With a complex mix of calendar cycles and associations to animals, Chinese astrology is as mysterious as it is effective. This ancient philosophy is widely acknowledged in the culture and its practices are a part of everyday life.

Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar. This basic cycle has been constructed from two cycles: the 10 heavenly stems (the five elements in their yin and yang forms) and the 12 earthly branches, or the 12-year cycle of animals referred to as the Chinese zodiac.

astrology
The Chinese animal zodiac also operates on a cycle of months or ‘moons’ and of hours of the day. The animal signs assigned by year represent how others will perceive you as being, or how you present yourself.

It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and many western descriptions of the Chinese version draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals) and hours of the day (called secret animals).

While a person might appear to be a dragon because they were born in the year of the dragon, they might also be a snake internally and an ox secretively. In total, this makes for 8,640 possible combinations that a person might be.

An individual’s monthly animal sign is called their inner animal and is concerned with what motivates a person. Since this sign dictates the person’s love life and inner persona, it is critical to a proper understanding of the individual’s compatibility with other signs of the zodiac. These are all critical for the proper use of this Asian astrology.

zodiac signs
In Chinese astrology, each sign is linked to a month in the solar year, as well as to a season. It’s believed that the elements transfers a portion of its characteristics to the sign concerned.

The fixed element of each sign applies also to the year and hour signs, and not just the monthly sign. In the 60 year cycle, the fixed element, which is concerned with the year, month and hour signs, is separate from the cycle of elements which interact with the signs.

The Chinese zodiac is also used to label times of day, with each sign corresponding to a “large-hour,” which is a two-hour period (24 divided by 12 animals). It is therefore important to know the exact time of birth to determine it.

The secret animal is thought to be a person’s truest representation, since this animal is determined by the smallest denominator: a person’s birth hour. It is a person’s own true sign, upon which their personality is based.

astrology readings
Chinese new year celebrations are renowned for the bold displays of Asian tradition and symbols from Chinese zodiac signs. Most societies don’t practice astrology horoscopes as openly as the Chinese do.

Businessmen won’t make deals on some days, couples try to have babies in certain years and particular addresses are believed to be good luck. This is an example of how the astrology beliefs of this culture shapes the way people live.

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