Chinese Astrology

I've been going to Barnes and Noble quite regularly and I am loving it... My wavering mind is full of questions. Whatever comes to my mind I instantly go to that section and find a book to read about it. :) Internet is also a good way. However, I enjoy going out and its more fun to see all books in front of you.

So I was sitting on a couch and reading some programming book. I noticed a book on the rack right in front of me. It was Astrology section and the book was Simply Chinese Astrology. As usual, I finished my techie book and picked up this book on Chinese Astrology. I almost finished full book. All those who enjoy reading such things should definitely give it a shot.

Now what is it about:

Every Chinese year is ruled by one of the twelve animals. Most of us have seen those table mats at a Chinese restaurant when you wait for your order. So knowing your year of birth you can find out which animal governs your birth year and then you can have an idea about you and many more things... I know we never give it any importance. I found it stupid to generalize the characteristics of people born in any one year. However its not that Chinese astrology does not give person specific characteristics. This year based prediction is a general idea similar to western zodiac signs.

Yin Yang theory is very important in Chinese culture. Everything is related in those terms. I am trying hard but I am still not clear about it. For example, the food they eat has its yin or yang effect on your body. It can increase your yin or yang. If you are feeling your yin is high on a day you should eat more yang food. Overall I think its like food which makes you more warm/hot etc.. so you should balance yourself by controlling the yin-yang. As I said I have not understood it completely but I believe in it. btw, what I just said is a part of Chinese Medicine.

Coming back to the book. So once you know your ruling animal you know your characteristics. The part I liked in the book was, how will be your year based on your ruling animal and that year's ruling animal. For example, a Sheep in an Ox year. Now Ox and Sheep doesn't go well together so it will be tough and there were many other details.

So this 12 years cycle repeats. The difference is that the element changes. For example, 1980 was a 'Metal' year of 'Monkey' but 12 years later 1992 was a 'Water' year of 'Monkey'. This means if you are not compatible with Monkey year then, every 12 years whenever Monkey year comes it will be tough for you. But if the accompanying element Metal or Water is compatible to your own element it might not be that much incompatible.

And then I used my all the free time:
- I listed my last 24 or more years with their ruling animal. Like all Ox years together and all Monkey years together...
- Then I tried to write big incidents in those years. Whatever I can remember.

And it was interesting to see that overall.. all similar(or important) events happened in same ruling animal's years. Obviously it is not perfect way of doing it. There are so many other things which effect ones life. And all my deductions could be completely wrong or biased. But I enjoyed knowing/learning something new:)

One example of what I found:
I have hardly stayed at any one place for more than 1 or 2 yrs. I keep changing schools, cities, jobs etc etc.. There is a duration of 4 years which is exactly 12 years later, when I was in same place with no change. All these four years are ruled by same animals. Lets see what happens in future. I should be in one place from mid 2010 to mid 2014 !

It was fun:)