The Year of the Horse has arrived! The horse is highly esteemed in Chinese culture, so you can expect great things from 2014. Carefree and casual Horses enjoy all of the adventures life has to offer, so get ready for a year full of fun and festivity.
‘The Wood Horse year is a time of fast victories, unexpected adventure, and surprising romance,’ says Susan Levitt, astrologer and feng shui consultant. ‘It is an excellent year for travel, and the more far away and off the beaten path the better. Energy is high and production is rewarded. Decisive action, not procrastination, brings victory. But you have to act fast in a Horse year.’
The Horse is a hero in China, a victor of battles, a sacred creature, and at times even depicted as magical and winged. The Year of the Horse is considered a fortunate time in all matters, so be sure to reap the benefits in your own life. ‘The time for pondering and planning was 2013 Snake year,’ says Levitt. ‘Horse year is time to act fast, buy that home, launch that business, travel the world, make a big purchase, get a promotion at work, have a breakthrough – take a leap and fly.’
Like all creatures, the Horse has its faults, and these will signal the problem areas for 2014. Impulsive and uninterested in finances, the Horse lives large and has a tendency to overspend. Risk-taking can result in tragedy and many speculative investments or business moves will fail rather than succeed – so be wary before you seize every opportunity that comes your way.
Want to know what’s in store for you this year? Read on to find out your Chinese Zodiac sign, and how you’ll be affected by the Year of the Horse.
Horse
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Positive Traits: Horses are great communicators and love to be in the limelight. Intelligent, kind and cheerful, they enjoy crowds and are often popular. Horses refuse to fail and are active at work and in life.
Negative Traits: Horses loathe to be constrained and are often impatient. Hot-blooded, they rarely take advice and often fail to finish projects. Horses can also be superficial and wasteful in regards to finances.
Celebrity Horses: Jennifer Lawrence, Katie Homes and Ashton Kutcher.
The Year of the Horse: Horses may face high stress at work during 2014, and could find themselves quite emotional during the months to come. They should take care to relax and look after themselves. In money, they will enjoy a stable income, but should beware of their tendency to overspend.
‘Lovers should be patient with each other,’ says Feng Shui Expert, Joseph Chau Kam Shing. ‘Married Horses should keep away from temptation or they will face separation. They must be careful with the way they handle their relationship to avoid any conflict especially in the lunar months of February, March, May, September and December.’
Rat
1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996
Positive Traits: Rats tend to be highly intelligent, and back their brains with ambition and persuasion. Social, charming and charismatic, they make friends easily. Other positive traits include being shrewd, industrious, meticulous, artistic and eloquent.
Negative Traits: Rats can be cunning and as a result are skilled in manipulation and exploitation. Jealous and vindictive, Rats can be suspicious and critical of those around them. Rats may also be arrogant.
Celebrity Rats: Scarlett Johansson, Katy Perry and Ben Affleck.
The Year of the Horse: Shrewd and meticulous, Rats are not built for the carefree year of the horse. ‘The impulsive way of doing things in a Horse year is not the best for everyone,’ says Levitt. ‘For example, the spontaneous energy of the Horse year brings challenges to the thoughtful Rat who is Horse’s opposite.’
When it comes to finances, Rats should be extra cautious and reduce unnecessary expenditure, as well as broadening their income sources. ‘They should not try their luck in high-risk investments or gambling as they are bound to lose,’ says Chau.
In love, single rats should seize the opportunity to plan for marriage in The Year of the Horse, whereas married rats ‘should stay away from temptation to avoid extramarital affairs. They will suffer from loneliness if they are not frank with their beloved.’
Ox
1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Positive Traits: Oxen move steadily, and tend to be patient, honest and cautious. Industrious, they are devoted workers and value their jobs. Oxen tend to be good hearted with an easy temper and value tradition and family.
Negative Traits: Poor communicators, Oxen can be stubborn in their steadfast ways. Oxen can also come across as distant and overly silent.
Celebrity Oxen: George Clooney, Barack Obama and Meryl Streep.
The Year of the Horse: Oxen will have a mixed year with half-good and half-bad luck. For the best outcomes, Oxen should try not to be greedy or stubborn and should accept the advice that others have to offer.
Oxen will have the benefits of a steady income, but in the carefree, frivolous year of the horse, should be mindful of wastage.
When it comes to love, Oxen will be filled with passion and romantic sentiments. Chau recommends that ‘Married Oxen must be careful with their relationship and stay away from temptation to avoid extramarital affairs.’
Tiger
1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Positive Traits: Talented at expressing themselves, Tigers are active, liking challenges and speed. Frank in their honesty, Tigers win the trust of others easily and are generally well respected.
Negative Traits: Capable of deep sympathy, Tigers are great thinkers. However, more interested in immediate than long-term endeavour they can be short tempered and come into conflict easily. Tigers may also be overly confident and even traitorous.
Celebrity Tigers: Lea Michele, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lindsay Lohan.
The Year of the Horse: 2014 will be a great opportunity for Tigers to realise their ambitions and gain success. Things are going smoothly and they will be able to stand out from the others, reaching the peak of their career,’ says Chau. ‘It is most important that they be on guard against conceit and impetuosity. On the other hand, they have to be humble to avoid personal disputes and rumours lest they provoke the attention of hypocrites and jealous people.’
Tigers will be lucky in their finances, and should take the opportunity to invest money in new projects. However, speculative investments should be avoided and could result in major financial loss.
The second half of the year will bring greater luck in love for Tigers. ‘Single Tigers should have the initiative to attract the opposite gender so that they will be able to bear fruits of love,’ says Chau. ‘Those who have been going steady for a number of years should consider getting married within the year.’
Rabbit
1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Positive Traits: Gentle, sensitive and compassionate, Rabbits are amiable creatures with a good sense of humour. Rabbits hate to be bored and are good at adding romance and variety to a situation. Welcoming and hospitable, Rabbits are not easily angered.
Negative Traits: Rabbits are not good at delving deeply into a problem and lack meditative abilities. Rabbits like to escape reality and may plan poorly. Rabbits may miss opportunities as a result of their reserved nature.
Celebrity Rabbits: Russell Brand, Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.
The Year of the Horse: Rabbits will enjoy improved luck at work during The Year of the Horse. However, Chau warns that ‘rabbits may also experience obstructions and problems internally and externally with tremendous stress. It is most important that they stay away from rumours and personal disputes.’ As a result, Rabbits should exercise and relax more to relieve stress.
There will be many career opportunities available to Rabbits in 2014, should they choose to take them. In relationships, ‘single Rabbits can get along extra well with people of the opposite sex, with a chance for love to blossom,’ says Chau. ‘Married Rabbits will enjoy a happy family life, but they should keep a distance from the opposite sex to avoid excessive enthusiasm or they will fall into a love triangle.’
Dragon
1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Positive Traits: Strong, self-assured and proud, Dragons are excellent leaders. They can be direct in their interactions, and are passionate in all matters.
Negative Traits: The Dragon’s tendency to be direct can result in tactlessness and intolerance. Dragons may also be arrogant and dogmatic in their views. In severe cases, Dragons may be violent and demanding.
Celebrity Dragons: Keanu Reeves, Courtney Cox and Vanessa Hudgens.
The Year of the Dragon: 2014 is the perfect opportunity for Dragons to achieve their ambitions and strive towards success. ‘If they work hard enough, sooner or later, they will have a good chance to get a promotion,’ says Chau. ‘However, they should be humble after success to eliminate attacks from envious people.
Dragons will have a satisfactory income in The Year of the Horse, but may not be lucky in their finances and should be careful and conservative when investing.
In relationships, Dragons should be wary of conflict, which will arise easily. ‘Dragons must be patient and calm in their relationship,’ says Chau. ‘A sense of forgiveness must be implemented at home. Single female Dragons should not be blinded by new suitors or they will be cheated on.’
Snake
1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Positive Traits: Snakes are skilful in the art of communicating a great deal in few words and often have a good temper and are sympathetic towards others. Snakes are wise, moral, and as a result are usually financially secure. Snakes may look calm on the surface, but are secretly intense and always passionate.
Negative Traits: Snakes are self-reliant and as a result often doubt the judgement of others, becoming jealous and suspicious. Snakes are polite, but tend to overdo things and be headstrong.
Celebrity Snakes: Taylor Swift, Grace Kelly and Oprah Winfrey.
The Year of the Horse: 2014 will be a good year for Snakes, and a great opportunity for achieving ambitions.
‘Money luck is quite smooth for Snakes this year,’ Says Chau. ‘Business income is stable and they will have many chances to earn money from different sources.’
In love, single snakes will be presented many opportunities for positive interactions with the opposite sex. In terms of health, snakes should watch their diet and female snakes should be wary of potential gynaecological concerns.
Goat
1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991
Positive Traits: Goats are friendly, polite and tender in their interactions. Sensitivity to art and beauty is combined with strong faith and a love for living quietly. Goats may also be wise, economical and cautious in business endeavours.
Negative Traits: Goats may be anxious, overly sensitive, shy and pessimistic. Their timidity means that they like to be looked after by others, enjoying flattery. Goats are timid in expressing their love.
Celebrity Goats: Julia Roberts, Bill Gates and Bruce Willis.
The Year of the Horse: 2014 will be a productive year for Goats in which they will be courageous and wise in solving obstacles at work. ‘Their hard work and outstanding performance will bring promotion to them sooner or later,’ says Chau. ‘However, they must not rely too much on others to take over responsibilities as this will result in failure.’
Goats will be financially stable during the Year of the Horse and should consider purchasing property for investment.
Romantic sparks will fly for Goats, with single goats stepping into relationships and married Goats enjoying harmony at home.
Monkey
1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 2004
Positive Traits: The quick-witted and intelligent monkey is highly social and a motivator amongst others. Monkeys may also be confident, romantic and optimistic in their endeavours.
Negative Traits: Monkeys may turn their intelligence towards deceptive and manipulative pursuits. Monkeys are often quite arrogant, selfish, suspicious and egotistical.
Celebrity Monkeys: Will Smith, Jennifer Aniston and Channing Tatum.
The Year of the Horse: 2014 will herald greater work and less profit for monkeys. ‘It is difficult for them to see any important breakthrough in their careers, and business will be sluggish,’ says Chau. ‘Unless they have a very strong will to work hard, their success will not come easy. Despite this, they will be busy and will travel quite a lot throughout the year. They should consider working abroad or developing their business overseas.’
Monkeys will be unlucky in both love and finances during the Year of the Horse and should not allow their expectations to be too high. In health, Monkeys should take care of themselves and have regular medical check ups.
Rooster
1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1981, 1993, 2005
Positive Traits: Roosters are deep thinkers and very bright. Ambitious and communicative, Roosters are highly ambitious, but also warm-hearted. Roosters have great self-respect so are well presented and like to be neat and tidy.
Negative Traits: Roosters are highly emotional and often quite eccentric, facing difficulty in their relationships. Roosters are often selfish, narrow-minded and vain. Roosters can be arrogant and believe that they are always right.
Celebrity Roosters: Beyonce Knowles, Jessica Alba and Ellen DeGeneres.
The Year of the Horse: ‘This is a creative year for Roosters,’ says Chau. ‘They will have better luck and they will be braver in fighting for their success this year. This is a good year for them to exhibit their talents and skills. However, it is important that Roosters be on guard against conceit and impulsiveness. They need to be patient, maintain their level-headedness and work hard so their problems will be solved.’
In their finances, 2014 is a good time for Roosters to invest or start new businesses. In love, Roosters will find 2014 to be a very romantic time. They will have the opportunity for enriching and exciting relationships. Married Roosters should avoid the temptation to stray.
Dog
1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Positive Traits: Dogs are straightforward, faithful, and warm of heart. Trustworthy dogs can keep a secret and make good leaders. Dogs may also be courageous, dexterous and intelligent.
Negative Traits: Dogs tend to lead a serious existence, and spend much time boasting and trying to impress others. Dogs will always get the job done, but rarely go beyond what is asked of them.
Celebrity Dogs: Cory Monteith, Madonna and Mariah Carey.
The Year of the Horse: Dogs will be kept busy in 2014, but will have many opportunities to display their skills and talent.
Dogs will be financially stable during the Year of the Horse, so should not risk their savings on speculative investments.
This is a fortunate year for Dogs in romance, which will be enriching and varied,’ says Chau. ‘They will be quite attractive this year and they will have a busy social life with many activities.’ However, Dogs are likely to suffer from poor health in 2014 and should steer clear of any dangerous activities.
Pig
1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
Positive Traits: Pigs are extroverted and enthusiastic in their endeavours. Rebellious in nature, pigs are full of passion and likely to be brave and valiant.
Negative Traits: Pigs are known for their short temper and fiery personalities. Pigs are often snappy and uncontrollable in nature.
Celebrity Pigs: Mila Kunis, Emma Thompson and Steven Spielberg
The Year of the Horse: Pigs will enjoy smooth tidings during 2014. The Year of the Horse is the ideal time for pigs to seize opportunities and surpass their business rivals. ‘They will be even more successful if they can keep a positive attitude throughout the year,’ says Chau. ‘However, they should avoid being too indulgent.’
Money will be stable in 2014, but Pigs should be careful with their budgeting to avoid wastage. In love, Pigs will enjoy much popularity with potential partners, and should show their tender side.
Images credit: horoscopochino.net
Feature image: Readengage.com
