Neil Somerville - Your Chinese Horoscope 2013: What the Year of the Snake Holds in Store for You

The origins of Chinese horoscopes have been lost in the mists of time. It is known, however, that oriental astrologers practised their art many thousands of years ago and even today Chinese astrology continues to fascinate and intrigue.

In Chinese astrology there are 12 signs named after 12 different animals. No one quite knows how the signs acquired their names, but there is one legend that offers an explanation. According to this legend, one Chinese New Year the Buddha invited all the animals in his kingdom to come before him. Unfortunately, for reasons best known to the animals, only 12 turned up. The first to arrive was the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and finally Pig. In gratitude, the Buddha decided to name a year after each of the animals and that those born during that year would inherit some of the personality of that animal. Therefore those born in the year of the Ox would be hardworking, resolute and stubborn, just like the Ox, while those born in the year of the Dog would be loyal and faithful, just like the Dog. While it is not possible that everyone born in a particular year can have all the characteristics of the sign, it is incredible what similarities do occur, and this is partly where the fascination of Chinese horoscopes lies.

In addition to the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac there are five elements and these have a strengthening or moderating influence upon the signs.Details about the effects of the elements are given in each of the chapters on the signs.

Also included, in the appendix, are two charts showing the compatibility between the signs for personal and business relationships and details about the signs ruling the different hours of the day. From this it is possible to locate your ascendant and, as in Western astrology, this has a significant influence on your personality.

In writing this book I have taken the unusual step of combining the intriguing nature of Chinese horoscopes with the Western desire to know what the future holds, and have based my interpretations upon various factors relating to each of the signs. Over the years in which Your Chinese Horoscope has been published I have been pleased that so many have found the sections on the forthcoming year of interest and hope that the horoscope has been constructive and useful. Remember, though, that at all times you are master of your own destiny.

I sincerely hope that Your Chinese Horoscope 2013 will prove interesting and helpful for the year ahead.

As we march through life we each have our hopes, our ambitions and our dreams.

Sometimes fate and circumstance will assist us, sometimes we will struggle and despair, but march we must.

For it is those who keep going, and who keep their aspirations alive, who stand the greatest chance of securing what they want.

March determinedly, and your determination will, in some way, be rewarded.

Neil Somerville

Rat: 18 February 1912 to 5 February 1913

Ox: 6 February 1913 to 25 January 1914

Tiger: 26 January 1914 to 13 February 1915

Rabbit: 14 February 1915 to 2 February 1916

Dragon: 3 February 1916 to 22 January 1917

Snake: 23 January 1917 to 10 February 1918

Horse: 11 February 1918 to 31 January 1919

Goat: 1 February 1919 to 19 February 1920

Monkey: 20 February 1920 to 7 February 1921

Rooster: 8 February 1921 to 27 February 1922

Dog: 28 January 1922 to 15 February 1923

Pig: 16 February 1923 to 4 February 1924

Rat: 5 February 1924 to 23 January 1925

Ox: 24 February 1925 to 12 February 1926

Tiger: 13 February 1926 to 1 February 1927

Rabbit: 2 February 1927 to 22 February 1928

Dragon: 23 January 1928 to 9 February 1929

Snake: 10 January 1929 to 29 January 1930

Horse: 30 January 1930 to 16 February 1931

Goat: 17 February 1931 to 5 February 1932

Monkey: 6 February 1932 to 25 February 1933

Rooster: 26 February 1933 to 13 February 1934

Dog: 14 February 1934 to 3 February 1935

Pig: 4 February 1935 to 23 February 1936

Rat: 24 February 1936 to 10 February 1937

Ox: 11 February 1937 to 30 January 1938

Tiger: 31 February 1938 to 18 February 1939

Rabbit: 19 February 1939 to 7 February 1940

Dragon: 8 February 1940 to 26 February 1941

Snake: 27 January 1941 to 14 February 1942

Horse: 15 February 1942 to 4 February 1943

Goat: 5 February 1943 to 24 January 1944

Monkey: 25 February 1944 to 12 February 1945

Rooster: 13 February 1945 to 1 February 1946

Dog: 2 February 1946 to 21 January 1947

Pig: 22 February 1947 to 9 February 1948

Rat: 10 February 1948 to 28 January 1949

Ox: 29 January 1949 to 16 February 1950

Tiger: 17 February 1950 to 5 February 1951

Rabbit: 6 February 1951 to 26 January 1952

Dragon: 27 January 1952 to 13 February 1953

Snake: 14 February 1953 to 2 February 1954

Horse: 3 February 1954 to 23 January 1955

Goat: 24 January 1955 to 11 February 1956

Monkey: 12 February 1956 to 30 January 1957

Rooster: 31 January 1957 to 17 February 1958

Dog: 18 February 1958 to 7 February 1959

Pig: 8 February 1959 to 27 January 1960

Rat: 28 January 1960 to 14 February 1961

Ox: 15 February 1961 to 4 February 1962

Tiger: 5 February 1962 to 24 January 1963

Rabbit: 25 January 1963 to 12 February 1964

Dragon: 13 February 1964 to 1 February 1965

Snake: 2 February 1965 to 20 January 1966

Horse: 21 January 1966 to 8 February 1967

Goat: 9 February 1967 to 29 January 1968

Monkey: 30 January 1968 to 16 February 1969

Rooster: 17 February 1969 to 5 February 1970

Dog: 6 February 1970 to 26 January 1971

Pig: 27 January 1971 to 14 February 1972

Rat: 15 February 1972 to 2 February 1973

Ox: 3 February 1973 to 22 January 1974

Tiger: 23 January 1974 to 10 February 1975

Rabbit: 11 February 1975 to 30 January 1976

Dragon: 31 February 1976 to 17 February 1977

Snake: 18 February 1977 to 6 February 1978

Horse: 7 February 1978 to 27 January 1979

Goat: 28 January 1979 to 15 February 1980

Monkey: 16 February 1980 to 4 February 1981

Rooster: 5 February 1981 to 24 January 1982

Dog: 25 January 1982 to 12 February 1983

Pig: 13 February 1983 to 1 February 1984

Rat: 2 February 1984 to 19 February 1985

Ox: 20 February 1985 to 8 February 1986

Tiger: 9 February 1986 to 28 January 1987

Rabbit: 29 January 1987 to 16 February 1988

Dragon: 17 February 1988 to 5 February 1989

Snake: 6 February 1989 to 26 January 1990

Horse: 27 January 1990 to 14 February 1991

Goat: 15 February 1991 to 3 February 1992

Monkey: 4 February 1992 to 22 January 1993

Rooster: 23 January 1993 to 9 February 1994

Dog: 10 February 1994 to 30 January 1995

Pig: 31 January 1995 to 18 February 1996