Greetings to all and welcome to the year of the Tiger! Chinese animal signs have been around for as long as anyone can trace back through Chinese history. They essentially represent the “branches” of the Chinese system, along with the elements or “stems” and as such comprise the fundamental backbone of that particular system of astrology through the conception of “Four Pillars,” or Ba Zi. The year that a person was born is represented by one of 12 animals, Rat through Pig, and the year represents one of the pillars. The years can be easily remembered by anyone who can associate the Chinese animals to the twelve Western signs that we already know; Aries through Pisces. The Chinese animal year of a person can provide much more depth to what is already known about them through their Western Sun sign; the strength of their relationships and the quality of them can also be revealed with much more clarity. Once familiar with the essential meaning and relationships between the various Chinese animal signs, the astrologer can apply the basic principles easily to their own unique system. [...]