You are browsing the archive for time.

Avatar of iff2in

by iff2in

Brief History of Zodiac Signs

July 20, 2010 in Zodiac

Zodiac signs are a belief that particular time periods like twelve months of the year or the cycles of the moon have special value and can be used for the prediction of life and fortunes of a person who is born in the time period of that sign. Astrologists are those people who study the signs and they usually do it for several years for having an insight of the meanings behind the zodiac.

During ancient times even before the human race started in villages and before writing was invented, the ability to predict the passage of the moon, sun and other objects in the sky was mainly useful because the only way was memorizing the positions of the stars and planets in relation to the moon for predicting the changing of seasons, determining their path and position and appeasing the gods who were constantly inconsistent against each other and sometimes against people.

The stars and planets are seen in modern times as celestial objects having mass and their own orbits rather than gods. However, the value of the ancient’s observations should not be discounted as they were the ones who made the first calculations and calendars that are still in use today for tracking movements of outer space objects. The need for predicting other celestial objects like comets helped in base for the modern astronomy.

As early as around 6000-7000 years back, the Mesopotamian priests of the summer valley used to track the movements of the Venus, moon and the sun in relation with the stars as they appeared during the year. The moon, Venus and soon were considered as gods and their path in the space was used for indicating the changing seasons, the winter and the summer solstices. The pattern of the stars were not of extreme importance, however the events like shooting stars were considered as a sign of good luck or as a sign of impending doom depending on the priest’s reading at that time.

The passage of the sun was used by the Indian astronomers in Vedic times for understanding the changing of seasons and the sun was identified with Vishnu who was said to have three aspects, the bull, the lion and the ram. They were coincidently the symbols that continued into the shifting political scenery of India and Near East during the reign of Alexander the Great.

The ancient Egyptians were the first to identify signs relating to the individual in the stars passage of the moon, sun and other outer space objects. According to the records, the astrologers as early as 2750 BC wrote horoscopes for prominent people of Egyptian society. However, they were not based on zodiac signs hence they are not direct ancestors of the horoscope readings of today.

During the 1300 BC or perhaps earlier, the Assyrian people in the Near East started gaining power and control of the region and conquered most of their neighboring territories. They noticed that the more they travelled further away from home, the stars remained always the same, perhaps a bit lower or higher in the space but were essentially the same. This led to the development of constellations, this was an act that made more precise calendars. Some symbols for their constellation were borrowed by them from their own religion and from the legends of the conquered people.

The Assyrians originally had eighteen constellations but reduced to only twelve by the time of Alexander the Great. The knowledge of the Babylonian constellations was brought back by the Greek warriors to the ancient Greece whose priests found them as a superb addition to their existing knowledge of gods. The constellations of Babylonian zodiac were twelve – Aquarius, Capricornus, Pisces, Sagittarius, Libra, Scorpio, Leo, Spica, Praesepe, Pleiades, Gemini and Aries.

The Greek astrologers changed the names of Capricornus, Spica, Praesepe and Pleiades to Capricorn, Virgo, Taurus and Cancer. These names have stayed till today. Every constellation was assigned to a god or hero has a special importance related to each zodiac sign depending on the magic or strengths of the sake of its name.

The birth of a person had enormous importance for Greeks. With the new constellations, the strengths of person at birth was now possible to determine, this would perhaps prepare their parents it was hoped that the individual would be aware of the challenges ahead by knowing which god or hero would be their protector. The Greeks later started believing that a person’s life was already ordained and the knowledge of horoscopes could help in predicting every major event.

The modern astrology revived mostly from the writings of Ptolomy who was a Greek astronomer and mathematician. We don’t know any relation of it to the Egyptian pharoahs of the same name. However he was the head librarian at the Alexandria’s great library and has access to every writings of the civilized world on the passage of the outer space objects. The Tetrabiblos was his fourth volume work on astrology which explained every detail about the astronomy known to the ancient Greeks.

The succeeding Arabic and Roman knowledge of astronomy directly came from the writings of Ptolemy. The Romans were not too much interested in astronomy than the medieval people and the Greeks, they tended to disagree that a person’s life was already ordained and they instead preferred to place their fate in the hands of gods and their own actions.

When the Roman Empire fell, the medieval society reverted to local folklore and the astrology was lost to the western society until later Ptolomy’s writings were rediscovered by the Arab world around the turn of the first millennium. From the times of Greek into the renaissance period, astrology was mostly unchanged despite disappearing from daily use for several hundred years. Astrology was rejected by puritan and protestant Christians and was termed as un-Christian. However in Catholic parts of Europe, the zodiac signs and horoscopes were regularly identified with the power of the saints.

Astrology found new converts in the 20th century in the western world, particularly in the US where people sought more meaning of life as a traditional community around the local church was disappearing. People investigating other faiths like buddhism, kaballah, wicca and other mysterious traditions easily adopted astrology. Astrology was found to have great synergy among many tarot readers and have been helpful in keeping the ancient art of astrology alive in the 21st century.

I always feel excited writing about history and topics like history of zodiac signs and also who discovered the constellations.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tauqeer_Ul_Hassan

See the rest here: Brief History of Zodiac Signs



Avatar of iff2in

by iff2in

The Chinese Zodiac and the Year of the Tiger

July 20, 2010 in Zodiac

Business news for 2010

Mergers and acquisitions will occur in the metal and wood industries. Industries that would do well would be fire related. Restaurants, lighting, fast food chains, bakery shops and those utilizing electricity. So the IT/Computer industry is another bright spot.

Industries that would not fair so well would include chemicals, cosmetics, pet shops, renovation, agriculture and construction. These are all earth related.

Education, pulp and paper, timber, and furniture will be another bright spot as they represent wood. Wood symbolizes growth and education is about personal growth.

Health for 2010

The most vulnerable parts of the body would include the lungs, throat area, the vertebrae and the neck. Reason? Think about this, how does a Tiger hunt their prey? They tend to attack the neck area by gnawing on them.

Rat – 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924

People born in this year often manifest characteristics of a different species that is more resistant to nature. In the Chinese Zodiac, the rats have considerable qualities of resistance and persistence. The rat also has the ability to adapt and move forward. The problem with the rat is that if it faces a difficult circumstance, it can break under pressure.

For those born in the year of the Rat, this will be an average year for you. There will be obstacles at work but overall, it will be a quiet year for you. Doing part-time education is a good way to fight boredom. In terms of investments, don’t expect major gains. It is also a year of travel for you.

The Tiger is the travel star of the Rat, therefore, movement is expected for you, whether it is travelling or moving to a new home. For those working in a multinational corporation, there is a greater possibility for you to be sent off to a different city to work in.

Health will generally be good. Just be careful during the period between mid-June to mid July. If you are married, you’ll be happy at home. For those who are single and have a target, give it a try.

Ox – 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925

People born in this year are workers and are tireless just like buffalos/cows dragging plows. These people can withstand considerable pressure and support a heavy load. The Ox tends to be conservative and usually stay in the same job or profession for a long period of time. They want to stay economical and do not want to run into any risks.

This is another average year for you but at least it’s better than last year. I’m sure many of you prefer not to talk about last year as you violated the ruling animal which we call the “Grand Duke”. There won’t be any major changes in the work place or at home. In terms of investments, it is better to put money in safer investments like GICs, bonds and long term savings. You will probably end up spending money on special events and weddings.

In terms of health, the Ox tends to work extra hard, therefore, you need to sleep early and take extra care of your health. Proper vitamins and exercising is the way to go.

If you are married, you should find some time to be together. Try not to think about work every night and day. If you are single, romance will be there and mid-June to mid-July will present opportunities for you.

Tiger – 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926

The Tiger experiments with the total force of his energy with overwhelming intensity. The tiger in his natural habitat have an immense field of energy found in constant and intimate interaction with the environment that surrounds it. The force of the tiger is profoundly and deeply sensitive. Even when they are resting, they are like a loaded gun at rest, ready to fire. Their influence can be considerable, both in business and people relations.

This is an inauspicious year for you. Those born in the year of the Tiger offend the Grand Duke, in Chinese, it is called “Fan Tai Sui”. The Grand Duke is the ruling energy that causes instability to those who share the energy of the year, as a result, thinking may not be clear and it is easier to make the wrong decisions. Wealth should not be exposed. For you, it is better to lay low. Take care of your belongings as it is easy for you to attract robbers’ attention for this year.

Health can be a problem for you. Be extra careful if you drive a lot. There is a conflict between the Metal and the Tiger energy of this year. There is a month where you have to pay particular attention to regarding health. That is the month of the Monkey as it clashes with the ruling animal. The month of the Monkey begins on August 10th and ends on September 7th in 2010. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels must be monitored. Stay away from alcohol and lust. Getting away between mid August and mid September is advised. Symptoms in health includes minor sickness, emotional imbalance, and minor misfortunes.

There are greater possibilities for romance in the month of the Rabbit for those who are single. That would be between mid-March to mid-April. For those who are married, avoid arguments.

Remedies include using a Pig talisman. Wearing a talisman of a ‘pi you’ dog is also another possibility.

Rabbit – 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927

The Rabbit is gentle and kind and tends to have a wide group of friends and family. They enjoy entertaining at home and ensures that their home is comfortable and organized. Change is not immediately embraced by the Rabbit as they will think over every detail before making any decisions.

This is a very lucky year for you which will include possibilities of promotion and money luck. Money will come and go but career will definitely be positive. Health and investment will be very positive for 2010. Head injury is a possibility for you so be careful especially in the Autumn.

In relationships, the Rabbit for the year of the Tiger is a Peach Blossom star which means there could be signs of unwanted romance in your life. Don’t allow a third party to ruin your marriage. If you are single, there are plenty of opportunities for you so be patient and scope out all the possibilities before diving into a relationship.

Dragon – 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928

The Dragon is seen as one of the most powerful and lucky animals in the Chinese Zodiac. It is proud, courageous and charismatic. The dragon also possesses many talents and they are intelligent. The dragon can influence others with their ideas and advice but they do not like to listen to anyone else but themselves. They can achieve a considerable amount if they put their mind to it but their main objective is power.

This is an average year for you. The Tiger is the travel star of the Dragon, so expect a bit of travelling and movement. Whatever you do, you must be very very careful. Be more meticulous in your work. If you run a business, there are potentials for lawsuits in business dealings. Re-read and review your documents before signing them. In terms of money and work, Dragons could face heavy losses in financial matters. Donating would be one way to ward of the bad energy. Do not make hasty decisions at work or in business and avoid major investments.

Health is not favorable for you this year. Rest early and see a doctor immediately if there is anything wrong. Exercise regularly and avoid beef, mutton, and pork. Beware of the lunar month of the Dog which is between October 8th and November 5th. There is a high possibility for those born in the year of the dragon to come down with the flu.

Regarding relationships, if you are single and suddenly encounter some romance, it will not last unless you change your own behavior. Lower your temper and avoid being jealous. There are opportunities in the month of the Rooster, between September 8th and October 7th for you to meet more people and make new friends.

Snake – 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929

The Snake is very smart, popular, and slick. They are sometimes perceived as lazy. The snake usually wait until the situation presents itself before they strike. They are very determined in their work and they work very hard until the job is done. Snakes also use their gut instincts when making important decisions. The snake is usually a very cautious animal.

This is a mixed year for you and it depends on whether you also have a Monkey in your chart. You have to be careful if you have a Monkey in your chart because it will result in the “triple punishment” or “triple penalty” which combines with the Tiger. Bickering, lawsuits, legal issues, and backstabbing will be experienced.

Things should be smooth as long as the Monkey is avoided. One way of verifying whether the Tiger would do any harm to you this year is to see what happened in 1998. That was also the year of the Tiger. If nothing dramatic happened to you that year, you should have a very smooth year. There will be big achievements and you should avoid changing jobs. Money luck should come from career or even from random investments. Stick with blue chip stocks or mutual funds if you decide to invest. Avoid high risk penny stocks. There is a guide star for you where women will come to assist you if you are in need of it.

There are possibilities of robberies, thefts or car accidents. Try to get away in the month of November if you can. Travelling, donating to charity, and volunteering in November is advised.

In terms of health, it may not be as good for you. There is a tendency to catch a flu or cold. Take your vitamins. Mid-August to Mid September is the month for you to be careful. Travelling or getting away during that month is the best way to avoid problems.

Regarding relationships, guard yourself against false relationships if you are single this year. For those who are single, there are greater opportunities for you in between mid-June and mid-July.

Horse – 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930

The Horse is full of energy and they need a lot of space to run around. They are not the type that would sit down in a 9-5 job. The horse fears being trapped in any circumstances whether it is at work or at home. They are constantly on the move and it can result in impatience on their part. On the other hand, they are fast thinkers and can make quick decisions.

This would be good for you. The Horse is friends with the Tiger. For those who are born in the Year of the Tiger, you might be wise to stick with the Horse. The Horse is part of a Fire Alliance/Trio with the Tiger and the Dog. There may be some obstacles at work so your are advised to be mindful of what you do and go with the flow of the events. Don’t fight the tape and argue with your boss. Follow the flow is the best way to label the Horse as it wants to follow the “fire flow”.

For money, luck through good fortune should surround you and investments in high risk stocks can reap huge rewards for you. Just ensure that fire is favorable to your chart. Just because you’re born in the year of the Horse, it doesn’t mean that you’ll all get rich through high risk investments.

Health is generally good for you, however, avoid water sports or going to snowy places. There will be danger with water. If your chart enjoys a fire flow, it is better to go with the flow. Using water to fight the fire will result in mishaps. Be aware of your health especially in the month of December.

In relationship matters, if you are married or dating someone, you should be able enjoy a nice period of happiness. On the other hand, if you are single, it may take awhile for you to meet the right partner. Opportunities do exist between mid-March and mid-April.

Goat – 2003. 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931

Goats are creative and intuitive and they would make good artisans or teachers. They can be overly sensitive and insecure. Goats need a lot of support from their friends and families because of their insecurity. They are day dreamers and are more comfortable being alone when they are thinking.

It will be a good year for you. There is a star that enters your life called the “Tian Xi”, meaning that you’ll be attending good and happy events this year. This could come in the form of a marriage or some sort of a ceremony. This year will definitely be smoother than last year. The year of the Ox must have been trying at times since it clashed with the Goat. If you ran into a slew of bad luck last year, don’t despair because this year will be much more stable as the negative energy of the Ox dissipates.

You might find it difficult to save money this year and it may be an important issue to you. In terms of work, it is a year of stability for you so don’t expect major changes.

Your health is not so favorable for this year but it is definitely better than last year. If you are married, be mindful of your emotions and watch how they can cause quarrels. If you are single, there will be romance but it can result in arguments with your parents.

Monkey – 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932

The Monkey is energetic, charming and optimistic. They are also adventurous and crave for new ideas and activities. The monkey is very straight forward and cannot hide their feelings. They enjoy showing off their creativity and charm to their friends. If there is one word to describe monkeys, ‘fun’ is the word.

Those born in the year of the Monkey will experience difficulties this year. Why? Because the Monkey clashes energetically with the Tiger. Tips for those born in the year of the Monkey: 1. Avoid attending funerals and weddings. 2. When faced with arguments, it is better to let go than to force your way through them. The Tiger is your travel star so expect a lot of travelling for this year.

Try to carry a Dragon or a Rat figurine as it will prevent the Tiger from attacking the monkey. Hang out with people born in the year of the Rat or Dragon.

It is better to invest overseas if possible. There will be gossips about you at work. Just stay low and you’ll be fine.

Regarding health, it is better to get more sleep and exercise. The head and neck area may be vulnerable.

There will be arguments if you are in a relationship. If you are single, it is better for you to tread carefully. Of course, if you meet a Rat or a Dragon, that’s a different story as they will help you ward of a clash with the Tiger.

Rooster – 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933

Roosters are observers and they are meticulous in everything that they do. Their perfectionist nature can annoy the people around them. They love to be the center of attention. The rooster can be loyal and trustworthy friends. Think about it, the rooster screams early in the morning at the same time, they are a timely and trustworthy animal, but on the flip side, they could be annoying at times. The main characteristic of the rooster is their great attention to details, therefore, these people would thrive in work requiring great precision and accuracy.

This is a good year for you. There are positive/lucky stars and there are also some bad ones. Fortunately, most roosters are optimistic, hence, they will be able to clear hurdles much easily than others. If you are working, be aware of hidden enemies at work. Try not to engage in any long discussions at work because it can turn into a heated debate.

In terms of health, you may catch a flu early in the year especially in the month of the Rabbit, that is between March 16-April 13. Take care of the lungs with morning exercises because it will be more vulnerable. This is not a good year for you to change jobs. The Tiger is the Guard star for the Rooster, therefore, you should be well protected from any negative incidents.

Family members will be harmonious towards you.

Dog – 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934

Dogs are wonderful and loyal friends to have around. They can become stubborn and emotionally unstable at times. Dogs can make great business people since they have the ability to discern the true motives of others. They are serious and intelligent and they commit to noble causes. Dogs are constantly working to make the world a better place.

For Dogs, this is a good year for you as the Dog is friends with the Tiger. Those who are working should not encounter problems in the workplace. If you are looking for a career change or if you notice good job openings, you should go for it. Even though it is a good year for Dogs, those in business have to be careful of lawsuits and business deals.

Health wise, you may overwork yourself on the job so make sure you rest up! Health issues for you would stem from backaches and stomach troubles.

Relationship should be smooth for those who are married or in a relationship. For those who are single, your lucky break to meet someone comes in between mid-March and mid-April.

Pig – 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935

Pigs are generous and honorable. They make great friends because of their refusal to see the negative side of people. Pigs care about their friends and family and work hard to ensure that everyone in their life is happy. They are constantly working hard to improve themselves and others.

Pigs will enjoy an excellent year. It is going to be fantastic for you both in your career and wealth. However, the pig has to be humble at all times or others may become jealous of you and that may lead to problems. You can consider using spare money to invest in stocks or just simply save them for future use. Health should also be exceptional.

In terms of relationships, things should go smoothly for those who are in a relationship. On the other hand, if you are single, you have plenty of opportunities to meet new friends especially in December.

To find out more about Feng Shui and Destiny, please go to White Dragon Consulting. Jerry received private BaZi/Four Pillars of Destiny and I Ching training from Dr. Lily Chung in San Francisco, a world renowned expert in Eastern Metaphysics specializing in Four Pillars and the I Ching. Jerry is considered as one of Lily’s top students. He provides private Feng Shui and Four Pillars training in both English and Chinese. He is currently translating Chinese Four Pillars literature and writing a book on the Four Pillars of Destiny in English. Jerry is also researching on how cosmic flow in the Four Pillars affect one’s health. He is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_G_King

Continued here: The Chinese Zodiac and the Year of the Tiger