Get ready for a year of unexpected adventures as we gallop full-speed into 2014 this Lunar New Year.
The second new moon after the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. This year, the night of Jan. 30 kicks off the 14-day celebration for 2014 and rings in the Year of the Wooden Horse.
For most people, this holiday generally means family gatherings, good food and festive fireworks. But, according to the Chinese zodiac, each Lunar New Year also gives us a new combination of animal and element, which beckons in a unique energy that can affect us all.
The 12 Signs of the Chinese Zodiac
Similar to Western astrology, the Chinese zodiac is made up of 12 different signs and is often used as a predictor for future action and behavior.
The 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Unlike the Western zodiac, however, the 12 signs are also influenced by the five elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
The 5 Elements
The ultimate goal, when referring to the five elements, is to achieve balance. Although no one is naturally born with an exact balance of all five elements, according to the Chinese zodiac, a person can take action to achieve balance.
Wood is the element of planning, ideas and will power. Its representative colors are blue and green.
Fire is the element of passion, action and impulse. Its representative color is red.
Earth is the core of the five elements. It is the element of harmony and is represented by the color yellow.
Metal is the element of leadership, courage and luxury. Its representative color is white.
Water is the element of endurance, family and communication. Its representative color is black.
A Good Year for Change
It's time to gallop away from the slower, introspective energy we experienced in the Water Snake year of 2013 and get things moving!
Horse is a fiery animal with a strong, burning spirit. Action and impulse motivate this sign. Horse wants to run like the wind and can rebel if you try to corral him, so don't be afraid to jump the fences of your comfort zone this year.
The strong Yang energy of this year's Wood element has the potential to turn your world upside down—for better or for worse.
The element of Wood feeds Horse's fire, creating a fast paced year of action and unexpected adventures. But if your energy is unbalanced, you might just find that things go up in smoke.
Wooden Horse can burn hot and fast, disrupting even our best laid blueprints, so be sure to always have a Plan B prepared.
When your energy is balanced, however, Wood will stoke the flames of the Horse, creating the perfect balance for creating change in your life. Wood will support the action-oriented Horse, helping you complete your goals. You could achieve much bigger results than you ever expected!
This is a good year to take a risk, or say "Yes!" to an unexpected adventure. But, keep the impulsive tendencies of Horse in mind—there is a difference between a leap of faith and reckless action.
You might find that the world around you is changing at a rapid pace, as well. Governments and financial systems may reflect the same, fast-paced and potentially unbalanced change that affects people on a personal level during the Year of the Wooden Horse, so keep your eye on your investments and current events.
Passionate Horse also brings a chance for surprise or adventure in your romantic life. Be bold and take a risk!
Run with the wild energy of the Wooden Horse as best you can this year. It can spark a world of change! You'll have plenty of time to slow down and turn inward in 2015, the Year of the Wooden Sheep.