Chinese Year

The Chinese Astrology Ox Symbol is the Zodiac Sign for 2009

The Chinese have made use of constellations for over 3000 years for the purposes of astrology. In Chinese astrology Ox comes after Rat and this year, 2009 is the year of the Earth Ox. When Chinese astrology first began they names 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches, chiefly for chronological purposes to tell apart time and the season.

Later on in time, as so many Chinese people were illiterate animals became used by people to represent the 12 Earthly Branches, these are used today, and in order are: mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig, in Chinese astrology, Ox is representative of 2009.

Legend tells that Buddha was celebrating Chinese New Year and he invited all animals to partake of the festivities. Unfortunately only these 12 animals arrive. In honor of them he named the years after them. There are other variations of this story, but for the purposes of this information we shall use this one. People who are born in the year of the animal it is represented by are supposed to have some traits of these animals inherent in them.

As well as the animal cycles we find element cycles. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal (gold) and water, each element is represented by color with fire being red, earth, brown, wood, green, water black and metal, white (although the metal element is supposedly gold). These are placed at the top of each animal and the sign would read, “wood rooster”, or “metal dragon”.

The elements are then arranged in a cycle of ten and combined with the binary Yin and Yang. Together with the animals and colors this forms a cycle of 60 years, with no animal appearing twice in either the Yin or the Yang years. The animals are divided by two and are either Yin or Yang. For instance a snake is Yin, while a dragon is Yang. We are currently in a 60 year cycle which commenced in 1984 and all Chinese astrology cycles begin with “wood rat” and end with “Water Pig”.

In Chinese astrology, ox, is very similar in nature to Rat and it is the second zodiac sign. The year of the ox signifies steady building or slow, sure action. There are long term implications to the decisions you make in the year of the Ox, so good choices need to be made. Unfortunately 2009 is an earth Ox year and water is the ruling element of Ox. This creates a conflict, and in fact of the last six Chinese years four have had conflicting element signs, this tends to be destructive and Chinese astrologers believe this is why the earth has undergone so much upheaval in the last 6 years.
About the Author

Visit Absolutely Feng Shui for information on Chinese Astrology. Plus more on Feng Shui Frog

Orlando Taiko Dojo – Chinese New Year Celebration performance part 2

Thermos Foogo Leak-Proof Stainless Steel 10-Ounce Food Jar, Pink $12.00 Ideal for keeping meals deliciously hot or refreshingly cold while you’re on-the-go, the Thermos Foogo Phases Vacuum Insulated Food Jar (10 Ounces, Pink) offers superior insulation technology. Compact and portable, the Food Jar features a wide-mouth design, providing easy access for eating directly out of the jar. The TherMax double-wall vacuum-insulation keeps food cold for seven hours or hot for…

Brita Grand 80-Ounce Water Filtration Pitcher …

Soyapower Plus soy milk maker, rice milk maker, nut milk maker, and soup maker, largest capacity, with 2-year warranty $119.95 From the company pioneered soymilk makers comes this newest, third-generation milk maker, now 2011 model and in white color. Absolutely the best seller with highest customer satisfaction! “SoyaPower Plus offers a revolutionary leap in milk making technology”, reviewed by Vickilynn Haycraft, and earned her top rating after testing and reviewing about every maker on the market. It is the only mi…

Sunday School Songs $2.05 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

G N R Lies $2.94 GUNS N’ ROSES G N`R LIES…

Baby Einstein – Language Nursery $8.99 If you’ve been around babies in the last few years, you’ve seen these newfangled toys that are abstract in color (or just black, white, and red) and make curious, crunching noises. Studies have shown that these types of toys stimulate newborns, expanding the capacity of their little sponge-like minds. That concept comes to the video age in Baby Einstein. This 30-minute tape is called a “video boar…

Tai Chi Basics $3.99 …

Yang Style Tai Chi Short Form and Sword Form $1.99 …

The Turandot Project $2.99 …

Brita 42556 Grand 80-Ounce Water Filtration Pitcher, White $26.50 Brita 42556 Grand Pitcher, WhiteBrita s advanced technologies turn ordinary tap water into healthier, great-tasting drinking water. This Brita Grand pitcher reduces 98 percent of lead, benzene, mercury, copper, chlorine (taste and odor), and more from tap water. With a 10-cup (80-ounce) capacity, the Brita Grand is ideal for families. Just pop the filter cylinder (one included) in the plastic wate…