Your Chinese Horoscope 2017: What the Year of the Rooster holds in store for you. Neil Somerville
the Earth Rat can look forward to seeing some inspiring sights. Once he acts on his ideas and makes enquiries, some lucky chances or the helpfulness of others can lead to potentially exciting outcomes. Some of his trips can have an element of surprise, too. It may be that he sees attractions he did not expect to see or takes up a last-minute offer. May, July and September could have particularly tempting opportunities.
However, the Earth Rat cannot afford to be lax in financial matters this year. He prides himself on his thoroughness, but where major outlay is involved, he needs to check the details and implications. If he has doubts, he should seek expert opinion. As the saying goes, ‘It is better to be safe than sorry.’ He should also attend to important correspondence carefully. Delays or an inadequate response could be to his disadvantage. Earth Rats, take note.
Overall, the Rooster year will be a full and satisfying one for the Earth Rat. As he will find, once he takes action, he will often be encouraged by others and benefit from timely developments. Travel, local events and contact with friends will also add much to his year, although to benefit fully he does need to be active and take up opportunities. He will take considerable pride in family developments and do much to assist his loved ones. Money matters require careful attention, and when problems or concerns arise, it is important the Earth Rat draws on the support available to him. If he acts upon his ideas, however, he can make this a personally satisfying year.
Tip for the Year
Spend time on your personal interests. Also, take advantage of events and recreational facilities in your area, including those that can help well-being and fitness levels. These can bring a beneficial element to your lifestyle and year.
Famous Rats
Ben Affleck, Ursula Andress, Louis Armstrong, Lauren Bacall, Dame Shirley Bassey, Kathy Bates, Irving Berlin, Kenneth Branagh, Marlon Brando, Charlotte Brontë, Jackson Browne, George H. W. Bush, Glen Campbell, Jimmy Carter, Jeremy Clarkson, Aaron Copland, Cameron Diaz, David Duchovny, Duffy, T. S. Eliot, Eminem, Colin Firth, Pope Francis I, Clark Gable, Neil Gaiman, Hugh Grant, Lewis Hamilton, Thomas Hardy, Prince Harry, Charlton Heston, Buddy Holly, Mick Hucknall, Henrik Ibsen, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, LeBron James, Jean-Michel Jarre, Scarlett Johansson, Gene Kelly, Jude Law, Gary Lineker, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ian McEwan, Katie Melua, Claude Monet, Julianne Moore, Olly Murs, Richard Nixon, Ozzy Osbourne, Brad Paisley, Sean Penn, Katy Perry, Philippe I, King of the Belgians, Sir Terry Pratchett, Ian Rankin, Burt Reynolds, Rossini, William Shakespeare, James Taylor, Leo Tolstoy, Spencer Tracy, the Prince of Wales, George Washington, the Duke of York, Emile Zola.
24 January 1925 to 12 February 1926 — Wood Ox
11 February 1937 to 30 January 1938 — Fire Ox
29 January 1949 to 16 February 1950 — Earth Ox
15 February 1961 to 4 February 1962 — Metal Ox
3 February 1973 to 22 January 1974 — Water Ox
20 February 1985 to 8 February 1986 — Wood Ox
7 February 1997 to 27 January 1998 — Fire Ox
26 January 2009 to 13 February 2010 — Earth Ox
The Personality of the Ox
The more considered the way,
the more considerable the journey.
The Ox is born under the signs of equilibrium and tenacity. He is a hard and conscientious worker and sets about everything he does in a resolute, methodical and determined manner. He has considerable leadership qualities and is often admired for his tough and uncompromising nature. He knows what he wants to achieve in life and, as far as possible, will not be deflected from his ultimate objective.
The Ox takes his responsibilities and duties very seriously. He is decisive and quick to take advantage of any opportunity that comes his way. He is also sincere and places a great deal of trust in his friends and colleagues. He is, nevertheless, something of a loner. He is a quiet and private individual and often keeps his thoughts to himself. He also cherishes his independence and prefers to set about things in his own way rather than be bound by the dictates of others or influenced by outside pressures.
The Ox tends to have a calm and tranquil nature, but if something angers him or he feels that someone has let him down, he can have a fearsome temper. He can also be stubborn and obstinate and this can lead him into conflict with others. Usually he will succeed in getting his own way, but should things go against him he is a poor loser and will take any defeat or setback extremely badly.
The Ox is often a deep thinker and rather studious. He is not particularly renowned for his sense of humour and does not take kindly to new gimmicks or anything too innovative. He is too solid and traditional for that and prefers to stick to the more conventional norm.
His home is very important to him and in some respects he treats it as a private sanctuary. His family tends to be closely knit and the Ox will make sure that each member does their fair share around the house. He tends to be a hoarder, but he is always well organized and neat. He also places great importance on punctuality and there is nothing that infuriates him more than to be kept waiting, particularly if it is due to someone’s inefficiency. The Ox can be a hard taskmaster!
Once settled in a job or house, the Ox will quite happily remain there for many years. He does not like change and he is also not particularly keen on travel. He does, however, enjoy gardening and other outdoor pursuits and he will often spend much of his spare time out of doors. He is usually an excellent gardener and whenever possible will make sure he has a large area of ground to maintain. He usually prefers to live in the country rather than the town.
Due to his dedicated and dependable nature, the Ox will usually do well in his chosen career, providing he is given enough freedom to act on his own initiative. He invariably does well in politics, agriculture and careers which need specialized training. He is also very gifted artistically and many Oxen have enjoyed considerable success as musicians or composers.
The Ox is not as outgoing as some and it often takes him a long time to establish friendships and feel relaxed in another person’s company. His courtships are likely to be long, but once he is settled, he will remain devoted and loyal to his partner. He is particularly well suited to those born under the signs of the Rat, Rabbit, Snake and Rooster. He can also establish a good relationship with the Monkey, Dog, Pig and another Ox, but he will find that he has little in common with the whimsical and sensitive Goat. He will also find it difficult to get on with the Horse, Dragon and Tiger – the Ox prefers a quiet and peaceful existence and those born under these three signs tend to be a little too lively and impulsive for his liking.
The female Ox has a kind and caring nature and her home and family are very much her pride and joy. She always tries to do her best for her partner and can be a most conscientious and loving parent. She is an excellent organizer and a very determined person who will often succeed in getting what she wants in life. She usually has a deep interest in the arts and is often a talented artist or musician.
The Ox is a very down-to-earth character. He is sincere, loyal and unpretentious. He can, however, be rather reserved and to some he may appear distant and aloof. He has a quiet nature, but underneath he is very strong-willed and ambitious. He has the courage of his convictions and is often prepared to stand up for what he believes to be right, regardless of the consequences. He inspires confidence and trust and throughout his life he will rarely be short of people who are ready to support him.
The Five Different Types of Ox
In addition to the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac there are five elements and these have a strengthening or moderating influence