By Maria Ulansa Tagarao
EVERY first New Moon of the Chinese Lunar Calendar sets the emotional tone for all of the year’s 12 months. Interestingly, this feminine Moon (mood) stirs well in tandem with the masculine energies of the Fu Star—Jupiter in western astrology—which include optimism, growth, generosity, joy and abundance.
Now, 2016 is the metallic year of the Red Fire Monkey. It begins on February 8 marked by the transit of the lunar Monkey—the ninth animal in the eastern parade of zodiac signs—whose scintillating qualities (they are the most active and bossiest of all other types of monkey) may give color to the manner with which we act on or react to opportunities (courtesy of course by the Fu Star) cropping up for sure until January 27, 2017.
Are you a Monkey ?
Age-old Chinese zodiac tradition describes the Fire Monkey personality: “The Fire Monkey is the most active and aggressive of the Monkeys. Naturally dominant, he automatically gravitates toward leadership roles and is competitive in whatever he is doing. He will need to be careful not to let this overwhelm him and turn into toxic jealousy.
“He also constantly strives to be in control of whatever situation he is in, which can become overbearing. The main drive for whatever he embarks on is to head straight for the top and stay there. However, when he is in charge of a situation, his people skills kick in and he does nurture those under his charge who need it.
“With his Fire energy, this agile, impulsive Monkey often leaps where angels fear to tread. This reckless behavior sometimes turns out to not be to the Fire Monkey’s advantage. However, he is very creative, dynamic and has a particularly good talent at drawing people to him—this often helps him get out of scrapes. He’ll leap from tree to tree—whichever has the most fruit at the time—then find the quickest, cleverest escape before others get to him.
“The Fire Monkey’s aggression needs to be channeled correctly to correct and positive directions, or he risks become very destructive and harmful. If the Fire Monkey could develop more patience, it would be good for him and those who work with him. The Fire Monkey also needs to think through his ideas before acting on them in order to safeguard his own interests.
“In general though, the Fire Monkey is flamboyant and charmingly friendly, and has a large social circle.”
What’s ahead for every Pinoy in 2016?
As both the Eastern (Chinese) and Western zodiacs are circular in nature (it contains all the astrological configurations—and therefore the effects—in the chart of every individual), it can be said for now that there is a monkey (unggoy) in every Pinoy. Luckiest this year are those Leos who happened to be born in the Year of the Monkey (1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004).
Did you know that February 2016 is one you will not see again in your lifetime? Because February 2016 has four Sundays, four Mondays, four Tuesdays, four Wednesdays, four Thursdays, four Fridays and four Saturdays. This happens once every 823 years. With such a cosmic alignment of elements coupled with the fact that four is a lucky number for the Monkey this year, having such a rare combination of the number at the start of the Year of the Fire Monkey will more than quadruple the impact of favorable activities.
The Fu Star/Jupiter’s detail in the industrious Monkey expands on the popularity of artisan skills like knitting and all things DIY. 2016 can be a year of rare self-discipline, when there’s faith in daily practice toward a goal. You might find it’s time to focus on getting a proper skill, honing your skills, or adding new techniques to your repertoire.
This is a path of being happy when productive. Some trust comes with this transit, that if there’s a regular investment in your work, the lucky breaks will come. It’s a year to make solid gains, from day-to-day effort. And that fosters well-being, especially when the work is satisfying and shaping the future you desire.
As also said, the combined Moon-Fu Star transit affects all the signs of both zodiacs. In this horoscope, these are the complementary signs: Aries is Dragon, Taurus is Snake, Gemini is Horse, Cancer is Goat, Leo is Monkey, Virgo is Rooster, Libra is Dog, Scorpio is Pig, Sagittarius is Rat, Capricorn is Ox, Aquarius is Tiger, Pisces is Rabbit. So, read accordingly.
OX/CAPRICORN
Beginning 2016, life turns hectic and you are busy doing, doing, doing. That’s not a problem when your goals are front and center. But this time the action is totally centered on putting out fires started by others, testing your patience to its limit until June.
In July try not to overdo your need to constantly remind everyone of your strength and determination. Sometimes a softer touch is required. Hearing what others have to offer is not giving in or giving up. It’s simply being present.
By December you forget your seasonal desire to keep yourself in check and decide that a whole of good old-fashioned fun is necessary to your well-being. And it works, leaving you wondering why you don’t let loose more often.
TIGER/AQUARIUS
Now you just can’t seem to find your objectivity and/or detachment buttons, leaving you stuck in a swamp of overheated feelings and reactions. Guess you forgot to take out your emotional garbage. Ignoring it never works, remember? By July it feels like your boat is never going to stop rocking, and you are tired of this form of chaos. The solution is simple: listen to yourself and recognize that what you think is the voice of others is just your own voice in disguise. Life just seems to segue from one wildly interesting possibility to another, and your enthusiasm meter hits an all-time high. Nobody loves the weird, the improbable and the downright outrageous more than you do. This is the best December present ever.
RAT/SAGITTARIUS
The icky of previous months is replaced by your newfound determination to regain your sense of adventure. Soon you are hard at work doing just that when suddenly you ask yourself, “So what happened?”
In July your enthusiasm and your capacity to be in the moment return, and you ride the wave with all the zest you are capable of conjuring up. This turns out to be a source of great strength when an unexpected challenge crops up. You regain your sociability and limitless charm just in time to host the whole (December) season. Life feels so good, from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. You are equal parts silly (like a monkey) and giddy (like another monkey).
DRAGON/ARIES
You are still amped up now, but somehow all that energy is not translating into action yet. It might be a time for stillness, for reflection. Not all energy needs to be expressed physically. A little though goes a long, long way.
You went from zero to 60 so fast that you scared even yourself. Ease off on the gas pedal—whether it’s inner or outer—and figure out what direction you want to go in. Otherwise you are must chasing your (monkey) tail.
By December there’s a skip in your step because you feel younger and more positive than usual. Life is truly good, and then it feels like somebody turned out the lights. Well, that shouldn’t stop you. You’re instincts always see you through.
RABBIT/PISCES
You’ve decided that abandoning yourself in favor of oblivion is not workable, so you let go of the foggy funk you were in in previous months and turn instead to searching your inner world for a higher vision. This proves fruitful.
Again in July, your psyche is calling for a rest from the external world and all its drama. You’ve been incredibly busy most of this year, and you need to recharge your batteries. (The monkey in you also gets tired.) Make some popcorn (or grab a banana) and turn on your inner dream machine.
In December you feel like the party guest who just can’t quite get it together. Your spirit isn’t quite in the holiday game, so you find yourself looking for a nice, quiet corner where you can simply observe the goings-on. Good plan.
SNAKE/TAURUS
The year’s biggest challenge is going to be marshaling your energy appropriately. You are not in the mood to be pushed, so if anyone dares to direct traffic in your life, they will be unpleasantly surprised. Can you spell tornado?
You are busy working on all the insights that came your way in previous months when in July another conflict appears, ready to rock your world. Refuse to engage, because this is a power play to force you to do something you don’t agree with.
Your fur-lined hat is planted firmly on your head, and you aren’t making any attempt to remove it. The fact that everyone around you is joyful and happy amplifies your desire to avoid any form of enthusiasm. It’s okay to be out of sorts—despite the merriment of the holidays.
HORSE/GEMINI
Like a monkey, you simply don’t want to take anything seriously this year. Tripping the light fantastic—at least in your mind—is definitely your preference. So why do people insist on asking those deadly, deep questions? Maybe, just maybe, the answers are important.
The constant demand for adjustment that characterizes your July is transitory. Your mental flexibility is the key to managing most of the bumps in the road. Just be cautious of any problems that involve an unreasonable amount of money.
If life was always this much holiday fun, you would never be bored. Well, that’s your story and you are sticking to it.
That way, you can ignore that annoying feeling that responsibilities don’t disappear just because you aren’t paying attention to them.
GOAT/CANCER
Stability has been restored, and just in time, too. Your whole being is crying out for some fun, for play, for just hangin’—things you simply can’t make space for if you feel off-kilter. Well, you are back in your comfort zone. Start the party to kick-start your lucky 2016. Like a monkey, you attract a lot of attention, which makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over until your insides start to sound the alarm. Pay attention. Flattery can camouflage what is really an effort to undermine your sense of who you are.
In December you always overcommit because you have an insatiable need to honor all things family. This 2016 you might meet your waterloo if you don’t make a list with a maximum of 10 spaces on it. When those are filled, stop.
ROOSTER/VIRGO
Your brain and your mouth are on speaking terms again, and all that creative stuff you came up with last year finally finds an outlet this year. However, you are bouncing so quickly from one thing to another that no one can keep up.
Your capacity for divvying everything up in your life into manageable bits falls apart in a big way, leaving you shocked and bewildered. Things will be easier if you remember to love your friends and (be) friend your loves.
Surrender seems to be the best option in December, as no amount of planning on your part is making a dent in what needs to be done. In fact, you are certain that the items on your to-do list are multiplying willy-nilly.
DOG/LIBRA
It feels like your ears are on vacation and you really can’t hear anything anyone is saying. You just keep getting lost in your own world.
Relax. It’s okay for the only person in the world to be you.
Be aware that your desire for harmony in July will likely undergo a profound test of your ability to say no. You will be presented with a choice that threatens your very understanding of what is fair and just.
Your positive mojo is back in December with a vengeance, and you feel like you are perpetually high—but not in a good way. You just can’t seem to get a rest from your chirpiness, your social life, or those rose-colored glasses.
MONKEY/LEO
Things really purr (or grrrr) this year, and you are truly in your wise-cracking element. So much so that you hardly notice any bumps in the road. It’s like everyone in the universe got the memo: don’t mess with your mojo.
Until July, you like to keep the sensitive, vulnerable parts of yourself hidden from the rest of the world. It’s important that you appear confident at all times. (You are a monkey after all!) Surprise! You realize you are the only person who believes it’s a, well, secret.
You are sure you have an off switch somewhere, but you can’t seem to find it during the holidays. And your primal mind isn’t helping at all. It just keeps pushing the “MORE” button. Use your famous willpower to call things to a halt.
PIG/SCORPIO
Your focus returns and just in time. Major opportunities come knocking on your door, and it wouldn’t do if you answered looking like the premises—your consciousness—is empty. The monkey-like blank and the monkey-like bland are never your best look. Your patience is gone, and you are tired of the constant need to change your plans. You fail to see that sometimes the best plans and ideas need refinement. Embrace this, and everything you touch will yield outstanding results. Life seems a little out of whack in December, and you aren’t exactly sure why. Normally that doesn’t bother you. Life is usually more interesting when things are a little bit off-center. Not this time. Like an agitated monkey, you are utterly and strangely annoyed.