star, will smile on you, especially in September and October. You'll always get the last salmon sushi at the buffet, and waitresses will finally understand your tortured Mandarin requests for black pepper. Don't sign up for any speed-eating contests, though, as the Xie Yin star leaves you vulnerable to injuries, from heartburn to food-poisoning.

Year of the Snake - 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

We didn't even tell the other animals, their ratios are so average, but you will enjoy an outstanding ten favorable and two neutral months this year, no unfavorables. The Ox is your oyster; you can't fail; get out from under that rock and slither to greatness! Start a cult, launch a Ponzi scheme, build that amish.org website - you can't fail. The leadership star, Zhi Wei, will make your followers blind to your faults and investors want to throw money at you. We'll see you in the history books.

Year of the Dragon - 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

Poor dragon, with your menacing exterior and fire at the ready, always seeking that special someone you can show your soft underbelly to. Well, this could be your year, provided you start smiling a bit and stop cultivating that former-child-actor-on-a-bender look. You've eaten far too many cattle alive for the Ox to put up with your egomaniacal antics this year, so you'd be wise to start listening to your coworkers, or at least pretending to. No buttering up the boss, though, the Sui Po star ensures that all your attempts to flatter the influential leave you looking more groveling worm than winged super-lizard.

Year of the Horse - 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990

Somebody has to break it to you, Black Beauty, no clover-strewn paddock for you this year. In marked contrast to the snake, you will experience a record eight unfavorable months. Go directly to your stable, and don't come out until October. Watch your whinnying while you're in there, too - the Bai Fu star is watching you, and makes sure the obnoxious get bitten. It could be your spouse nipping at your flanks, a teething baby, or a poodle at your grooming salon you mistake as appropriately sedated. You've been warned.

Year of the Rabbit - 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1999

Rabbit, run. No wait; get back here. See? That's your problem, Fiver, you don't stand up for yourself. Shame, too, because if you don't learn to be assertive this year you'll miss a once-in-60-years chance. Yue De, the star of harmony, ensures excellent relationships and dangers turned to opportunities. But only for brave little rabbits. Now put down that head of lettuce and tell the manager you're ready to give the cash register a shot.

Year of the Rooster - 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957,1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Cocky devil, this year is almost as lucky for you as it is for the snake. You waste a lot of time and talent crowing about the obvious ("The sun's up!"). It's time to really shine, as people will finally start recognizing you for more than your strut. Pick one of those high risk, high reward ventures you usually let the brood hens cluck you out of - home fission kits, alligator-wrestling consultant - you've always got a new one. The Ox loves a show off, so you're safe from the stew pot for another twelve months.

Year of the Tiger - 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998

Like dragons, tigers have a naturally enemy in the Ox. You will definitely land on the horned-end of any "opportunity" that you love to impetuously leap on. Even if you win the Sports Lottery, resist calling up your employer and comparing him to bathing-suited parts of the body. Odds are another hundred people won too, and your monthly pay out could have been exceeded by selling kelp through mail order.

Year of the Dog - 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

That patience you're famously lacking will be tested this year, most ADD of animals. If you can actually listen to good advice instead of always barking about your grievances, the end of this year could yield a buried bone or two. Family members are feeling especially warm to you, so if worse comes to worst you can move to your sister's couch for a good three months until she sends you packing. But stay away from metal objects; the Jian Feng star is looking to cut you. Safety scissors and nail clippers only.

Year of the Ox - 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 2009

It's gotta be your year, right? Yes, but only if you stay true to your reliable, plodding self. Even so, with romantic prospects in your favor and Tai Yin the wealth star sparkling bright, you could find yourself flush with cash and romance. Here's to breaking your traces and being a cash cow, or at least a breed bull.

Ernie - Chinaexpat.com

 

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.