25th Anniversary Edition

Neil Somerville

What the Year of the Dragon holds in store for you

Your Chinese Horoscope 2012

TO ROS, RICHARD AND EMILY

Contents

Introduction

The Chinese Years

Welcome to the Year of the Dragon

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

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Copyright

About the Publisher

AND A SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Your Chinese Horoscope, and not only does this represent a personal milestone for me, but it is also a chance to convey my gratitude to many. Not only have those I have worked with at HarperCollins always been helpful, but for a great many years Liz Hutchins has carefully assisted with the editing, and so, Liz, and all at HarperCollins, a special thank you.

I have also been impressed by the quality of the many foreign language editions produced and would like to thank the publishers for the care they have taken, as well as for helping to make Your Chinese Horoscope so widely available.

The messages I have received from readers over the years have meant a great deal to me and I am especially grateful to those who buy my book every year for their wonderful support. To all readers, whether new to this series or regular, I wish every good fortune.

I hope to continue writing Your Chinese Horoscope for many more years. The first 25 years have been interesting … and just a prelude to the possibilities that lie ahead.

With thanks and best wishes,

Neil Somerville

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 2012 will prove interesting and helpful for the year ahead.

THE CHINESE YEARS

Rat 18 February 1912 to 5 February 1913

Ox 6 February 1913 to 25 January 1914

Tiger 26 January 1914 to 13 February 1915

Rabbit 14 February 1915 to 2 February 1916

Dragon 3 February 1916 to 22 January 1917

Snake 23 January 1917 to 10 February 1918

Horse 11 February 1918 to 31 January 1919

Goat 1 February 1919 to 19 February 1920

Monkey 20 February 1920 to 7 February 1921

Rooster 8 February 1921 to 27 January 1922

Dog 28 January 1922 to 15 February 1923

Pig 16 February 1923 to 4 February 1924

Rat 5 February 1924 to 23 January 1925

Ox 24 January 1925 to 12 February 1926

Tiger 13 February 1926 to 1 February 1927

Rabbit 2 February 1927 to 22 January 1928

Dragon 23 January 1928 to 9 February 1929

Snake 10 February 1929 to 29 January 1930

Horse 30 January 1930 to 16 February 1931

Goat 17 February 1931 to 5 February 1932

Monkey 6 February 1932 to 25 January 1933

Rooster 26 January 1933 to 13 February 1934

Dog 14 February 1934 to 3 February 1935

Pig 4 February 1935 to 23 January 1936

Rat 24 January 1936 to 10 February 1937

Ox 11 February 1937 to 30 January 1938

Tiger 31 January 1938 to 18 February 1939

Rabbit 19 February 1939 to 7 February 1940

Dragon 8 February 1940 to 26 January 1941

Snake 27 January 1941 to 14 February 1942

Horse 15 February 1942 to 4 February 1943

Goat 5 February 1943 to 24 January 1944

Monkey 25 January 1944 to 12 February 1945

Rooster 13 February 1945 to 1 February 1946

Dog 2 February 1946 to 21 January 1947

Pig 22 January 1947 to 9 February 1948

Rat 10 February 1948 to 28 January 1949

Ox 29 January 1949 to 16 February 1950

Tiger 17 February 1950 to 5 February 1951

Rabbit 6 February 1951 to 26 January 1952

Dragon 27 January 1952 to 13 February 1953

Snake 14 February 1953 to 2 February 1954

Horse 3 February 1954 to 23 January 1955

Goat 24 January 1955 to 11 February 1956

Monkey 12 February 1956 to 30 January 1957

Rooster 31 January 1957 to 17 February 1958

Dog 18 February 1958 to 7 February 1959

Pig 8 February 1959 to 27 January 1960

Rat 28 January 1960 to 14 February 1961

Ox 15 February 1961 to 4 February 1962

Tiger 5 February 1962 to 24 January 1963

Rabbit 25 January 1963 to 12 February 1964

Dragon 13 February 1964 to 1 February 1965

Snake 2 February 1965 to 20 January 1966

Horse 21 January 1966 to 8 February 1967

Goat 9 February 1967 to 29 January 1968

Monkey 30 January 1968 to 16 February 1969

Rooster 17 February 1969 to 5 February 1970

Dog 6 February 1970 to 26 January 1971

Pig 27 January 1971 to 14 February 1972

Rat 15 February 1972 to 2 February 1973

Ox 3 February 1973 to 22 January 1974

Tiger 23 January 1974 to 10 February 1975

Rabbit 11 February 1975 to 30 January 1976

Dragon 31 January 1976 to 17 February 1977

Snake 18 February 1977 to 6 February 1978

Horse 7 February 1978 to 27 January 1979

Goat 28 January 1979 to 15 February 1980

Monkey 16 February 1980 to 4 February 1981

Rooster 5 February 1981 to 24 January 1982

Dog 25 January 1982 to 12 February 1983

Pig 13 February 1983 to 1 February 1984

Rat 2 February 1984 to 19 February 1985

Ox 20 February 1985 to 8 February 1986

Tiger 9 February 1986 to 28 January 1987

Rabbit 29 January 1987 to 16 February 1988

Dragon 17 February 1988 to 5 February 1989

Snake 6 February 1989 to 26 January 1990

Horse 27 January 1990 to 14 February 1991

Goat 15 February 1991 to 3 February 1992

Monkey 4 February 1992 to 22 January 1993

Rooster 23 January 1993 to 9 February 1994

Dog 10 February 1994 to 30 January 1995

Pig 31 January 1995 to 18 February 1996

Rat 19 February 1996 to 6 February 1997

Ox 7 February 1997 to 27 January 1998

Tiger 28 January 1998 to 15 February 1999

Rabbit 16 February 1999 to 4 February 2000

Dragon 5 February 2000 to 23 January 2001

Snake 24 January 2001 to 11 February 2002

Horse 12 February 2002 to 31 January 2003

Goat 1 February 2003 to 21 January 2004

Monkey 22 January 2004 to 8 February 2005

Rooster 9 February 2005 to 28 January 2006

Dog 29 January 2006 to 17 February 2007

Pig 18 February 2007 to 6 February 2008

Rat 7 February 2008 to 25 January 2009

Ox 26 January 2009 to 13 February 2010

Tiger 14 February 2010 to 2 February 2011

Rabbit 3 February 2011 to 22 January 2012

Dragon 23 January 2012 to 9 February 2013

NOTE

The names of the signs in the Chinese zodiac occasionally differ, although the characteristics of the signs remain the same. In some books the Ox is referred to as the Buffalo or Bull, the Rabbit as the Hare or Cat, the Goat as the Sheep and the Pig as the Boar.

For the sake of convenience, the male gender is used throughout this book. Unless otherwise stated, the characteristics of the signs apply to both sexes.

WELCOME TO THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON

Vibrant, exciting and colourful, the Dragon heads many a carnival. Amid cheers and much rejoicing, it weaves back and forth, enchanting the crowds. It is bold and flamboyant, and in 2012 few will remain untouched by its influence. This is no ordinary year and no ordinary time.

Dragon years are action driven and times for major initiatives. As the Chinese proverb states, ‘Better to do it than to miss it.’

This year, in view of some of the economic difficulties that have been experienced in recent years, many governments and organizations will be concentrating their efforts on encouraging growth and stimulating industry and investment. Major incentives will be offered to help the situation and in many countries projects will be announced to create new jobs and additional funding will be given to education and training. Dragon years favour progress, but opportunities do need to be taken when they arise. In this fast-moving year, there is no time to waste.

Elections will be held in several countries this year, with the economy featuring strongly in many a campaign. In the American election in particular, much of the year will be spent in considering the way forward. There will be controversy, surprise and drama. This election, as with others held in 2012, will be a driving force for change and ambitious new initiatives.

Another factor which will be important will be the question of national identity, with many people feeling concerned about their nation’s role in the world. Some countries could see nationwide campaigns giving voice to certain issues, with minorities and smaller parties active and frequently influential. This proved the case with the Polish Solidarity movement in the Dragon year of 1988, and its strikes led to monumental change in Eastern Europe. The voices of some factions in this Year of the Dragon will be equally telling.

In addition to the incentive and investment schemes launched during the year, there will be important developments in many other areas. In building and infrastructure, some large-scale projects will be started which will bring considerable improvement to some regions, while in science and medicine, exciting advances will be made. Penicillin was just one of the major discoveries made in a previous Dragon year.

In 2012 the solar system is also likely to open up more of its secrets. The last Dragon year saw the identification of two new planets, and this year again some exciting new finds will be made. For astronomers, this can be a highly significant year.

There will also be major developments in the area of transport, especially in the creation of high-speed links and the manufacture of environmentally friendly vehicles. Green technology will feature strongly during the year, with Expo 2012, held in South Korea, being a showcase for some truly innovative thinking.

A feature of Dragon years is that they favour expression, and in the world of fashion, new styles are likely to catch the imagination, while in music, artists will be keen to experiment and promote new sounds, with some new bands attracting a worldwide following. Interestingly, it was in a Dragon year that Beatlemania became such a global phenomenon, with the Beatles being the first band to sell a million copies of a record before its release.

The film industry, too, will enjoy some major successes, not only with some spectacular blockbusters but also in furthering cinematography.

The internet will continue to have a great impact, with popular new sites and exciting advances in home entertainment. As is the way with Dragon years, certain ideas will take root and develop into something major. This was the case with Wikipedia, launched in the last Dragon year, which has now grown into a vast resource.

There will be an undeniable buzz to the year and many will find it inspiring and exciting. This will be especially true of the summer Olympics, held in London. People around the world will follow the fortunes of top sportsmen and women and see some spectacular achievements. The excitement will help generate a feel-good factor that, for a time, will be a welcome distraction from more worldly concerns.

The British royal family is never far from the news and 2012 promises to be an eventful year. It was in 1952, 60 years ago, that the young Princess Elizabeth came to the throne, and this Dragon year will again see considerable pageantry and celebration, as well as some surprises.

Dragon years have considerable positive energy, but sadly can also bring disaster. This year will again be marked by natural catastrophe, perhaps very early on. Not only could there be earthquakes in various parts of the world and volcanoes erupting, but the vagaries of the weather system may well play havoc in certain regions. However, when tragedy strikes, many nations will rally and provide support. Some wonderful gestures will be made, as with the Race Against Time, a charity event raising money to fight children’s diseases which took place in a previous Dragon year, which had 50 million people participating worldwide.

As leader of the carnival, the Dragon energizes proceedings, and many will find that this is a year for action. The Chinese consider the Dragon year a time of good fortune and one favouring marriage and starting a family or business. Whatever your plans, this is a time to move forward.

Although some signs will fare better than others, the Dragon year will offer opportunities for us all. Do make the most of these 12 months, for your actions will in some way make a difference.

I wish you every success and good fortune.

18 FEBRUARY 1912 5 FEBRUARY 1913 Water Rat

5 FEBRUARY 1924 23 JANUARY 1925 Wood Rat

24 JANUARY 1936 10 FEBRUARY 1937 Fire Rat

10 FEBRUARY 1948 28 JANUARY 1949 Earth Rat

28 JANUARY 1960 14 FEBRUARY 1961 Metal Rat

15 FEBRUARY 1972 2 FEBRUARY 1973 Water Rat

2 FEBRUARY 1984 19 FEBRUARY 1985 Wood Rat

19 FEBRUARY 1996 6 FEBRUARY 1997 Fire Rat

7 FEBRUARY 2008 25 JANUARY 2009 Earth Rat

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