Animal Forecast 2015: 12. A Rasher Time, outlook for the Pig in 2015
Who is a Pig?
Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007.
Month*: November
Hour: 09:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Day: ask us
* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.
What is a Pig?
The weakness and the strength of the yin water Pig is to think they know what is good for them. Generally they do, and the maddening thing is that they are actually right often enough to make advice close to impossible. By extension this means you may believe you know what is right for everybody else.
Versatile and wilful, gifted at whatever they do, the Pig is the sign of the inventor. Edison was a Pig, as is Hillary Clinton and Wikileaker Julian Assange. Perfectly-balanced Pigs can literally almost do anything but they don’t always handle the truth well. They don’t much like reflective advice from others and they often hate not to know for sure. Vagueness is very uncomfortable for the Pig, this trio of the multi-gifted being no exception: Edison was of course an obsessive patenter, Hillary determined to get Wall Street onside in the teeth of her liberal credentials and Assange, confident that he knows better than anyone else what the world needs to know. This does not make any of them mistaken but the truth can be a moveable feast.
The Pig is communicative because it is a water sign. A balanced Pig (perhaps March birth around mid-afternoon) is a great audience and typically gets the listening/talking ratio just right. An unbalanced Pig can shoot off at the mouth and give (or take) away the farm before she knows it. Does any of this sound like – to pluck a name from nowhere – Earth Pig Simon Cowell?
More likely, you are prone to withdrawing into silence. The Pig can sulk but can also withdraw simply out of disinterest and be perfectly cheerful when challenged on the withdrawal. The Pig child needs just the right mixture of carrot and stick. Too much stick and he is suppressed or resentful. Too much carrot and he can be smug. The balanced Pig is the most sensitive of the animals. The unbalanced Pig suffers an empathy bypass. As the parent of a Pig, just remember you are instrumental in this process. Your Piglet does not need to become a boor.
The Pig embodies the wood of creativity so they can be as adept with the written as the spoken word as well as the yang earth that makes them able to concentrate deeply. Many Pigs prefer to study in noisy rooms and many are effortless A-students as teachers of first year undergraduates of 2015 may notice.
The Pig does not tend to like the Snake; one way or another they immobilise each other. The Snake’s intimate, the Monkey, can be a source of annoyance also.
The Pig’s most natural team is with the Rabbit and the Sheep. This is a domestic alliance. Together these three naturally make anywhere home. A perfect family might be Pig father, Rabbit mother and Sheep first-born. Once home, the Rabbit entertains while the Sheep ensures compatibility and the Pig does skilfully the tasks that are beyond her partners.
Traditionally the Pig also enjoys the company of the Tiger. You might think she’d be more cautious but she knows that the Tiger is uninterested in conquering anyone he considers easy meat. Of course he’s missing something here but the Pig’s fearless approach often disarms the Tiger before he realises. And by the bye, Pig’s literary ambition may burgeon in a Tiger year and flourish in a Rabbit one.
Although she may herself be more adventurous, the Pig also understands the loyal and consistent Dog. She respects the fact that every home needs its guardian. These two will tend to develop a camaraderie with its own distinctive banter. The Pig respects the Dog’s diligence and the Dog knows the Pig will compensate for his weakness.
The Pig also operates well as factotum for a group consisting of the Snake (whom she can’t otherwise stand for any length of time) the Monkey (see above) and the Tiger. For these she is, interestingly, the peacemaker and setter of standards. Without the Pig this grouping whose common interest is travel and mobility, can’t get off the ground.
One final note: the Pig suffers what is called the self curse. That is to say that she has limited patience with other Pigs. The Chinese character for a house is one Pig under a roof. Just the one.
Pig in Wood Sheep Year.
Stars include: secondary tin yute, pin choi
The Pig is puzzled this year. New and unexpected challenges have emerged; mostly pretty exciting. The Wood of the Wood Sheep ensures you have power and support. The danger is that you could be veering off track or withdrawing. You move so fast. You’re empowered but you’ve bitten off a lot. And you are so prone to believing the discouraging nonsense that sometimes sits between your ears; a mash-up of many unhelpful voices filtered through your own. Don’t treat it as an authority. The theme of the year is knowing your excuses and exploding them.
Traditionally the Pig is empowered by the Sheep. With the Rabbit, a partnership is formed whose principal strength is in the home. So in a year in which this team dominates, expect to be home a great deal. You’ll like that; cooking for yourself and whoever cares to join you. Define home a bit more widely also, perhaps; call your Mum occasionally and remake those other bonds you may have taken for granted. You can take them for granted btw, but I shouldn’t.
Last year was very much a year of learning. This is more a time of teaching. You know things – perceptions as well as straightforward facts – that others need to know. You never talk down. You never under-estimate. You will be heard. Rely on that. If you’re not heard, is because you’re not speaking up. That’s yin Water.
On the world stage Hillary Clinton is a Pig and this is a big year for her, possibly the biggest of her life. Like Ms C, this year you define yourself. Step up to the plate. Take that risk. You will be supported; you do have a considerable team to call on. They’ve always known they can call on you and they are themselves in turn ready for your call. This year don’t let those excuses your fertile mind gives birth to so easily, convince you anything you truly want is not possible. It is. You may have multiple ambitions; entertain them all.
This year is the first of a two-part offensive. In 2016 you rise to some sort of prominence. It may be that you have to wait till then or even the year after for the full reward you are due. Meanwhile seek diplomatic Rabbits to network for you but be prepared to do it for yourself. Find team-playing Sheep to build connections for you and the occasional Tiger to bust through barriers. If you can’t find such individuals, locate these qualities in yourself. The Pig is nothing if not versatile; you are Wood, Water and Earth, you can fit in and shine anywhere.
Blatant self-promotion may be distasteful to you. Examine whether this judgement is useful but anyway be clear of the difference between yang marketing – you need me, buy now – and yin – I’m available if you’re up to it. Best times for advancement may be March and July. Be imaginative, be flexible, be brazen but above all, get on with it.
Elementally seek Wood, which is creativity. It’s what the Pig is said to give birth to. Generally this can be interpreted as the written word. Locate the East and be there. Get up early in the morning and wring every gram of brightness out of the spring time.
You are so bright, show the world.
Health: some possible blockages. Eat wisely.
Money: no noticeable change. Yet.
Relationship: varied.
Feng Shui: The Rabbit in the East offers you breakthrough. Activate the Rat (due North) for relationship – whatever you mean by that. The Tiger (NE3) holds Dragon Virtue (for enhanced reputation) which may be the key this year.
Readers’ Digest Version: breakthrough if you want it.
Richard Ashworth©, early in the month of the Tiger, 2015.