The year of the

Rabbit – according to the Chinese Calendar year anyway.

Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year cycle representing twelve different types of personalities. The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are many stories about the origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is so. The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order and their characteristics
1. Rat: Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, intellectual, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, and shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, envious, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, and scheming.
Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
2. Ox: Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot-tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
3. Tiger: Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.
Tiger: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
4. Rabbit: Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
5. Dragon: Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
6. Snake: Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.
Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
7. Horse: Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile—mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
8. Sheep: Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.
Sheep: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
9. Monkey: Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
10. Rooster: Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
Rooster: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
11. Dog: Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
12. Pig: Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.
Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. According to this information, I am a sheep, married to a pig and gave birth to a rabbit, a dragon and a horse. No wonder it sometimes feels like we’re in a stable {smirk}. Honestly, I don’t put that much stock into things like this, I just find it interesting.

Blessings