Lanterns are the traditional decorations for the Chinese New Year. Also called the Spring Festival, the celebration goes on for two weeks and is marked by special foods, much as we celebrate the winter holidays. Photo by Alexander F. Yuan for The Associated Press.
With all the activity in the sky lately, I totally forgot about the Chinese New Year, which always begins at the New Moon in Aquarius.
As you probably know, this is the Year of the Tiger. In Chinese astrology, there are twelve signs, all animals. Each lunar year has an animal associated with it, along with one of five traditional Chinese elements. This year, the element is Metal.
What you may not know is that each of the Chinese animal signs has a counterpart in Western astrology. The Tiger is associated with Aquarius, and it’s no coincidence that traits associated with the Tiger mirror many of the characteristics of the Water Bearer. I’m not an expert in Chinese astrology. For the most part, I rely on Theodora Lau’s classic Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes. Here is what she says about the Metal Tiger:
He approaches his problems in a direct or even a radical way and is never in doubt about what he wants to accomplish. The problem is that he wants too much too soon. He tends to be overoptimistic about expected results.
When Metal is combined with his native lunar sign, it could produce a Tiger who is sudden, unorthodox and drastic in his actions. He is a person who is faithful only to himself and his desires, and doesn’t mind stepping on a few toes along the way. Easily stirred by both good and bad influences, this Tiger will tend to act independently, as he hates having to get permission for anything or having his freedom curtailed in any way.
The last time we had a year of the Metal Tiger was 1950. Among the events that year were the Korean War, construction of the hydrogen bomb, and the beginning of Sen. Joe McCarthy’s anti-communist witch hunts.
Tiger years traditionally are associated with social upheaval and sweeping change, events that Western astrologers associate with Uranus, the modern planetary ruler of Aquarius. Although Chinese astrologers don’t cast ingress charts as we do in the West, it’s interesting to note that the Year of the Tiger began with the New Moon conjunct Neptune and Chiron. I fervently hope that the sweeping changes we experience this year have to do with healing and connecting with others to help bring about much-needed changes on the planet. Of course, this may not be easy or comfortable.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! (Congratulations and be prosperous!)
Pat
RealAstrologers 
Lynn Hayes at Astrological Musings had an interesting take on this including an extract from astrologer Marvin Artley:-
“…It is said that when the Emperor rules with absolute virtue, the White Tiger will appear. The White Tiger is one of the four sacred animals in Chinese astrology. It rules over the western direction and is symbolic of strength, daring, commercial prowess, the competitive spirit and willingness to fight for beliefs. Of course, the White Tiger referred to here is not the sacred, or heraldic, animal but the same principles apply to the Tiger as one of the twelve zodiacal signs. The year of 2010, starting from Valentines’ Day, will be marked by revolutionary tendencies, advances and accidents in transport, attempts at imposing draconian legislation, advances in media and a resurgence of the working classes. Metal (White) Tiger years typically see antitrust legislation and insurrections in the political arena. The sudden reversals and consequent engendered insecurity that we saw in the Rat and Ox years just passed (2008, 2009) have set the stage for overhauls of political and economic systems that are oppressive or do not work, with a consequent reactionary front from those who would rather keep those systems in place. The so-called War on Terror will take a decisive turn in 2010, with expected military action against recalcitrant regimes. Iran and North Korea come to mind. The Korean War started in the White Tiger year of 1950.
On the social front the explorer’s instinct and entrepreneurial spirit will be to the fore. New products come out in White Tiger years that tend to become ‘old standards’ later, such as peanut butter, Pepsi Cola, the sewing machine, corrugated boxes, hamburgers and beloved comic strips (‘Peanuts’ and Beetle Bailey’), so put on your thinking caps and see what you can come up with. The Tiger in Chinese astrology represents majesty, dignity and sternness, daring, power and passion and anyone who has those qualities in their nature will fare well in 2010. For those who are more sedate then those same Tiger qualities may just be awakened this year. It is said that the Tiger has no special magical properties. Tigers work best ‘in the trenches’ and in motivating others to get things done. It will be a great year to start an enterprise, work at self-improvement, prevail upon the boss for that raise you so richly deserve, do something daring and completely out-of-character, push your own and others’ boundaries, get over that fear of public speaking or just generally make a bold statement about your life. In all, find whatever stirs your passion this year and the Tiger in you is sure to come out! ”
I prefer your hopes for this year, but we may need to be aware of other aspects. Certainly hadn’t heard that it was associated with Aquarius though with Uranus due to move into Aries this year anything could happen.
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Thanks for this, Rossa. Funny how the above description holds many keywords for Aquarius — especially the part about being ahead of its time. :-)
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