Hey, Baby! What's Your Sign?

Animals & Signs & Elements…Oh My!

Flippant pick up line? Yes! But also a valid question. People who are getting to know each other like to find out each other’s signs. In Western countries, when people ask, “hey, what’s your sign?”, they are referring to the Western astrological signs. 

Many people really resonate with the different personality traits associated with these signs. They religiously read their generic horoscopes and rely on this astrological system to determine compatibility with others, especially romantic interests or partners.

Astrology is the study of the stars. Many cultures developed elaborate systems for predicting future terrestrial events by observing the signs in the heavens and paying close attention to the timing of celestial events. Besides the Western tropical and Chinese zodiac astrology, discussed below, the other well known schools are ancient Mayan astrology based on the Mayan calendar and Vedic sidereal astrology, which is based on fixed stars.

Western astrological signs are associated with the four classical elements (earth, water, air and fire) and therefore tend to get confused with the Chinese zodiac animals signs, associated with The Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) and the personal feng shui elements, The 8 Elements. These three personality typing systems are calculated very differently, using different calendars. They are not related to each other, nor are they comparable or interchangeable.

Western Tropical astrology is a study of the alignments of celestial bodies: the stars, moon and planets. The focus of Western astrology is to explain various personality traits and determine compatibility, explain past circumstances and predict future events. Western astrology is founded on the movements of celestial bodies and their aspects (relative positions) to each other as they move through the signs of the zodiac, twelve spatial divisions, called houses. The twelve Western astrological signs are calculated using the Gregorian solar calendar and your birth month and day. The Western astrological signs are: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Each of these signs is associated with what is commonly known as the four classical elements: earth, water, air and fire. A deeper study that takes the year and time of your birth into consideration, results in a natal chart. This study is rooted in Western philosophies, values and belief systems.  It tends to appeal to English speaking people living in first world countries and affluent Western cultures.

Chinese zodiac astrology is the study of the alignments of time set forth in the 10,000 year Chinese Almanac. The focus of Chinese astrology, called BaZi, is to determine a person’s destiny. The Four Pillars of Destiny are calculated using the Chinese lunisolar calendar and the four parts of the time of your birth: the year, month, day and hour. This calendar’s 60-year cycle consists of two interacting cycles, the ten Heavenly Stems and the twelve Earthly Branches, commonly known simply as the Stems & Branches. The ten Heavenly Stems are represented by the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water) in their Yin and Yang forms. And the twelve Earthly Branches are represented by the 12 Chinese Zodiac animal signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. This study is rooted in ancient Eastern philosophies, values and belief systems. As with certain schools of feng shui, like Black Sect (Hat) feng shui, it is very Chinese and tends to appeal mostly to Asian cultures.

The 8 Elements is the study of the personification of the elements, present energetically in the Universe and physically on the Earth. The focus of the study of The 8 Elements is to balance, honor and embody your unique personal energy. The school of feng shui used to determine personal elements is called Eight Mansions, or Eight Palaces. It’s calculated using the Chinese solar calendar and your full date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy). Additionally, unlike astrology, this system is specific to your male or female sex. Combining the Five Elements with Yin & Yang energies, creates eight distinct personal feng shui elements: Water, Mother Earth, Hard Wood, Soft Wood, Hard Metal, Soft Metal, Mountain Earth & Fire. This study is closely related to the other schools of classical feng shui and traditional Chinese medicine: Lo Shu Flying Stars, The Five Elements, Yin/Yang and East/West House. 

The 8 Elements typing system is Feng Shui for YOU!

As with many things related to feng shui, there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation out there about the personal feng shui elements.  Signs, elements and the personal elements provide layers of information and insight about you, your personality and your unique personal energy. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that these different aspects need to studied within their proper context. The Classical Elements, the Five Elements and The 8 Elements can both compliment and contradict each other and therefore explain some of the interesting characteristics of your personality.

Western Astrology One lady told me she was a “water” element because she is the Western astrological sign, Scorpio, which is considered a water sign. The element associated with your Western astrological sign has nothing to do with your personal feng shui element.

Chinese Astrology I’ve had people tell me that my “feng shui” element is Fire because I am a Fire Snake in Chinese astrology. Your personal feng shui element has nothing to do with the element assigned to your Chinese zodiac animal sign based on the year you’re born. If this element (one of five) happens to be the same as your personal element (one of 8), it is merely a coincidence and strengthens your connection to that element. 

Personal Feng Shui Element My first feng shui consultant mistakenly told me I was a Mother Earth element when she failed to take my January birthday into consideration. Your personal feng shui element is calculated using the Chinese solar calendar beginning February 4th or 5th, not the Western calendar beginning January 1st.

Study whatever schools of astrology you’re interested in. Learn about and explore them, one or all. Just don’t confuse or conflate them.

Ready to start honoring you? Discover your personal feng shui element here.

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