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.