Designated Decider
The Ox is not clashed by the Dragon, rather the Ox and Dragon have a relationship called Destruction. This relationship carries a potential energy that may or may not be expressed. If that sounds worrisome to you, find relief by choosing how you would like it to be expressed. For example, the Ox is a creature of routine. What if you break up with some routines? If you’re an Ox, it’s good for you to get knocked out of your rut every once in awhile. That’s how I see the Wood Dragon year for the Ox. Get knocked out of the rut, then resettle into new productive patterns. The Wood of the Wood Dragon will see to that.
Before continuing, I think it’s important to mention that a Destruction is most often a psychological challenge. For the Ox it’s a challenge of enduring doubt. It’s a challenge to stay the course while allowing change at the same time. There’s a flood of potential success if you can stay present to receive it.
In 2024 any Ox might be feeling that something is off. If what you’re picking up is making you more sensitive, nervous, anxious, agitated or unstable my advice is to take the risk you’ve been planning anyway. Whatever leap you were about to make, don’t stop now. Take a chance. You’ll really appreciate that you did when you get to 2025.
But wait, there’s more. You need to know that the Ox is pulling a big wagon of good luck that outweighs any potential worries or hardships.
Every year, the Special Stars of the year shift around, which is one of the reasons people have an annual Ba Zi reading. The four Special Stars that are considered to be the most significant are 太陽 Great Sun, 太陰 Great Moon, 福徳 Fortune Virtue and 龍德 Dragon Virtue. In a year where one of these four shows up in your Ba Zi, you know there’s the potential of a special experience.
In 2024 the Ox is the lucky recipient of Fortune Virtue. Whatever other pillars you have in your Ba Zi, if you have an Ox you know you can lean on the luck that is there. Fortune Virtue is money luck, but it’s also the kind of luck that seems random. It’s luck you’ve accumulated from good deeds. This good luck isn’t related to what you do as much as what you have done in the past, so working harder now is probably not going to be the answer if you’re trying to invoke it. Consider simply enjoying it. In spite of what I’ve said about past good deeds, I doubt any of this stuff has a cause and effect relationship anyway. Good deeds are usually done without thoughts of how we will reap a reward.
The position of the Ox in your Ba Zi will reveal what area of your life will be enhanced by the Fortune Virtue. If Ox is your year pillar, your luck might be related to ancestors.
If Ox is your birth month*, Fortune Virtue will influence the way you go about things. You might get help from siblings or peers. Fortune Virtue will influence your work. The month pillar might be the best place to have it if you want to accumulate more good deeds, however, in the day pillar it might bring unexpected luck with partnership. If the Ox is in your hour pillar, you’ll be thinking about how lucky you are in spite of delays and disruptions. That seems great too!
In the Wood Dragon year, Oxen will have more than enough of food, material necessities, and time. You may be in circumstances that make you doubt how long that can last. Don’t. Let yourself stop worrying about those things so you can get on with what you like and want to do. If you feel overshadowed, know that it’s temporary. Maybe that’s what you’re afraid of?
Being lucky and able to overcome potential bad luck means it’s a good year for taking chances that the risk averse Ox might not normally take. Whenever you get to the point in the year where you think I’ve led you astray (July?), remember that I also said you’ll be going out on a high note next January.
For Oxen or anyone who is concerned with bad luck, know that in any given year it’s common to find that you have at least one pillar that is not clashed or one pillar that carries some special luck. You want to lean on those. Focus your energies on the pillars that are lucky for you. For the Ox this year, all in all I think you’ll find your good luck outweighs the bad.
In the Ox’s darkest moments this year, you might think the year has a specific threat for you or that you’re in danger. Some nasty things may be said about you by others because of your good luck outweighing the bad. As I’ve already said, it’s the feelings that are the hard part of the year. It’s the feelings that get to us. Remember that others’ feelings do not belong to you.
As is the case for the Rat, there may be times in 2024 where the laws of time and space don’t seem to apply to the Ox. You might find ways to speed past obstacles and shrink distance. This might also mean it’s difficult to get attention. For the Ox, if both of these things are true at the same time, it might be kind of perfect.
What might be problematic about the attention part is that everyone needs attention some time. If you shy away from that, you might miss an opportunity for the kind of mentoring you didn’t think you could get. If 2024 is the year you might lose some of your innocence, maybe you would like to do that by embracing some intimacy. That’s not necessarily the physical kind, you know. If you are lonely, allow yourself some company.
The Wood Dragon wants to give you an assist with your career, or if you prefer, your life path. The doubt you’re feeling about whether you’re fulfilling your purpose, or why you might have chosen it in the first place is something you’ve experienced before. Think about it. Maybe this is just a pattern for you that is meant to keep things fresh. It’s not the time to chuck it but it might be the time to think about that. Thinking is good. Chucking might not be appropriate.
With so much help available for you Ox, I hope you accept some. Know also that part of your assignment this year is to be the Nobleman for others. I know you like to teach people lessons – make it kind and helpful. This will be a supportive year for Oxen who are already known as consultants as well those who do it on the side. People will be looking for your advice.
I know you’ll be saying you don’t need all that luck, that your hard work will be enough and you’re probably right. If your way is to insist on total self sufficiency (no friends?) open up to the possibility that life could be enhanced by a few select relationships. This is one way to disrupt your own routine.
In this Dragon year of 2024, there will definitely be reversals for everyone. In the case of Ox, consider that you may be the one who initiates them. You might not be the catalyst but you’re definitely a decider.
The Ox’s Calendar for the Wood Dragon Year
丙寅 Fire Tiger Month
February 4th-March 5th
Feels like being pinned in place. Cultivate ways to remember who you are and what you want.
丁卯 Fire Rabbit Month
March 5th-April 4th
Careful with that schadenfreude. Find other ways to distract yourself.
戊辰 Earth Dragon Month
April 4th-May 5th
Peak of disrupted routines. Let the changes happen. Flexibility wins.
己巳 Earth Snake Month
May 5th-June 5th
Great for starting new projects. Extra points if they are on behalf of the revolution.
庚午 Metal Horse Month
June 5th-July 6th
Your work is out in the open and it’s looking good. Mutual attractions.
辛未 Metal Sheep Month
July 6th-August 7th
Possible disagreements about who has it worse. It’s settled. We’re all in this together.
壬申 Water Monkey Month
August 7th-September 7th
Your creations come easy now. Perhaps start winter’s work in advance.
癸酉 Water Rooster Month
September 7th-October 8th
Your finest work is happening now. Are you able to feel your success?
甲戌 Wood Dog Month
October 8th-November 7th
Through your persistence in 2024 you’ll find that an obvious bully is nothing to you.
乙亥 Wood Pig Month
November 7th-December 7th
Some things are beyond your control now so let them happen. Emotional preparations for 2025.
丙子 Fire Rat Month
December 7th-January 5th 2025
If think your work empowers others more than it does you, think again.
丁丑 Fire Ox month
January 5th-February 3rd
The Snake is already showing up with data to help you plan for 2025.
* The Ox month covers approximately January 5th-February 4th. Each year the dates may vary slightly.