Astrology 2013

Chinese Astrology, Water Snake Year 2013

The Water Snake year arrives on 4 February 2013, bringing both new opportunities and new challenges. Snake is one of the 12 Animal signs in the astrological system known as the “Four Pillars of Destiny”. It is so named because it consists of four columns, containing data for the hour, day, month and year of birth. Each column contains two Chinese characters, a total of eight. For this reason it is sometimes called Ba Zi (bā zì, 八字), eight characters in Chinese.

In the capable hands of the great masters, the Four Pillars of Destiny is a most precise and sophisticated tool for predicting the future, and a fascinating subject to study for the serious student. The complex relationships of these 12 animals with each other and incoming elements take the central place in this astrological system. Even just examining the year pillar, without going in any great depth can give us a general idea of what to expect in regards to the new year. Let us just do that here; look at which animal signs Snake favours and which encounters might spell potential danger.

SIGNS IN “COMBINATION” RELATIONSHIP WITH SNAKE:

MONKEY: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004…
OX: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009…
ROOSTER: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005…

People born in the years shown above can expect a harmonious time in general and good luck throughout the Dragon year.

SIGN IN “CLASH” WITH SNAKE:

PIG: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007…

People born in the year of the Pig are in a clash, or conflict, with Snake. Being in clash is not always a bad thing as it is commanly believed. This could suggest many changes and much travelling throughout the year for people born in a Pig year. If you are planning to move house or travel a great deal, now it is the time to do so. Fulfilling a clash will naturally avert potential turbulence as a clash sometimes implies turbulence. It is recommended that such people wear a Monkey pendant to protect them from likely accidents. One might ask how a pendant can protect one from accidents? Elemental influences in nature, represented by the 12 animal signs, prefer to have the good company of friendly forces rather than conflict. Who would chose to have a fight instead of the company of a good friend?

So, Snake pairing himself with his good friend Monkey, will ignore altogether the troublesome encounter with Pig. This is how it works in a nut-shell. We also should not forget the power of our intention. Any precaution taken as a symbolic act with the intention of averting any kind of danger will have a positive effect in our conscious experience, by at least making us more vigilant. As my Space Clearing teacher Denise Linn used to say “where intention goes, energy flows.” So, Pig, make sure to wear your Monkey pendant.

This is equally important for those born on a Pig day, as a clash in the House of Spouse might indicate changes in your marital status. I’ve seen many people getting married or having problems with their partners when this house is in conflict, as this usually indicates “change”. It can also mean that your husband/wife will be travelling a great deal this year. Even if you’re single, expecting to get married this year, still wear the Monkey pendant as protection from unexpected, and unwanted, situations.

Those born in the Pig month, 7/8 November-6 December, will most definetely feel the difference for better or worse. As Snake clashes with Pig in the month pillar, it activates it. So, if Water is your favourable element you might benefit from this clash. It also implies changes regarding your parents.

“OFFENDING” THE GRAND DUKE

SNAKE: 1941-1953-1965-1977-1989-2001…

People born in the year of Snake are this year said to be offending the Grand Duke Jupiter. This is not just a Chinese superstition, as I first thought when I just started studying the Four Pillars. My observations soon taught me that the Grand Duke, Tai Sui, can create serious obstacles, if one is not careful. Anyone born in a Snake year should at least wear a Monkey pendant for protection. The Grand Duke Tai Sui’s image is often seen in Buddhist and Taoist temples as a big angry man and it seems that he doesn’t appreciate sharing his territory with others. On the second day of the new year, many Chinese (especially those who are offending him) go to temples and pray in front of the image of the current Grand Duke and ask for his protection.

There are considered to be 60 heavenly generals who assist the Jade Emperor in taking care of the world of the mortals and each of them takes turn to be in charge for a year. Due to most of them having a military background, they are normally known as the Military Generals, or as the Cycle Gods. During the year of Water Snake, 2013, Great General Xu Dan (徐单) is on duty. The last time he was here was during the previous water Snake year, 1953, and he isn’t coming back again before 2073.

TRAVEL STAR

The Snake year brings the travel star to Pig: those born in 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 etc., Rabbit, those born in 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 etc. and Goat born in 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003…So, if your day or year pillar is Pig, Rabbit or Goat you can look forward to a lot of travel this year or possibly living abroad. If you find all that travelling rather exhausting, you can always wear a Monkey pendant to pre-occupy the Snake.

ACADEMIC STAR

Generally this star brings excellence in studies. It is also great time to publish books. If your year or day stem is yang Wood, you will benefit from this wonderful star all through 2013. For those born in 1944, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004, the year stem is yang Wood. To find out your day stem you need to look it up in Tung Shu, Chinese calender.

STAR of ROMANCE

Snake also brings the Star of Romance to those born in day and year of:
HORSE: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002…

This star makes one appear attactive, especially to the opposite sex. For a single man or woman, if the Star of Romance is a favourable element, it can even mean marriage. For the rest of us happily married and children, it can indicate being in the limelight and more socialising in general.

NOBLEMAN STAR

Nobleman represents help from Heaven and helpful people in general who are always there for us. Year stem of yin Water of 2013 brings the Nobleman star to Snake and Rabbit (born in 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999). So if your day or year stem is yin Water, you will benefit from the Nobleman star all through 2013. This year will also be great for all new born babies as the year Snake has its own Nobleman.

Chinese New Year celebrations take place on the new Moon, the first day of the year in the Chinese lunisolar calendar. This date varies, as the lunar months are only 28 days in length, shorter than the solar months, and sometimes a 13th, or intercalary, month needs to be added. Please note that in the Four Pillars of Destiny we only use the Chinese solar calendar, also called the farmer’s calendar. The solar new year starts with the first day of spring, the beginning of the first solar month Tiger, which usually falls on 4 February. If you are born for example, in January 1965, your birth year is Dragon and not Snake.

A happy, healthy and prosperous Water Snake year to all…