February 12th, 2021, marks the beginning of the Year of the Ox.
The Ox, the second animal of the Chinese zodiac, denotes the hard work, positivity, and honesty that will be manifested in all of us in the coming 12 months, according to astrologers.
Having an honest nature, Oxes are known for diligence, dependability, strength, and determination. Having great patience and a desire to make progress, Oxes can achieve their goals with consistent effort. They are not much influenced by others or the environment, but they persist in doing things according to their ideals and capabilities.
Jupiter Lai, a Hong Kong-based Chinese and Western astrologer, says the ox is “grounded, loyal, gentle, and trustworthy.”
In the Year of the Rat, the force was the fast, hard, active yang, while the element was water, which Lai says is known for “changing all the time.” The ox’s earthly branch, meanwhile, is associated with yin, which is slow, soft, and passive. Its element is earth, representing “stability and nourishment. It is believed that these additional associations and the characteristics of the ox have great synergy and are mostly favorable.
In China, the Ox is considered an animal of strength that is associated with harvests and fertility. It also regards the animal as auspicious, which has given the ox a reputation for granting wishes. The ox is one of the most common animals featured in Korean proverbs. The imagery is overwhelmingly positive, portraying the animal with traits such as diligence, gratitude, and loyalty. It is seen as altruistic as it serves mankind.
Japan’s relationship with the ox is rooted in Buddhism. In Buddhism, the ox represents “Buddha nature,” the fundamental nature of all beings that includes the assumption that anyone can gain enlightenment.
In images of an ox herding, the ox herder represents us—struggling, pulling the ox on a path. One could say this is our path, our life, on which we may realize that we already possess Buddha nature.
In Chinese astrology, the northeast (the cardinal direction shared by the Ox and the Tiger) is “considered the origin of bad influences.” It is for this reason that temples were built to the northeast of Japan’s capitals to protect them from harm.
The Ox can help you to understand and work with the mundane aspects of fertility and the relationships necessary for it. An image of this would be an ox plowing the field to get it ready to plant new seeds or plowing under cover crops so the soil can regenerate and become fertile again, making it ready to plant the following season.
It will teach stability without stubbornness. The Ox can help you assert your feminine energies with the greatest success.
Here are some important questions to ask yourself when working with Ox Energy:
- Are you being as productive as you can?
- Do you need to sow some new seeds?
- Are you being stubborn and rigid?
- Do you or those around you need to become more sensitive?
- Are you rushing when you should be allowing things to become fertile in their own time?
