by Theodora Lau
Winter
Winter Boars are gracious and thoughtful. They tend to have extravagant taste and appetites. These Pigs could be the most fatalistic and scrupulous of all Boars. However, they are obliging and honest, and they are quite naive in both love and business. Gifted with strength of character and a larger-than-life heart, they can be generous to the extreme. Unless they learn to use their talents wisely, they will be exploited by others because of their innocent and trusting natures. However, when winter Boars feel they have nothing left to lose, they could turn into unruly and destructive foes—bringing down the house with them as they rampage through it. Their kindly exterior hides an intelligent and ambitious mind. They must learn to curb their emotions and work with disciplined and innovative people who can help them properly direct their efforts.
Famous People Born in the Year of the Boar
Metal
Lucille Ball
Gary Barlow
Charlie Brooker
Sacha Baron Cohen
Martin Freeman
Pep Guardiola
Amanda Holden
Ewan McGregor
Elon Musk
Merle Oberon
Jada Pinkett Smith
Ronald Reagan
Rosalind Russell
David Tennant
Justin Trudeau
Johnny Vegas
Mark Wahlberg
David Walliams
Water
Prince Rainier III of Monaco
Lee Kuan Yew
Maria Callas
Henry Kissinger
Wood
Julie Andrews
The Dalai Lama
Françoise Sagan
King Hussein of Jordan
Luciano Pavarotti
Fire
David Bowie
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Glenn Close
Andrew Jackson
Sir Elton John
Georgia O’Keeffe
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Earth
Ernest Hemingway
Humphrey Bogart
Alfred Hitchcock
John D. Rockefeller
Emma Thompson
13
Choosing Wedding Dates by the Lunar Almanac
The lunar year consists of twelve months, and each month is twenty-nine days long. Every thirty months an extra lunar month is added to balance the lunar almanac. This results in a lunar leap year that will have thirteen months instead of twelve. Like its solar counterpart, a lunar leap year is considered a lucky year to get married. To understand why the lunar leap year is considered auspicious, we have to look at the influence of the li chun, or the first day of spring.
The li chun, also known as the “eyes of spring,” usually falls on February 4 on the solar calendar. If Lunar New Year occurs before February 4 on the solar calendar, then that lunar year is considered a “bright” year because it has the eyes of spring. If Lunar New Year occurs after February 4 on the solar calendar and ends before the next February 4 of the following year, it was considered by the Chinese matchmakers of old as a “blind” year because it lacked the “eyes” needed to see spring. Some lunar years do not have the eyes of spring in the beginning of the year but still get to “see” spring at the end of the year, because these particular lunar years end after February 4 of the solar year. These lunar years that have the eyes of spring at the end of the year instead of at the beginning are not considered blind years. However, short lunar years, which usually precede a lunar leap year with thirteen months, will not have any eyes of spring or instances of February 4 either at the beginning or the end and are considered to be blind years, in which weddings are not recommended. Accordingly, the most desirable years to get married in are the lunar leap years that have two sets of eyes in their thirteen-month terms because they encompass two instances of February 4, one at the start of the lunar year and the other at the end.
With this guiding principle, “double bright” years are seen as the most auspicious years to get married, and bright years are the next most favorable. Late bright years , in which the li chun occurs at the end of the lunar year, are also an attractive time to get married, but they are not as ideal as double and single bright years.
Once a couple has decided to tie the knot and they have chosen the year they want to be married in, they could narrow down the dates according to the seasons and the weeks of each particular month, based on their lunar signs.
The Four Seasons and the Phases of the Moon
Every animal has a season and phase of the moon attributed to it. Spring and the new moon (from the first day of the month to halfway through the seventh day) are lucky for the Tiger, the Rabbit, and the Dragon. Summer and the first quarter of the moon (from halfway through the seventh day of the month through the fifteenth day) favor the Snake, the Horse, and the Sheep. Autumn and the full moon (from the fifteenth day of the month to halfway through the twenty-second day) are good for the Monkey, the Rooster, and the Dog. Winter and the last quarter of the moon (from halfway through the twenty-second day of the month through the twenty-ninth day) are auspicious for the Boar, the Rat, and the Ox. These are guiding principles for wedding date selection. (Note: in lunar terms, half a day is the span of twelve hours from when the lunar day begins, at 11:00 p.m. For more information, see Table 5, “Ascendants: The Twelve Animal Signs and Their Hours,” on p. 14.)
Conflicts in judging the most favorable season and week will occur when couples belonging to different lunar signs do not share the same favorable season or week of the month. These are usually resolved first by looking at each person’s ascendant to see if they present compatibilities. For example, if an Ox person who is going to marry a Snake person finds out that she (the Ox) was born during the hours of the Horse, she could then go along with the most favorable season and week for the Snake, because her Horse ascendant conforms to the correct season and week of her Snake mate-to-be.
Picking a lucky day, especially in an undesirable year, is also very important. Another way to satisfy the couple would be to pick the actual time of the ceremony to coincide with one of their birth signs. There are many meaningful and creative ways to schedule the wedding and engagement ceremonies. If the methods above are not workable, keep trying to find common ground to choose the most desirable time and date in which the wedding will have the least amount of conflict between the signs. Meeting halfway or going along with the party who will be paying for the wedding is also fair. When a couple decides to marry in a blind year but wishes to mitigate the negative influences or stigma of the blind year, there are several ways to do so.
Our book Wedding Feng Shui discusses how Chinese cultural traditions can help couples pick an auspicious wedding date and achieve harmonious relationships with family and friends during the wedding-planning process.
14
Relationship Combinations
Relationships are a living, changing thing. So, just as we encourage you to chart your Chinese horoscope and go through the analytical process of learning about the animals that influence your birth year, month, and hour, we encourage you to go through the same process looking at your partner’s horoscope as well. This learning and exchange can be a fun discussion, and it’s probably one you’ve already had if you are long-time lover of astrology.
As we have discussed, Chinese astrology is consulted for the timing of many decisions, most notably marriage, but it is also referred to for all sorts of beginnings, such as the start of a company or the purchase of a new home. Therefore, it is interesting to evaluate your relationship in such terms as when you met (its birth), when you reconnected (its rebirth), and the years where you experienced the most successes or challenges. You will most likely see a pattern of animals that are harder and kinder on your relationship than others. These experiences are especially valuable and unique to each person and will help guide your decision-making. When you think of the number of combinations that are possible from all of these partner attrib
utes, it can sometimes be overwhelming! Hopefully you will revisit this book from time to time to see how your relationship has evolved, including its relationship with different animals. Because the number of combinations for a full chart are so complex and highly individualized, below we present broad-stroke descriptions of animal compatibility to get you started looking deeper into your relationships and how they are influenced by Chinese astrology.
The Rat’s Relationships
Rat + Rat
There is a bit too much togetherness here. Each may be too conscientious and domesticated to manage a household together. If they are too alike, they could suffer from overexposure to each other’s personality. While one could be more easygoing, the other may have an inclination to order the other around. These worldly and calculating persons may watch each other rather intently and not like the close-up picture they see to form a lasting partnership.
Rat + Ox
In this happy combination, the affectionate Rat will be very attractive to the security-conscious Ox. The Ox is strong and responsible, enjoying the role of protector. The Rat will most likely assume stability for the couple at home, with a detail-oriented, competent, and reliable eye. Fortunately, each will admire each other’s qualities and do more than his or her fair share. The ardently demonstrative Rat could even make the Ox more responsive and perhaps even sociable! Theirs will be a very satisfying and rewarding union.
Rat + Tiger
The Rat is self-motivated to seek power and riches, and the Tiger loves the prestige and recognition these provide. While this may be the beginning of attraction, long-term compatibility is unlikely. The Rat could be resentful of the Tiger’s unpredictable ways, while the Tiger has the tendency to criticize the Rat’s sometimes stingy ways. The Rat will feel unappreciated, and the Tiger will be too impatient to commit to change. While both are basically optimists, they will try to work out their differences or call it quits.
Rat + Rabbit
These two individuals are charming and pleasant but hardly selfless and dedicated. The two homebody personalities will need to balance each other out to find a long-lasting partnership. If not, even with the best of intentions, constant coexistence may strain both of them and bring out the worst of both parties. The Rat is possessive and romantic, and the Rabbit can be too passive in response. If the two can align their goals, the Rat devotion and outgoing personality may brighten up the Rabbit’s perspective. The result can be a responsible and good match.
Rat + Dragon
These two share courage and determination and will find a bright and rewarding future together. They will not try to restrict each other unduly, and the Rat will find the Dragon an admirable companion (provided they take care to not to be overbearing). The Dragon will find the Rat’s loyalty and optimism endearing. The Dragon is magnanimous, and the Rat is thrifty and resourceful. Therefore, while the Dragon could make a lot of money and then lose it, the Rat will likely have stored some of it away for a rainy day. The Rat is talkative and lively but always amenable to letting the Dragon call the shots (or at least letting the Dragon think they’re doing so). This will be a fruitful and lasting union.
Rat + Snake
These two possessive partners are realistic enough to make the necessary adjustments in their partnership if they admire each other sufficiently. The Rat will value the Snake’s brilliance and tenacity, while in turn the Snake will find the Rat ambitious and clever enough to partner up. Of these two materialistic and performance-conscious parties, the Rat may be more adaptable and easygoing. The Snake finds the Rat’s devotion very touching and will respond passionately. This aspiring and covetous pair will never stop moving upward. Theirs could be a successful and profitable union provided they have the right attitude and agree on their priorities. The sociable and charming Rat will be the spokesperson for the introverted Snake. However, both of these shrewd and resourceful parties should take care not to let petty jealousies impede their progress. Nor should they keep secrets from each other.
Rat + Horse
Both parties have independent and active spirits, but the Rat will be very irked by the Horse’s restlessness and inconsistency. The Horse, on the other hand, will be unhappy and nervous because of the Rat’s constant bickering. The Horse requires physical as well as mental freedom. The Rat is levelheaded, industrious, and affectionate, content to stay near home in a close-knit family, whereas the Horse must constantly explore uncharted seas. The Rat is resourceful and thrifty; the Horse is adventurous, flirtatious, and changeable. They will not see eye to eye on how things should be done because of the differences in their temperaments. After careful appraisal, neither may find the other appealing enough to join forces with permanently.
Rat + Sheep
Both are charming and capable of great warmth and tenderness, but that is where the similarities end. The Rat is resourceful, inquisitive, and hard-working. The Sheep is likely to take life too easy for this industrious partner. The Rat saves and treasures money, while the Sheep splurges and indulges on a whim. The Rat is alert, practical, and levelheaded; the Sheep is creative but emotional and sometimes indolent. While neither animal is combative, the Sheep can find the Rat fussy and nitpicky when irked. Meanwhile, the Sheep finds the Rat too shrewd and conniving to deal with. There may not be a great deal of give and take in this union because the partners have difficulty understanding each other.
Rat + Monkey
This is a strongly compatible match: the Rat will fall for the Monkey’s charm and ingenuity, and the Monkey will find the Rat’s go-getter attitude very admirable. Both are achievement conscious and will push each other up the ladder of success. Neither is hypersensitive, and both are able to accept the other’s faults with understanding. As a result they will manage to smooth out any rough spots in their relationship. Likewise, they could work together or choose separate paths or careers without creating any problems. They will be constantly discovering desirable qualities in each other, and their marriage will be rewarding, fulfilling, and financially auspicious.
Rat + Rooster
The Rooster is analytical and a perfectionist, but the Rat is stimulating, practical, and quite brainy as well. The Rooster is bossy, dogmatic, and prone to giving lectures. The Rat’s own resourcefulness and competence make the animal unwilling to follow the Rooster’s orders blindly and reluctant to accept criticism. When offended, the Rat can be sharp and petty. It’s clear to the Rat that the Rooster lacks the sensitivity and warmth the Rat needs in a partner. This is not a promising match for either party; they tend to agitate each other unnecessarily.
Rat + Dog
This union could develop fairly well if the parties have strong mutual interests. Both are sensible and outgoing and could find contentment because of the lack of friction in this marriage. The Rat may be more affectionate and thrifty, but the Dog is reasonably easygoing and tactful enough to avoid bickering about unimportant issues. Both will try to give each other enough breathing space to ensure freedom of expression and movement. However, their peace-loving ways present the danger that they may both do too much compromising to challenge each other’s growth. Without some friction, they may end up with a bland relationship where one may lose interest.
Rat + Boar
Both have a great zest for life. They will find each other attractive physically as well as mentally. Outgoing, sociable, and energetic, this couple will probably center their life around their home, friends, and mutual interests, all of which will include a good deal of entertaining. This couple will be drawn to active pursuits and will have definite ideas about their involvements. The Rat could be the more sensitive and prudent of the two, while the Boar is positive but too conciliatory at times for his or her own good. If the Boar listens to the Rat’s wise counsel, this relationship may have staying power. However, if neither one can lead on discipline, they may just push their luck too far and fizzle out.
The Ox’s Relationships
Ox + Rat
In this h
appy combination, the affectionate Rat will be very attractive to the security-conscious Ox. The Ox is strong and responsible, enjoying the role of protector. The Rat will most likely assume stability for the couple at home, with a detail-oriented, competent, and reliable eye. Fortunately, each will admire each other’s qualities and do more than his or her fair share. The ardently demonstrative Rat could even make the Ox more responsive and perhaps even sociable! Theirs will be a very satisfying and rewarding union.
Ox + Ox
Both members of this team are serious and industrious to a dismal extent. Neither is lively enough to think of providing some respite from all the work they have planned. The result is an extremely reserved and civil union of two security-conscious subjects who are both pessimistic and strong-willed. They may end up showing each other too much of their negative sides.
Ox + Tiger
A clash of temperaments imperils this match from the start. The Ox loves tradition, respects authority, and behaves conservatively. The Tiger is the nonconformist, the activist, and the defiant rebel. These two stubborn individuals are miles apart in their thinking. It will be difficult for them to find common ground on which to tolerate each other’s outlook on life. The Ox is practical, well-organized, and stable; the Tiger finds this too predictable and dour. They are on different wavelengths. The reserved Buffalo will be shocked by the Tiger’s unrestrained and passionate display of emotion. On the other hand, the Tiger will be frustrated by the Ox’s perceived coldness and may need a more warm-blooded and outwardly passionate partner.
