Chinese Astrology: A Zodiac of Twelve Animals

Whereas the Western zodiac signs are derived from constellations, in Chinese astrology the zodiac uses twelve animals to represent different types of personalities. The animal is believed to be the main factor in each person's life that gives them their traits, success and happiness in their lifetime.

Each animal covers a year's time in a twelve-year cycle and in the West we tend to find "our animal" on a chart and once we know we are a "rat" or a "rooster" we think we're done. But it is more complicated than that, we also have inner animals and secret animals for example. Your inner animal is a monthly sign and this is what dictates your love life. The 24-hour day is divided into 12 time periods, the period you were born in determines your secret animal, thought to be a person's truest representation.

This, too, is an overly simplified look at Chinese astrology. There is much, much more to this rich tradition. There are legends explaining how the 12 zodiac animals were chosen and tidbits like: the Chinese zodiac animals were used on the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins. And sister blog Cosmic World has written a wonderful series of posts detailing the characteristics of each animal sign. Celebrate the Chinese New Year by using the USPS Lunar New Year: Year of the Ox postage stamps (shown above).
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And here's more ways to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Comments

[astrolog]

Chinese horoscopes are very precise although we are more used to Western Astrology as it is more predictive.

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What in Chinese astrology indicates an extramarital affair?
Which stars, planets, etc. How does this work in Chinese astrology? Thank you.

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The 24-hour day is divided into 12 time periods, the period you were born in determines your secret animal, thought to be a person's truest representation.