It is Oben’s favorite year in the 12 year cycle of Chinese Astrology; the year of the dog.
General predictions
There will be a lot of change, opportunities, and hard work this year. I mean lots of hard work. Careful not to exhaust yourself. It is a good year to initiate healthy habits and schedule regular relaxation time. This is how you will best take advantage of all the good coming in while avoiding the pitfalls; like adrenal exhaustion.
Many predict issues of security and violent upheavals, but I guess every year on earth is like that. We have an opportunity to move into alignment with our higher moral character; personally and collectively. The dog, after all, represents loyalty and honesty. We can chose to make our upheavals ones of increased social justice and collective kindness.
There will obstacles, but they can be overcome with wisdom.
Earth (digestion, networks, family, stability) is greatly strengthened if you play your cards right. Wood (liver, stress) and Water (kidneys, adrenals, hormonal balance) elements are weakened if you don’t. More on that below.
Is this a good year for you?
Yes, as long as you position yourself well. Most astrologists would say 1/3 of people are doomed, 1/3 are cautiously lucky, and the rest just get more of the same, but I believe my answer is more Daoist. There is always a way to benefit. It all comes down to understanding the energies coming in and what you need to thrive. Also, the more you work on yourself and evolve, the more the positive opportunities are magnified and the troubles just minor bumps in the road.
Simplified version:
Dog = Yang Earth
It is also a Yang Earth year.
This means a lot of Earth and a lot of Yang energy coming in.
The Good = groundedness, things coming to fruition, loyalty, networking, nurturing, family (a good year for marriage)
The Bad = stuck, stubborn
- Health – protect liver and kidneys (adrenals), especially if these are weak areas for you. Take advantage of strong Earth to build digestion.
- Feng Shui – Include Wood and Metal elements in your environment to control the excess Earth; i.e. houseplants, declutter, decorate with green or white.
- Lifestyle – set goals and regimens; wear greens, white, gray.
Detailed version:
5 Element Interactions
The Generating Cycle shows how the 5 elements build and nurture one another. When you can break down something into elements then you know how you can strengthen the part you want. For example, if you want to execute a creative project such as writing a book (a Water element trait), it helps to organize your space and materials and schedule time for the project (Metal activities).
You can also use this cycle to drain an out of control element. For example, if you are very angry (excess Wood), finding humor (Fire) will drain and transform the anger.
The Control Cycle is the natural way that the 5 elements keep each other in check. For example, a spirited motivational speaker (Wood) can mobilize someone who is stuck in a rut (Earth). Too much control is not a good thing. For example, if that motivator crosses the line into a domineering drill sargent bullying someone who doesn’t like confrontation, the control cycle becomes pathological.
In this case we have a lot of Earth energy coming in which can nourish weak Earth (stability, family, digestion) or Metal (order, righteousness, lungs), but also over control Water (movement, creativity, mystery, kidneys, urinary bladder) or drain Fire (spontaneity, fun, humor, heart, small intestine).
10 Heavenly Stems 天干 (tiāngān)
The ancient Chinese calendar was based on a 10 day week: the Yin and Yang of each of the 5 Elements. This evolved into 2 concurrent cycles of the 10 days with the 12 animals to create 60 day cycles.
They are “heavenly” in that they are also the names of the 10 suns, which are believed to have been previous worlds prior to our current one.
12 Earthly Branches 地支 ()
The 12 animals evolved from observations of Jupiter’s movements and then the 12 months of the year. This was of course translated into the language of Yin and Yang and the 5 Elements.
The 12 animals are a mnemonic (memory) device to remember the 5 element/Yin&Yang pairings with a redundancy of the Earth element.
This year is Yang Earth + more Yang Earth.
Now that we know the elements and Yin/Yang balance of the year, we need to know where you are weak or strong in your elements so you can thrive this year.
4 Pillars of Destiny 四柱命理
This is basically your birth chart. The good news is that in Daoist philosophy, Heaven Luck (or astrology) is only 1/3 of your destiny. 1/3 is your lifestyle and 1/3 is your environment.
Each of us is our own combination of the 5 elements and Yin and Yang. We need to know what energies balance and weaken us to know how to prepare.
Find your 4 Pillar chart or you can contact me for a reading/Feng Shui consult.
Yang Earth controls Water (Kidneys/Adrenals and Urinary Bladder) and can insult Wood (Liver and Gallbladder). It is a good year to strengthen the Earth element (Spleen and Stomach)
If Earth is a harmonizing element for you, take full advantage. But if it is not, you want to strengthen Wood and Metal in your life:
Wood controls Earth
Metal drains Earth and Fuels Water
