Your Chinese Horoscope 2016: What the Year of the Monkey holds in store for you. Neil Somerville
with his thoughts, he will find that important developments can often be set in motion. This year the talents and personal qualities of the Water Ox can reward him well.
Tip for the Year
Seize any chances to add to your skills, knowledge and experience. This can help your current situation as well as increase your options for later. Also, enjoy spending time with your loved ones. Joint pursuits can bring great pleasure and lead to more support.
The Wood Ox
With wood as his element, the Wood Ox is eminently practical and also aware that he needs to allow time to reach some of his goals. In the Monkey year, events can assist in some surprising ways. This will be a fortunate year for him and almost all areas of his life will see encouraging developments.
Key among these will be his work. Being conscientious and having shown commitment for some time now, the Wood Ox may find himself being prepared for greater duties. This could be through training or the chance to take on additional responsibilities. By making the most of what arises, the Wood Ox will be excellently placed to benefit when other opportunities become available. This is a year to prove himself and look to move forward.
Many Wood Oxen will take on a greater role with their present employer, but should the Wood Ox feel that his career could benefit from a move elsewhere, he should keep alert for openings as well as talk to contacts in his industry. As a result, he could find himself head-hunted, or recommended for a position, or ideally qualified for a particular vacancy.
The aspects are also promising for Wood Oxen seeking work. When these Wood Oxen detect an opening, they will find it helpful to enquire about the particular duties involved so they can stress their suitability for the role. In this Monkey year, extra effort will count for a lot. Also, as many Wood Oxen will find, once a position is obtained, it can quickly be built upon. April to early June, September and November could see important developments, but opportunities need to be seized quickly throughout the year. Work-wise, these can be significant times for the Wood Ox.
With his sense of commitment, the Wood Ox puts a lot of energy into his activities and during the year it is important he maintains a good lifestyle balance, including allowing time for his personal interests. Those that give him the chance of additional exercise and/or take him out of doors could be of particular benefit. The practical nature of many Wood Oxen will come to the fore this year as they become intrigued by new subjects, focus on a particular project or further their knowledge in some way, and they can find their interests of great value.
Progress made at work will increase the income of many Wood Oxen and some may find additional work or an enterprising idea helping their situation too. However, the Wood Ox will need to cover his many commitments as well as set sufficient funds aside for plans and possible deposits. The more thoroughly he manages his situation, the better he will fare. Also, if entering into a new agreement, he does need to check the implications and draw on the expertise of others. The Wood Ox may like to act independently, but the advice of experienced family members or professionals can often help and reassure him.
While the Wood Ox’s outgoings will be considerable, he should try to allow for a holiday at some time during the year. Some Wood Oxen may decide to arrange this at the last moment and so take advantage of some very good offers. Whatever he does, the conscientious Wood Ox can benefit from a break. June and August could see good travel possibilities, including some that arise by chance or at short notice.
The Wood Ox will also find himself in demand on a social level. Over the years he will have built up a close social circle and several times this year there could be special occasions in store. The Wood Ox’s friends will often be glad of his support and his dependable nature. April, June, August and December could see much social activity. The Wood Ox’s work and interests can also lead to meeting new people, and any Wood Ox who is alone or who moves to a new situation over the course of the year will find that some people he meets now could prove helpful in the near future. The unattached in particular can find this Monkey year surprising and delighting them.
Domestic life will be busy and, especially for Wood Oxen with a partner, eventful too. There will be home improvements and other plans to carry out, as well as some problems and repairs to address. Once started, projects can develop in exciting ways, with the Wood Ox’s inventiveness and practical nature to the fore. Shared interests can also add to the fun of this active and lively Monkey year.
Some Wood Oxen may also start a family, while those who are already parents will delight in (and occasionally despair over) the activities of their baby or young child. Domestically, as in so many other respects, the Monkey year will bring some special times.
In general, the aspects are favourable for the Wood Ox this year. Personal development is encouraged and at work the Wood Ox may reap substantial benefits from the opportunities that open up for him. He will need to be active and ready to respond swiftly, but what he accomplishes now can prepare him for future success. The potential value of the present time should not be underestimated.
Tip for the Year
Build on your capabilities. What you undertake now can help you both in the present and the future. Also, ensure your lifestyle is balanced: set time aside to enjoy with your loved ones as well as to pursue your own interests.
The Fire Ox
The Monkey year has a certain vibrancy about it. It encourages activity, involvement and effort, and while the Fire Ox may sometimes be surprised by what happens during it, a lot can work out in his favour. However, to benefit fully, he will need to adapt. He may have thought a lot about the longer term and what he would like to see happen, but, as the saying reminds us, ‘There are many routes to the top.’ New routes will open up for many Fire Oxen this year.
Throughout the year the Fire Ox will enjoy the support and friendship of many of those around him. By being open with his thoughts and feelings, he will find they can often help and reassure one another and create some good bonds. In addition, he could have occasion to assist a close friend with what could be a delicate personal matter. Here his thoughtfulness and care will be much appreciated. Also, there will be much fun to be had during the year. Whether partying, playing sport, undertaking other outdoor activities or following other pursuits, the Fire Ox will have many opportunities to enjoy himself. And, as with so much this year, the greater his involvement, the more he can get from the present time.
This also applies to the many Fire Oxen who will experience change this year, whether moving to a new place of education or work or changing location entirely. By taking advantage of the opportunities that are available to them rather than remaining too inward-looking, these Fire Oxen can develop their interests, discover new activities and meet and befriend others. On a personal level, the Monkey year has great potential. Late April, June, August to mid-September and December could be particularly lively months and the second half of the year will generally be busier than the first.
For some Fire Oxen, the year will have romantic possibilities too, with a chance meeting often becoming more meaningful as the year develops.
Although the Fire Ox likes to retain a certain independence and may not always be fully in accord with certain family members, he will value their support during the year. When considering choices or experiencing change, he should talk over his views and feelings and take heed of the advice offered. That way, any anxieties he may have can also be considerably eased.
The Monkey year can also have its surprises, including travel opportunities. For some Fire Oxen there could be the chance to go on holiday with others or to visit a place of interest or a special attraction. The spontaneity and buzz of the Monkey year will lead to many Fire Oxen enjoying occasions that just seem to happen, especially in late summer.
The Fire Ox should also make good use of local resources, as these can also help him get more out of the present time.
The majority of Fire Oxen will reach an important juncture in their education this year. There will be exams