2016 is for all you monkeys

Xin nian kuai-le: Happy Chinese New Year, especially to you monkeys.

Monday, Feb. 8 kicks off the year of the Fire Monkey in the Chinese lunar calendar (ending Jan. 27). No, a fire monkey isn’t a species; fire is one of the five elements in Chinese astrology which complement the animal sign. The others are metal, water, wood, and earth. The fire sign is synonymous with red and restlessness, the summer and circulatory system, passion and power. These monkeys don’t monkey around; they’re born leaders.

Monkey is ninth among the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac’s 12-year cycle (so count back by multiples of 12 to see if you’re a monkey), followed in order by the rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, and sheep. Why 12? To correspond with 12 full moons in the lunar year.

According to Chinese astrologists, people born under this sign are cheerful, energetic, intelligent, confident, charismatic, and — like real monkeys — inventive. They’re the sort who seem to win prizes in childhood and come out on top, the teacher’s pet.

They’re generally in good physical shape, and good with money. Their weaknesses tend toward egotism, arrogance, and restlessness. Monkeys usually treat others well, but can be quick-tempered or impatient, which can conflict with their leadership qualities. But they do like a challenge.

Chinese astrology is not as simple as the 12 animals on buffet placemats. You may have read that yin (female aspects) and yang (male aspects) are about inner balance and health, so ideally each person has aspects of both. Yin and yang also apply to five elements which modify the characteristics of the animal sign, affect “qi” (chi — essence), and correlate with the final digit of the year of birth. That’s why 2016 is a fire year.

Birth years ending in 0 — yang metal; ending in 1 — yin metal. Metal is associated with autumn, the color white, the respiratory system and lungs, self-reliance and persistence, and creature comforts.

Ending in 2 — yang water; and ending in 3 — yin water. Water goes with winter, black, the skeletal and excretory system, diplomacy, compassion, and flexibility.

Ending in 4 — yang wood; ending in 5 — yin wood. Wood evokes spring, green, the liver and gall bladder, cooperation, growth-seeking, and idealism.

Ending in 6 — yang fire; ending in 7 — yin fire.

Ending in 8 — yang earth; ending in 9 — yin earth. Earth is associated with the change of seasons, yellow, the digestive system, patience, stability and service.

Note that because the lunar year typically begins toward the end of January or sometime in February, early births are assigned the previous Western calendar year.

In Chinese astrology the outer animal sign, like this year’s monkey, is how others see us. We also have inner animals, based on lunar month. For example, my year of birth would make me a sheep/goat (good communicators, insecure), but also yin and fire, based on the last digit. Yet my chart says I’m more metal (independent, inflexible) than fire; with inner animals of monkey and dog (loyal, honest, shy in groups). It gets pretty detailed; time of birth determines one’s “secretive” animal, believed to affect and reflect our inner lives and relationships.

Play with your Chinese astrological chart with the calculator at Chineseastrologyonline.com/ChineseAstrology.htm, then read about meanings at Travelchinaguide.com.

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network with no particular expertise in astrology. Sholeh@cdapress.com.