Your Chinese Horoscope 2015: What the year of the goat holds in store for you

About the Author

Neil Somerville is one of the leading writers in the West on Chinese horoscopes. He has been interested in Eastern forms of divination for many years and believes that much can be learned from the ancient wisdom of the East. His annual book on Chinese horoscopes has built up an international following and he is also the author of What’s Your Chinese Love Sign? (Thorsons, 2000; HarperElement, 2013), Chinese Success Signs (Thorsons, 2001) and The Answers (Element, 2004).

Neil Somerville was born in the year of the Water Snake. His wife was born under the sign of the Monkey, his son is an Ox and daughter a Horse.

Dedication

TO ROS, RICHARD AND EMILY

Epigraph

As we march through life,

we each have our hopes, our ambitions and our dreams.

Sometimes fate and circumstance will assist us,

sometimes we will struggle and despair,

but march we must.

For it is those who keep going,

and who keep their aspirations alive,

who stand the greatest chance of securing what they want.

March determinedly,

and your determination will, in some way, be rewarded.

Neil Somerville

Contents

Cover

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Epigraph

Acknowledgements

Introduction

The Chinese Years

Welcome to the Year of the Goat

The Rat

The Ox

The Tiger

The Rabbit

The Dragon

The Snake

The Horse

The Goat

The Monkey

The Rooster

The Dog

The Pig

Appendix

Relationships between the Signs

Your Ascendant

How to Get the Best from your Chinese Sign and the Year

A Closing Thought

Copyright

About the Publisher

Acknowledgements

In writing Your Chinese Horoscope 2015 I am grateful for the assistance and invaluable support that those around me have given.

I would also like to acknowledge Theodora Lau’s The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes (Harper & Row, 1979; Arrow, 1981), which was particularly useful to me in my research.

In addition to Ms Lau’s work, I commend the following books to those who wish to find out more about Chinese horoscopes: Kristyna Arcarti, Chinese Horoscopes for Beginners (Headway, 1995); Catherine Aubier, Chinese Zodiac Signs (Arrow, 1984), series of 12 books; E. A. Crawford and Teresa Kennedy, Chinese Elemental Astrology (Piatkus Books, 1992); Paula Delsol, Chinese Horoscopes (Pan, 1973); Barry Fantoni, Barry Fantoni’s Chinese Horoscopes (Warner, 1994); Bridget Giles and the Diagram Group, Chinese Astrology (HarperCollins, 1996); Kwok Man-Ho, Complete Chinese Horoscopes (Sunburst Books, 1995); Lori Reid, The Complete Book of Chinese Horoscopes (Element Books, 1997); Paul Rigby and Harvey Bean, Chinese Astrologics (Publications Division, South China Morning Post Ltd, 1981); Ruth Q. Sun, The Asian Animal Zodiac (Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc., 1996); Derek Walters, Ming Shu (Pagoda Books, 1987), The Chinese Astrology Workbook (The Aquarian Press, 1988) and Chinese Horoscope Bible (Godsfield Press, 2008); Suzanne White, The New Astrology (Pan, 1987), The New Chinese Astrology (Pan, 1994) and Chinese Astrology Plain and Simple (Eden Grove Editions, 1998).

Introduction

The origins of Chinese horoscopes have been lost in the mists of time. It is known, however, that oriental astrologers practised their art many thousands of years ago and even today Chinese astrology continues to fascinate and intrigue.

In Chinese astrology there are 12 signs named after 12 different animals. No one quite knows how the signs acquired their names, but there is one legend that offers an explanation. According to this legend, one Chinese New Year the Buddha invited all the animals in his kingdom to come before him. Unfortunately, for reasons best known to the animals, only 12 turned up. The first to arrive was the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and finally Pig. In gratitude, the Buddha decided to name a year after each of the animals and that those born during that year would inherit some of the personality of that animal. Therefore those born in the year of the Ox would be hardworking, resolute and stubborn, just like the Ox, while those born in the year of the Dog would be loyal and faithful, just like the Dog. While it is not possible that everyone born in a particular year can have all the characteristics of the sign, it is incredible what similarities do occur, and this is partly where the fascination of Chinese horoscopes lies.

In addition to the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac there are five elements and these have a strengthening or moderating influence upon the signs. Details about the effects of the elements are given in each of the chapters on the signs.

To find out which sign you were born under, refer to the tables on the following pages. As the Chinese year is based on the lunar year and does not start until late January or early February, it is particularly important for anyone born in those two months to check carefully the dates of the Chinese year in which they were born.

Also included, in the appendix, are two charts showing the compatibility between the signs for personal and business relationships and details about the signs ruling the different hours of the day. From this it is possible to locate your ascendant and, as in Western astrology, this has a significant influence on your personality.

In writing this book I have taken the unusual step of combining the intriguing nature of Chinese horoscopes with the Western desire to know what the future holds, and have based my interpretations upon various factors relating to each of the signs. Over the years in which Your Chinese Horoscope has been published I have been pleased that so many have found the sections on the forthcoming year of interest and hope that the horoscope has been constructive and useful. Remember, though, that at all times you are master of your own destiny.

I sincerely hope that Your Chinese Horoscope 2015 will prove interesting and helpful for the year ahead.

Welcome to the Year of the Goat

Whether clambering over mountain rocks or grazing in lush green fields, there is an air of contentment about the goat. Unless troubled by some threat, he is generally at ease with himself and his genial nature will have a bearing on events in his own year.

On the world stage, the emphasis will be on reconciliation. Some troubled and warring nations will now take steps to seek peace and adopt measures that will allow them to be more accepted by the world community. Important settlements will be reached and this will be a year for dialogue, diplomacy and greater understanding. It was, for instance, in the last Goat year, 2003, that India and Pakistan restored full diplomatic ties and brought to an end years of conflict in Kashmir, and other Goat years have seen the historic Camp David peace talks, the signing of the SALT II nuclear weapons agreement and the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. The stated reason for the 2003 invasion of Iraq was to rid the nation of weapons of mass destruction and so make the world a safer place. This drive for security – and understanding – will be very evident this year.

In addition to the many high-level meetings that will characterize the year, industrialists and political leaders will be keen to stimulate trade, and significant agreements are likely to be made between countries and other trading communities. Many governments will invest heavily in infrastructure programmes to attract investment and create jobs as well as improve conditions. The accent will be on growth and moving forward, and the economies of many countries will benefit as a result.

Much attention will also be focused on environmental matters, particularly on protecting the world’s resources, and there will be a corresponding increase in the use of renewable energy, with many authorities promoting a cleaner and greener message. Indeed, the theme of Expo 2015, which will be held in Milan, will be ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’ and the focus will be on the availability of food and water and the state of nutrition and health in years to come.

There is also likely to be significant growth in the organic food industry, with many people paying greater attention to their diet and making positive changes to their lifestyle. Humanitarian issues, too, will feature prominently, with international bodies launching major initiatives as well as increasing awareness of the suffering of some of the peoples of the world. Again, some remarkable achievements can ensue, and the year will see some regions transformed as a result. Interestingly, it was in the previous Goat year that the World Health Organisation was alerted to the threat of the SARS virus and what followed was the most effective response to an epidemic in history.

This will also be an election year in Britain. Over the long campaign, considerable volatility will be seen as the issues are hotly debated. It will be a searching campaign, too, with much attention focused on considering alternative ways forward. The result may not be as clear-cut as some may wish.

Goat individuals are born under the sign of art, and the arts can look forward to an exciting and innovative year. In many countries, major exhibitions and cultural events will capture the imagination. New artists, with their own distinctive styles, will come to prominence, and in the theatre and cinema major productions that enthral many.

The fashion industry will also see the emergence of new trends, with some distinctive styles and even some bizarre embellishments being introduced. The Goat year is all for style, colour and experimentation.

Goat years can be groundbreaking; it was in a Goat year that the Beatles released their concept album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which not only featured songs destined to become classics but was famed for its iconic cover. Goat years are times of self-expression and creativity, and a feel-good factor is likely to be evident in much that is produced this year.

The Goat year will also bring excitement. On the sports field, new records will be created and some particularly competitive tournaments will take place. For the sports enthusiast, the year will contain many delights, with the Rugby World Cup, for example, generating great interest not only in the competing nations but also beyond.

And the beyond too will be significant this year, as the NASA space probe Dawn is scheduled to explore the dwarf planet Ceres and New Horizons, another spacecraft, to fly by and study Pluto. During the year outer space will reveal yet of its more secrets.

Another aspect of the Goat year is that it favours relationships and the family. It is a time when many people will spend more time with others and appreciate what they have in their lives. Many people in love will also come together, cement relationships, marry and start a family.

Overall, Goat years offer hope, although, as is always the way, there will also be flashpoints, tragedy and disasters. During this year, certain territories could be affected by heatwaves and there will also be moments of volatility – goats can, after all, be fickle! – but the underlying trend will be one of consensus, growth and moving forward. Over the year not only will historic agreements be forged and solutions found to some of the world’s concerns, but the individual will enjoy a more balanced lifestyle and realize inner potential.

For us all, the Goat year offers possibility and I hope that by using your strengths, you will prosper as well as find contentment.

I wish you good luck and good fortune.

The Rat

5 February 1924 to 23 January 1925 — Wood Rat

24 January 1936 to 10 February 1937 — Fire Rat

10 February 1948 to 28 January 1949 — Earth Rat

28 January 1960 to 14 February 1961 — Metal Rat

15 February 1972 to 2 February 1973 — Water Rat

2 February 1984 to 19 February 1985 — Wood Rat

19 February 1996 to 6 February 1997 — Fire Rat

7 February 2008 to 25 January 2009 — Earth Rat

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