By Yasha Jampolsky

There are twelve Animal Archetypes in the Chinese Zodiac. Each has a Heavenly Stem which is the Yang or Yin version of one of the Five Elements. This makes 60 different energy cycles possible. Each cycle is represented by a pillar that has a numerical reference called a binomial. Each pillar repeats every sixty years. Each pillar also has one or more elements that are associated with the Animal of the Year. The Pillar for this year is Yang Water Dragon. The fixed element for the Dragon is Yang Earth. The dragon also carries Yin Wood and Yin Water as minor elements. The binomial for the year is 29 making the Water Dragon the 29th in the cycle of sixty.

The New Year is traditionally celebrated in Asia based on the lunar calendar and can vary from year to year by as much as weeks. The lunar New Year begins on January 23 this year. We use the solar calendar for calculating Four Pillars. Research reveals many more references to the solar calendar than to the lunar calendar.This makes sense. Ancient Asians relied on the solar calendar as an almanac that could guide their agrarian activities. The solar calendar refers to the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox as the starting point for the year. Since all energy or chi on Earth is believed to come from the Sun, using the solar calendar is a more reliable method for determining the start of the annual energy cycle.The solar New Year takes place on February 4th or 5th.

The year has a unique influence on each of the twelve Animal Archetypes. These are referred to as the auspices for the animals and are the result of the interaction of the dynamic energies of the year and the dynamic energies of each of the animal archetypes. Find your year animal below for a basic reading.

A simple Four Pillar reading can also be had if your know the 4 animal archetypes in your Four Pillars chart. Simply apply the auspices to each of the four. Although doing a complete Four Pillars Horoscope requires a very specific protocol, examining the influence of the year on each of your Four Pillar animals can yield a great deal more information than simply using the auspices for the year animal.

The Solar New Year Begins on Feb.. 4th or 5th and ends in the following year around the same time. For example in the chart below the year of the Rat beginning in February of 1900 will end in February of 1901. If in doubt about your animal year, please send me an email with your birth date. yashamail@msn.com

1900-1901, 1912-1913, 1924-1925, 1936-1937, 1948-1949,1960-1961, 1972-1973, 1984 -1985, 1996-1997, 2008-2009
I. The Rat - Dragon years are exciting and productive for the Rat. The Dragon's strength combined with the Rat's intelligence and ambition can yield positive results in all areas of life. Seize the opportunities that this time presents. You will very likely find yourself in great demand. This includes your personal as well as professional life. This is great time to make a move upward job or career wise if the opportunity presents itself; and it very likely will.

1901-1902, 1913-1914, 1925-1926, 1937-1928, 1949-1950, 1961-1962, 1973-1974, 1985-1986, 1997-1998, 2009-2010
II.The Ox - This should prove to be a very busy year for the Ox and you may find your workload increasing. Extra work is never a problem for the Ox's industrious nature. You may however find the pace and spontaneous nature of the Dragon year a bit disconcerting. To make the most of the energy of the year it is important to be more flexible and adaptive. Although you would prefer to follow your carefully laid plans, by being open to new ideas you can also open yourself to opportunities that can lead to great success. Keeping your self well organized, especially as pertains to bureaucratic matters and paper work,can be very helpful. This year is also well aspected for romance. Be prepared for it to appear in a different form than you are accustomed to.

1902-1903, 1914-1915, 1926-1927, 1938-1939, 1950-1951, 1962-1963, 1974-1975, 1986-1987, 1998-1999, 2010-2011
III. The Tiger -The year of the Dragon can be a very productive one for the Tiger. Avoid confrontational situations since they can affect your progress. You may need to curtail your impulsive nature, as well, and give plenty of thought before jumping into action. Your fertile imagination and visionary streak are a great asset in work or career. Your creativity and enterprise can yield excellent results. To maintain on going success take caution not to become overconfident or rash. Continued effort and focus with plans that are well thought out will yield the greatest success in all areas of life.

1903-1904, 1915-1916, 1927-1928, 1939-1940, 1951-1952, 1963-1964, 1975-1976, 1987-1988, 1999-2000, 2011-2012
IV. The Rabbit - This is likely to be a year of ups and downs. You may feel uneasy at times at the volatile nature of the year. Use your superior intuitive abilities to navigate through the more awkward aspects that may present themselves. You can also rely on your organizational skills to see you through even during the most chaotic moments. Go back to your basics and home when it feels too overwhelming. There is safety, as well, in the many relationships you have cultivated over the years. There is also great joy available if you can manage to maintain your center. This is an especially good year to be very consistent in your spiritual practice such as yoga, meditation, tai chi etc.

1904-1905, 1916-1917, 1928-1929, 1940-1941, 1952-1953, 1964-1965, 1976-1977, 1988-1989, 2000-2001, 2012-2013
V. The Dragon- Get ready to celebrate the coming of your own year. This is a year when a lot can happen especially for Dragons. As a Dragon you have had a generally expansive existence dotted by many success. As you soar into this Dragon year past failures can be left behind. You have the opportunity to do things in a manner that truly suits you. A note of caution! This year will require you to be exceptionally aware of the people that matter most in your life. Whether they be personal relationships or business associations they may require more tending then usual. Another important aspect of the Dragon year for a Dragon person is that it is a time when you are required to take a good look at yourself. The year can be a mirror that reflects areas that need improvement. Much can be accomplished if you are willing to completely assess your shortcomings. If you can take an honest look and do it without judging yourself harshly, you will benefit from all the growth that is possible. If you are unwilling to do so you may find yourself attracting familiar unfavorable situations. Pay attention and this may prove to be a banner year for you.

1905-1906, 1917-1918, 1929-1930, 1941-1942, 1953-1954, 1965-1966, 1977-1978, 1989-1990, 2001-2002, 2013-2014
VI. The Snake - Because of your usually private nature, you may not be completely comfortable with the overt fanfare of the year. In spite of this it can prove to be a productive and rewarding year with opportunities to bring about important changes in your life. To make the most of the year you will need to concentrate and remain focused on the activities that matter to you and ignore the razzle dazzle in your surroundings. Also choose your social involvements carefully. Be selective in your associations; both personal and business. Within groups that matter to you, you may have to make an extra effort to share more of yourself and to demonstrate your ability to be a team player. You posses many of the positive qualities that this year requires and it will be a year filled with many pleasant and unexpected surprises and overall it should prove to be an excellent year for you.

1906-1907, 1918-1919, 1930-1931, 1942-1943, 1954-1955, 1966-1967, 1978-1979, 1990-1991, 2002-2003, 2014-2015
VII. The Horse - You are very much at home with the fast paced energy of the Dragon year. Excellent results can be accomplished in all your endeavors. When moving at such break neck speed it is doubly important to be mindful of those around you. Feelings can be easily bruised by misunderstood intentions. Avoid confrontation by sidestepping instead of going head-on. For yourself try not to take seeming offenses personally. Continue merrily along the fast track you are on but be mindful not to jump into situations without giving them sufficient thought. Allow for surprises through careful planning. Be sure to take sufficient time for self care. Most importantly take time to fully appreciate the considerable achievements and accomplishments that are possible this year.

1907-1908, 1919-1920, 1931-1932, 1943-1944, 1955-1956, 1967-1968, 1979-1980, 1991-1992, 2003-2004, 2015-2016
VIII. The Sheep - You may find the pace this year a little too hectic for your taste. To counter, allow plenty of time for self care and for activities that help you to center yourself. You may feel inclined to indulge your more reclusive side during this year. This would be ill advised since an important aspect of the year is to participate in activities that involve the various groups and organization that you belong to.This is also a time to be mindful of spending whether it be actual cash or personal resources. Overdoing can easily put you in a bind. Conserve your resources and depend on friends and loved ones for support. It may be a bit more challenging to find your footing this year, but as one of the most sure footed members of the Zodiac, you will find your footing; even under these circumstances. Focus on activities that bring you pleasure such as as art and music and all will ultimately go well.

1908-1909, 1920-1921, 1932-1933, 1944-1945, 1956-1957, 1968-1969, 1980-1981, 1992-1993, 2004-2005, 2016-2017
IX. The Monkey - Dragon times are always good times for the Monkey. As a member of the Dragon's trinity group you are blessed with special luck this month. You have the street smarts and the Dragon provides the muscle to complete any project you may want to undertake. You will enjoy extra resolve and many opportunities to succeed in all the key areas of life. Try to focus on the most important activities and interests to achieve your best results. Avoid being distracted during such high energy times by only taking on as much as you can handle at any given moment. This is also a good time to take on your most challenging tasks. Once again you can benefit from the extra muscle that the Dragon provides; and once again it is important to pace yourself.

1909-1910, 1921-1922, 1933-1934, 1945-1946, 1957-1958, 1969-1970, 1981-1982, 1993-1994, 2005-2006, 2017-2018
X. The Rooster - The friendship between Rooster and Dragon is a well documented fact. Their relationship is known in Four Pillars as a Six Combination relationship .Generally You can expect a most easeful and rewarding year. Ongoing challenges are bound to slip away often resolving themselves without any needed action on your part. Difficulties of the past resolve themselves as well. Make the most of this time by putting aside your normally judgmental nature and by redirecting your focus to what is fun in life especially what is fun for you. Your self-critical nature has held you back in past situations. One of the blessings of the year is that with the love and support of the Dragon you are able to overcome your overly self critical nature. This opens the way for many wonderful things to happen. Allow the good in and enjoy.

1910-1911, 1922-1923, 1934-1935, 1946-1947, 1958-1959, 1970-1971, 1982-1983, 1994-1995, 2006-2007, 2018-2019
XI. The Dog- Handled correctly this year can be a time of growth and opportunity. The Dragon is the 180° opposite of the Dog. Some interpret this as a time that brings challenges. In fact quite the reverse can be true. Dragon times present the opportunity for Dogs to access their inner Dragons and to achieve a more fully expanded state of being. Most would agree that Dogs and Dragons differ greatly. Dragons are usually self confident boisterous in their demeanor and excellent self promoters. Dogs are humble, gentle in their approach and sometimes anxious about putting themselves out too boldly. During Dragon times Dog people can experiment with being more forceful, self confident, bolder and giving themselves the credit they deserve for all the good they do and for their abundant talents. It may be surprising what can be achieved if you are willing to visit the other side of the tracks. You may also experience a greater sense of idealism this month and feel motivated to engage in greater support of your favorite causes. Avoid taking on the bigger challenges head on. Relying on diplomacy will yield better results. Have a good look inside if you encounter challenging circumstance. The challenges may be an external manifestation of your inner process. If anxiety does arise focus, on the result you would like to have, instead of the the things that appear to be going wrong. This year offers excellent opportunities for self examination, learning and growth.

Live in accordance with the spirit of joy and excitement that brought you into creation and all your blessings will be multiplied.

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