Month: January 2023

The Ox in 2023 ~ Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Crowns not Frowns

For the Ox, life since 2019 has been…eventful? 2022 may have knocked the Ox for a time loop – all the way back to 2020. What seemed great then has expired. What’s fresh is the pain of waking up to harsh reality. Even if the echoes of the Metal Rat are loud, you’re not the same person you were then. Permit yourself to recognize the ways you have grown stronger.

Return to those plans and goals you may have put aside. For best results, make sure they fit with what you want now. Some editing may be needed. With all of your creative potential in 2023, maybe you’ll want to keep your nose to the grindstone. That’s often a happy place for the Ox, where they might stay safe from knowing the things they don’t want to know.

An Ox life consists of short bursts of accelerated learning, divided by long periods of fertile stillness. In the Rat and Ox years, when life is more dynamic, the Ox may lose sight of things in their personal life that would normally be obvious to such a sensitive self. While you were preoccupied with external events and your rich inner life, you may have inadvertently conquered new territory. 2023 finds you wearing the Magnificent Crown, again, as you did in 2020. Maybe you’d like to abdicate, however, it’s probably more productive to go with what you can make of it. This situation is lonely but seems to turn out well for you.

Maybe you think you gave too much away in 2022, for no good reason. After all the flurry and the fierceness of the Tiger year, Oxen may be left feeling exposed. Are you angry about the potentially public nature of what you see as your humiliation? The Tiger year tended to pull out every secret and put it in your face. Maybe you felt stunned or pinned in place.

Oxen may be feeling let down by what they didn’t know and what they found out in 2022. Maybe you have some anger tickling at the back of your throat, or is that your authority you tried to swallow coming back out where you can use it? How does it feel to be free? Are you a little nervous?

This Rabbit year brings another lesson, this time about power, that is, the power of reinventing yourself. If you’ve been broken down, that means you could be anything you want to now. Reassemble. Don’t worry too much about the things you can’t control. That’s not the real lesson of power. Maybe your power is mostly about how you can grow things. It’s something like fertility, but not limited to what your physical body can do.

I think the good news about 2023 for the Ox is that, compared to the past few years, there’s just not a whole lot going on. This means you can go back to your talents and pleasures whatever those might be. It’s a good year for writing, so if that’s your thing, get to it. It’s okay to keep your creations and ideas under wraps this year. There aren’t as many opportunities to be heard, so craft and edit until next January, then show us what you’ve got. You’re used to keeping things organized and together but even though it’s not as eventful, 2023 may try to overwhelm you with details. Keep a calendar and a list of things to do at your side if you need help with that. There’s plenty of time.

In a Rabbit year it will be easier for any Ox to change their routines and habits, both the helpful and the unhelpful. Being an Ox, this might make you feel like things are out of control. At certain points of the year, like July, this will feel disturbingly true.

Remember that you endure. These changes you are going through are the kind that take you where you want to be. Don’t be afraid of enjoying it – that doesn’t mean you will be struck by lightning. That is, unless you have a Water Ox day pillar. If you do, you might be struck by metaphorical lightning, in a good way. I think you will experience a profound change, likely involving your values. The Water Rabbit of 2023 will certainly bring a change to your patterns – like a distinct new phase of your life. Let your ethics drive you to make the appropriate accompanying changes.

One thing the Rabbit brings for the Ox is an ease with facing down problems in the open. I’m not saying this is your cup of tea, but that it’s easier for you to access that kind of confronting energy this year. Because it’s the Rabbit, this doesn’t mean you have to come on aggressively, but rather with relentless charm, persistence and tolerance. This is a year that favors the Ox putting an end to an uncomfortable situation so go ahead and confront.

As is the case for anyone going through big life changes, the Ox may experience some loneliness as they set off on a new path. Like the Sheep, expressing your talents through home projects might be a good distraction from being alone. You have abundant creativity.

Get to know who you are now. You’ve been changed by these last years, noticeably. I wonder if you know. You can have a social life if you want one. Are you ready for that? Perhaps you have other things to focus on. Some Oxen have travel to do in 2023, which could also contribute to loneliness. It’s the loneliness of exploration. Maybe you’re doing something that no one expected you to do. Maybe you are choosing to be unpartnered? How scandalous! 🙂

Regarding health, the Ox may be accident prone or need to have surgery this year. It may be possible to avoid these things by giving blood, or catching up on dental procedures you’ve been putting off. Trim nails and hair regularly. Like the rest of us, the Ox will benefit from avoiding crowded indoor venues or places where people are ill.

In that context, you’ll want to know you may be called to take care of an older family member in 2023. You might decide to go, but don’t forget to consider your own health in the context of helping sick people. Take precautions and make the difficult decisions. No public sacrifices are needed even if it feels as if they are requested.

Take precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of your home too. Consider a getting a dog; a literal 狗 dog, not the Chinese Zodiac 戌 Dog. If you wear a uniform for your job, be aware of your environment. Know where the exits are. Should you encounter trouble, there’s always a way out. Not every year offers that.

As for money, it appears the Ox doesn’t have to worry too much about it in 2023. This is probably due to your high level of competency at what you do, that is, you can produce. Your skills will be highly valued this year.

In this Water Rabbit year, it may be that the Ox’s best friend Rat is going through some painful and difficult family events. Given the Rat’s recent behavior toward you, you’ll want to decide how much you want to be part of that experience with them. I suspect you will want to assist, but will you? I wouldn’t call you soft hearted so much as it’s hard for you to resist sadness. Maybe think about that for a minute, then be your caring self.

Those with an Ox in the month may find themselves worrying too much about things they can’t control. This is likely to be in the context of work. Know also that you may need to work alone this year and that is something you are quite capable of.

Lastly, the Ox can be stubborn because they often don’t see the point in changing. This is the year to consider just letting some changes happen.* In 2023 the impatience of going through this reconstruction might make Oxen prone to fits of bad temper. That means it’s time to practice your patience and tolerance. If you’re feeling like other people don’t like you, or that you are offending them, it may just be the energy of the year. Use your common sense.

Job Title: Re-Visioner
Associates: Snake, Rooster, Ox, Rat
Best months: May, September, December
Romance: Time out?

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*Read the news about 1973 Water Ox Kshama Sawant for tips on reconstructing yourself.

The Rat in 2023 – Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

All in the Meaning

2022 was nothing special for the Rat. In many ways it was nothing but repetition. Work that is normally easy may have taken longer or required more sighs and tears, but you did it. In 2023 it may be time to present something beyond your usual – something more elegant and refined. I’d say that’s special. How about you? What will you do with this opportunity?

The Rat has quite a few lucky stars in 2023. Some masters will say that simply because you have Fortune Virtue, one of the four most powerful annual stars, that it will dissolve all your troubles. If money could solve all your problems, that might be true, and from a superficial point of view, this might be exactly right. I mean, when we don’t have to worry about money, you would think it would be easier to focus more on what matters most: the people we care about. But I don’t see a direct correlation with that in real life, how about you?

In 2023, Rats will need to know that money is not the only value they have for others. Maybe this is a blind spot you’ve had for years. People may appreciate what you provide, but money is not your value to others, though you might think they see it that way. This may be a big source of your pain and your errors.

Lucky stars can’t compare to the luck you could create with what you might say or do this year. I’m talking about the kind of luck that has to do with rehabilitating and renewing relationships. You have the power this year to do that for yourselves or others. You might want to think of yourself as a matchmaker. It’s your job to find the common ground and compatibility.

In 2023, Rats will have many admirers, invitations, and events to attend. As for romance, you might find a brief one or a long one. Flirt freely if that’s what you like to do. Most interpersonal relationships are just easier this year, that is, except for family. That’s the one area that you might want to change in 2023. This kind of problem is probably the only one that makes you claim helplessness. It’s time to move on from that position.

Whether or not you’ve realized it, there’s an urgency to the relationship repairs that Rats may need to take care of this year. The Ingratitude Penalty is in play for both the Rabbit and the Rat. In 2020 you may have been doling it out, in 2023 it may be your turn to receive.

At the root of the Penalty, there’s a problem with proportion. To the Rabbit, you are huge. To you, the Rabbit is small. You see the Rabbit as someone who needs your support and guidance and you’re not wrong. But you may be wrong about the proportion. What you think of as commensurate might not be received that way. The Rabbit is equally as capable as the Rat, it’s their priorities and goals that are different. For Rats and Rabbits who can come to terms with that, there’s no Penalty. The Rabbit is actually to be cherished by the Rat as one would cherish offspring. The Rat is to be cherished by the Rabbit as their origin. To have this role in another’s life is both a blessing and a responsibility. Mistakes will be made, naturally. Forgive and get to know each other.

When there’s conflict we tend to look for winners and losers. With the Ingratitude Penalty, everyone is on the same team when it comes to feeling unappreciated and hurt. The Penalty can turn into a standoff. Because it’s so loaded with painful past experiences, no one wants to go first in the communication required for a resolution.

In relationships, sometimes Rabbits don’t ask for what they want because they are too afraid of the NO. They might feel pre-misunderstood. Sometimes Rats try to make amends by way of substitution: I won’t give you what you’re asking for, but I’ll give you something I think will be good for you. These patterns have not led to a solution, therefore, maybe it’s time to try something different. Listen. Respond to the meaning of what is being said. Above all, it’s the demonstration of your love that is wanted. What people want from the Rat is not money, it’s love. They want the same thing from the Rabbit. We’re all looking for that elusive stamp of approval that means we can mess up and still be loved.

If you’re a Rat who has accumulated a back up of apologies to make, this is the year to give them. Be brazen about it. Get started in March. Keep going. Abandon expectations. It’s the emotional upsets that may slow you down this year and yet, I’m suggesting that you stay open to the kind of interactions where they might occur. Regardless of the past, this same difficult timing that brings the Penalty also favors your amnesty, so if not now, when will you reach out? Are you going to wait another 9 years to try again?

It’s a good thing the universe decided to give a boost to the Rat’s unique charm and appeal in 2023. You can attract people into discussions and emotional disclosures so don’t abuse your privilege. Keep secrets that are shared as such, as well as those that are not. Listen more than you talk. Don’t listen for the other person to stop talking so you can speak your piece, listen for the meaning. Don’t listen for the truth in what is spoken, listen for the meaning. Don’t listen so you can disagree, that’s not the point. The point is communication.

I doubt I need to tell you that in the Water Rabbit Year there will probably be people talking behind your back, either about the changes they think you should be making or about the changes you are making. Even as you are working to heal, there may be interference from random third parties. You probably already know this is coming. Look for the meaning, not the truth. It’s possible to change the meaning. Do your process.

Even if we don’t prefer it, or prefer to acknowledge it, the formation of our self knowledge and identity is tied to our ancestors, most closely to our parents. I think this holds true whether you know them or not. Our perceptions of our worthiness start with our experience of being reliant on caregivers, when we are helpless. I really want you to remember that you are not responsible for anyone else’s happiness. What you are responsible for is yours.

In a year where your elders, including grandparents, may need your help, unresolved issues will tend to resurface. Remind yourself how old you are. Ask yourself whether you might be repeating the errors your own parents made. I think most of us do, but within the prism of yin and yang we might not be aware of that. Someone who had controlling or abusive parents may take a stance with their own children that is too hands off, or too remote. That might not be a good fit either.

What if the easiest way to change what someone thinks of you is to change how you think about them? Just for a moment, put aside your opinions and see your parents and children as people, people who make mistakes even when they have the best of intentions. If they were your friends, would you think about what their parents were like? Or why they make the particular mistakes that they make? Stop thinking about what you want them to be to you, and start thinking about what you want to be to them. This will immediately change your perspective if you really do it.

If Rat is in your day pillar and you’re experiencing disconnect in relationship, this same strategy applies. Be the partner you want to be rather than focusing on them being the partner you want them to be. If this goes against reason, so much the better. You’re looking to find miracles, not every day stuff.

If you have a Rabbit or a Rat in your Ba Zi, or both, you can expect the Ingratitude Penalty to be most prominent in March and December. The location of the pillar (year, month, day or hour) will tell you more about the effect of the penalty in your life. If you have a Rabbit or Rat year, it may play out in public. Maybe it is harder on your ancestors. A Ba Zi reading will help with timing and strategy if you’re looking for that.

P.S. Have you watched The Crown?*

Job Title: Revisionary
Associates: Monkey, Rat, Dragon, Ox
Easier in: April, August, December
Romance: Yes. Maybe some drama too.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*The Ingratitude Penalty has been playing out in a very public way for 1984 Wood Rat Prince Harry since 2020, but there are many examples of it within the royal family.

The Pig in 2023 ~ Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Out of Nothing

Pigs have a special connection to the Water Rabbit year by way of being part of the Wood Trio of 亥 Pig, 卯 Rabbit and 未 Sheep. Like the Dog, Pigs have friends and acquaintances in positions of power, which can make for a smoother ride. You have assistance from heaven as well as on earth. To make the most of the year stay flexible and follow your talent or creativity in this favorable timing. This Rabbit favors your success for a whole year.

In 2023, the Pig’s support system is available and in plain sight. In addition, it enhances your creativity. Take advantage! Past alliances can be revived. Are you getting the band back together? I mean, it is time for you to hit the road…or maybe you’re moving house? It appears that Pigs are due for some travel this year and it’s most likely in the context of their work or talent. Movement is a natural choice for you this year, but of course if you don’t want that, Feng Shui offers ways to influence fate. If you want to stay put, I can help with that.

For you Pig, in 2023 it might be best to go with the flow, rather than revise or renovate. This year is meant to be a continuation of last year’s project, so it might be best not to start over. You may be the master of reinvention, but there’s such a thing as restarting too many times. As I said to the 酉 Rooster, don’t fight your success.*

The Water Rabbit year is where you find help with the networking that fuels your success. You have a friend who can charm people, and they have connections to people who would want to work with you, if only they knew about you. With the Rabbit’s help, this year the word is out about your talents. If the Tiger is willing to work with you, ask them to help you close deals as needed. It’s the least they can do after last year really.

If the Water Tiger of 2022 treated you harshly, you may still be smarting. You’re in a position for revenge this year if you want it, however, if you observe the laws of the universe I think you will see no effort is required on your part for people to get what they deserve. Sometimes it takes a little longer. In February, for your benefit, seek forgiveness rather than revenge. That may mean giving it rather than expecting it to be given to you. Tigers are capable of apologies, but not known for them.

As we cycle through the Tiger and Rabbit years, Pigs may feel they are becoming what they do. This is natural, but because you could be so many things, maybe it feels limiting. Is that how you think of aging? If you’re suspicious of committing to a position this year, it may be that it doesn’t feel like the right shape for you.

As always, if you don’t like the shape you’re taking on, you are allowed to change your mind, but going with the flow for now will surely bring out your potential. You may want to see what that looks like at this point in time. It may feel like giving birth, or being naked in public. Many of us experience that as a kind of embarrassment either in real life or in our dreams, but for others it’s an expression of power; so maybe let yourself have the whole experience. Otherwise, you might be missing out. It doesn’t last that long.

This same timing that puts you in the flow may also mean that people perceive you as overly aggressive in what you say or do. I think a lot of people with the Pig branch, as well as artists, inventors and visionaries probably have this kind of experience. Being driven by creativity can seem like (and sometimes be) obsession.

It’s a strange situation for a Pig to be seen as the one likely to pick a fight, but here you are. It’s this potential aggression that will get people talking about you and not in a nice way. You might be seen as taking up too much space and maybe that’s okay with you. If it’s not, emulate the yin Wood of the Rabbit. Be persistent and gentle. Don’t worry if there are those who don’t celebrate you. There are so many who do.

While it’s true that not all of the Pig’s stars in 2023 are lucky, most of the bad luck has to do with potential accidents and injuries. Remember that picking a fight is not in your best interest. Pigs can minimize risk by avoiding places where there is potential of natural disaster such as volcano eruption, earthquake or flood. Avoid doing major renovations this year as this creates more potential for problems with damage or delay. To offset or mitigate any negative energy, you can give blood, catch up on dental procedures, and trim nails and hair regularly.

In my opinion, Pigs have one of the most practical gifts of the year. Maybe you were born with it, or maybe it’s the Heaven Chef Star. I think it’s the former enhanced by the latter.

When people speak of the Pig’s versatility one thing they are referring is the Pig’s seeming ability to make something out of nothing. For me, there’s nowhere that this kind of talent stands out more than in the kitchen. Have you ever thought the cupboards were bare only to watch someone else put together a good meal from what they found there? That’s a Pig thing. They may have learned this skill due to failing to fill the pantry, or from having a deep pantry. That’s the thing about the Pig – it could go either way but there’s hardly any middle ground if you ask them.

The magic of making something out of nothing is not just confined to food. Why not take that viewpoint and use it to tackle whatever you’re trying to do? As Richard Bandler says, the most flexible one wins. He’s a Tiger to your Pig. As certain resources become scarce, we may rely on you to make something out of nothing. Knowing you, that will have to do with music, performance or the arts. These are also things that sustain and nourish us.

There will be opportunities this year for Pigs to work with peers and associates, even some people you may not have seen for some time. Although the Tiger might help you in February, they may be feeling depleted. The most reliable ally may be the year boss herself, the Rabbit. The Rabbit is someone you already know, or maybe a friend of a friend. Seek them out in March. Don’t forget to check in with the Sheep too, especially if you’re trying to restart some kind of life outside of the house. Do that in July. The Sheep is enjoying plenty of good luck this year and they are always willing to help you along with success. They always have room for another friend.

If you’ve been feeling pinned down or blocked, get over it! That’s not where you are now. There are always those who are going to criticize you, but isn’t that always the way when you have good luck? I would recommend you enjoy yours while you have it. That timing of that criticism sounds like jealousy to me.

Pigs are meant to get moving more intentionally this year. Travel can bring you better luck. You can make it part of what you do, or who you want to be. You can make something out of nothing. Find a context where you can be the most helpful as well as helped. If you’re feeling fragile, respect that. You don’t have to knock yourself out to take advantage of this timing. Don’t forget to rest.

Job Title: Heavenly Chef
Allies: Rabbit, Sheep, Tiger
Best Months: February, March, July
Romance: Maybe in December.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*By the way, Rooster and Pig are the nobleman of 丙 yang Fire day masters. If that’s you, do you know what it means when your Nobleman clash themselves? That’s something we might explore in the context of your Ba Zi.

The Dog in 2023 ~ Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Cave Canem

The connection of the Dog and Tiger as members of the Fire Trio brought the Dog certain rewards in 2022. Perhaps the most significant one was the delay of consequences the Dog has been avoiding, once again. That won’t have been true for every Dog, but it seems to be very true of the ones in the news. As for consequences, they aren’t inherently negative. You already know how this works – luck is according to behavior most of the time. If you want to maximize the luck, do good things with it and get good results.

For the Dog, the Tiger and Rabbit years bring lessons about power. When we think of power, most of us think of being in control. A recent study says that like a drug, an overload of the privilege to control can change your brain and not in good ways. Vladimir and the former guy are good examples of what happens when the power controls you. People seem to go a little mad, sometimes when given even the slightest taste of power. [insert joke about the carin’ of karens here]

After 2022, whatever Dogs might have left to learn about power is the lesson this Water Rabbit year will offer: how to handle it properly, and what happens if you don’t. In the Wood Dragon year of 2024 it’s the Dog who will be clashed. Then you’ll be the underdog.

When I think of power, I think of the service you can do with it, especially when it is given to you by people who need you. Power has to be directed to do good things.

Without seeing power as a way to deliver service, its potential is unfulfilled or at worst, corrupted. Dogs who understand these ideas will make themselves relevant for years to come. For example, Mother Teresa was born in 1910, a Metal Dog year. She died at age 87. She would be 120 years old in 2030 and people will still be talking about her then. Maybe using power to deliver service confers longevity too. Jimmy Carter, a 1924 Wood Rat, is another example of how to use power for service. He’ll be 99 this year.

So here we are in 2023 which, for the Dog, is mostly about power. You have the opportunity to appoint yourself leader as well as being elected by the Rabbit, the boss of the year. Courtesy of your special relationship with the Rabbit, you’re going to have advantages that others don’t. I’d call that lucky.

With 龍德 Dragon Virtue on their side this year, many of the Dog’s problems will tend to dissolve, however, if you want to get the most out of Dragon Virtue, look for good deeds that you can do. Do as many as possible. Use your power for service. In 2023, the Dog’s main job is to learn to serve. This isn’t about sacrifices. In fact, I would suggest that if you think of doing the right thing as a sacrifice, you might either change your mind, or keep that to yourself. I mean, is it really a sacrifice if you’re doing it to go around and get sympathy?

Another big lesson for the Dog this year is how to access power through grass roots movements that prioritize and provide domestic safety. The Dog is meant to help a diverse community, not to discriminate. Take a moment to think about how you might apply this in your life. Seek the power of consistency and persistence. Look to help those who are the most in need. They are the ones you guard.

If you’re a Dog who is feeling abandoned or cast out, you can change that if you want to. Simply stop the repetitive patterns you might have with relationships. In the context of the power you will have in 2023, your alienation could be dangerous, especially if you were motivated to seek revenge. Reintegrate yourself.

Do you feel like people haven’t been treating you properly? Then start treating them properly and see if it changes how you feel. If you’ve already tried that and it didn’t create the changes you are looking for, maybe you need to find new friends, or choose yourself a new family. In a Rabbit year, most of the Dog’s benefits have to do with changing their ideas about power and what it’s meant for. Be careful of it going to your head, somebody might get hurt.

Due to their Secret Friendship with the Rabbit, the Dog can drain the power of the year to use as their resource. This relationship is quite supportive for the Dog but not so much for the Rabbit, that is, unless the Dog cares to make it so. What I’m saying is, this kind of advantage will require putting yourself into service if you want to avoid blowback. Because this year is all about power for the Dog, if you mess up it may take you a while to come back from that. Your actions carry extra impact and so do the consequences (positive or negative). All you have to do is make them what you want.

For Dogs who have the means, this is a good year to buy property. You may want to target a particular place on the map, depending on the use you will make of the land. Is it for housing? Agriculture? Or some other purpose?

Dogs may be receiving money from family or chosen family to help with their investment. In the context of real estate and property, you might choose to spread the good luck you have with it this year when so many people need access to safe and healthy housing. There are two ways to look at this.

If you have opportunities to invest in land, you might use your luck to help others find safe places to stay. Alternatively, if you use your luck to take more than your share, you shut out the people you are meant to serve. Which will you choose? As much as the Earth is not ours to own, we all could use a little to live on safely. Even a small patch confers power. Would you ever consider starting a collective or commune?

Because you have access to powerful people in 2023, Dogs are in a position to extend their own social network and base of operations. Again, you also have that kind of benefit to offer to others. Tiger, Horse and Rabbit are the obvious recipients, however, it’s probably best to defend and assist everyone in your vicinity. Mostly, you can be indiscriminate in sharing your power. If there are bad guys nearby, you’ll sniff them out in no time. You can always change your mind. That’s what it means to use power appropriately. Stay hyper aware of your motives. There’s no point in faking humility. Either you feel it or you don’t. It’s what you do that matters.

Remember that when people are successful, and you will be this year, there will be those who don’t like it. This is the kind of energy that is ready to take you down a notch, so stay away from pedestals.

Engaging with the power that is in your vicinity this year could make the Dog, but it could also break them. It might not be the Rabbit you are latching onto, but something much bigger. Before you decide to make an alliance with the “boss”, get your potential new job description. Consider having someone else read it. Get some advice. Avoid harm in your fierce pursuit of justice. If you think any amount of collateral damage is okay, think again. You are hurting yourself too. That’s not sustainable.

If Dog is in your day branch, you have a chance to find a good fit with a partner this year. It would be hard to break up this potential alliance if you can bring power equity to the relationship. The Rabbit and Dog can make a good home together. If you have expertise with this, share it with others.

Dogs have the option in 2023 to learn how to control power, and to prevent the misuse of authority by turning it to service. This is your time to turn the tables on corrupt structures and hierarchies.

Job Title: Beneficent Henchman
Associates: Tiger, Horse, Dog, Rabbit
Best months: February, March, June, October
Romance: Yes. Let your partner shine.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

The Rooster in 2023 ~ Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Counting Up the Change

In a Rabbit year, it’s the Rooster’s turn to be clashed, so let’s get clear about what that means. A clash means that things are going to change. Of course, change is happening all the time but when it’s your year to be involved in the clash, it will feel like the changes come thick and fast.

When we humans experience more rapid and focused change, we tend to feel stressed and anxious, even if the changes are good. The feeling I associate most with a clash is stimulation. In most cases, a clash year is bothersome because of the feelings that accompany the events, rather than the events themselves. From the outside, your life may look much the same.

Each year, there is an animal branch that is in charge of the year and one that is opposite of it on the compass. This is how the clash is identified, therefore in 2023, we have a clash of Rabbit in the east and Rooster in the west. In a Rabbit year, the Rabbit is reckoned to have certain advantages over the Rooster but this may not be true in every case. Let’s not forget that Metal controls Wood. That hasn’t changed.

It’s a year for Roosters to rely on relationships even if that’s not their natural way. If you can find it in yourself to trust, this will give you ease. At any time you can choose to make peace. Maybe the best advice I can give you is: don’t fight your success. When a Rooster is clashed, as they are in the Water Rabbit year, that means they are surrounded by the possibility of success. Why not accept some?

Every clash also carries the opportunity to learn but in 2023, this is emphasized for the Rooster. You are given a facility for learning and scholarship so whether that is in a formal or informal setting. Look for the lesson. What are you supposed to learn from these experiences you have in 2023? It’s probably going to have to do with your ideas of success or money. It might have to do with your ideas about romance or partnership. It might be about jealousy – the jealousy that you have and the jealousy you experience from others.

Elementally speaking, we are talking about a clash of the Rabbit’s Wood and the Rooster’s Metal. Metal controls Wood. What I mean is, in a Rabbit year, there are advantages to be had for the Rooster too. Possibly all you have to do is avoid making winning your only goal, and recognize and acknowledge that there are people who are loyal to you. If they’re not nearby, make sure they know you want to be closer, whatever that might mean. Otherwise, in seeking relief from your overstimulation, you might end up damaging yourself.

As the Year Breaker or 歲破 Sui Po, the Rooster can expect big changes. It may take some effort to avoid having a year that is all about winning and losing. What you’ll have to change is your mind. This year you may have some ideas about that greener grass on the other side of the fence and how you’re never allowed to have it. This isn’t really true but your thoughts and memories of that kind of experience will tend to rise to the surface in 2023.

Stick to logic but avoid keeping score. That feeling you have regarding everyone wanting to copy you or compete with you is from your habit of checking and hoping to maintain or reestablish the pecking order. That’s not to say you’re wrong, a Rooster has a certain status that naturally attracts others to emulate them. Cultivate humility and patience. It might be to your advantage to keep plans to yourself or only share with a trusted few. This is something you can control.

A clash year is a year for reinventing yourself and the particular energy of the Water Rabbit carries this specific meaning for the Rooster. You’re due for some kind of rebirth. The position of the Rooster in your Ba Zi will give you a clue about what part of your life is involved.

With Rooster as your year, this reinvention could happen in a more public way and could even involve your physical body so you may want to explore new ways of exercising or nourishing yourself. It may affect your reputation.

If Rooster is in your month, I expect you could get a raise at work. You might also have some turbulence at work in March, so I challenge you to look for ways to take advantage of that ahead of time. It could be that you learn to handle stress better. Alone time may help with that.

If Rooster is in your day and you have a partner, 2023 could bring some mutual irritation or jealousy. There may be a competitive feeling between you and your partner. Whose aspirations will be the priority? Possibly both of you are looking to be “number one” whether that’s in the context of managing the home, or moving to a different city for a job. This energy of the Rabbit year calls for compromise but it’s also difficult to resist its pull to choose victory. It’s funny how you and the Rabbit may have this experience in common in 2023. Then again, in a clash both parties are affected, so maybe it’s to be expected.

If Rooster is your hour, you might be reinventing your own future or it may be your children doing that. I expect you may feel very uncertain about the truth of this possibility. Try it on.

Should it be your choice to avoid change this year, Roosters may find themselves feeling trapped or imprisoned. Unless you are actually in jail, this is just a feeling. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to handle and indeed you may come upon some obstacles that make you feel hopeless or powerless, however, being a Rooster you tend to forget your power on a regular basis. This year is meant to make you learn the power of remembering who you are and acting accordingly. You know there are going to be changes, so you can get free of the “trap” by identifying the changes you want and enacting them. If you are worried or scared, talk about it. You know this helps you shrink problems to their actual size.

When it’s your clash year, it often means spending; spending in a bigger proportion than usual. To work with that kind of energy, I recommend you decide how you want to spend it. You might choose to invest in yourself or make a big purchase. In some years I would recommend remodeling or renovation as a potential investment but not for you Rooster. Spending on travel could be helpful as long as you make sure you are not traveling to a place that is prone to fire, flood or earthquake. That trip to California might be off for this year.

Being one of the four Self Clash signs, Roosters generally don’t enjoy each other’s company.* That said, if you need assistance, look for people who share your interests or with whom you have a common background such as Snake and Ox. The three of you make a powerful Metal team that can challenge the Wood of the Rabbit if needed. The Dragon, your Secret Friend, is always on call for you and this year they can help you solve whatever problems you might have.

Should you need a rescue in March, or feel that you do, call on the Horse who often has a strange sort of crush on you. You might think they come on too strong most of the time, but the Horse is capable of turning anger to joy. The Horse sees your shininess and wants to help you maintain your sparkle. The Horse and Rooster have an uneasy relationship, but when they team up, great things can happen out of humble beginnings; successes that no one would have expected. Above all, seek joy Rooster. Take it wherever you find it.

Job Title: Peacemaker
Allies: Snake, Ox, Dragon
Best Months: April, May, August, January
Romance: Winning isn’t everything.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*Did you hear about that proposed collaboration between 1981 Metal Roosters Beyoncé and Britney that didn’t pan out?

The Monkey in 2023 – Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Driver’s Seat

Monkey, what I can tell you for sure is that 2023 is going to be better than 2022. In fact, it’s likely that you will easily solve any problems that are still hanging on from last year.

Monkeys can fly under the radar in 2023, at least after February is over. This will give you plenty of space to do your thing without interference. The flip side is, you might feel like no one is paying attention to you. If you want assistance, you will probably need to be the one driving it. It seems like the biggest danger for you this year is getting stuck in your own head so direct your attention outward.

Monkeys are not part of the Wood Trio of Pig, Rabbit and Sheep. If you know your Five Elements, then you understand that the Monkey’s relationship with Wood is a clash. Within this clash relationship, the Wood is the Monkey’s prize or booty.

To take this a step further, seemingly against the rules, the Monkey is capable of forming a special bond with the Sheep and Rabbit. This means Monkeys could have a special relationship with the “emperor” and one of their advisors in 2023. Are you capable of guiding power? Would you wield power for someone who would prefer to avoid confrontation or is not accustomed to it? Could you do it in a loving way?

For many a Monkey, a Tiger year problem is that more money goes out than comes in. This may be why inflation hit the Monkey harder than others last year, however, now you have a chance to stem the outflow of cash. You’ll still be spending a little more than usual in 2023, possibly on behalf of others. It’s possible you’ll be spending to get free of something. Try to stick to a budget anyway. If you have the means, consider making a small donation to a cause you support. Otherwise, the money you spend this year is best spent on you, that is, for health, education or self development. Spend on taking the opportunities that you want. Plenty will be offered.

This is a year for risk management. There are risks but you can manage them by way of information and investigation because in 2023 you have the ability to take in a bigger reality, it’s almost like you have an omniscient perspective. This is a great gift when it comes to solving your own problems, and other people will also be asking you for advice.

You’ll want to be very clear in your communications if you’re going to share your visions with others. People are used to your jokes and silliness so you might have to make it clear that you are serious when sharing what you see coming. Deliver your message first. If you want to use humor to release the tension, wait until understanding has been achieved. Don’t sell your knowledge short.

In 2023, use preventive measures to take care of your health. If you’re visiting/assisting sick people, or working in a health care or science related field make sure you are taking the necessary measures to protect yourself from infection. Take precautions in crowded areas, especially those that are poorly ventilated.

As is the case for the Sheep in 2023, people may want what you have, Monkey. I’d recommend you avoid showing off this year, but also learn how to share. This will be a lesson we all need to learn in 2023 when so many are in need of the most basic sustenance: food, housing, physical assistance, healthcare.

On the compass at SW3 this year we have Robbery Sha. This means the Monkey is at risk of material losses. Be careful of scams, scammers and robbers. Trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings. Lock up doors and windows. Pay special attention to those that are located between 232.5-247.5 degrees. If you’re a Monkey who enjoys the nightlife, go in the company of friends and keep your wits about you. Don’t leave your drink unattended. It’s probably best not to go out alone.

One of the best things about 2023 for the Monkey is that people are apt to trust you. Maybe this suits your mischievous nature? You like your reputation for being unpredictable. That’s easier when people want trust you, isn’t it? Maybe it’s okay to let people know what you are thinking whether they are going to try to talk you out of it or not. You know you always do what you want anyway.

People’s trust might not sound like much until you think about it. What could you achieve with that kind of support? You can get financial assistance, borrow tools, find a place to stay, or anything else you might like. Just remember, for best results, whatever you borrow will need to be returned, probably by December. If people are giving you trust, hopefully you will honor that by being trustworthy.

Monkeys will do well to look to their associates Rat and Dragon should they want to team up. Rats may be the one to float you a loan while the Dragon can help you solve your problems. Your Secret Friend the Snake has a higher perspective this year, as do you. For this reason, the Rabbit year might be a time that the two of you can work together heartbreak free, that is, if you can avoid being swept away by the dramatic potential.

It seems that 2022 has set you adrift. Maybe you’re feeling like you’ve lost important attachments or that people who should be supporting you are not. I know this is a painful feeling and I want you to know that a big part of it is timing. It will pass.

While you’re waiting for that to happen, you may need to ask people for help if they aren’t noticing that you need it. If you’re feeling like just letting things go wrong because no one cares, get your self together. That kind of behavior creates a self fulfilling prophecy. The same people who loved you last year love you now and want to include you. If you’re feeling left out, do something about it.

Lastly, for Monkeys who lost a partner last year, or any Monkey who is looking for partnership, I hope you know that it’s okay to love again and there are potential romantic partnerships available for you this year. If you are recently widowed or already partnered, it looks like you may have some concerns about what people might have to say about that should your new love interest become public knowledge. Don’t worry about it, life is too short to wait until everyone tells you you’re right. I don’t think anyone could live that long, do you? So explore a new relationship if you want to. Be open and honest and it will be fine.

In that context, look for someone gentle who will understand your need for companionship and will respect that you want to be friends first. Let them provide some coziness and consistency that lifts your days. In return, offer your skills in fixing mundane things as well as your authority in executing. Don’t worry about defining your feelings about this, especially if you are waking up with more interest in what the day holds. If happiness comes, let it.

Above all, in 2023 I want you to remember that you can mitigate or offset any possible bad luck by doing good deeds. I know people say this all the time, and it does seem to be true, but it happens that this year’s Rabbit actually favors you in particular that way.

Job Title: Rebooter*
Allies: Monkey, Rat, Dragon, Snake
Best Months: April, May(?), August, December
Romance: If you want it.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*Watch for 1980 Metal Monkey Kim Kardashian to come out of hiding.

The Sheep in 2023 ~ Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

A Seat at the Table

It’s going to be a good year for the Sheep. You have a seat at the table in 2023 and can use your power and artfulness to follow your dreams. There may be some ups and downs, but know that your mistakes will be forgiven this year. Partner that gift with prudent behavior and rise. Given the Sheep’s association with the Rabbit who is this year’s boss, you are in a position to make contact with people you’ve admired from afar; people you look up to or would like to emulate. Approach people that have authority over you or have the knowledge or experience that you are looking for. They are open to it this year.

The Water Rabbit brings a range of experiences that have to do with promotion, increasing status and being invited to some kind of inner circle. Finally! Isn’t it funny that in a year where you could be included in everything, you find you may not want to be?

Much like their Secret Friend the Horse, Sheep have found it hard to execute since the end of 2019. Sheep and Horse are neighbors and Secret Friends; their experiences are often linked or similar. I often wonder who this relationship benefits more and I have to say, I don’t think it’s the Sheep. But the Sheep is used to that and knows how to stick with their connections and friends even when they are “high strung”. This is a funny thing to say about the yin earth of the Sheep, but the Sheep is flexible enough to adapt to most timing. Perhaps this is what makes them good at hospitality and hosting. They’re kind of ready no matter what or who shows up.

No year is perfect, but overall, in 2023 the Sheep’s good luck outweighs any bad luck they might encounter. Get clear on your purpose or mission for the year now and stick with it. It’s going to be a dynamic year for you. If things are on a down, just wait a moment for them to go back up. Taking precautions will make for a much smoother year if you want that. I’ll say more about that later.

As for money, the Rabbit tends to reinforce your ability to take it in, so as long as you continue to manage it well, money likely won’t be a problem. In fact, Sheep will be among some of the best money managers. This is a good thing when budgets are tight.

The same energy that brings you power in 2023 may also make you accident prone, therefore, this probably isn’t the year to use power tools. Maybe being distracted by things you can’t change is the root cause of your clumsiness, so sort out your concerns. What are you afraid of? Slow down. Remember what matters to you. To offset potential accidents or injuries, give blood, catch up on dental procedures, and trim nails and hair regularly.

In a Rabbit year, as part of the Wood Triple Combination which consists of Pig, Rabbit and Sheep, the Sheep has special permissions in the context of power and new shapes to try out. To describe the nature of 2023 as defined by this combination, I’d say the Rabbit is concerned with housing and health, the Sheep wants to provide food and hospitality, and the Pig will take care of arts, entertainment, errands and supplies. These will be the most needed services of the year.

If Sheep is your day, the year’s changes may involve the place where you live. Is it time to move? Maybe you will have new neighbors, new house mates, or family will come to stay with you. If Sheep is in your month, you may have a chance to relocate for study or work at a more prestigious venue or position than you expected this year. Apply now if you haven’t already.

If you’re a Sheep who has been craving more authority and looking to break out of old expectations, you’re going to like 2023. This is your time to show off those elegant ideas you’ve been working on.* You may have come up with them in 2019. There are forces at work to help you get noticed in the context of your talents.

If Sheep is your year, your invitation to meet with power may be issued in a very public way, where everyone can see it. If Sheep is your hour, the Rabbit pulls you into your future. Your inner life, hopes and dreams merge with the energy of the year to increase your autonomy. You’ll need to go deep for that. It could apply to your children or other people you are charged to nurture or support, including employees.

In 2023, people are going to be talking about what they perceive as your sudden ascent. Maybe it wasn’t sudden for you, but this is how it may be perceived. The Water Rabbit year is going to bring a lot of talk about who deserves what and why – for everyone, not just you. But if people don’t realize how much you’ve worked for what you have, that’s probably because it’s not something you show off. I hope you don’t feel like you have to explain why you should be so lucky now, not to anyone.

The reason I’m telling you these unpleasant things is not to make you worry more, but to encourage you to worry less. This isn’t a new problem. You know how people are when they feel jealous. Sometimes it means they want to take what you have, so make sure your property is secure and sleep better. Put your name on your work so people know it’s yours.

A Sheep is more prone than others to acknowledge that they can’t control the nature of the year, but maybe you handle that better because you are used to having your gravitas questioned. Maybe it’s your advantage that people often think the Sheep has a child-like nature. A Sheep can have a certain air of innocence that makes people feel invited to take advantage. Let that be their problem.

Ask a Sheep and they will tell you they have their reasons to be suspicious of most everyone, but in 2023, you may find that trait is magnified. It could be a response to the haters, however, it has the added value of protecting you. Don’t let excessive worry hold you back. All you need do is stay aware.

This is a year to make sure your work is ready for presentation. Make it as impeccable as possible. Make sure your taxes or other legal paperwork are in order. If you’re signing contracts, understand the terms well in advance so you know what to expect. If there are surprises you didn’t expect when it comes time to sign, don’t do it. In the context of travel documents, check that you have everything up to date and backed up before it’s time to go. You can avoid the kind of events that might take up your time unnecessarily.

Do your best work, but also know that you can be pardoned for your errors. Whatever glitches may occur, while they may cause stress, they likely won’t really matter in the long run. As I said before, no need to be paranoid, just take precautions.

You may have noticed that in the context of all the power and successes, moving, new jobs and such, I haven’t mentioned romantic relationship. While the Sheep always has room for another friend, this year, they may not “have room” for a new lover. I think this is a matter of your choice, not your fate, but certainly you can reunite with old friends, and make new alliances where you share a common background or interest. You have your friends and your work to enjoy, and maybe in 2023 that feels like enough.

Job Title: Invited
Allies: Pig, Rabbit, Sheep, Horse
Best Months: March, June, July, November
Romance: Make room if you want it. Who/what is taking up the space?

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*Looks like we’ll see new music from 1979 Earth Sheep Brandy in 2023!

The Horse in 2023 ~ Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Moon Era

So you thought that the Water Tiger was going to help you out, did you? And all you had to show for it was a big soggy smoking log. Every piece of Wood you gathered in 2022 was a little damp, no? At least you can blame the smoke for those watery eyes. You’re out of captivity now, so learn to be wild again. By this time, your perspective has shifted enough to survey the damage that has been done in your vicinity since 2020. Maybe you’ve got some anger fueling your creativity and you’re no longer willing to tolerate the status quo. That’s what I’m hoping.

There’s been plenty of talk about how the Horse was the recipient of good luck in 2022. And this turned out to be true, but not in a reaping the rewards kind of way. It was more of a survival kind of way. In 2022 there was just enough encouragement to persuade you to keep going even at those moments when you were ready to chuck everything you have worked for.

Maybe you’ve figured out that simply because you’re still here, you’re special. You made it through the wash, rinse, repeat cycle without being snuffed out. The ways that this has changed your perspective might make others think you are no fun any more. Sobering isn’t it? This year you can play again, that is, if you actively continue to take care of your health.

You’re going to be glad you didn’t give up. Horses who have made it this far have learned some lessons about what independence means and how support and responsibility are part of it. If you are still feeling stuck in 2020, I want you to ask yourself if this has to do with your lifestyle or mindset. Have you come to think of yourself as lacking support? Or how about not needing it? These are probably both in error. The meaning of dependency is always under consideration for the Horse. Accept friends and be a good friend anyway.

In 2023, you finally have some ideas of your own about how to fix your situation, along with the resources to do it. Phew. It’s been hard to recover your forward motion. Hang on Horse, something new is kindling. This is a year for you to take a position. That might involve revealing your politics, getting a new role at work or creating one for yourself.

One of the most exciting things for the Horse this year is that you have the Moon on your horizon. Horse is a yang sign (so very yang) which makes having the power of yin a big deal. Instead of coming at problems head on, running away, or dragging things into the light, you’re empowered to take a more subtle approach. This may temper some of the “right now” energy that leads you into trouble at times.

With the power of the Moon at your side, you’re going to be busy, just like you like it. Horses like to work hard and sometimes this is their addiction, a problematic one like any other. A healthy Horse learns how to bring the appropriate level of intensity to the project, that is, to not push themselves to burnout every single time. Not every contest or task merits that. The cost of your addiction impacts people that love you too, not just you. If I told you that in 2023 there’s a better than usual pay off for your efforts, would you remember what I said about moderating intensity – or knock yourself out? Learn the power of regulation and natural cycles. Read this paragraph again.

The Moon will tend to benefit women most but it’s helpful for men too. If you’re an entrepreneur, the Water Rabbit year will bring you opportunities to apply the energy of the Moon when it comes to networking or organizing your own business. This is a special timing for the Horse. In a year where you will naturally attract attention and admirers, what you need to remember is your most important work happens behind the scenes, on the personal level. Expand your soft skill set. Learn to let your influence go deep.

This is a good year for the Horse to learn to keep some things under wraps. You don’t need to advertise everything or share all your advice. Keep things on a need to know basis for a change. You might find it more relaxing. Remember, you can’t control how your advice is implemented or even understood. Do your best to be articulate, clear and specific.

Despite your love of showing off, the most important things the Horse will do this year will probably not be for public consumption. Get back in touch with the most powerful foundation of your work: it’s personal. Joy is personal. Fame is a secondary consideration and not a necessary condition of your happiness.

Some masters are advising the Horse to stay away from the Rat, Rabbit and Rooster but this year I think contact and interaction are unavoidable. When you feel bold, seek them out instead. All three of them could use your help, and believe it or not you could use theirs too. In this year where you can be more by being subtle, if they do let you help them, keep it to yourself. That’s part of the deal.

Horses can make the most of the Water Rabbit year by acknowledging that there are some things that are simply over and they’re not coming back. You can’t change what already happened, so no point in dwelling on it. Find a way to let yourself stand down. You’ve been on guard for too long. If 2022 made this a live issue for you in the context of family, know that it’s time to forgive and let go, even if you can’t forget. Listen, communicate, repeat. Remember what you want.

Should you think you need a body guard or enforcer, question that. I don’t think you do. You could try to enlist the Dog, but they are probably already working for the Rabbit. Tigers may be more interested in alliance with you than usual because you’re lucky – for now. They tend not to appreciate you but you might change that this year. Your friend the Sheep has big prospects so it may be your turn to pick up your own pieces. No problem!

Money is attracted to you, and might tempt you to be over aggressive in your pursuit of wealth. This is the kind of mistake that will alienate people in positions of authority as well as those whose opinions and alliances you value. You know, those people you want backing you up in times of trouble.

Relationships are easier this year than they’ve been in some time. Seek joy and spread it. In case of difficult relationships that you’d like to improve or at least maintain, jump back in now while you can get more for those efforts. Some of your avoidance is just a bad habit; not based on your current feels is it?

If Horse is your day branch, you have an opportunity to meet someone this year with whom you could have a long term romantic relationship. There are also new alliances you can make with powerful people, more so if your day is Metal Horse.

Those with a Metal Horse year (1990 roughly) have a good outlook too. The Seattle Seahawks would do well to let quarterback Geno Smith continue to do his magic. He’s a great example of the kind of career reversal Horses can experience in this timing of Tiger and Rabbit.

The Horse has good advice to give in 2023. If your Horse is in the day or year pillar, your parents, you or your spouse will be advising. If you have a Horse in your hour pillar, it might be your children who have the good advice. If the Horse is in your month pillar, it will probably be someone at work who can help, or possibly an ex or sibling. Wherever the Horse appears in your chart will tell you who the advisor is.

In 2023, Horses have solutions to offer. The emphasis this year is in helping others. Most of the problems you encounter may not seem to be yours, and yet, there they are in front of you.

Job Title: Whisperer
Allies: Tiger, Dog, Sheep
Best months: February, March (powerfully personal), July, October.
Romance: Oh yes.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

The Snake in 2023 ~ Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Traveling Salvation Show

For the Snake, 2022 was quite…dynamic? Maybe your world has been shaken up; a reshuffling of the deck so to speak. What’s next? Is it time to for you to hit the road?

It is the Snake’s job to solve problems and give advice in 2023, and travel is somehow related to that. Although you may not be traveling to distant lands, travel is calling your name. Commuting is travel too.

Therefore, Snakes, what I want you to do this Water Rabbit year is pay attention to what’s around you. I don’t see you needing much assistance as long as you stay aware of your surroundings. Be present in time and space wherever you are. Using your enhanced powers of observation will keep you safe from harm. Trust that even if it sounds weird.

You may have a bigger view than usual, by which I mean a loftier perspective, so don’t forget to pay attention to small things too. We really need you to keep solving those mysteries. Some of them are medical. Hint hint. Can you help us get the facts straight?

The Snake in a Water Rabbit year is a Nobleman. For a Snake, this is something like being a consultant, again. You have a big level perspective and the skills to deal with bigger issues, however, most Snakes will find that their talents are needed on a more local, smaller level; in multiple locations. Throughout the year you’ll want to keep taking your big perspective and applying it in focused ways, on behalf of yourself and others. This year there could be more repetition than you’d like.

If Snake is in your month, you may be traveling for work. If Snake is in your year, maybe your parents will visit you or you will visit them. If Snake is in your day, you may be traveling for love or self development. If Snake is in your hour, maybe travel is your inner life – or maybe you have children who will travel.

Whatever the case, I know Snakes appreciate and enjoy travel and it appears to be available for you in 2023. It may be easier for you than for other signs in a year where we will see travel systems undergo a major overhaul. Travel is probably more likely in the first half of the year unless the itch runs deep for you. Can travel satisfy the longing you have now for friends and associates who are gone or far away?

It’s hard to be away from your roots, the feeling of touching them, and the people who embody them. The separation from what we knew as safety makes us all feel like we are just just barely hanging on to sanity, no matter what your belief system.

But wait, what if you’re not crazy? Maybe you’re just tired of waiting. You can feel time slipping away. Are you over it? Over everything? I hear a lot of people these days saying “I’m done”. Who even knows exactly what they are referring to, but frankly, I’m done too. What I mean is, I’m ready to move on but I’m flailing like everyone else. Let’s reorient together in 2023 for goodness sake.

Maybe a better way to describe the feeling that I’m talking about is calling it the simmering dissatisfaction that comes with having endured a situation for too long. It can turn to anger even when you’ve explored other outlets. This kind of energy can allow us to think of violence as a potential solution; anything is permissible in the interest of making change happen. If that’s where you are, I want you to consider how you can use that energy in a way that doesn’t hurt you or anyone else.

To channel that wild impatience, remember that distinguishing facts from misinformation and disinformation are very much in your wheelhouse. Present your findings. Use up this tension to fight back against the injustice that comes from lies – without killing anyone or ruining your life. Maybe it’s time to think about teaching? Maybe you should run for office. What better way to foil the bad guys? Maybe it’s time for a change of career. Has it become apparent that your values are no longer in line with your employer?

I would even suggest that directing your dissatisfaction to benefit a good cause might make you less accident prone this year. Otherwise that could be an issue. To offset potential injury, you can give blood, catch up on dental procedures and trim nails and hair regularly. If you are a cook, slow down and focus on what you are doing in the kitchen or ask someone else to do the chopping. This year you might realize that alone is not always the safe place you imagine it to be.

Your loneliness over these past few years may have been your choice. Maybe you chose it for the peace. It’s probably best to acknowledge that, if you haven’t already. And why wouldn’t you? Maybe it was just time for that in your life. That doesn’t mean you have to like being lonely. If being alone is not your preference, find a way to meet more people. Hiding out doesn’t really help with that, does it? And let’s not forget, avoiding intimacy is another way of hiding and by intimacy, yes, I do mean more than sex.

Career in 2023 may be more satisfying than relationship, probably due to the choices you are making. Are you sure you want closeness, or is it something less deep? For the masculine Snake, it appears to be a year of possibly sleeping alone. If you don’t want that, as you probably already know, this is not something that’s appropriately managed by force.* You can manage it by asking yourself what it is you’re supposed to learn from this time, or you could ask a Rabbit about intimacy. I think they will have unfamiliar, and therefore fresh, ideas for you.

While your associate the Rooster may be having a difficult year, your elemental nature means there’s a potential boost of income or at least, maybe an upgrade to your home or job. Among your associates and friends, you have the most to gain financially this year. There will be some peaks in 2023, but they may be lonely unless you’re interested in changing that. Regarding health, take some extra care not to get exhausted.

A downside of the year may be illness or loss of elders, other family members or friends. In that context, these days it’s probably best to get up to date with the people we care about on a regular basis. You never know what’s going to happen. If that kind of loss hasn’t touched your life in these last three years, you’ve been lucky. Cherish all those you love and make sure they know you do.

No matter what is going on, take your time with decisions, contracts, mergers and the like. You may be a bit prone to misjudgment so, even if it’s not like you to trust someone else over yourself, get a second opinion in case of important matters. You don’t have to follow the advice, just listen. Maybe there will be something useful.

Being a Nobleman in 2023, you can help people and there will be people ready to help you too. Snakes have advice to give about practical matters and money, but probably not about romance. It seems like that’s not your area of expertise at this time, however, Snakes who have healthy and happy partnerships will surely have some helpful tips to offer about how they got there.

Lastly, and maybe most important, Snakes have second chances that they didn’t have last year. You might apply that to anything where you want a do over or just use it to be more daring this year. Maybe apply that luck to a second chance with the one who got away, that is, if you’re still interested.

Job Title: Wandering Star
Allies: Snake, Rooster, Ox, Monkey
Best Months: May, August, September
Romance: Intimacy means you’re not afraid of committing to a position. Wait until you’re ready. June might make you think about it.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*It seems 1965 Wood Snake Brett Kavanaugh never learned this.

The Dragon in 2023 ~ Water Rabbit Year

Posted on by Stephanie Stewart

Fortunate Sun

Much of what the Water Rabbit year has to offer the Dragon is a clear vision. Trust in that and remember you don’t have anything to prove. Becoming known is a process so let people get to know you. Take some risks with problem solving but be patient, knowing that accolades will add up for later. With the kind of power you have this year, should you mess up, the most powerful thing you can do is tell the truth. Just get it out in the open where it can be dealt with and everything will be resolved. Poof!

In a Rabbit year, here’s what might be a nagging question: if your alliances became public knowledge, what kind of effect would that have on your career and reputation? Maybe a good one, maybe not, but know the answer to this question.

Be aware that potential trip ups this year come from associations that you fail to distance yourself from at the right time. I’m not recommending you abandon anyone, but your best friend Rooster is in the crosshairs of the year and may be willing to win at any cost. Your friend the Rat may be making harmful mistakes in the context of family or power. Take care with being an enabler. Can you be a friend and potentially let a friend make a mistake on their own, standing by to help pick up the pieces? Some people call that support. You don’t have to agree, just protect your neck.

The strongest impact of this Water Rabbit year will be psychological for you. The problems of a Dragon are the things that get in their head; it’s usually not external events. A typical problem is feeling misunderstood, and that may be magnified this year. You may even feel like people are mean to you. In each situation where this comes up, consider whether or not it’s true. Start thinking now about what you might want to do about it if it is. Maybe just let it go. What’s timely now is moving on.

With the 太陽 Tai Yang (Sun) on their side, Dragon is the go to person for problem solving in 2023. You can solve yours too, Dragon, though you might be more involved in others’ affairs than you’d like, possibly taking the role of whistle blower.* Some say that if you see a problem, that implies some responsibility on your part for solving it. Maybe that’s why it’s often your preference to ignore mundane things.

2023 may heighten that tendency. It may be difficult for you to see the point of what you’re working on because it may not be what you expected at this point in your life, or what you think you want. Your past experiences of feeling unrecognized or unappreciated may resurface. “Death by a thousand pokes to the ego”.

Jokes aside, take care of your health. A run of Wood years can wear a Dragon down or shape them to take power. It’s always your choice.

After these last few years, maybe you too are feeling like you’re seeking something that is always just out of reach. Can you extend yourself more in order to grasp it? We’re all due for stretching our capacity to help others. Should your employment make you feel like you’ve passed some peak of potential and achievement, that may be boredom speaking. This is a temporary situation if you will allow it to be. For certain.

In the Water Rabbit year, it’s normal for some endings to happen. Like you, most of us would benefit greatly by moving on from wherever we think we were, whether we’re talking about 2019 or 2022. If there’s meant to some kind of ending for you this year, remember you are the facilitator. In every case, this ending will be an event necessary to make way for a beginning. Don’t try to pretend you are pushed out or held back. You’re a Dragon after all.

So don’t give up, but do move on. Dragons can benefit from travel and movement this year, and can improve their luck by getting out of their usual haunts. That will help you get noticed, probably by those people you have been looking for in the context of work.

Dragons will benefit from exploring a new field or topic that is related to what they already do. Find other ways to shake yourself up intellectually. Seek change and the minor discomfort that comes with it unless you’re okay with missing out on the goodies the Rabbit year has to offer. If you’re having a hard time getting started, look for a Monkey to help you get moving.

Now that the Rabbit has shown up, the Dragon may want cultivate a money saving mind set. If you know your Five Elements, you’ll have some insight as to why, however, the potential financial losses the Dragon faces can be mitigated by staying in their own lane. It’s big enough! Know your friends. Know their friends. Know your enemies and their friends. Defend yourself as needed but don’t pick fights.

Maybe a Dragon’s only weakness is that they shun the supporting role. What the Dragon needs most in 2023 is grace: to give it, to get it, and to be graceful. The yin Wood of the Rabbit is in you and though you may find it annoying, or even think it’s overrated at times, you do know how to be kind. That’s the way to go if you want to support. Nice isn’t your way but kindness can be. I’m sure you know the difference.

Dragons like to play people off of each other. They like to be the one that knows the most about everyone in the room, and during these past few years Dragons may have intentionally or unintentionally hurt others who, this year, are forming their own alliances, potentially without you. Judgements will be made, so make sure your actions generate the approval or disapproval you are looking for. That’s all you can do.

If people are talking about you behind your back in 2023, give them good things to say. I wonder if you’ve noticed how lately your force might be working against you. There are times when it does. While it’s true you are a catalyst, you don’t have to prove it, however much you enjoy that. People are going to find out anyway, based on what you do and what happens around you. Bring your magic gently. That might save you some money and frustration too.

If Dragon is in your day pillar, you’ll want to find out how things are going in your relationship, unless you already know. I say this because Dragons seem to have the super power of ignoring things they find uninteresting or offensive, that is, until they decide not to. A Dragon can negate the existence of rules and things that hold other people back. This is a Dragon’s magic and sometimes, their folly.

If you do have concerns about your partnership, don’t forget that every successful one has weathered stormy times and other hardships – that’s how you know it’s successful. Find out how your partner is feeling about you and the life you share. The most persistent unhappinesses can be worn down by good communication and sharing truth. This is a delicate operation and must be approached with care, because there’s always a way to share the truth without being mean and it usually has to do with wording and timing. If there’s something you need to say, find the right words first. Let the words create a place to go with the discussion rather than ending it.

Lastly, if you’re a Dragon who hasn’t yet learned how to network, in 2023 consider directing most of your exchanges with people toward that idea. Demonstrate and acknowledge to yourself that your time with them is important to you. Do the small talk. Ask about the kids or the parents. Remember people’s names. Take notes if you need to. Take some interest. Before you know it, caring will reinforce your soft skills. You don’t have to like everyone, but you can’t exist without helpers, just like the rest of us.

Until the next episode, that is 甲辰 Wood Dragon 2024!

Job Title: Responsible Party
Allies: Monkey, Rat, Rooster
Best Months: August, September, December
Romance: Requires communication and attention.

Timing for all signs: Whatever you want to accomplish this year will need to be started no later than March. Plan on finishing by July ideally, but no later than the end of August.

*Is that you 1964 Wood Dragon Kamala Harris?

error: Content is protected !!