Chinese Zodiac Years

Part of our practice in welcoming the New Year is reading forecasts that include: career, health, money, luck, and love. Despite our progress in reasoning and logical thinking from backward beliefs such as those that claim that the world is flat to that of a possibility of space expansion, we still can't help but be helplessly hooked on what the stars and the planets have to say on the kind of fate 2011 has to bring. This practice is quite understandable for naturally it is never our desire to be left empty-handed on this year of the Metal Rabbit. Besides reading our Western forecasts and that of our romantic compatibility reports, we can nevertheless check the Chinese zodiac years, know our signs, and be less wary as we face whatever adversities the Metal Rabbit has in store for us.

The Chinese Zodiac years are based on a lunar cycle and are according to a 12 year cycle. Though these have notable similarities with the Western zodiac, these exhibit distinct features. For one, these have nothing to do with the constellations or the arrangement of the asteroids along with the stars, the sun, and the moon. The Chinese Zodiac, in fact, resulted from our ancestors' curiosity or what can be for us at present an activity born out of boredom! Could you imagine them counting terrestrial branches and celestial stems and drawing generalizations on human personalities from them! Though they were illiterate and had a hard time calculating, they fortunately had invented a system of fortune telling that is being adhered to until now without having to go through such a logical acid testing. Second, symbolisms in relation to terrestrial branches were affixed to some animals that are said to have influenced a person's life. Third, these have its origins from an interesting Chinese folklore, which tries to explain why the rat goes first in the Chinese zodiac and why the neighbor cat never ever made it.

It was said in old Chinese folklore that the Jade Emperor thought that it would be better if people used animals so the people will remember the Zodiac Cycle. He then called a meeting for the 12 animals. They were assigned to years according to whoever came to the palace first. And it was the rat, being smart and alert, who climbed on top of the ox to cross the river to get to the palace. The ox, being as patient and straight, gave in to the request. Once across the river, the quick rat jumped easily off the ox's back and got to the meeting first.

Interesting, don't you think so? Apart from these reasons, is that of the characteristics the Chinese ancestors had enlisted to describe the person born on a particular sign. Let us see if you agree with any of these?

If you are born in the year of the RAT, you are known to be alert, flexible, smart and are eager to gather wealth.

If you are born in the year of the OX, you are considered to be unsophisticated, straight to the point, and truthful. You are also said to be hardworking, patient, stubborn and have a hard time communicating with others.

If you are born in the year of the TIGER, you are believed to be cruel, bold, fearless, fierce, and are highly respected.

If you are born in the year of the RABBIT, you are said to be lovely, adorable, gentle, modest, humble, and have a retentive memory.

If you are born in the year of the DRAGON, then you are considered to be very fortunate, for dragons are highly-esteemed in the Chinese culture. You are synonymous to success, honor, prestige, and unquestioned authority.

If you are born in the year of the SNAKE, then you are thought to be intellectual, graceful yet materialistic. Making wise decisions and getting it your way are very distinguished traits of the snake.

If you are born in the year of the HORSE, your outgoing nature is your distinguishable nature. You are most of the time the center of attraction and you possess a natural gift of energy, wit and humor.

If you are born in the year of the GOAT, your inner calmness and dependability make it easy for others to feel comfortable with you. You are creative and yet you prefer to stay in the sidelines and take care of everyone else.

If you are born in the year of the MONKEY, like the monkey itself, you are mischievous and very much curious of everything else around you. You are clever and quick but your intentions, though how good they may seem, may tend to hurt other people's feelings.

If you are born in the year of the ROOSTER, then you are an honest, trustworthy and loyal individual. You may be blunt in giving your opinions but this is perhaps from your desire to speak the truth.

If you are born in the year of the DOG, like the rooster, you are honest and you are kind. You always lend an ear to someone who needs to be heard and you can even be deeply involved in some important people's lives.

If you are born in the year of the PIG, then you must possess generosity, diligence and compassion. You find that it is indeed easier and better to give than to receive.

The Chinese Zodiac represents the inner animals in us. With each year that we are born, there is a corresponding zodiac animal. We relate our traits to the trait of these animals that represent us. In some way, Chinese astrology found its way in us that in some way, we find ourselves agreeing that we are the way we are because we were born under a certain sign.

With every lunar year, the fate of a person born under a certain sign changes. The fate of every aspect of life: wealth, health, romance, business, etc is predicted every year based on Chinese Zodiac Years. Remember, our fate may have been written in the stars or predicted by astrology but only we have the power to make or break it.

Want to find out more about Chinese zodiac years, then visit Zoul's site on the best relationship tips and some good date ideas

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.