As we leave 2020 and the Year of the Rat we look forward to a better year. And with good reason. Last year was a hard year for people in so many ways. The cunning Rat created a lot of problems…but that is just his way. And that is why the Rat is the first sign of the Chinese Zodiac and the Ox is the 2nd. There is a story about how this happened…

The Great Race: The Jade Emperor wanted to name each month after a different animal so he created a race and the first 12 animals were to be the signs. The animals were to both run and swim and run again to reach the palace. The Rat knew he could never win on his own. He wasn’t fast enough nor could he swim well enough. But he knew the Ox was not only a fast runner but also the best swimmer. So he asked the Ox to let him ride on his head across the river, promising that he could never out run him once they got to the shore. The Ox being kind agreed. But as soon as they reached the shore the Rat propelled himself forward and ran quickly to the finish line, cheating the Ox out of being the first animal to arrive at the palace.

And so now we are approaching the Year of the Ox, starting Feb 12th. The Ox is a hard working animal and like the animal this year is going to require a lot of hard work. But the Ox is always able to push through tough times and we will as long as people are willing to put in their efforts. This is not a year to be lazy.

Like the Ox, people born in the Year of the Ox are honest, sincere, hard working, skilled, healthy and fit. People born in the year of the Ox value family. They are powerful, yet balanced. But, as with all signs and people, they do have negative characteristics too, such as being stubborn, as well as poor communicators. Their lucky colors are green, white and yellow. What years are Ox years? 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 and of course, 2021.