The world of a writer is both wonderful and strange, and I would like to give a special thanks to my family, Ros, Richard and Emily, for their great support and for putting up with the mountain of paperwork I produce and trail of notes I leave in my wake. And thank you too to my parents, Peggy and Don, for all they did.
Thanks too to Carolyn Thorne, my editor at HarperCollins, for her encouragement and support, as well as to Lizzie Henry for all her work over the years. A special mention as well to Barbara Booker for her thoughtfulness and faith, and to Barbara Smith, who has kindly given me an opinion on many an occasion.
I am also grateful to the many who have helped me in my study of Chinese horoscopes, including those who first awakened my interest in the wisdom of the East. And I acknowledge too the work of other writers on Chinese horoscopes, all of whom have added to the subject and shared their insights. Particularly to Derek Walters, Theodora Lau and Suzanne White, all of whose work I recommend, and other luminaries, thank you.
And to you who are now reading these words, thank you for taking the time and for your interest. And wherever you may be reading and at whatever time, I hope that in some way this book will help and encourage you as well as alert you to the specialness and potential that are within you.
Whether in indicating portents or highlighting strengths and weaknesses, Chinese horoscopes offer a timeless wisdom from which we can all profit. Although their origins date back to at least 2637 BC, when Emperor Huang Ti introduced the Chinese calendar, it is only recently that the subject has gained prominence in the West. As a result, many are now familiar with their animal sign and look forward to reading what each Chinese year has in store. It is a fascinating subject and a helpful one.
For those new to Chinese horoscopes, the Chinese year is based on the lunar year, which starts in late January or early February. Each of the Chinese years is named after an animal and there is a legend offering an explanation for this. It describes how one Chinese new year, the Buddha invited all the animals in the kingdom to a party. Only 12 showed up – the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. In gratitude, the Buddha named a year after each of the animals and said that those born in that year would have some of the personality of that animal.
Another legend offers an explanation for the order of the years. According to this, the animals had to race across a river and the order they finished in would be the order of the years. The Rat, very much an opportunist and determined to win, craftily rode on the back of the Ox and, just as the Ox reached the riverbank, leaped off and ran ahead, so winning the race. This is said to be why the Rat starts the cycle of years and the Ox is next, followed by the other 10 animals. The Pig, who is known as a great finisher, aptly came in last.
To discover which animal year you were born in, you will need to look up your year of birth in the table of years that follows. If born in 1988, for example, you were born in the Year of the Dragon – and born under the sign of luck. However, if your birthday falls in January or February, do carefully check the dates to see in which year your birthdate actually falls.
Once you have identified your sign, you can look up the traits of the animal in the relevant chapter. Although there are many variations, which can be studied in more detail by considering elements and ascendants (described in the appendix), it is remarkable how Chinese horoscopes can indicate our true natures. Whether these show the loyalty and sense of duty seen in so many born under the sign of the Dog or the versatility, quick wits and memory skills of those born in the Monkey year, Chinese horoscopes can be illuminating. In addition to the main traits described in each chapter, there are also special tips to help each sign be at their best, together with inspirational quotes from people born under that sign.
The subject of relationships is also a fascinating one and each chapter contains a guide to how each sign relates to the other signs. Some signs are considered to be compatible and others complete opposites, but there are again many exceptions. While, for example, a Chinese proverb decrees, ‘The Ox and the Horse cannot share the same stable’, I am sure there are some born under these two signs who love each other very much and live happily together.
The main part of this book is, however, devoted to horoscopes, which are based on the trends and influences of each Chinese year. These give an indication of the most propitious years and the most problematic. Forewarned is forearmed, and Chinese horoscopes can help us to make the best of what is to come. This is one of the key values of them (and, I believe, of the I Ching too). They speak to us as if to a friend, but it is we ourselves who are masters of our destiny and we who must determine how best to direct our lives.
There is a Chinese proverb which reminds us, ‘Every moment is precious’ and what we do with our lives is precious too.
As you journey through the years, I wish you every good fortune.
Horse 11 February 1918 to 31 January 1919
Goat 1 February 1919 to 19 February 1920
Monkey 20 February 1920 to 7 February 1921
Rooster 8 February 1921 to 27 January 1922
Dog 28 January 1922 to 15 February 1923
Pig 16 February 1923 to 4 February 1924
Rat 5 February 1924 to 23 January 1925
Ox 24 January 1925 to 12 February 1926
Tiger 13 February 1926 to 1 February 1927
Rabbit 2 February 1927 to 22 January 1928
Dragon 23 January 1928 to 9 February 1929
Snake 10 February 1929 to 29 January 1930
Horse 30 January 1930 to 16 February 1931
Goat 17 February 1931 to 5 February 1932
Monkey 6 February 1932 to 25 January 1933
Rooster 26 January 1933 to 13 February 1934
Dog 14 February 1934 to 3 February 1935
Pig 4 February 1935 to 23 January 1936
Rat 24 January 1936 to 10 February 1937
Ox 11 February 1937 to 30 January 1938
Tiger 31 January 1938 to 18 February 1939
Rabbit 19 February 1939 to 7 February 1940
Dragon 8 February 1940 to 26 January 1941
Snake 27 January 1941 to 14 February 1942
Horse 15 February 1942 to 4 February 1943
Goat 5 February 1943 to 24 January 1944
Monkey 25 January 1944 to 12 February 1945
Rooster 13 February 1945 to 1 February 1946
Dog 2 February 1946 to 21 January 1947
Pig 22 January 1947 to 9 February 1948
Rat 10 February 1948 to 28 January 1949
Ox 29 January 1949 to 16 February 1950
Tiger 17 February 1950 to 5 February 1951
Rabbit 6 February 1951 to 26 January 1952
Dragon 27 January 1952 to 13 February 1953
Snake 14 February 1953 to 2 February 1954
Horse 3 February 1954 to 23 January 1955
Goat 24 January 1955 to 11 February 1956
Monkey 12 February 1956 to 30 January 1957
Rooster 31 January