How did the Chinese system evolve using animals instead of constellations, like Western astrology?
The Chinese calendar’s use of animals as a reference is a folk method. It is from peasant farmers, who were observant of the traits of animals. There is another Chinese astrology method that uses the stars, like Western astrology. That method is based on the Pole Star, the North Star and on movements of stars in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. In conclusion, do you have any general advice for people in 2004? What should we avoid? I advise people in 2004 to try to not indulge in “Monkey mind.” By that I mean, it is easy this year to jump to a branch, peel a banana, take a bite, drop it, jump to the next branch, peel a banana, take a bite, drop it — on and on like that in a useless cycle. It is a good year to meditate, study and cultivate clear thoughts, to keep ourselves from Monkey-mind tail chasing. Also, Monkey Year is the perfect time to read the Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” which stars Magical Monkey. You’ll learn all about Monkey’s character traits. Susan Levitt is
