Out with the Rat in with the Ox… as the Chinese New Year officially begins today ( technically the year of the ox actually starts on Feb. 4th , but for this post sake let’s just pretend it’s already here).
Astrology has been playing a big part of my life lately… Last week for the first time I had my astrology charts read ( a gift from my awesome sister Pat ) and am discovering all kinds of interesting ways the planets effect who we are and where we are going- I know not everyone believes in it, but I thought it was a really cool and insightful way of taking a fresh look at my life. I actually felt lighter and more energized…. there’s something so mystical yet reassuring about the idea that our life is already written out in the stars.
In the East reading charts is serious business. Through out Asia, major life events and decision are based on the fortunes and misfortunes foreseen in the upcoming year based on each person’s zodialogical birth sign.
In the west our birth signs are base on the date of the month that we are born, in the East however birth signs are determined by the year in which one is born. 12 signs in all, with 60 different variations of elements and colors. This is why a ‘golden’ or ‘white’ year (2000 was the golden dragon, 2007 the golden pig ) are considered so lucky….the color gold represents good fortune in Asia and a golden year pertaining to each animal sign only happen every 60 years!
I’m a brown earth monkey ( with metal being the monkey’s fixed element ). I’m not sure what that means, but I think it will make my kids laugh- especially since my son is a golden dragon which I have to admit does sound way cooler.
Each year comes assigned with it’s own element- 2009 is a brown earth ox ( whose fixed element is water )…. I’m not sure what earth and metal made the year I was born, but I doesn’t take a lot to figure out that earth and water make mud- so already this obvious element forecast is not sounding so good to me.
So out of complete fascination I skimmed the web to find out more about my upcoming year…. eastern style. Right away I discovered the whole purpose of reading the charts is to find balance in the five elements of life ( metal, water, earth, fire and wood) and oh- yeah even though my birth year is brown monkey my birth date makes me a black water snake- and yuck! I can’t even begin to even tell you how much I hate snakes… I quickly became confused and with every passing website I almost feel my Yin and Yang getting more and more out of whack just trying to figure it all out. Perhaps I should scoot down to Chinatown, have my tea leaves read and call it a day.
What I did find out though ( and why I’m writing about this ) is that like our own Astrological signs each animal year has a flower, a stone and colors associated with it, but unlike ours- or at least that I’ve ever seen- they also represent a time of day and season.
Wow could this give us some insight into what colors and styles best represent us? Can we combine our Eastern Astrological signs colors with our Western sign colors for added benefit? Should we decorate our homes to best relate to our season? And does our ‘time of day’ dictate which room(s) would best benefit from these colors and styles?
Who knows but it could be fun to find out…. check out below and see if the rooms and colors that correlate to your birth sign feel ‘right’ to you…. for an added bonus picture the room with an added accent of your Western birth sign color and let me know what you think!
•Rats (hard-working, thrifty, quick-tempered, neurotic): 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Interesting Rat Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Garnet
Special Flower: Narcissus
Best Hours: 11 pm -1 am
Season: Winter
Horoscope Colors: Black, White, Purple
•Ox (patient, self-sacrificing, jealous, rigid): 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Interesting Ox Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Aquamarine
Special Flower: Carnation
Best Hours: 1-3 am
Season: Winter
Horoscope Colors: Green, Yellow, Black
•Tiger (lucky, courageous, vain, undisciplined): 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Interesting Tiger Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Sapphire
Special Flower: Violet
Best Hours: 3-5 am
Season: Winter
Horoscope Colors: Green, Blue, Yellow
•Rabbit (ambitious, unflappable, aloof, private): 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Interesting Rabbit Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Pearl
Special Flower: Jonquil
Best Hours: 5-7 am
Season: Spring
Horoscope Colors: Grey, White
•Dragon (intuitive, influential, demanding, judgmental): 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
Interesting Dragon Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Amethyst
Special Flower: Sweet Pea
Best Hours: 7-9 am
Season: Spring
Horoscope Colors: Black, Gold
•Snake (calm, intelligent, lazy, possessive): 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
Interesting Snake Facts
Zodiac Stone: Opal
Special Flower: Passionflower
Best Hours: 9-11 am
Season: Spring
Horoscope Colors: Brown Gold, Green
•Horse (entertaining, powerful, selfish, rebellious): 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Interesting Horse Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Golden Topaz
Special Flower: Rose
Best Hours: 11am-1pm
Season: Summer
Horoscope Colors: Orange, White, Yellow
•Goat/Sheep (well-mannered, altruistic, insecure and irresponsible): 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
Interesting Goat Facts
Zodiac Stone: Emerald
Special Flower: Larkspur
Best Hours: 1-3 pm
Season: Summer
Horoscope Colors: Green, Blue
•Monkey (independent, enthusiastic, unscrupulous, childlike personality): 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Interesting Monkey Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Peridot
Special Flower: Gladiola
Best Hours: 3-5 pm
Season: Summer
Horoscope Colors: White, Violet, Green
•Rooster (resourceful, adventurous, short-sighted and impractical): 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Interesting Rooster Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Citrine
Special Flower: Aster
Best Hours: 5-7 pm
Season: Autumn
Horoscope Colors: Orange, Green
•Dog (attentive, loyal, stubborn, guarded): 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Interesting Dog Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Diamond
Special Flower: Marigold
Best Hours of the day 7-9 pm
Season: Autumn
Horoscope Colors: Silver and Red
•Pig/Boar (sincere, cultured, non-competitive, gullible): 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
Interesting Pig Facts
Zodiac Stone: Ruby
Special Flower: Chrysanthemum
Best Hours: 9-11 pm
Season: Autumn
Horoscope Colors: Purple, Red, White
Add to that a smitten of the color often times most associated with your Western sign ( I based these suggestions on people that I know and love… but any accessory in your color would do! )
Pisces- dreamy and intuitive…. a turquoise cashmere throw
Aries- pioneering, independent… a red, metal desk
Taurus- realistic, determined… a large green house plant
Gemini- curious, clever… a yellow velvet couch
Cancer- nurturing, emotional…. a family heirloom silver tea set
Leo- loyal, faithful….an orange silk carpet
Virgo- meticulous, neat… white built in bookcases
Libra- cooperative, friendly… a bouquet of pale yellow flowers
Scorpio- magnetic, intense… deep red, violet drapes
Sagittarius- outgoing, enthusiastic ….a set of purple patterned china
Capricorn- serious, objective…. a pickled gray sideboard
Aquarius-trendy, inventive… electric blue throw pillows
So I’m a monkey and an Aries… hum, I would love a red metal desk however it wouldn’t quite work with my Wisteria draped backyard…. but a glass of red sangria would- Yes!!!! I think I’m on to something here!
photos from: House Beautiful, Domino and Elle Decor
Info and pix from Time.com and Horoscope.com
My personal astrology chart reading by Kay Sturgis
So I’m a dog and a scorpio – it seems “preordained” that I will be getting red drapes sometime in the future, but until then I’ll join you for a glass of red sangria. Let me know when the wisteria is in bloom!
Will do…. plan for the minute New York thaws…. I’ll hit Micheal’s crafts for some ‘ faux-silk’ wisteria- summer just seems too far away!