Chinese Zodiac and the Tao

Tao & Astrology

Taoism has long been associated with Feng Shui (Chinese geomancy), alchemy and astrology. Strictly speaking, these are not Taoist practices, but they have been practiced on an advanced level for thousands of years in Taoist Temples and institutions. All these traditions share concepts of Yin and Yang, balance and the need for humans to work within nature's framework.

Before going on, I want to explain the horoscope's relative unimportance in your fate, even for believers. There are three influences on your life; heavenly, earthly and human. Your choices create the human influence. Earthly influence relates to the circumstances you are in which are also partly under your control. Feng Shui can help control this influence too.

There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Each sign lasts a year. Each one has its own characteristics and personality. On the simplest level then, the Chinese horoscope runs on a 12 year cycle, but Feng Shui is never that simple.

There are also five elements or agents. These elements interact with one another in this and other aspects of Feng Shui. The following chart will tell you what your Chinese star sign and elements are. Click the animal name to go to a summary of its characteristics:

	Wood	Fire	Earth	Metal	Water	Wood	Fire
Rat	1924	1936	1948	1960	1972	1984	1996	Rat
Ox	1925	1937	1949	1961	1973	1985	1997	Ox
Tiger	1926	1938	1950	1962	1974	1986	1998	Tiger
Rabbit	1927	1939	1951	1963	1975	1987	1999	Rabbit
Dragon	1928	1940	1952	1964	1976	1988	2000	Dragon
Snake	1929	1941	1953	1965	1977	1989	2001	Snake
Horse	1930	1942	1954	1966	1978	1990	2002	Horse
Goat	1931	1943	1955	1967	1979	1991	2003	Goat
Monkey	1932	1944	1956	1968	1980	1992	2004	Monkey
Rooster	1933	1945	1957	1969	1981	1993	2005	Rooster
Dog	1934	1946	1958	1970	1982	1994	2006	Dog
Pig	1935	1947	1959	1971	1983	1995	2007	Pig
	Rat	Ox	Tiger	Rabbit	Dragon	Snake	Fire

Now, thinking of people you live or work closely with, here is a chart of the compatibility of different animal types. They are ranked from very incompatible: to neutral: to very compatible: