The Chinese New Year, your sign and what it means for each of you in 2010:
It is said that when the Emperor rules with absolute virtue, the White Tiger will appear. The White Tiger is one of the four sacred animals in Chinese astrology. It rules over the western direction and is symbolic of strength, daring, commercial prowess, the competitive spirit and willingness to fight for beliefs. Of course, the White Tiger referred to here is not the sacred, or heraldic, animal but the same principles apply to the Tiger as one of the 12 Zodiacal Signs.

The year of 2010, starting from Valentines’ Day, will be marked by revolutionary tendencies, advances and accidents in transport, attempts at imposing draconian legislation, advances in media and a resurgence of the working classes. Metal (White) Tiger years typically see antitrust legislation and insurrections in the political arena.

The sudden reversals and subsequent insecurity seen in the Rat and Ox years just passed (2008, 2009) have set the stage for overhauls of political and economic systems that are oppressive. The so-called War on Terror will take a decisive turn in 2010, with expected military action against recalcitrant regimes. Iran and North Korea come to mind. The Korean War started in the White Tiger year of 1950.

On the social front the explorer’s instinct and entrepreneurial spirit will be to the fore. New products come out in White Tiger years that tend to become ‘old standards’ later, such as peanut butter, Pepsi Cola, the sewing machine, corrugated boxes, hamburgers and beloved comic strips (‘Peanuts’ and Beetle Bailey’), so put on your thinking caps and see what you can come up with. The Tiger in Chinese astrology represents majesty, dignity and sternness, daring, power and passion and anyone who has those qualities in their nature will fare well in 2010. For those who are more sedate then those same Tiger qualities may just be awakened this year. It is said that the Tiger has no special magical properties.

Tigers work best in the trenches and in motivating others to get things done.
It will be a great year to start an enterprise, work at self-improvement, prevail upon the boss for that raise you so richly deserve, do something daring and completely out-of-character, and push your own and others’ boundaries, get over that fear of public speaking or just generally make a bold statement about your life. In all, find whatever stirs your passion this year and the Tiger in you is sure to come out! Malvin Artley, Astrologer

Rat: Who was that I saw in the wee hours of the morning tapping away at the computer keys? It had to be a Rat. No one else would keep such hours! Rats are ideas people and they will fare well in 2010. The natural element of Rats is water and metal feeds water very nicely. Be careful not to over think this year and get to bed at a decent hour. Rats tend to be up at all hours and with the better-than-average stimulation from the White Tiger the ideas will be flowing fast and furious. It is a good year for solving testy financial matters and dealing with contracts. You intuition will be high and on the mark. Be especially mindful of your ideas, for they may just hold that jewel that will put you on the map and make you a fortune. Guard your insights well, though, for others may just seize on what you glean and run with it. A seed idea nurtured behind closed doors has a better chance of bearing fruit later.

Ox: It is time for the Steadfast Ox to embrace change. Oxen and Tigers typically do not get along, being prone to continual quarrels. Tigers have a way of throwing a wrench in the works of the careful and steady Ox. However, this year there is a chance for all Oxen to take advantage of the Metal Element of the year. Earth, the natural Element of the Ox, feeds Metal astrologically and it is a perfect opportunity for careful nurturing of plans over the next couple of years. Always a careful planner, this will be a year for you to see the gifts in what otherwise may be a somewhat chaotic year in some ways. Though things may seem to be running counter to your plans, see the changes as a way of furthering those plans and look beneath the surface of what is happening. An observant Ox will make gains this year. Whatever you put in place in 2009 - your year - can bring brilliant results now if you are willing to stay the course and see whatever comes as a simple minor adjustment rather than a major problem.

Tiger: You have waited eleven years for it and now it is here – your time in the sun! All Tigers will benefit in this year, so it is time to rise and shine!
There are plans aplenty to put into effect, old orders to be brought down, new ones to be established, new inventions and ideas to present to the world. You have a flair and dash about the new that no other sign can quite match – bold, expansive, creative and dignified. Being naturally creative, Tigers have a way of bringing passion to everything they touch. You are meant to inspire and motivate this year – yourself and those close to you – perhaps even those not-so-close. It is a great year for you to start a business or enterprise of any sort, but it has to have a creative edge to it. Rats, Horses and Dogs will be a great aid to you in that respect. Even your arch-nemesis the Monkey will bring good ideas for you this year because they will be in their element with the Metal and thus full of ideas and motivation. There is no time to waste: Be your glorious self this year and the heavens will surely bestow their benefits!

Rabbit: Ah, noble Rabbit – this is no time for staying in your burrow and wiling away the hours in contemplation! This year has special meaning for you. Metal in the year fits very nicely with your natural Wood Element: It produces a combination that is called ‘mutual liking’. In short, it is time to get out amongst people and press elbows with the influential in all areas of life. Yang Metal and yin Wood together produce a cooperative and entrepreneurial spirit. Although money is not normally ‘your bag’ you have the opportunity to make a packet of it this year or at least get people on board with what you want to do. Your visionary spirit can be given free reign this year, but you must be willing to share your insights with others. You have the ability this year to be particularly inspirational. And people will marvel at your insightful nature. Rabbits are associated with genies (genius). It is time to call on your inner genie and make your wishes come true!

Dragon: Well, one can never say that a Dragon is boring. Just let people think that everything is going to plan and then you come along and upset the apple cart! So, you will fit right in with the energies of 2010. White Tiger years are typically very good for Dragons. You like a bit of intrigue, a changing of the guard, rattling the branches or your saber to see what falls out and keeping people guessing. It should be quite a good year for you! Your natural Earth element will feed nicely into the Metal for the year, with the result that you can get quite a lot of projects on the boil if you so choose. Though 2009 was a bit of a drag for you, this year looks set to be a complete sea change from that. There is boldness to this year that suits you well and anything you have had on ice from last year will find its application or expression now. Business, creative work, change of Life or that odd little fashion revolution in exotic locale – they all suit you. Take your pick! There are no two ways about it: Hitch your wagon to this year’s star and you will go far!

Snake: Intriguing as all the changes of the last two years have been and as much as you might have enjoyed the scandals and financial machinations from those years, now you will have to fight hard against the tendency to want to crawl back into your hole this year and shut the world away. Tigers and Snakes are typically constantly at battle. However, before you throw in the towel and think it best to flee to the nearest solar system, consider this: There is a unique combination of energies at play this year that might just see you coming out on top of things in a few years to come if you play your cards right now. There may also be a grand love in your life in a couple of years if you stick around, too. Interested? Here is what you do: Employ this wonderful ability you have to work behind the scenes and read the undercurrents of things and people and you will soon find plans within plans unfolding around you - plans you can get hitched on to. There are going to be changes in financial dealings this year and you will be right into all that. If you keep a low profile and your ear to the ground opportunities will present them-selves and who better than a Snake to bring financial savvy to any sort of plan or project?

Horse: Are you tired of dragging around that old Ox cart you got hitched to last year? Chomping at the bit for change and freedom? Fed up with the drudgery and sameness of life? Look no further than 2010. Like the Tiger, your time has come. This year should find you with a sense of freedom and renewed enthusiasm that you have not felt for some time now. Tigers and Horses get along famously, at least in Chinese astrology, and there will be much to engage your normal boisterous and take-charge nature in this year. Get out amongst people and life, and you will never look back. Your Element is Fire and you have a natural zest for living that will be an inspiration to people around you this year. Metal is your ‘money element’, too, and there will be much that you can bring around to your advantage in the coming months. Don’t shy away from things. If there is something you have wanted to do for a while now, embrace it for all it is worth. You will not get another chance like this for a while. You are a natural leader and organizer, especially if you are a woman. Step up and take charge of your life! People might initially complain a bit, but they will love you for it later. Seek out Dogs, Monkeys and Tigers for support.

Sheep: There are few signs better-thought-of than the Sheep. Salt of the earth, you are, and loved by many. The past years have been difficult, but the dawn is breaking on a better day. There is no special relation between Tigers and Sheep in Chinese astrology, but that is no reason to think that this year holds no special gift for you. On the contrary, look to your Dragon, Ox and Dog friends and you will see exactly what is on offer for you, for all of you are ruled by Earth and there are definite things you can bring to fruit this year if you so desired. Your social conscience will be stirred into activity this year. The past few years have seen a deepening of discontent with the established orders throughout the world and your fellows on this globe are being roused to action. When it comes to social causes you are a born leader, and there will be many opportunities for you to bring about better conditions for yourself and others as the year unfolds and as society goes through its inevitable changes. There is no need to fear. People need you now more than ever. Stand up and be the imposing ram you can be when roused by a cause!

Monkey: You clever Monkey! Don’t let the Tiger’s roar this year make you ill-at-ease. Your old arch-enemy comes not to threaten but to offer a change of scenery, and you like that sort of thing, don’t you? You are in your element, both factually and figuratively this year. Metal is your natural element and all your enterprising, technological and inventive skills will find ample fields of expression over the next months. Your quick and agile mind will be very much in need this year as systems and situations need to be rethought. If you have kept some project in mothballs for a time, this is the year to roll it out, especially if it is connected with technology somehow. So, be fearless with your ideas through this period. You never know – you might have the very thing someone needs to fix their own problem. You might find Rats and Dragons, Dogs and Horses most helpful as people to bounce ideas around with as the year unfolds.

Rooster: When it comes to mastery and presentation in the Chinese zodiac, there is but one sign that stands out – the proud and accomplished Rooster. OK, so you fared pretty well last year, being a natural with the Ox, but you are not so sure about this year? Like your brother the Monkey, you have no worries this year. Though the Tiger might roar and ruffle a feather or two, you, like the Monkey, are in your element. It is time to stand up and be recognized for your accomplishments, considerable as they are. And, let’s face it; someone needs to be the front person for all the changes that are going to occur this year. There will be some grand speeches made in the coming months throughout the world and in the corridors of power and it is a fair bet that your kind will be making a fair few of them. No one puts across a point with more flair and acumen than you. This is a year for you to shine and it is a good year for money as well. Step up and be noticed and don’t be shy. It is against your nature to be retiring. The world needs to hear what you have to say.

Dog: Bit of tension last year? Felt a bit tied down and put upon by people? You and the Horse had that in common. The past couple of years have been a strain on Dogs, last year especially. Responsibilities and old connections have weighed heavily at times. People have seemed less than helpful, but all that will change for the better this year. Like the Horse, Dogs will feel a greater sense of freedom in 2010, like a weight has been lifted. Dogs, being naturally outgoing and ready for adventure, will feel heartened by the energies of 2010. A spirit of increased solidarity in many quarters will pervade the year and Dogs love nothing better than to belong and to feel they make a difference with people. This year will be like a big adventure in some ways, so for all Dogs, it is time to put away the cares of the past and to look forward to brighter times. Reconnect with your friends and family, go out and have some fun and form new loyalties if need be. The old order
will be changed for good in many instances after this year. Who you side with is important, and no one does loyalty better than a Dog. Seek out Horses and Tigers for solidarity and companionship, Monkeys and Rats for exchange of ideas.

Pig: Our friendly and good-natured Pig friends have great savvy about the world and human affairs. Pigs should really not see a lot of difference between this year and 2009, aside from an increased sense of energy and drive. Tigers and Pigs have a natural rapport and the element of the year feeds the Pig’s natural water element. For Pigs, then, 2010 will bring increased opportunities, a greater sense of drive – especially for material gain – and increased confidence in their intuition, which is considerable. So, for all Pigs the world calls on you this year for your wisdom and insight, especially regarding financial matters and especially with regard to pension funds, health care and planning for the future. For those Pigs who have not planned for their future (Is there such a Pig?), this is the year to do so. Start a savings account, reconfigure your portfolio, engage a financial planner (A Snake would do you well.) and most of all, spend time with your loved ones. The next few years will be good to you. Start taking advantage of it now.

How to find your Animal Sign and Element
Consult the following table to find the
Animal Sign associated with your year of birth:

Rat Years 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Ox Years 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Tiger Years 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Rabbit Years 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Dragon Years 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Snake Years 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
Horse Years 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Sheep Years 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
Monkey Years 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Rooster Years 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Dog Years 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Pig Years 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

If you were born in January or February of your year, you will need to make certain of your animal sign, since you may have been born under the previous animal sign. To check this, go into Solar Fire and find the new moon of Aquarius for that year, which is the start of the Chinese New Year for that year. The same rule applies for the Element associated with a particular year. If you were born before 1936, simply add 12, 24 or 36 to your birth year and find your corresponding year in the preceding table.

Use the following table to find the element for your year:
Wood Year ends in the numbers 4 or 5
Fire Year ends in the numbers 6 or 7
Earth Year ends in the numbers 8 or 9
Metal Year ends in the numbers 0 or 1
Water Year ends in the numbers 2 or 3
For example, 1987 was a Fire Rabbit Year. Another example, 1906 was a Water Horse Year (adding 36 to 1906)

To see how your year Element will fare for the Year and by the Month, consult the following table:
Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Wood Excellent Productive Rewarding Tensions Sustaining
Fire Sustaining Excellent Productive Rewarding Tensions
Earth Tensions Sustaining Excellent Productive Rewarding
Metal Rewarding Tensions Sustaining Excellent Productive
Water Productive Rewarding Tensions Sustaining Excellent

For example, if you were born in a Metal Year, last year as a whole was a sustaining year for you, since 2009 was an Earth Year. It was a year that ‘fed’ you and brought healing. In the month of the Monkey (a Water Month), however, your thoughts turned to projects and things that had been left undone..

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Tonya Somers and More Than Gems
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