YEAR OF THE HORSE - Chinese New Year 2014

No doubt you’ve had fun reading the traditional Chinese zodiac printed on your restaurant placemat at one time or another. This system of 12 animal signs in a recurring 12-year cycle is called the Sheng Xiao and it’s been in use for over 4,000 years in China. The animals in order are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, Boar. (Sometimes the Sheep is called a Ram, and sometimes the Boar is called a Pig.)  Your animal sign is determined by your birth year.
2014 will be the Year of the Horse. Will be, because Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar. This means it lands on a different day each year, and in 2014 it begins Jan. 31st. The Horse will rule until Feb. 18, 2015.
A Horse year is one that promises surprises in the area of adventure and romance, especially for those born in these years: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, and 2014. Horse people are said to be competitive and passionate, and to have strong qualities of leadership. The Horse is a social animal, and definitely connected to LOVE. It is also a sign of success and status. 
What if the Horse is not your sign? No problem – a Horse year is favorable for many in the area of finance, travel, social endeavors and community events. People in general are said to be much more forgiving and tolerant in a Horse year. Plus it’s considered a good year in which to get married – unions created in the Year of the Horse are considered to be exceptionally happy and long-lasting.
There are different types of Horses, however. Each year’s animal symbol is modified by one of five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. A Horse is the strongest of the Fire signs, but the year 2014 is influenced by the element of Wood. This is actually beneficial, because Wood helps Fire to burn! Wood is also related to nature and the color green, so you’ll see 2014 sometimes referred to as the Year of the Wooden Horse, or even the Year of the Green Horse. 
So if Fire or Wood are your lucky elements (depending on your animal sign, plus the element that modified it in your birth year), then it’ll be a particularly good twelve months for you! A Wood year is considered ideal for everyone for teamwork or family endeavors.
May 2014 bring you many moments of warmth and joy and laughter, and also bring you closer to goals and dreams fulfilled.  


Dani Harper www.daniharper.com https://www.facebook.com/Dani.Harper.Fan.Page
Your turn – what are some of your goals for 2014?