Readers’ Forum

Here comes Year of the Ox
By Madam Loo January 30, 2009 San Miguel de Allende

Beginning January 26, 2009, the world enters the Year of the Earth Ox. According to Chinese astrology, Buddha invited the forest’s animals to a special gathering. Buddha pontificated, sharing his wisdom and foresight; 12 animals took his teachings to heart. Annually, one of those animal’s influence comes into play.


The new Chinese zodiac year commences during the new moon in the Aquarius sky, first recorded and chronicled almost 5,000 years ago. Since new moons don’t appear on an exact date, each animal’s reign begins and ends sometime during late January or mid-February. The Year of the Earth Ox reigns until February 13, 2010.

Fully understanding those nuances aren’t essential for one to fully appreciate the social science, that is unless one wishes to crunch mathematical calculations. Within the scope of Chinese astrology, comparing personalities pertaining to the mixed batch of animals isn’t a precise science, yet there are uncanny similarities attached to those born within the signs that can’t be ingnored.

For the Ox and the rest, during the year we’ll likely notice that sheer willpower will win out when used in a methodical manner. No sign along with its influence displays more-might, more-power, more-determination anywhere, anyplace.

Victory goes to those who will hammer home convictions. If convinced they have a solid game plan, their position should be set in stone.

This year, Madam Loo says, don’t let others move you off your spot, even if such ridicule stems from within the ranks of your own contemporaries.

No papal blessing is needed. The Ox and those influenced by the year might have to isolate themselves. A strict work ethic will eventually stand out. Muses and admirers will be recruited.

Regardless of bumps in the road, among this thick-skinned yoke, we’re less likely to come upon cry-babies. They’re rarely in search of sympathy if things go south. They’ll take the hits while standing by their beliefs.

Attain goals this year the old-fashioned way. No gamblers here. Luck won’t be counted on. It’s by roll-up-your-sleeves drudgery. No magic. No secret formulas.

Patience, patience patience, along with preciseness, preciseness, preciseness while allying oneself with proven theories and practitioners are the only way. Trash the jejune notions embraced by the speculative herd. Insist on absolute loyalty and obedience from all those under your command.

Lore says the tricky Rat once hoodwinked the Ox, cheating him out of his initial audience with Buddha. Trying to pull the wool over other’s eyes might be risky during the forthcoming year. A healthy, two-way sense of skepticism should reign.

The Ox year is a time to be punctual and organized. Oxen children are apt to stick with the disciplines needed for learning classical piano, ballet, Latin, or Japanese, despite the apparent degrees of difficulty.

The Oxen man of the hour is Barack Obama, born in 1961, Year of the Metal Ox. We can look back and reflect how he stated his case, did so methodically, held his ground and took the nation by storm while not selling out on his principles. Yet, beware a slew of other iron-fisted Oxen leaders: Adolph Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Geronimo, Tojo, Jimmy Hoffa, Napoleon, Pancho Villa, Hernán Cortés, Pol Pot and Malcolm X. Professional football coach Vince Lombardi willed players to win championships.

If you are the boss, during Year of the Ox, get the most out of employees but know when to back off. If a subordinate, do as you’re told without becoming overly arbitrary. If the Ox’s memory were just a little longer, subordinates or even lovers might remain faithful till the end of time. You see, an Oxen’s agenda is the only agenda and that mind-set should be contagious this year. Everything takes a backseat to perfection, including romance.

Don’t completely categorize those born under this sign as totalitarians. Bear in mind the traits mentioned above—their actions are mostly due to pure and unbending principles, with foresight that has elevated Oxen toward towering positions.

Even while at the pinnacle of power, Oxen tend to shy away from material gain. That’s the key this year. No additional ingredient or gain overshadows personal satisfaction than that of the attainment of power and persuasion.

Notes: Ox people in general are ultra-caring parents and it’s normally the Ox parent who sets the agenda, whether it is schooling, way of dress, friends or extracurricular activities.

Madam Loo would be remiss if she didn’t mention that Obama was born in 1961 Year of the Metal Ox. Other Ox years: 1901–1913–1925–1937–1949–1961–1973–1985–1997–2009

Famous Oxen: Johann Bach, William F. Buckley, King Juan Carlos, Barbara Bush, Oleg Cassini, Gerald Ford, Erle Stanley Garner, Bruce Jenner, Robert F. Kennedy, Rudyard Kipling, Carl Lewis, Niccolo Machiavelli, Margaret Mead, Nehru, Colin Powell, Renoir, Mark Spitz, Margaret Thatcher, Henry David Thoreau, Vincent Van Gogh, Frank Lloyd Wright, W.B. Yeats.

Acting and Entertaining Oxen: One of the most remarkable similarities when comparing Chinese signs is a magnanimous trait illuminating from Oxen people. They’ve excelled in the craft of acting. More Oscar winners have been born under the Sign of the Ox, nearly twice as many, than any of the other 11 signs. Show business is their business.

A short list of the prominent includes Warren Beatty, Ed Begley, Jeff Bridges, Richard Burton, Charlie Chaplin, Gary Cooper, Melvyn Douglas, Jane Fonda, Morgan Freeman, Clark Gable, Richard Gere, Woody Harrelson, Julie Harris, Dustin Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Anthony Hopkins, Rock Hudson, John Hurt, Timothy Hutton, Samuel L. Jackson, George Kennedy, Stanley Kramer, Burt Lancaster, Jesica Lange, Angela Lansbury, Vivien Leigh, Jack Lemmon, Juliette Lewis, Karl Malden, Arthur Miller, Mary Tyler Moore, Patricia Neal, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, Gweneth Paltrow, Sam Peckinpah, Suzanne Pleshette, Carlo Ponte, Tyrone Power, Anthony Quayle, Robert Redford, Cliff Robertson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sellers, Red Skelton, Cissy Spacek, Maureen Stapleton, Rod Steiger, Lee Strasberg, Meryl Streep, Lea Thompson, Jane Wyman, Gig Young and Loretta Young. 

Sage Madam Loo once a year offers Atención an exclusive insight into Chinese astrology.


  




 


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