Getting Zen On Chinese Astrology
With a complex mix of calendar cycles and associations to animals,
Chinese astrology is as mysterious as it is effective. This ancient
philosophy is widely acknowledged in the culture and its practices
are a part of everyday life. In this article, we'll examine the
roots and how other cultures have come to respect it.
Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese
calendar. This basic cycle has been constructed from two cycles: the
10 heavenly stems (the five elements in their yin and yang forms)
and the 12 earthly branches, or the 12-year cycle of animals
referred to as the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese animal zodiac also
operates on a cycle of months or 'moons' and of hours of the day.
The animal signs assigned by year represent how others will perceive
you as being, or how you present yourself. It is a common
misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs,
and many western descriptions of the Chinese version draw solely on
this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month
(called inner animals) and hours of the day (called secret animals).
While a person might appear to be a dragon because they were born in
the year of the dragon, they might also be a snake internally and an
ox secretively. In total, this makes for 8,640 possible combinations
that a person might be. An individual's monthly animal sign is
called their inner animal and is concerned with what motivates a
person. Since this sign dictates the person's love life and inner
persona, it is critical to a proper understanding of the
individual's compatibility with other signs. These are all critical
for the proper use of this Asian astrology.
In Chinese astrology, each sign is linked to a month in the solar
year, as well as to a season. It's believed that the elements
transfers a portion of its characteristics to the sign concerned.
The fixed element of each sign applies also to the year and hour
signs, and not just the monthly sign. It is important to note that
the fixed element is separate from the cycle of elements.
The Chinese zodiac is also used to label times of day, with each
sign corresponding to a "large-hour," which is a two-hour period (24
divided by 12 animals). It is therefore important to know the exact
time of birth to determine it. The secret animal is thought to be a
person's truest representation, since this animal is determined by
the smallest denominator: a person's birth hour. It is a person's
own true sign, upon which their personality is based.
Chinese new year celebrations are renowned for the bold displays of
Asian tradition and symbols from Chinese astrology. Most societies
don't practice astrology as openly as the Chinese do. Businessmen
won't make deals on some days, couples try to have babies in certain
years and particular addresses are believed to be good luck. This is
an example of how deeply people can believe in the impact of stars
and planets.
