Who is a Tiger?

Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010.
Month*: February
Hour: 03.00-05.00am
Day: Ask Us

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

What is a Tiger?

Because the yang wood Tiger is composed of three different elements, he is an especially versatile predator. There is nothing wrong with being a predator except that it can imply a very rigid view of the world. Tigers often don’t play well with others, not because their egos are in the way (unlike the Dragon, the Pig, the Rooster or the Horse) but because for them, work and play are very distinct activities. They can up to a point frolic with other Tigers but broadly every alliance is focused on an outcome. It’s no coincidence that 1974 Tiger Victoria Beckham is the Spice Girl who’s not looking back; she’s moved on.

The Tiger never forgets. For the unbalanced Tiger no slight, insult or rejection can be allowed to go unredressed.. He may wait a lifetime but he will get his revenge. On the other hand the balanced Tiger will always repay a debt and go out of his way to acknowledge assistance.

The typical qualities of yang wood are sharp eyes, a strong will and swift movement. The Tiger stalks his prey silently and pounces when he is ready. He can wait days as long as he is not hungry. A needy Tiger is very dangerous. Never scorn the Tiger.

The Tiger will often have a fresh view of things which makes him the eyes of the team he makes up with the Horse and the Dog. The Horse is front of house, the Dog the keeper of records and the Tiger the hit man.

In terms of human relations the Tiger may be the most yang of the animals; that is swift, sharp and unsubtle. The earth he inherits from his predecessor in the Zodiac the Ox, is turned miraculously from yin to yang when he receives it. The unbalanced Tiger knows no mercy and expects none. And in this he has altered the dogma he receives from the Ox – do as you would be done by – into a personal code. This alteration can amount to perversion and make for serious misunderstandings; the unconscious Tiger probably knows himself less than any other animal. His ruthlessness which he can wear as a badge of honour, is often simply a failure to open up to interdependence with others. Of all insults “dependent” is the worst for the Tiger. He will not depend. This makes relationship an act of will. With a true act of will, the Tiger forms the most enduring relationships. If it is not truly a choice but a resigned agreement to bend himself out of shape, all around him will distort also. Sometimes the truly unconscious Tiger thinks this reflects a merciless world in which he has been clever in getting his revenge in first. This logic doesn’t work and the smarter Tiger knows this.

But even the smartest Tiger is not in the clear because the corollary of foregoing revenge appears to be falling on her sword. This is a mistake too. Most of us prefer not to live by the law of the jungle but then most of us are not as well-equipped for it.

Metal is generally considered to represent logical thought, authority and competition. The Tiger is elementally the opposite of Metal; the wooden Tiger likes to think of himself as logical but instinctive or even automatic is a better description. Generally he can only make use of Metal early on in life or at the inception of a process. After that he can deceive himself that he knows what to do and that he is beyond advice. The really unbalanced Tiger (yang Wood day stem for instance born in February) considers himself bold and resolute but truly is hanging onto past (mother) stuff that ought to have been completed. The admission of this would affront his pride and he is unlikely to do it.

Richard Bandler, the Godfather of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, used to say that the person with the most flexible behaviour has control. The Tiger is the yangest woodenest of the animals. He is so flexible that he can be completely immovable. This can be his role in the alliance with the Monkey, Pig and Snake sometimes called The Four Terminals: the Monkey sells the traveller a ticket, the Pig may offer to accompany him and the Snake can enchant with tales of exotic locations but the Tiger is liable to snarl and send the traveller on his way. Without the Pig in the ba zi this combination can like the Four Earths, be a seriously unhelpful combination, implying restricted movement.

A tender father and an implacable father-in-law, a good leader but an erratic motivator, at his worst, the keynote of the Tiger is an uneasy combination between a long memory and a short fuse. At his best he is the sort of leader you would gladly die for. At worst she’ll do the job for you.
Richard Ashworth© 2019
Study with Richard Ashworth

The Tiger in 2019

The Tiger’s job in 2018 was to be cruel to be kind. The Dog required repeated course corrections and you were there to assist. A Tiger likes to be known for killing it and that kind of good luck interferes with getting things done. Metal Tigers John Kelly and James Mattis got so bored they had to leave their elite positions in the Trump administration.

Like Jordan Peterson, 1962 Water Tiger, you are a covert, spontaneous provocateur. Not being clear about your position one way or the other amuses you and lands you on the winning side most of the time. You’re at your best when you’re using those qualities in your vocation. Tigers inspire trust as easily as they do fear when they want to. It’s your choice.

Most people think their own Chinese Zodiac animal year will be lucky, however, there are disadvantages to being at the top of the pecking order. In a Pig year the Tiger is in the sweet spot. You get the empowerment without the Pig’s self clash. The Pig will rubber stamp the your agenda. In a year that favors the success of the humble, probably the only mistake a Tiger can make is being too arrogant.

The Pig, the Tiger’s secret friend and year boss, leaves his true self behind, aspiring to be your partner. You suspect the Pig is not on your level, yet you are irresistibly attracted to cast your pearls anyway. Tiger and Pig have been down this road to heartbreak before. Being honest with yourself about what you really want from the relationship will rewrite the ending.

When conflicts arise in February, May and August, the Pig’s generosity and honesty come to your rescue. The Pig is your mediator. If you are house hunting choose a Pig as your agent to avoid third party interference in your transactions.

Tigers have a special opportunity to take on a new business or start up. It that’s your goal, get permits, rent office, etc before the end of March. Do the work you’ve been talking about for years. Be up and running as soon as possible for best advantage. Tigers will put out lots of product in June and reap the rewards in July. The timing is close to perfect.

In February, March and April and May Tigers are intently focused on success. Do you know what you mean by that in the context of relationship? If not, you’ll compromise yourself in trying to prop up an untenable romance again. Lesson of the year: Giving and receiving love doesn’t require that.

Be ready to defend or assist a best friend or partner in May when accusations fly. How are you complicit? Or not?

With so much going on Tigers benefit from some time off in August to explore new ideas and focus on health. Visit with parents and other ancestors.

2019 will be gone in a flash. For the Tiger a typical Pig year ends in November – breaking up with or bailing out someone close to you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

© Stephanie Stewart 2019