12 Animal Fortunes for 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 23, 2020January 23, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

How To Use The Animal Fortunes

If you already know your Four Pillars click on the animal name or your birth year in the table below to go straight to your Zodiac Animal character and forecast. You’ll want to read the fortune for all four of your pillars. The position of each pillar will tell you how the fortune relates to your life.

Year Pillar

Has to do with your physical body and what you do with it, ancestors, family traits. In terms of luck the year pillar is said to take the first “hit” of any event, good or bad.

Month Pillar

Relates to career, work environment, training, age mates and peers, siblings, exes and your modus operandi.

Day Pillar
Yourself and your partner; relationship.

Hour Pillar
The innermost you, your children, future, dreams.

If you don’t know your four pillars please ask me. These forecasts are somewhat superficial as they don’t take into account the dynamic interaction of the Four Pillars that make up your particular chart. If you are interested in a BaZi reading or personalized forecast email me.

All of the 2020 Zodiac Animal characters were written by my teacher Richard Ashworth. If you’re looking for a Feng Shui master who is also a great teacher I can’t recommend him enough. Richard’s courses are the real thing.

Each Zodiac Animal character is followed by the 2020 Animal Fortune written by me – Stephanie Stewart. If you would like to read my forecast for 2020 (the year itself) click here. Enjoy!

2020 Animal Fortunes

Rat	1936	1948	1960	1972	1984	1996
Ox	1937	1949	1961	1973	1985	1997
Tiger	1938	1950	1962	1974	1986	1998
Rabbit	1939	1951	1963	1975	1987	1999
Dragon	1940	1952	1964	1976	1988	2000
Snake	1941	1953	1965	1977	1989	2001
Horse	1942	1954	1966	1978	1990	2002
Sheep	1943	1955	1967	1979	1991	2003
Monkey	1944	1956	1968	1980	1992	2004
Rooster	1945	1957	1969	1981	1993	2005
Dog	1946	1958	1970	1982	1994	2006
Pig	1935	1947	1959	1971	1983	1995

The Pig in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 21, 2020January 21, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Pig?

Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007.
Month*: November
Hour: 09:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Day: ask us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Pig?

The weakness and the strength of the Pig (who is inherently yin Water and therefore often reluctant to communicate) is that they think they know what is good for them. And they are actually right often enough to make advice close to impossible. By extension this means you Pigs may believe you know what is right for everybody else.

Technically the Pig is a cocktail of Water, Wood and Earth. This makes for extraordinary versatility. But this combined with the Pig’s weakness at emotional disclosure can mean that they lack a support system just when they most need one. Consider Fire Pig Hillary Clinton and her rogue email account; the story goes that she simply could not master her Blackberry and could not bring herself to seek appropriate help. That’s a Pig.

Versatile and wilful, gifted at whatever they do, the Pig is the sign of the inventor. Edison was a Pig and Elon Musk, as is Wikileaker Julian Assange. Perfectly-balanced Pigs can literally do almost anything but they don’t much like reflective advice from others and they are liable to hate uncertainty. Remember Fire Pig Elton John in “Tantrums and Tiaras”? And Elon Musk’s social media tiffs?

Vagueness is uncomfortable for the Pig: Edison was of course an obsessive patenter, Hillary determined to both get Wall Street onside and retain her liberal credentials and Assange, confident that he knows better than anyone else what the world needs to know. Brexit and the Trumpreich might have fallen differently but for some of these guys. This does not make them mistaken but the truth can be a moveable feast.

A balanced Pig (perhaps March birth around mid-afternoon) is a great audience and typically gets the listening/talking ratio just right. An unbalanced one can shoot off at the mouth and give (or take) away the farm before she knows it. Does any of this sound like – to pluck a name from nowhere – Earth Pig Simon Cowell?

More likely, you are prone to withdrawing into silence. Sometimes the Pig sulks but more commonly withdraws out of pure disinterest and can be perfectly cheerful when challenged on the withdrawal.

The Pig child needs just the right mixture of carrot and stick. Too much disincentive and he is suppressed or resentful. Too much carrot and he can be smug. The balanced Pig is the most sensitive of the animals; the unbalanced one has undergone an empathy bypass. As the parent of a Pig, just remember you are instrumental in this process. Your Piglet does not need to become a boor.

The Pig harbours the Wood of creativity so they can be as adept with the written as the spoken word as well as the yang Earth of deep concentration. Many Pigs prefer to study in noisy rooms and many are effortless A-students as tutors of first and second year postgraduates of 2020 may notice. Bear in mind though that there is a near-epidemic of depression and anxiety among millennials and that Water is the associated element. Don’t ever take a 1995 or 2007 Pig’s good cheer for granted.

The Stevie Smith poem “Not waving but drowning” is about a Pig. They look so competent. And they are. Until they’re not. If you care for a Pig beware of their apparent endless confidence. There are crucial gaps.

The Pig does not tend to like the Snake; one way or another they immobilise each other. And the Monkey, the Snake’s intimate, can be a source of annoyance also. The Pig’s most natural team is with the Rabbit and the Sheep. This alliance is quintessentially domestic; together these three can make anywhere home. A perfect family might be Pig father, Rabbit mother and Sheep first-born. Once home, the Rabbit entertains while the Sheep ensures compatibility and the Pig skilfully performs the tasks that are beyond the scope or interest of her partners.

Traditionally the Pig also enjoys the company of the Tiger as Elton John’s husband Water Tiger David Furnish can attest. You might think they’d be more cautious but they know that the Tiger is uninterested in conquering anyone he considers easy meat. Of course he’s missing something here but the Pig’s fearless approach often disarms the Tiger before they realise. And by the bye, Pig’s literary ambition often burgeons in a Tiger year and flourishes in a Rabbit one.

Although she may herself be more adventurous, the Pig also understands the loyal and consistent Dog. She respects the fact that every home needs its guardian. These two will tend to develop a camaraderie with its own distinctive banter. The Pig respects the Dog’s diligence and the Dog knows the Pig will compensate for his weakness.

The Pig also operates well as factotum for a group consisting of the Snake (whose company she can’t otherwise stand for long) the Monkey (see above) and the Tiger. For these she is, interestingly, the peacemaker and setter of standards. Without the Pig this grouping whose common interest is travel and mobility, can’t get off the ground. Taron Egerton interestingly who impersonated Elton so effectively in Rocket Man, is a 1989 Snake.

One final note: the Pig suffers what is called the self curse. That is to say that she has limited patience with other Pigs. And as Rocket Man illustrates, a huge capacity for self-loathing. The Chinese character for a house is one Pig under a roof. Just the one. Approach them gently and listen.

Richard Ashworth © 2020
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Pig in 2020

That was the river. This is the sea.
The Waterboys

In a Pig year, there’s a nearly constant demand for the Pig to change shape. Even Pigs with solid plans, experience and the best of intentions may have found all they could do was to try to keep up with the next iteration. As a result, some Pigs may think all they want is to be done. You’re not.

Pigs would like some recovery and quiet but there’s still work to be done. Your year of shape shifting is over, but the Rat year is an aftermath and further changes are inevitable. For the Pig, 2020 will be a year of movement and learning. Embrace the coming changes early in the year or they will tend to overload you near the end. You have the most options available now.

The Rat year demands completions and endings of the events set in motion in 2019. The biggest success for the Pig often arrives after lessons have been learned. Expect some of those wins in 2022. Now is the time to prepare so finish your homework. Make your goals for the year public to reinforce your accountability.

Throughout the year the Ox may fruitlessly try to block your flow while the Rat tries to speed it up. This dissonance results in awkward pacing and confusion. Interpreting it as an emergency will be a self fulfilling prophecy. Haste could result in breakage, chaos and injury. Go at your own pace. Take care with bathing and swimming.

Trust that good decisions and actions will lead to good results. A set of rules, of your choosing of course, will keep you going in the right direction especially when you are impatient. Base them on where you want to be two years from now. Stick to them. Rely on your own counsel as much as possible.

If you must have an advisor you can probably find one in March. Don’t expect too much. Even the advice of well meaning maternal types could be tainted by past disappointments or power plays. If rebellion or revenge is recommended you’ll know you’re in the wrong place. Seek the quiet places where you can hear yourself think. This could be a balm for the impatience and anger you may be experiencing.

The restlessness that began in December could become irresistible in February and November. It isn’t unfamiliar but this year it runs deeper than usual, making you question whether or not you are in the right place. It’s only natural that you’ve changed and now you want your environment and those in it to reflect that. Let those feelings provide the impetus for making a job change. Find your true calling. Pigs who are already in the right place job wise are probably due for moving house or travel.

Pigs have the Scholar Star in 2020 which is supports furthering education. Most of all you are meant to learn. Start investigating the programs that interest you now. Take small steps. With so much Water element in play there will be multiple opportunities to further your expertise or learn something new. All you have to do is make your selection.

The Dog in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 20, 2020January 20, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Dog?

Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006.
Month*: October
Hour: 19.00-21.00
Day: Ask Us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Dog?

The Dog is yang earth and a byword for faith and consistency. Terriers and Rotweilers are both fierce as well as loyal. In mediaeval heraldry and Renaissance painting, the greyhound symbolises constancy. The downside of this is that like Donald Trump and two of his three predecessors (ie not Obama – naturally), they can take some moving on. And the primary force in the world today is the eclipse of the post-war era which opened in the Fire Dog year of their birth 1946, and the search for a new beginning in which humanity has some chance of survival.

A Dog can be expected to revere tradition and have a strong family background. If a Dog commits to something they can generally be relied upon to see it to completion – for better or worse. The difference between male and female Dogs can be that the female gets the message quicker. Interesting to note that Kate Middleton and Prince William are twin Water Dogs of 1982; a very solid match because as a yang earth sign, the Dog is pretty immovable, an ideal best friend or protector. These two are first and foremost, good friends.

The Dog’s thinking may not always be flexible but when he gets an idea, he really gets it. His natural grouping is with the hunters, the Horse and Tiger. The apportionment of tasks here is obvious: the Horse provides pace and the Tiger ferocity while the Dog watches the rear. If more people studied Chinese metaphysics, more workplaces would zing: in business the Horse will tend to be the sales person, the Tiger the closer or credit controller and the Dog the provider of after-sales service or er…HR department.

The Dog excels at service because he never gives up. He will return your phone calls and keep that appointment. He’s the friend who sends a card every birthday and the spouse who remembers every anniversary. He’s also the charming employer and the Tweeter at dawn.

The Dog perhaps surprisingly, also mixes well with the gentle diplomatic Rabbit. The Rabbit schmoozes while the Dog ensures that her openness is not abused. The Dog makes a wonderful bodyguard and middle manager. A Dog employer will generally have achieved that position by sheer hard work and will demand the same from all around.

The Dog doesn’t like the Dragon because he’s such a smarty pants. Also the Dog hates success without effort and he sees the Dragon create with such apparent ease. Consider Trump’s man-crush on Dragon Vladimir Putin in this light. The Snake too; she’d resent the Horse as well, except that the balanced Dog is scrupulously loyal to her own team. And just as an aside, it’s a principle of yin and yang that opposites co-exist. So some Dogs will express these qualities in the omission rather than the observance. This may make sense of both George W Bush and Donald Trump.

An unbalanced Dog is a bit of a shop steward. He knows his rights and the way things should be – often the way they always have been. An unbalanced Dog (such as one with an October or mid-evening birth) is rigid. Those recent US Presidents in a downward progress of de-evolution bottoming out at Donald Trump, have been champions of stuck, male, white, wealthy privilege. Make no mistake: it may not be clear very soon but the Fire Dog is over. The smart Fire Dog has already become mentor and confessor. That’s a pursuit at which he can often excel, and in 2020 it has become appropriate.

The Dog will often have a strong spiritual agenda and if he has a blind spot it may be an inability to tell the difference between religion and spirituality or spirituality and therapy. Because this means he sticks to his guns, the Dog is suited both to new age therapy and religious persecution. He will not be thrown off by the opinions of others once he has committed to a line of action. In fact the unbalanced Dog can be thick skinned in matters of belief; this Dog would be ideally suited to being a Grand Inquisitor. The problem is that their motto ought to be “Do as you would be done by,” and he thinks it already is. Resentment is a trap that is so easy to fall into.

The Dog can work well with other Dogs and even with the Pig. With the Pig he shares a love of home and team and they are so different they don’t crowd each other. Sometimes the Dog and Pig can be telepathically close; this is because they are adjacent signs in the calendar linked by the yang Earth that is a feature of both. Sometimes this Earth is expressed by banter or earthy humour, sometimes by complimentary delusions; consider Trump and Earth Pig born-again misogynist Mike Pence. They can have a lot of fun together while getting the job done. Or not. Beware though: the yang Earth and the yin Water have to mix just right or it can all end in tears.

But the most powerful and most demanding role the Dog can play is in a creative team including the irritating Dragon, the autocratic Ox and the soft Sheep. If the Dog acts as conscience and bookkeeper, the Ox will relax, the Sheep toughen up and the Dragon acknowledge someone else for a change. If you are a Dog recruiting for non-executive directors take note. What is great about the Dog is that if he finds advice that works he will adopt it as if it were religion. Bless. As for the unbalanced Fire Dog – watch this space.

Richard Ashworth © 2020
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Dog in 2020

Following on the hooves of the Earth Pig, the Metal Rat of 2020 brings further losses for the Dog. With the Ox in charge you may not see your competitors coming but they are. Dogs can expect to continue to lose money.

The Dog has plenty of work opportunities in 2020. It’s not earning money that’s the problem. It’s holding onto it. If you want to mitigate the money drain, give up something you value in the form of a charitable contribution.

Setting new boundaries for yourself is what will set you free. Step away from a position of authority to put your strengths at the service of others and you will be pleasantly surprised at the result. Don’t expect them to be immediate. You’re going to need to pack your patience.

Since last year your emotions have been running higher than usual and for good reason. If this is extremely uncomfortable, just let it be. Take a deep breath. If you made errors in judgment, forgive yourself. Forgive whoever you think gave you bad advice. Forgive your accusers. The Rat is giving you the perfect timing to start over. Return to your core values of loyalty, stability and guardianship for guidance. If you can do that, you’ll transform potential bitterness into a benevolent legacy. What is required to negotiate this year is already within you.

The Metal Rat is going to bring your attention to the fact that the events of the Pig year have put a strain on your relationship. It’s not just you that feels it. As we pass into the second half of the year potential is high for an affair. You’re really only in jeopardy if you haven’t been honest with your partner. It’s not too late, but without communication the unstable Fire of the summer could convince you that you’re justified in deception. Redefine loyalty and commitment through your actions. The timing is perfect for that lesson. Looking for advice from your usual sources will likely back up erroneous ideas and lead to regret.

In February the Tiger may encourage your predatory side. In March your closest friends may egg on your bad behavior, even setting you up with prospective dates. Have you noticed they are in a state of rebellion that taints their advice?

Dogs who have gone too far and/or too long in crossing boundaries with their power may experience repercussions in April. In August a neighbor is struggling with commitment in their own relationship. If you don’t listen to your courageous heart, you might see this reinforcing your own poor choice.

Let your byword be honesty. Write a new mission statement. Seek new experiences that humble you. Find new friends, the kind that are willing tell you what you don’t want to hear. Be wary of fans. Take time to hear out those who feel they’ve been wronged. Help the ones who have.

Remember: caring and approval are not the same thing. That applies not only to how people feel about you but also to how you feel about them.

Study your craft which is to maintain safety; to guard and protect. We still need you. Invite attention to what you are learning. Test the changes you think you’ve made by way of the feedback you receive.

The Rooster in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 19, 2020January 19, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Rooster?

Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005.
Month*: September
Hour: 17.00-19.00
Day: Ask Us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Rooster?

The Rooster is yin Metal, the night bird, glamorous and with an eye for detail. She appreciates an argument and likes to win but has little patience for causes that drag on. She will appreciate jewellery, fine art and good living and create wealth easily; she can spend it as easily too. Conversely of course a wide-awake Rooster like Aung San Suu Kyi can reject such distractions in order to serve a cause that has indeed dragged on for decades. And like Aung San Suu Kyi can suddenly and mysteriously change their mind. This is yin and yang. The Rooster’s moral compass is often a learned thing.

The rule this illustrates is that a typical Rooster is suited to work such as that of an advocate which involves short decisive arguments. Her brief passion is the perfect support for a client. She can defend with enormous commitment and then move on to the next one. That commitment is 100% but it is short lived. If she is in a job that involves holding her peace she may fret and become ill.

Osama bin Laden may be a good example of a typical 1957 fire Rooster: one big splash and he was off. A car must be fast, a partner challenging and life full of twists and turns. The Rooster is likely to be quick witted rather than profound and his attention span is short.

Her allies the Snake and the Ox are sometimes impatient with her because she can digress so widely and so easily but she brings to the Metal alliance the pure competitiveness that the Ox might otherwise misuse and the Snake misunderstand. She is pure Metal – that is determined to prevail at all costs – and they are not. They will not win many cases or many contracts without her and they would do well to pay and respect her appropriately despite the fact that she needs longer holidays and better remuneration. Conversely if she fails to respect a support system that dots t’s and attends to punctuation and provides the intuitive flashes that the Rooster can exploit but seldom generates, she will not prosper.

Your pitfalls are sex drugs and rock’n’roll. You probably like to party and your personality may be addictive. You are likely to prefer dusk to dawn and also to the small hours.

The Rooster enjoys a powerful alliance with the Dragon in which they may hold the whip hand. This may be unique in the Dragon’s experience. They can bend the Dragon out of shape just as the Ox can bend the Rat. This is not always entirely healthy, such sway must be employed responsibly otherwise both can be damaged. With that proviso this is one of the strongest alliances in the Chinese zodiac.

The Rooster predictably is one of the charismatic Flowers of Romance. Success and glamorous partners come easily to her. Often a Rooster can punch above her weight in this regard. Cinderella was a Rooster and Yoko Ono. This effortlessness can make for complaisancy and bitterness is common among middle-aged Roosters. Growing old is hard for the Rooster who is often compared to Snow White’s stepmother. Who is the fairest of us all? Consider these aspects in the contrasting lives of Mick Jagger and Che Guevara both of whom were born – in different years – on the day of the Rooster. “You’re so vain you probably think this song’s about you.” (Carly Simon 1945 Wood Rooster)

With the Monkey this wily, numerate bird can form a commercial alliance. A business co-run by these two will be irresistible but may not open on time. It may not close promptly either and may also suffer the cash flow problems that come from poor financial prioritisation. A marriage would risk the same types of problem: great parties, early divorce.

The cautious domesticated Rabbit is the nemesis of the Rooster. The Rooster likes bling and the Rabbit can see no life in a stone. Any relationship would generally be full of obstruction and passive aggression. The insistent wood of the Tiger is almost as maddening although his fierceness would at least engage the Rooster’s attention. The loyal, consistent Dog bores her rigid.

Richard Ashworth © 2020
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Rooster in 2020

Roosters can make the most out of the year by strengthening their alliances with powerful friends behind the scenes. It’s not going to matter much if whoever seems to be the boss is not interested in you. Your potential helpers are probably people you already know, but keep your eyes open for new ones showing up both this year and next year. Your personal preview of 2021 comes in January when someone who shares your high standards is just waiting for you to get a clue that you might not be where you belong. Wake up and join them. It’s going to be a pretty good year.

The Rooster’s natural competitiveness is augmented this year, creating aggression that peaks in December. Don’t try to outdo everyone at everything simply because you can or you’ll waste the whole year. Direct your heightened energy to your work, by which I mean communication. Be patient and find the right time and place for it. Have faith that the right time will come rather than forging ahead recklessly and “failing” again.

The Water of 2020 could wear a Rooster out by demanding constant effort. It’s required if you want to step forward from where you’ve been since 2017. Don’t think you can stay safe by not saying what needs to be said. You want to be in command of your destiny. So make yourself ready. Time’s a wasting.

If you’ve got big plans that require approval from an authority figure, April is your month. If the first person you ask for help can’t provide it, they will connect you with someone who can.

With Fortune Virtue, in 2020 the Rooster will be probably be luckier with money than relationship. A Rat year brings potential breakup coming in December. The position of the pillar in a BaZi will add more detail. The breakup is not inevitable; however, Roosters should consider carefully whether they are staying in a dead-end situation. This can apply to jobs too. If you’re trading being free to be who you are for security, it could be time to go. No one is in charge of this but you.

Throughout the year but mainly in September, Roosters may cling to plans to save the world that were established long in the past before our resources had been depleted. This will apply to the world at large and the Rooster’s immediate world. This head in the sand approach makes you seem irrelevant and uncaring though you are not. In 2020 you can re-work your ideas about how to connect people with the help and support they need. As you empower others, you’ll find it naturally happening for you too. Do this by working alongside rather than at the front. Avoid setting yourself up as an authority.

One more thing: Stay on receive. Roosters like to get regular reports of what’s going on in the barnyard but in 2020 you will profit by paying more attention to what you sense; what you know in your gut, not what you hear or see. Don’t worry about convincing others you are right or being recognized for your insight. Simply trust what you know. It’s more reliable than you think.

The Monkey in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 18, 2020January 18, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Monkey?

Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004.
Month*: August
Hour: 15.00-17.00
Day: Ask Us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Monkey?

The image of the Three Wise Monkeys, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Speak No Evil is a mediaeval Japanese summary of the qualities of the metal Monkey who is yang Metal and a particularly quirky primate. The image is of someone of course who shrinks from involvement. In elemental terms, this often amounts to too much yang Metal. What is meant by yang Metal essentially is competition. Often the Monkey is so competitive he dare not enter the race.

As well as competitive, the Monkey is typically charming, loveable, dextrous, logical and quick witted and has a gift for precision. The balanced Monkey uses these qualities constructively and in the service of his fellow man. The unbalanced Monkey (with say an August birthday and a late afternoon hour) does not clean up behind himself. He is in short a monkey.

The Monkey is often the most acquisitive as well as the gentlest beast but he is above all, competitive. In the extreme this means warfare. In its milder forms it is the ruthless competition that involves the belief that another’s gain is our loss. This is a (painful) mistake. It’s what leads to steroid abuse in athletics and ballet dancing in the Premiership penalty box. The Metal Monkey may learn this lesson early; it’s what makes him gentle. Pretty much all Monkeys subscribe to this delusion to a greater or lesser extent.

As you’d expect, the Monkey’s pitfall is frivolity. If he can’t win he takes the Mickey. Their natural allies however are the more ponderous Rat and Dragon. This is a pretty heavy-duty grouping, perhaps the most powerful in the Chinese Zodiac. Dominant Rats and egotistical Dragons are not, as a rule a bundle of laughs; the Monkey however often is. And together these three get stuff done; so many big revolutions of ideas involve this team. So many years of revolution (1776, 1848, 1944, 1956, 1968) are Monkey years.

The influence of this trio spreads everywhere: Sigmund Freud perhaps the most influential thinker of the 20th Century, Michele Obama one of the most influential women in the world, Dragons. Even Jesus if you take AD32 as his birth year.* And somewhere in there if we delve deeply enough, we find unsung Monkeys and Rats making it happen. The Rat plots, the Monkey gets out there and competes. Probably St Paul, the man who sold Christianity to the world was a Monkey.
* That’s up for debate of course but presumably he was a Capricorn anyway.

Monkey for sure is Karen Armstrong author of a History of God, founder of the Charter for Compassion and arguably the most important thinker of the 21st Century. This is a Monkey who has learned to speak no evil while seeing much. If you want to understand forgiveness, the heart of all healing, read Armstrong.

The Monkey also tends to understand the mechanical: engines and systems; he is the grease Monkey. He often also understand maths, science and argument and so is suited very often to a career in engineering or the law, also accountancy. Unbalanced, he neglects all of the above. The Monkey month of August spans Leo and Virgo and to see him as a hybrid of Virgo control and Leo passion is not far from the truth.

When the Tiger and the Snake meet the Monkey there is trouble. The Monkey both co-operates with and fights the Snake. The presence of the Tiger pushes this competition over the edge. Keep these three apart. The Monkey must take care to mind her p’s and q’s every February (the month of the Tiger) and every May (the month of the Snake).
So that’s the Monkey: argumentative practical, mischievous and so competitive he can withdraw altogether. But you knew that already didn’t you?

Richard Ashworth © 2020
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Monkey in 2020

Monkeys have a lot to look forward to in the Metal Rat year. For starters, you can expect to be taken more seriously than you usually are. Follow your impulse to step forward.

That will be good news for 1980 Metal Monkey Kim Kardashian in her quest for increased gravitas and a law degree. She’s a good example of how a Monkey’s work ethic and business acumen are often overshadowed by a type of playfulness that people may not get. Your sense of humor is appreciated more this year.

A Monkey will find 2020 comfortable in many ways. The Metal and Water of 2020 suit you but you may find yourself asking – where’s the Wood? What is the purpose of my work? Where is the return for my work? Where’s my money? The Monkey’s money is in the east with the 5 yellow so Monkeys will need to be careful of how you they are making money and where it’s coming from. Money losses come from an unreliable advisor in May. This person has an affiliation with someone very powerful who is behind the scenes. That may be why you took the advice.

The success Monkeys enjoy in 2020 is not so much about money as it is building or maintaining alliances for the future. The Metal in the year stem makes you more prominent. People are going to remember what you say so choose your words with care. Say them in your head before speaking them out loud. For really important situations you may want to write a few things down ahead of time. Stay on script or you may make the blooper reel. Those aren’t the laughs you want.

With Hong Yim you may feel your commitment to relationship is slipping, however, this year you are a regenerator. If you know what you want you can make it happen. Clearly the universe has set this up to be solely your decision. Don’t kid yourself that a break up or emotional affair is somehow out of your control.

If you’re going to be committed, don’t do it out of self imposed obligation. Make it real through your actions and words. Say it out loud in front of people even if you think you’re not good at that. A Monkey’s skill set usually includes taking things apart and putting them back together. How will you apply that to your relationship?

With the Metal Mong San shiny and sharp people and things carry risk. Clashes that have to do with movement may be an issue in February and August. Trying to circumvent rules may rebound as physical injury. In November, ill preparation and your potential desire to escape commitment could make you accident prone again. The excessive water could be hazardous. Take care with bathing and swimming.

Your charming nocturnal friends are going to be busy working for someone else, so look for distracted magicians to help you complete things in April. Don’t favor quantity over quality. Focus more on the message and content of your work. You may discover that the meaning isn’t what you thought. In a good way.

The Sheep in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Sheep?

Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003.
Month*: July
Hour: 13.00-15.00
Day: Ask Us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Sheep?

Idealistic, yin Earth, not the top getter-onner with others, the balanced Sheep has well-meant judgements about everybody which can sometimes keep her stuck in first gear. For the unbalanced Sheep (July birthday and/or mid-afternoon birth) ambition and foolishness are pretty much the same thing. For the balanced one, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Noel Gallagher, however, leveraging affability for fame and fortune is second nature. See below for what the most unbalanced Sheep do with this gift for belonging.

The balanced Sheep, as well as being an expert judge of people, knows exactly what matters and is not easily diverted from it. The arrangement for instance that Wood Sheep Bruce Willis, his ex Demi Moore and her ex (and Bruce’s fishing buddy) Ashton Kutcher came to, whereby they stayed friends and the children avoided becoming conflicted is not usual, either in Hollywood or the world at large but it is typical Sheep behaviour. They can all change partners like a Jane Austen cotillion but Bruce gets to see his kids.

Conversely, the value of caution and conservatism is often clear in Sheep relationships. The most obvious of these is with the extrovert spontaneous Horse whose sidekick the Sheep often ends up being. With the Sheep beside him, the Horse’s fun may be a little less riotous but he will also stay out of serious trouble. The young Horse and Sheep of 1978 and 1979 for instance, are often a tag team who go out drinking and clubbing together. The Sheep may stand back in amazement at the daring of the Horse but is there both to pick up the pieces and to take advantage when these risks bear fruit. The Horse dances on tables, the Sheep ensures a soft landing.

This illustrates a psychological truth about the Sheep: the risk-taking they shy away from is exactly what attracts them most. Many a desirable partner has on the rebound from a Horse, found a life-long proposition in the Sheep. Read Marianne Faithfull’s revealing autobiography if you want to see how this applied to the Rolling Stones.

Placed as the Sheep is before the Monkey in the Chinese Zodiac, they also understand trickiness. There is generally a certain wariness between these two but as a team they are unorthodox but magical.

The Sheep also forms a natural affiliation with the Pig and the Rabbit; a very domestic alliance. The Chinese ideograph for home is a Pig under a roof and the average Rabbit would happily stay home 24/7 if allowed to. The Rabbit is the diplomat and mixer while the Pig who is inherently versatile takes up the slack of whatever jobs there are to perform. The Sheep’s part is to make things secure. She will have ensured for instance that there are no sworn enemies on the guest list. Sheep is an ideal social secretary as well as a resolver of conflict. Psycho-therapy is among appropriate career paths. And of course this gift is one that can be abused.

The Sheep is passionate, representing the yin or feminine side of sexuality but whether male or female, the Sheep is more seducer than chatter up. 1967 Sheep Michael Gove’s appeal is surely a subtle one but he clearly fits several of the Sheep patterns.

Perhaps most interestingly, the Sheep can form a formidable team with the Dog, the Dragon and the Ox. Individually each of these three is somewhat intimidating to her but when this group gathers, her value becomes obvious. She can draw flexibility from the Dog, humility from the Dragon and cheerful co-operation from the autocratic Ox. Above all he ensures peace among them. Even if all they do is make the coffee, the Sheep is a comforter of the insecure. She understands that most barkers never bite and that aggression is simply inverted fear.

A final word: the dark side of the Sheep is to leverage gregariousness for power. Brazilian “strongman” Jair Bolsonaro and cynical media mogul Rupert Murdoch don’t fit the pattern of the easygoing Sheep at all. But the Sheep loves the herd to be on their side. They have to belong; sometimes even when that involves falsity and betrayal. Donald Trump was born on a Sheep day, making his deepest quality the need for approval. This is not only the Sheep’s nature but often their weakness. In this sense they are not so much “strongmen” but weak because their only strength is in the endorsement of the herd. Populism is so much easier than conviction.

Richard Ashworth © 2020
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Sheep in 2020

The team-oriented Sheep has a solid reputation when it comes to cooperation and is always available to bail out a close friend. The Horse tends to take advantage of this. In a Rat year a clashed Horse could lead the Sheep into danger. For your own safety it’s time to learn how to partner (or not) without compromising your sense of right and wrong. Luckily you have Dragon Virtue on your side to help maintain your good reputation. If you want to use that on behalf of someone else, however, get your facts straight first.

1955 Wood Sheep Lindsey Graham is the Sheep to Trump’s Horse. Graham has a Sheep year, Sheep month and Sheep day. Trump’s month is Horse. That explains a lot actually. Graham is reluctant to go against his party. Letting faith and loyalty overcome common sense is probably not his plan but he may be left holding the bag anyhow. These are the kind of Sheep mistakes that could overshadow their excellent intentions.

The Sheep will find the Metal Rat year less cold and unforgiving when they give as much weight to the facts and logic as they do to their unconditional love and optimism. This is what timing demands, not a comment on the Sheep’s values. What I’m saying is that the Ox is in charge – for the next two years.

For the Sheep whose season is late summer, the excess Water of this time is a stimulus for discernment. Make that your byword this year or find yourself caught in the crossfire of someone else’s war. In 2020 a Sheep may be drawn into proxy conflicts. You may get lumped into a group with those more volatile than you and end up in a place you never meant to go. As always, your choice is what will change everything.

As early as January your standards will be questioned regarding the company you keep and who you choose to back, possibly bringing you into a power struggle. If you want to avoid that, break alliances if needed or at least refuse to defend (and thereby support) a close friend’s bad behavior. With the best of intentions, you would prefer not to refuse anyone. This year requires you to do what could be the most uncomfortable act for a Sheep: don’t get involved if it’s not your fight. Be open about that when asked for advice. Possible consequences? Gaining respect and strengthening the bonds of your group in the long run. You’ll be setting a helpful example.

With your psychic and sensitive nature, you knew this decision was coming. You want to avoid confrontation but the irritation with certain relationships isn’t new. That nagging issue that you’d like to deem irrelevant – is it really? Don’t make light of your intuitions. It’s like there’s a noise in the background that only you can hear. Pay attention. That’s the only guidance you need.

We need your persistent commitment to the health of the group now more than ever before. Your actions could be the glue that puts us back together. What’s required is courage and time. You’ve got both.

The Horse in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 16, 2020January 17, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Horse?

Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002.
Month*: June
Hour: 11 am – 13.00
Day: Ask Us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Horse?

The Horse is yang fire, the charmer. The extrovert, the seducer of the Zodiac, the Horse is rarely caught out despite his high-risk strategy. He has an ego of course but is better able to laugh at himself than for instance the Dragon. Like the Dragon, the Pig and the Rooster though, he can not work with his own kind. The typical Horse is not a deep thinker and his ego can lead him to suppose that no one else is either. Brexit mastermind David Cameron, born in the Fire Horse, may be a good example.

There tends to be a belief in shortage at work in the Horse. She thinks he must be the first to the trough if they are to eat. In romance the Horse like the Rooster, can be what Leonard Cohen calls “a thin gypsy thief”. This means his weakness can be a failure to respect boundaries and property. Of all the animals, the Horse and Rooster are typically the marriage breakers and the home wreckers. This is not inevitable of course. If we know this about ourselves we can make wiser choices. Just because today is a good day to die, it is not necessarily a good day to kill.

Predictably the Horse is often not great at commitment. The yin and yang of this by the way is that a self-aware Horse is the most constant partner there is; an endangered species by the way.

Success matters a great deal to the Horse. He is not generally subtle. It is the winning not the taking part that tends to concern him.

The ever-fiery Horse is not keen on Water. He experiences this element whether expressed as a Rat year, excessive communication or actual Water as a dampener of enthusiasm. Water slows him down but does not halt him.

Interestingly the Horse’s charisma is best expressed either in a team with the other Plum Flowers, Rat, Rabbit and Rooster or with the Sheep. You will often find Sheep and Horse out and about together, the Horse radiating charm and the Sheep reflecting it. This actually is a good partnership; the Sheep is in awe of the sheer daring of the Horse and the reckless Horse may often need grounding, safety and a short term loan. Horse places the drinks order for his audience and the Sheep pays the tab; Sheep to the above-mentioned David Cameron was of course his stooge and gopher Nick Clegg.

The Horse’s home team all of whom have fire in common, is with the Tiger and the Dog. These are the hunters of the Zodiac: the Tiger kills, the Horse chases, the Dog guards. This support system is the most likely to bring the Horse rewards. On his own he is prone to burn brightly and extinguish early. He’ll have a good time though.

The Horse finds the Ox hard work also. There is metal hidden in the Ox which the Horse can turn to his advantage but the Ox’s preferences are so humdrum to him.

The Horse has visual, imaginative and intellectual gifts but is unlikely to value them enough to put them to good use. So many of the words we use about the virtue of work illustrate the unwillingness of the Horse to stick at things: harness, yoke, saddle, blinker etc. Again the yin and yang is that a Horse once-committed, never quits – think Boxer in Animal Farm.

A Horse who works with a Snake may achieve greatness because the Snake understands the Horse just as she understands the Dragon, additionally the Snake will not need to compete. In many ways the Snake is the perfect partner but it is more likely the Snake will recognise this than the Horse.

The Snake suffers in the short term and the Horse in the long.
Racing, partying, playing, the danger is burn out. The challenge for Horses far and wide is to defer gratification long enough that there remains a future.

Richard Ashworth © 2020.
www.imperialfengshui.info

The Horse in 2020

In a Metal Rat year, the Horse is the Sui Po, the Year Breaker, the Great Consumer. That may sound ominous but it’s meant to alert you. Which is fine; everything is cyclical and this year is likely to be demanding. Don’t take the year’s portents as a cue to run away from what isn’t working unless you’ve prepared for that. One of the most helpful things you can do this year is balance your natural speed and spontaneity (haste?) with planning. Plan farther ahead than you think you need to, by which I mean cover the next two years at least.

The average Horse is likely to be on a steep learning curve. You may be called to change your job or move house. Some Horses will have a change of heart but the Horse is among the most powerful of the Animals, especially in terms of visualization skills. Everything is cyclical and this is all learning. It might be hard work though, so take your time deciding what is important. Value and maintain relationships because there are likely to be losses, including money. Highest risk: January, May, June, July and December. Remember however that you can’t lose what you never had and at the risk of cliché, if you love something (or someone) let them go. Keep in mind that letting go is not the same as abandoning or rejecting.

The clash of the Rat is like a dash of cold water in the face. It’s not an emergency but it feels like one when it takes your breath away. Being creatures of Fire, Horses may be discouraged or even depressed; your best ideas may have to go on hold. Some Horses may turn these feelings outward in a destructive way. Both of these possibilities are rooted in refusing to surrender; to the power of Water and actually to any sort of rule or order. Horses who can do that will find new creativity of all sorts including the financial. Emotional disclosure is one way to surrender. Having a good cry is another. Music can help with moving through feelings too. The Chinese call that poignance “qing”, it means somebody gives a damn.

In her song Cellophane, FKA Twigs gives voice to the kind of poignant questions a Horse will have in a Rat year. She’s a 1988 Earth Dragon by the way. Dragons are helpful when Horses need to cry. As you may know better than anyone, this is related to Water and Fire, the problems of Period 9.

Didn’t I do it for you?
Why don’t I do it for you?
Why won’t you do it for me?
When all I do is for you?

In 2020 unlearned Horses who think the attention and approval of others is love will likely feel unloved. The wiser Horse knows better. You are still as powerfully charming and attractive as always, but most of the attention you’ll receive may be for your role in networking and matchmaking. Others may find you a bit careless in your introductions even when you don’t mean to be – you know this already! Your vision is compromised in a year when there are many proxy conflicts in play so double check degrees of separation. A best friend or partner is at risk of being pulled into your strife. Even if you want backup, I know you don’t want that kind of mission creep. Seek Dragons as a default, Tigers in emergency.

In the Year of the Rat, the Horse’s quiet truths will be more effective than dramatic confrontations. You have probably already learned that this method works best for you. Don’t waste time seeking attention for personal growth. Whether or not others notice it you will know. That’s enough. The only witness you need is yourself. It’s going to be okay. For sure by 2022 when you are back in your true power. Think of the year as cleansing perhaps. Be kind, be creative, be circumspect and remember your power. Everything is cyclical.

The Snake in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 15, 2020January 15, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Snake?

Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001.
Month*: May
Hour: 09:00 am – 11.00am
Day: Ask Us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Snake?

The Snake is yin Fire and sits between the Horse and the Dragon, possibly the most powerful pair of animals in the Zodiac and certainly among the most difficult stools to fall between. So a typical weakness of the Snake is indecision. Next to that is lack of commitment and finally a propensity for sudden and uncharacteristic dishonesty. The Snake is the prisoner who breaks at the threat of torture; a reasonable decision if you know you’re going to give in anyway btw.

There are perhaps old souls and younger souls. The younger Snake often has a vivid imagination and an inconsistent relationship with the truth; the older Snake may treat Truth as sacred. And Snakes being of Candle Flame Fire, can be easily discouraged. Sometimes they should be actually. Some Snakes stick long term with an inappropriate choice so as to put off making any choice at all.

The most written about Snakes in 2020 are apt to include Xi Jinping and Bernie Sanders. Xi, born in 1953, the year of the Snake in the Grass and elected at a time when the internal tensions in China – between efficiency and self-expression, between industrial wealth and rural poverty and between cohesion and corruption – had never been so stark. Never question his sincerity – he means what he says – but he is likely, like his near-twin Tony Blair, to believe that the more he is opposed by those whose beliefs conflict with his own, the more right he must be. For both of these, dictatorship – that is the Mandate of Heaven – is the preferable regime because the Snake can so often not tell the difference between their viewpoint and the absolute. This is perhaps the mark of the young soul.

Older souls may include Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. Born a Metal Snake in 1941, his bluntness is typical of the mature or balanced Snake. A spade for him is not a manually-operated digging instrument but a spade.

Typically, squeezed between the two, the choice for the Snake is between opposites: the extroversion of the Horse and the subtlety of the Dragon, instinct and logic, process and end product, long and short term, relationship and freedom, employment or entrepreneurship. In the face of this dilemma, a balanced Snake will often develop sufficient charm to get through without having to make the hard decisions.

Quite often, the Snake of either gender is not the decision maker in relationship. When they marry a Pig this is doubly so; the power of the Pig’s uncertain yin Water may precisely match the delicate yin Fire of the Snake, often making for stand-offs and provisional decisions. Those the Snake has not made may include the one to be committed to the relationship. The partner of the Snake (best choice probably Ox or Rooster though Monkey lady and Snake man works well) would be well-advised to drag at least this minimum communication from the Snake early on. Interestingly Snakes can despite all this be among of the best makers and keepers of relationship of all 60 Animals. But they sure can make it hard for themselves.

One of the advantages of being between the autocratic Dragon and the unruly Horse is that the Snake has her ego in check. Many would consider her wise because what she has to say is well-considered and she never says too much. The Snake can be a brilliant collaborator, especially with the Ox and the Rooster who are in a sense similar to her neighbours: the Rooster is blatant (much like the irrepressible Horse) and the Ox determined (like the heads-down Dragon) while the Snake anchors them to each other. There may be moments of doubt when the Snake’s loyalty wavers. At such times, the Snake asks searching questions which should have been settled long ago and then usually re-commits. The high minded Brutus was probably a Snake. Not Judas though. To know this grants the Snake both power and integrity. Snakes who know this about themselves earn undying trust.

The Snake can also work with the Dragon in what is called the House of Magic#. Only she can subordinate her ego to the extent that the Dragon demands while also keeping up. An ideal Snake vocation is high-level p.a. Usually (and wisely) the Snake opts to be No 2 rather than Big Chief.

The Snake often has the intellectual and visual gifts of Fire. She makes a good critic as her judgement is sound and she is not out to destroy egos. She will generally have natural and effortless style too.

On the other hand the Snake has a love-hate relationship with the Monkey. Both have hands-on and logical ability and both attract occasional tussles but where the Monkey welcomes opportunity for mischief, the Snake treats dispute as a regrettable evil. When a Tiger appears in such a form as a Tiger-born person or a Tiger month (February), this misunderstanding can turn nasty. In a Dog year like 2018 it’s plain sailing, in a Rat Year such as 2020 – when the Monkey is favoured – more complex. If there are Monkeys in your friend group, seek them out and try to find common ground. They may save you when the chips are down.

The Snake is opposed to the Pig and as both are members of the informal group sometimes called the Four Terminals#, they can impede each other’s movement. Snakes may develop mobility issues in a Pig year and vice versa.

The Snake prefers a short menu and yes/no questions. In a Rat year their yin Fire may be baffled by the width of choice represented by yang Water. It’s possible that the Snake’s dreams will come true only for her to sprint in the opposite direction. Deep communication often has to be wrenched from the Snake and in the Water years of Rat and Pig there is little support for the tight-lipped. In the Ox year that follows, expect just enough Water but not too much. This makes scope for just the restricted level of communication the Snake prefers.

Final note: Snakes have a complex relationship with Fire. They are not usually sun-worshippers but often their skin needs just a little regular sun and without it they may fall prey to easily avoided ailments such as vitamin D deficiency. Caution!

# These terms ae the brain children of the man who first introduced me to the Chinese Zodiac, Derek Walters, still the only Western authority respected to any degree in Asia. I sometimes tell my students that of the many thousands of books written on Chinese Astrology in the West, 99% are either nonsense or derived from Derek’s The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology. Or both.

The Snake in 2020

In 2020 Snakes are still recovering from the Pig year. Snakes like travel and movement but an entire year is too much even for you. Now you’re looking for a place to land; a place where you belong. The good news this year is that instead of conflicts you didn’t see coming there will be support you didn’t anticipate starting in January with the arrival of the Ox.

In a Rat year, the Ox is in charge and will give you a direct line to power for the next two years. In 2020 what you’ve got is a subtle empowerment that grows in small increments. The sheer amount of Water won’t permit haste. Snakes who try to rush the process will create their own delays, possibly by way of accident or injury, most likely in February, August and November. A transformational rebirth is coming in September. Stick with baby steps at least until then.

If you’re among the luckiest of Snakes you’ll have an Ox pillar in your Ba Zi or Big Fate giving you access to slow but inexorable progress in at least one respect. The position of the pillar will tell you which area of your life to cultivate. By way of Feng Shui you can manipulate your environment to align yourself with the power of the year too.

On the compass, the Snake is in a risky position due to the San Sha. With your work you may have to spend extra time getting warmed up to perform. This is only temporary. Like the Horse, you may have problems with vision or mobility both literally and otherwise. This summer you may find yourself chasing the experiences you think you were robbed of last year. Not only is it not worth it but whatever you think you missed is going to show up at the appropriate time. Have faith.

Your ability to keep secrets isn’t helpful this year because it’s unreliable and will keep you isolated. Emotional disclosure to a friend in August may reveal more than you meant to. Resign yourself to openness for now. Prepare for May when people are going to start coming to you looking for answers to their problems. Accept the assignment. If you want to be relevant, share your empathy. Forego your usual strategic and clever advice. Decompartmentalize.

When you want advice, your ally the Ox will give assistance but their perspective may be too similar to yours. As is the case for most everyone this year, you are your own best advisor. My advice for Snakes is the same as for Oxen: Slow down. give blood or have teeth cleaned to decrease the chance that your careless haste results in physical harm.

Snakes may be feeling unsure as to where they belong. It’s going to take some searching but throughout the year you’ll find pockets of short term opportunity and success to point you in the right direction. In January, May, and September you can expect to be welcomed into community. Explore openly. Acknowledging your need for closeness doesn’t make you needy, just human.

The Dragon in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 14, 2020January 14, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Dragon?

Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000.
Month*: April
Hour: 07.00 am – 09.00
Day: Ask Us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Dragon?

The Dragon is yang earth, the most egotistical of the branches as well as perhaps the most powerful. Putting aside conventional rules of animal compatibility, many of us are either fascinated by the Dragon or suspicious. Or both. Shameless mischief-maker Vladimir Putin and Trump tribute act Boris Johnson are Dragons. So however is Marianne Williamson, whose Presidential bid may be over but whose influence will only grow. It was she who wrote Nelson Mandela’s mantra:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are weak. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.”
These are powerful people.

The Dragon is just as charming and affable as (s)he feels like being at any given time, but like the Pig, the Horse and the Rooster, the Dragon suffers the self clash which makes them unsuited to working with their peers. Dragons often live alone and enjoy their own company. Sometimes they claim to even when they don’t. Often what he experiences as joy is a subtle experience that others find puzzling. The Horse for instance who likes to dance on tables, sometimes thinks the Dragon is a high maintenance prima donna. Even the Dragon’s ally the Monkey, contrasts his own goonish delights with the impassive Dragon and can make no sense of it.

And yet the Dragon delivers. Sometimes awkward and gauche, the Dragon can appear incompetent and yet still win. Steadfast Dogs whose workings lead to a logical answer detest this about the Dragon and may sabotage him. Put simply the Dog thinks the Dragon goes on a bit. The Ox and the Sheep share something of this attitude but are more passive about it.

The Chinese ideogram for thunder is a Dragon under a raincloud. All over the world rainclouds speak of plenty, drenched is good if you’re looking for growth. The Dragon month is April, the time of sudden change. Dragon times are the tense moments before a storm breaks.

The Dragon does not naturally co-operate or easily share confidences. He will however grudgingly work with those he considers his inferiors as long as they are very clear about the pecking order. This is the central weakness of the unbalanced Dragon. King Lear was a Dragon, probably Sersei in Game of Thrones too where Othello (and Jamie Lanister) may have been a Tiger and Hamlet probably a Snake.

The Dragon’s traditional partners are the hands-on Monkey and the plotting Rat. These three may not mix socially however. They need a task to cooperate upon, otherwise they find it hard to connect. Socially the Dragon will seek out the Rooster and the Horse both of whom can act as pr or spokesperson. Alone or teamed-up, the Dragon is just as creative as he wants to be. He can magic up wealth and as rapidly squander it. Neither Horse nor Rooster are much help to them in this regard although a benevolent Rat and a diligent Monkey can be.

The Dragon and the Snake form the House of Magic#. The Dragon is the Sorceror, the Snake his apprentice. So Merlin was a Dragon and his story illustrates the other central weakness of the Dragon: that he can be beguiled by the glamour of the Rooster. This coupling takes the Dragon off track. In a Rooster year the Dragon may forget all his carefully laid plans and go off-piste. In a Pig year they may have to re-think much of their approach to life in time for the boom times of the Rat year that follows.

Note to Employers: A Dragon employee is the best there is if the task suits him. It had better suit him because he will do precisely what he feels like either way.
Final Note: Unbalanced Dragons are the worst. Take predators Philip Green, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. Who’d have thought these three shared ba zi charts?!? Or that they could justify the unjustifiable for so long? Of course as these guys show, the Dragon has the luck of the Devil.

# These terms ae the brain children of the man who first introduced me to the Chinese Zodiac Derek Walters, still the only Western authority respected to any degree in Asia. I sometimes tell my students that of the many thousands of books written on Chinese Astrology in the West, 99% are either nonsense or derived from Derek’s The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology. Or both.

The Dragon in 2020

Welcome back Dragons. People get you in 2020. Show us your magic.

With the arrival of the Metal Rat, the Triple Water Combination is in play. Dragons are very much in their element and potential successes abound. Invitations and requests to share your knowledge and expertise are already arriving. This is a great year to add new offerings in your business. You’re the perfect front person for the creativity you share with your associates. Beware of schadenfreude. As your star rises and you watch your rival the Dog lose support you may want to recall that at times you’ve been called a crackpot too. Probably for similar reasons.

Dragons are in the beginning of a growth stage. There’s always going to be someone available to take care of you this year. It’s your turn to accept help. Go ahead and take a chance with trusting that. Make the most of the luck and support available.

Even in such a great year, with the Ox in charge behind the scenes Dragons may experience a breakup. Your alliance with the Rat creates a potential conflict with authority that could get you fired in February.

Do you know who is in charge? It’s important to figure this out early on – in January. It’s going to come up again in May and September too. If you’re not prepared to hold yourself accountable there’s an authority you don’t know about who is nearby and waiting for that opportunity.

Bold Dragons will take a chance on aligning with the Ox instead of avoiding the Ox’s authority even though there are hazards in the attempt. This involves a demanding two year plan that Feng Shui can facilitate. Dragons can set up an introduction to power using the west area of their house where the Rooster lives. If that doesn’t sound straightforward I recommend you get professional help.

At all times be aware who you are addressing and for what purpose. Withdrawal may beckon because you don’t like to deal with the aftermath of communication. It’s so… intimate. And in your opinion most everyone is so slow to respond – other than with confusion or tears.

Dragons expect their words and actions to create instant change and sometimes they do, however, if you don’t want to be lonely you’ll need to remember that not everyone has the gift for rapid transformation that you do. You can share it but you can’t force it. In the Metal Rat year of 2020 it’s important to remember the changes you and others want are coming in their own good time.

Dragons without direction in 2020 will find that distraction or boredom fuels impulsive and destructive decisions. You’re at risk of walking away from the completion that’s coming. You have so many options. No matter what you choose to do it may feel like a limit on your infinite potential. Dragons are going to lose a lot of time they will regret later unless they make a long term plan and stick to it. Dragons great at total restart but I’d say that’s a waste of their time this year.

The Rabbit in 2020 ~ Metal Rat Year

Posted on January 13, 2020January 13, 2020 by Stephanie Stewart

Who is a Rabbit?

Years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999.
Month*: March
Hour: 05.00 am – 07.00
Day: Ask Us

* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Rabbit?

The Rabbit is yin Wood, essentially gentle and domestic. Her time is early morning; the legend has it that she and the Rooster swapped places which is why the cock crows in the Chinese Zodiac not at dawn but at dusk. The Rabbit rules the Spring therefore – think of March Hares and Easter Bunnies – and the Rooster the autumn. This story may also serve to illustrate the mistrust that can exist between Rabbit and the yin Metal Rooster.

The Rabbit is subtle, in keeping with her yin nature. She provides service readily and is often suited to catering and caring. But her preparedness to roll up her sleeves makes her the unexpected queen of networking. If you want to be introduced to the person in charge, ask a Rabbit.

Although giving an impression of reluctance to be in the spotlight Rabbits are often performers but equally often are more at home behind the scenes. Writer-composer (of the musicals Matilda and Groundhog Day) Tim Minchin fits this bill. Devoted Dad David Beckham perhaps also and strangely introvert ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. All clearly pretty good at making connections also.
The Rabbit can wait her turn; vigilance and patience are typical. Her natural allies are the Pig and the Sheep. This is a house-proud team and the Rabbit is a team player. Her unexpected friend is the Dog who values her ability to charm without threat.

The Rabbit also belongs to the gathering known as the Flowers of Love# (or Plumflowers) along with the Horse, the Rooster and Rat. She may often find herself clearing up behind these three extroverts and quite often the cuddle-bunny will obtain a life partner from the leavings of her more obviously glamorous colleagues.

Rabbit tends to be conservative with a small “c”. Early rising is typical but the yang of early alertness may be balanced by the yin of sleeping in. Lazybones or insomniac, sleeping is an issue. This is yin and yang.

In Vietnam this Zodiac Animal is called the Cat. Intuitively this does not sit right, the ideogram so clearly has ears. Furthermore yin Wood relates to the late Spring, leaves and flowers and grass, none of which are obviously feline attributes. Btw the song “Year of the Cat” written by 1945 Rooster Al Stewart in the Rabbit Year of 1975 illustrates the misunderstanding that often occurs between Rabbit & Rooster.

In some ways the Rabbit epitomises yin. Yang Wood may be characterised as an upwards movement like the growth of a tree. Yin Wood is more of an outward expansion like the spread of grass. What these two expressions of Wood have in common is irresistibility. But they are very different types of irresistibility. To counter yang Wood we need yang Metal: an axe will cut down the biggest tree. But you could attack a lawn with that same axe and not remove all the grass in a lifetime. This is the power of yin Wood.

Wood is both stubborn and flexible. Yin Wood (as characterised by Soen, the wind of the South East) is thorough as well as organised: “gentle and thorough but ultimately adamant” as the Book of Changes has it.

Hexagram 53 of the Book of Changes, “Gradual Progress” describes this: the tree on the mountain grows against all the odds either because it throws itself absolutely upon the mercy of the tao or because it has a detailed plan that it follows meticulously. Or both.

The Rabbit is said to cause the Dragon (next in sequence) to lose money. Perhaps the Dragon is distracted by a neighbour so apparently different in nature. These two are not a great pairing but the fact is that the Rabbit sitting between the Tiger and the Dragon, shares qualities with both.
Partnership with the Tiger is sometimes formalised as the House of Diplomacy#. The Rabbit offers carrot while the Tiger wields a stick. This arrangement exemplifies the truism that more is achieved with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone.

Wood represents bone, spine and hair as well as eyes: the light is Fire but the receiving organ is Wood. The Rabbit is often not strong in these regards unlike the Tiger. This is yin and yang.

Finally it’s worth appreciating that the wooden table you’re probably seated by is wood but not Wood. Wood is always growing which is not true of anything else; not animals, people, cutting edges or stones. Usable Wood in feng shui terms, is alive. Dead Wood is often considered to be Earth, motionless and ashen.

The Rabbit in 2020

For the Rabbit, 2020 is very much what you make it. You’ll have a facility for organizing and making sense of things. Rabbit counselors, advisors or headhunters will have plenty of clients. Business should be good but you may be preoccupied with personal and domestic stuff.

You’re in line for further education or training. With so much Water in play there will be plenty of opportunities both formal and informal. Learn new life skills or finish that degree. Learn how to forgive. Learn to set new standards for your behavior in relationship.

Because of how others respond to you, you may have become convinced that your appeal comes from your softness and acceptance. Those who need support for basic human needs are familiar with your reliable domesticity but there’s much more to you than that.

Rabbits who are the oldest son or a 3 gua will be deciding whether their side of the story is worth expressing. It is. For best results stay open to uncomfortable feedback. Caution: Even with your retiring nature this year you risk being overly resistant and impossible to persuade.

Some masters would say the Rabbit is in a great position for a new romance or other alliance in 2020. I get it, but here’s the most important part: your new partner could demand that you conform to their standards rather than your own. That’s a likely scenario for both Rabbits and Yin wood day stem people.

In a Metal Rat year Rabbits experience the Ingratitude Penalty, especially in March, October and December. Rabbits may think Rats are not woke. They will tend to lay blame for current problems on the Rat’s past actions. Rabbits may be questioning the ethics and practices of ancestors. Rats may think Rabbits are entitled and unappreciative of what they’ve inherited. Sound familiar? OK Boomer.

The penalties and the self clashes create the riskiest situations in a BaZi in the sense that they are so…psychological. It might be easier to heal a clash – like a broken bone may heal more cleanly than a sprain. The Ingratitude Penalty has to do with intergenerational values that are shared or not, therefore the solution is to get to know each other better. Talk is required on both sides. Exploring your BaZi may be helpful if you’re feeling adrift.

In August, Rabbits are going to have to make a decision about how to handle the anger that may accompany the penalty because it carries a physical risk of harm.

In October a close friend is unsatisfied in their relationship and may be looking to start one with you. You may be duplicating the bad judgment you’ve attributed to the Rat unless you are careful. These patterns are in our DNA.

A Rabbit is not known for their frankness but this year demands it if you want change. With the Wu Huang in the east, you might tend to forsake the vulnerability of openness for the power of silently being right. The regret you think you are avoiding will linger on. Don’t let it turn to bitterness. That’s not your thing.