There are many ways to consider how the characteristics of the year of the Fire Horse or the year of any one of the 12 animals will be, and the positive or negative aspects that they are going to bring. However, I have chosen the glang rDzi prediction in which everything that is going to happen is explained through the image of the ox. When I was young, at the end of the year we would get the new calendar and my aunt, Rinpoche’s older sister, would always look at the glang rDzi, the ox prediction, and would tell us what was going to happen and suggest that we do this or that. So consulting the ox prediction has become a habit that I got from my aunt, something that remains from her.
In the diagram the head, stomach, mouth, horns, limbs and tail of the ox are described in different colors and positions. Ahead of the ox there is the cowherd. These two figures symbolize the two main types of beings living on this planet: human beings and other sentient beings of which there are many. The cowherd also represents the inner nature of beings while the ox represents the outer nature and their relationship can be explained in different ways.
This year, the head of the ox is red in color. This indicates that agricultural production may not be the best and it is more likely that the weather will be dry which may increase some contagious diseases. In particular, the three months of the spring, the middle months of the summer and the autumn will be more dry.
The abdomen of the ox is blue-greenish which indicates that in the second or middle month of the spring and the autumn there will be more wind.
The horns, ears, and the tail of the ox are yellow in color. This means that in general, people may become more involved in spiritual things and there will be less violence. The four legs of the ox are white in color which signifies that in the vast valley regions and the desert or arid areas the crops will not be very fruitful. In the late spring this may be caused by cold or freezing weather affecting the planting of crops.
The mouth of the ox is open and the tail is moving to the left which indicates that this year will be more dangerous, more challenging for humans, while for animals it will be a little better. The general financial and economic situation including animal products will be average.
The oxherd is young adult suggesting that the year may be better for middle aged people but less so for younger children and for seniors. He is red in color indicating that this year the economic situation will be average, not the best. The color of the belt that he is wearing is blue which means that there may be some attacks from enemies but on a local level, not a global one.
The oxherd’s hair is gathered together on the top of his head meaning that in general the year may be a little better for general produce. The oxherd is not wearing his boots which he has left behind him which indicates two things. On the positive side people may be less busy this year, while on the other hand being less busy means that nothing is happening and people’s fortunes will not be very successful.
The oxherd is carrying a whip made of cotton which makes it a little softer. He is not holding it in his hand ready to strike the ox but it is tucked into his belt suggesting that the population has power acting together as a group.
The oxherd appears to be in a hurry, striding ahead of the ox signifying that the life or health of animals in general is relatively fine. It also means that spring will come a little earlier than usual.
At the level of the earth there are four animals, not a vast number, suggesting that this year all production and the economy will not be the best, so if a person opens a business or already runs a business it may not be very successful although it will not run at a loss.
In the sky there is one dragon linked to water. This year the rain will be of medium intensity, balanced, possibly a little less than usual. Today, the first day of Tibetan Losar, the animal of the day is the Dog which does not make the best animal combination – Dog and Horse – for humans and animals.
So these are the indications for the year based on the prediction of the ox and the oxherd.
Regarding the elements for the year, this year the Fire element is more dominant. The positive qualities of the Fire element are dignity, a sharp mind, determination, intelligence and readiness, while the more negative qualities are that it tends to be rather egoistic, arrogant. Regarding health this year there may be a tendency towards problems linked to the Fire element such as lymphatic problems, contagious diseases, gallbladder or liver problems, skin problems. Through the excess of the Fire element, there may be an internal depletion or deficiency of the qualities of peacefulness, gentleness and kindness.
Externally the weather may be more dry, hence the soil will be dry and agricultural production may not be good. If there is no rain, the soil is dry, and the crops are affected so the rain is important for the soil which is important for the crops. Then everything that we eat, that we wear, that we use comes from the earth. All the things that we eat come from the earth, the animals, the fruit, the vegetables and so on. This tells us how important the nature of the motherland is and how important it is to care for the motherland.
Then the rain is considered to be like nectar. In Tibetan we say that the rain is dutsi, nectar, because in nature water helps to keep everything growing and holds them together cohesively. Without water things cannot be held together. As individuals, it is water that keeps us physically together. So there are two principles: individually our bodies are kept alive because they contain fluid and the five elements are balanced and then we are able to stay together because we love one another, because we respect one another.
If my mind, my body and energy were predominantly controlled by the Fire element, it would make me very angry. That does not mean I am purposely being angry but it is because of the violence [of the Fire element to my system]. Instead when the Water element is present in our system, it has the qualities of peace, calmness, gentleness that are able to produce compassion and other positive qualities within us.
On the last day of the recent retreat here at Dzamling Gar, Namkhai Yeshi’s final advice was to be happy, to be kind, to be respectful. He didn’t say to go home and do a particular practice because through kindness, gentleness and compassion, loving each other, is the only way we can survive and go ahead, not simply surviving but also happily, peacefully.
In this Fire Horse year, those born in the year of the Horse should be a little careful. For them, the year of the Horse return takes place when they are 13 years old, 25 years old, 37 years and so on, every 12 years. The Fire Horse is a little complicated because it’s a double Fire sign – the element of Metal is also doubled – and the Fire attacks the Fire resulting eventually in burnout and collapse. So the Fire Horse should be careful.
Since this year the color red is more predominant, if you’re looking at practice, it would be good to do practices of compassion, like the Buddha of compassion, chanting the mantra of compassion, Medicine Buddha, Tara and Mandarava. If your birth animal is in the 7th house in relation to the Horse, or the 4th and 10th corners, you should try to wear the clothes of the opposite element which is Fire. If you are a Fire element animal, try to wear clothes that are green which represents the Wood element, the mother and protector of Fire. Yellow is also a good color to wear. Yellow is in the Son relationship, so they are in agreement. White is also fine because it is in a Friend relationship with Fire and is a support. The only color that may not be good to wear is blue which represents the Water element, the enemy of Fire.
Even though you may not like to wear green you should try to wear something very small like a bracelet or necklace, socks or even underwear, something that touches the body, in green or yellow. During the first month of every season it is better to wear green. In the second month of every season, white. And the third month of every season, yellow.
Whether a year is good or bad, we need to move ahead, there’s no option, no alternative. Shantideva said that if something can be fixed, there is no point in worrying about it. We should just go and fix it. If there’s nothing that can be fixed, why should we worry because there is nothing we can do. So we should just relax.
Our master, Rinpoche, advised us to work with circumstances and so we should try to follow his advice. Another key point is not to lose loving kindness. We may have many things, but even if we don’t have them, we can survive. In order to survive, or be in society, some things are optional. But there are other things that we need to have in order to survive such as loving kindness. Whatever birth animal we may be, whatever birth animal our family members, friends, or neighbors are, we should love them and try to respect them. Thank you.
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Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo
Dr. Phuntsog received her advanced degree from the prestigious Lhasa University School of Traditional Medicine in 1988. She dedicated numerous years to serving as a Tibetan Medicine practitioner in Eastern Tibet.
Her remarkable work included collaboration with A.S.I.A., the non-profit organization initiated by Professor Namkhai Norbu. Her contributions involved establishing hospitals and training centers in the remote regions of Sichuan Province and Chamdo Prefecture.
In 2007, she co-founded the American Tibetan Medical Association (ATMA), a national organization in the United States dedicated to representing and advancing the Tibetan medical profession.
Since 2012, Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo has assumed the role of International Director of the Shang Shung School of Tibetan Medicine with programs across the United States, Russia, and Europe.
