In feng shui, the elements and animals of a Chinese calendar all work together to form a cohesive picture of the year ahead. The feng shui calendar is a great tool for gaining personal insight as well as how the coming year will unfold. The concept of the feng shui calendar is very different from a western culture calendar.
Calendar Components
There are a few concepts to keep in mind when you look at this type of calendar.
- The feng shui calendar is based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar.
- All components are dependent upon birth dates, though each year's animal and element work together to have an overall effect on the personalities of those born under a given sign.
Each Year Has an Animal and an Element
Each year will have an animal and an element. You are assigned the animal and element of your birth year. You could be a Water Horse or a Metal Dog, for example. Both animal and element have typical characteristics to go along with them; the way those characteristics combine adds dimension to your personality. This is how the Chinese calendar and astrology are linked, and why there is no one out there exactly like you.
Animal-Element Combinations Repeat Every 60 Years
Animal-element combinations only repeat every 60 years. The 60-year cycle is made up of yin and yang properties with each animal being either yin or yang. Years that end in even numbers are considered yang and those ending with odd numbers are yin. Elements can be yin or yang. So for example, for 2011 the sign is Yin Metal Rabbit and 2012 is a Yang Water Dragon year.
Use the Calendar to Find Your Best Days
The feng shui aspect of the calendar tells you your best days for love, financial success, health, and more during any year.
How Chinese Calendar Compares to Feng Shui Calendar
The Chinese calendar is based on the lunisolar year. A lunisolar calendar is based on moon phases. The lunisolar calendar begins the Chinese New Year on a different date each year. This date is determined by the second new moon after the winter solstice, (somewhere between January 21 and February 20). It is still used for traditional Chinese holidays and Chinese astrology. Because the lunar and solar years don't match up perfectly and the Chinese New Year migrates between the middle of January and the end of February, those born in those months should consult the Chinese calendar to find their birth year. In addition to your birth month and year, the feng shui calendar also takes into account the day and time you were born.
Each year is assigned an animal and an element. Within each year, you can find the general overview for each animal. Therefore, if it's the Year of the Rabbit (2011) and your animal sign is a Tiger, you will find that your overview for the year is different than that of someone who is a Dog. Furthermore, the element of your birth year will impact the quality of your year. If your element clashes with that of the current year, then you will have a more difficult year than someone with a compatible element.
Elements, Animals, Feng Shui Calendar Overview
The elements and animals work together to add different dimensions to your personality and your life's outlook.
Elements
There are five elements involved in this calendar, and each year is assigned one element. Additionally, each element is considered yin or yang depending on the year:
Animals
There are twelve animals in the feng shui calendar, each one representing one year in a twelve-year cycle. Each year has a designated animal as well as an element.
- Rat
- Ox/Bull
- Tiger
- Hare/Rabbit
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Ram/Sheep
- Monkey
- Rooster
- Dog
- Boar (Pig)
The Overlap Between Feng Shui and Chinese Calendars
Elements, animals, feng shui calendars and more, can all combine to tell you more about yourself based on your birth date. They overlap in such a way that makes the resulting information more about you than some other methods. Since there are so many combinations (8,640 when you take into account inner and secret animals), you can be sure that your reading based on elements and animals within the feng shui calendar will be tailored just for you.
