ASTROLOGY for 2011

The Metal-Rabbit year arrives on 4 February, bringing both new opportunities and new challenges. Rabbit is one of the 12 Animal signs in the astrological system known as the "Four Pillars of Destiny". It is so named because it consists of four columns, containing data for the hour, day, month and year of birth. Each column contains two Chinese characters, a total of eight. For this reason it is sometimes called Ba Zi (bā zì, 八字), eight characters in Chinese.

In the capable hands of the great masters, the Four Pillars of Destiny is a most precise and sophisticated tool for predicting the future, and a fascinating subject to study for the serious student. The complex relationships of these 12 animals with each other and incoming elements take the central place in this astrological system. Even just examining the year pillar, without going in any great depth can give us a general idea of what to expect in regards to the new year. Let us just do that here; look at which animal signs Rabbit favours and which encounters might spell potential danger.

SIGNS IN "COMBINATION" RELATIONSHIP WITH RABBIT:

GOAT: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003...
DOG: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006...
PIG: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007...

People born in the years shown above can expect a harmonious time in general and good luck throughout the Rabbit year.

People born in the year of the Rooster are in a clash, or conflict, with Rabbit. Being in clash is not always a bad thing as it is commanly believed. This could suggest many changes and much travelling throughout the year for people born in a Rooster year. If you are planning to move house or travel a great deal, now it is the time to do so. Fulfilling a clash will naturally avert potential turbulence as a clash sometimes implies turbulence. It is recommended that such people wear a Dog pendant to protect them from likely accidents. One might ask how a pendant can protect one from accidents? Elemental influences in nature, represented by the 12 animal signs, prefer to have the good company of friendly forces rather than conflict. Who would chose to have a fight instead of the company of a good friend?

So, Rabbit pairing himself with his good friend Dog, will ignore altogether the troublesome encounter with Rooster. This is how it works in a nut-shell. We also should not forget the power of our intention. Any precaution taken as a symbolic act with the intention of averting any kind of danger will have a positive effect in our conscious experience, by at least making us more vigilant. As my Space Clearing teacher Denise Linn used to say "where intention goes, energy flows." So, Rooster, make sure to wear your Dog pendant.

This is equally important for those born on a Rooster day, as a clash in the House of Spouse might indicate changes in your marital status. I've seen many people getting married or having problems with their partners when this house is in conflict, as this usually indicates "change". It can also mean that your husband/wife will be travelling a great deal this year. Even if you're single, expecting to get married this year, still wear the Dog pendant as protection from unexpected, and unwanted, situations.

"OFFENDING" THE GRAND DUKE

RABBIT: 1939-1951-1963-1975-1987-1999...

People born in the year of Rabbit are this year, also Rabbit, said to be offending the Grand Duke Jupiter, also called Tai Sui. This is not just a Chinese superstition, as I first thought when I just started studying the Four Pillars. My observations soon taught me that the Grand Duke, Tai Sui, can create serious obstacles, if one is not careful. Anyone born in a Rabbit year should at least wear a Dog pendant for protection. The Grand Duke Tai Sui's image is often seen in Buddhist and Taoist temples as a big angry man and it seems that he doesn't appreciate sharing his territory with others. On the second day of the new year, many Chinese (especially those who are offending him) go to temples and pray in front of the image of the current Grand Duke and ask for his protection.

There are considered to be 60 heavenly generals who assist the Jade Emperor in taking care of the world of the mortals and each of them takes turn to be in charge for a year. Due to most of them having a military background, they are normally known as the Military Generals, or as the Cycle Gods. During the year of Yin Metal Rabbit, 2011, General Fan Ning is on duty. The last time he was here was during the previous metal Rabbit year, 1951, and he isn't coming back again before 2071. Historically speaking, General Fan Ning was a very studious and well-read man. He recruited and supported scholars, built many fully equipped schools and sponsered thousands of students with his own earnings as a mayor.

ACADEMIC STAR

Maybe there is a connection here, as Rabbit is also an Academic star, bringing academic achievements and excellence in studies to those born in the year and day of Yin Water (1943, 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993...), perhaps by the courtesy of General Fan Ning. If you're writing a book or waiting to publish, 2011 can therefore be an excellent year for you.

TRAVEL STAR

Another symbolic star worth checking is the Travel Horse or Travelling star. The Rabbit year brings the travel star to Snake, those born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, etc. So, if your day or year pillar is Snake, you can look forward to a lot of travelling this year or even living abroad. If Snake-Fire is your favourable element, you'll really enjoy all that movement, but if not, it can rather be exhausting. If so, then you can always wear a Dog pendant to pre-occupy the Rabbit.

STAR of ROMANCE

Rabbit also brings the Star of Romance to those born in days and years of:
TIGER: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998...
HORSE: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002...
DOG: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994...
RAT: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996...

This star makes one appear attactive, especially to the opposite sex. For a single man or woman, if the Star of Romance is a favourable element, it can even mean marriage. For the rest of us happily married, it can indicate being in the limelight and more socialising in general.

RAT PENALTY

Another area worth checking this year is the penalty relationship of Rat with Rabbit. Again, the astro-elemental forces represented by Rat and Rabbit, create tention, unease and even disease whenever they come together. I have seen strange, unforseen health issues developing during this penalty, even when it is only formed, not by a Rat or Rabbit year, but by an incoming Rat/Rabbit month. If you are born in the year or day of Rat, it is highly recommended that you wear a Dog pendant, to keep Rabbit away from your Rat.

Chinese New Year celebrations take place on the new Moon, the first day of the year in the Chinese lunisolar calendar. This date varies, as the lunar months are only 28 days in length, shorter than the solar months, and sometimes a 13th, or intercalary, month needs to be added. Please note that in the Four Pillars of Destiny we only use the Chinese solar calendar, also called the farmer's calendar. The solar new year starts with the first day of spring, the beginning of the first solar month Tiger, which usually falls on 4 February. If you are born for example, in January 1965, your birth year is Dragon and not Snake.

A happy, healthy and prosperous Metal Rabbit year to all...

Tai Sui
General Fan Ning,
Tai Sui for the Yin-Metal-Rabbit year