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Instructions
Recognize Your Chinese Astrology Sign
Figure out the lunar year in which you were born. For most people, this will correspond with the solar year that you are already family with. However, if you were born in January or early February, your lunar year may be different from your solar year. The Chinese New Year falls on a different day each year, starting the lunar year cycle.
Use a Chinese astrology chart with 12 animals corresponding to each year on a rotating cycle. You may also use the calculator at FirePig.com (see Resources below). The site also offers information and articles relating to Chinese astrology.
Check the characteristics of the animal you were born under. Note that the traits of people born in that year do not necessarily correspond to the animals' stereotypes. For instance, a snake is usually seen as a backstabber or slimy, but in Chinese astrology, people born in the Year of the Snake are thought to possess elegance and wisdom, among other characteristics.
Determine the Characteristics of Your Sign
Learn more about your character by exploring deeper facets of your Chinese astrology sign. Use an online chart to determine the element and aspect of the year you were born (see Resources below).
Gain deeper understanding by recognizing whether your sign falls under the wood (creative), earth (practical), fire (impulsive), water (emotional depth) or metal (determined) element. Each element has many characteristics beyond the basic and should be studied further.
Check to see if your disposition is yin (feminine) or yang (masculine). Traditionally, people born in yin years tend to more passive and softer, while people born in yang years tends to be more dominant and stronger.
Put the elements and aspects of the sign together to create an analysis of a person with Chinese astrology. While it's possible to use astrology to dig much deeper, basing a simple reading on basic lunar year signs can lead to a decent understanding of a person's character.