The Year of the Sheep is almost upon us – and after the dramatics of the Year of the Horse, the world is ready for some peace and quiet. As with many aspects of life in China, superstitions about what different years can mean are rife, and the Year of the Sheep (sometimes called the Ram, or the Goat) is no exception. So what’s in store for us after Chinese New Year 2015?

Photo: Philhearing

Astrologer Susan Levitt explains, “In China, eight is a number of good fortune. The Sheep is the eighth earthly branch [in the traditional story of how the twelve animals came to be associated with yearly horoscopes in a competition to cross the river the fastest, the sheep came eighth] and symbolizes good fortune, peace, and abundance.”  As the fiery and temperamental horse gallops out, the sheep – associated with “yin” energy, said to be the quiet, feminine and contemplative force of energy as opposed to the bolder and more masculine “yang” – gambols in. That’s good news for those of us who experienced more than our fair share of ups and downs in the Year of the Horse, since the Sheep is said to be a year of reconciliation and healing of wounds. Be it a broken heart or the political and social upheaval that rocked the world in 2014, in the coming year “there will be greater concern with structure, getting back to basics and using greater intuition to find solutions to problems that have been plaguing the world for some time,” according to some astrologers.

What’s more, 2015 is the year of the “wooden sheep”, a year of greater grounding and balance than fire, water or metal. The emphasis is on looking inward to tap into a much-needed period of rest and serenity in order to regain a sense of balance, both on a personal and political level, before the mayhem of the Year of the Monkey kicks in in 2016.

Forecast for those born in the Year of the Sheep

So while the general prognosis is that the year of the sheep will ease the tensions that plagued the year of the horse, what’s in store for those born under the auspices of the Year of the Ram? The Sheep correlates to the western zodiac sign Cancer – people born under the Sheep, like their Cancer counterparts, are creative, sensitive, and appreciate the good things in life. Sheep people will benefit from an extra dose of creativity this year, and they will also be afforded plenty of time to meet their need for solitary daydreaming and down time.

On the family front, family members will come together – family ties will be strengthened and loyalty will be renewed. Underneath their quiet exterior, those born in the year of the sheep are often stubborn and strong-willed, and able to endure even the harshest of conditions, weathering the storm while the more volatile among us have long since fled. It goes without saying, then, that this year will bring some well-deserved respite for them. What’s more, some astrologers have pointed out that the year of the “wooden sheep” is a year of fruition; just as bushes and trees spring from the ground, if you have been working on a project over the past couple of years, 2015 could be the year that your efforts begin to bear fruit.

However, the year of the Sheep won’t all be plain sailing – while it is traditionally thought of as a year of peace and stability, there will also be periods of turmoil. This year, strife is predicted from late March to late April – and in particular, those born in the year of the Sheep should take note, since this turbulent time will affect them more deeply. After the ups and downs of spring, the year will go back to being peaceful.

The year of the horse has been a year of much action, both positive and negative; and especially in a country like China where life can seem frenetic, it’s important to take a step back, rest and reevaluate. Why not take the opportunity for peace and wellbeing that the year of the sheep offers to treat yourself to an extra-special relaxing holiday or retreat? Taking a break is always a good thing, and with the fortune of the sheep on your side, you might just enjoy it double.

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.

Keywords: Chinese zodiac 2015 year of the sheep