Year of Ox

The Ox is the second of all zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The Ox is also associated with the Earthly Branch (地支—dì zhī) Chǒu (丑) and the hours 1–3 in the morning. In the terms of yin and yang (阴阳—yīn yáng), the Ox In Chinese culture, the Ox is a valued animal. Because of its role in agriculture, positive characteristics, such as being hardworking and honest, are attributed to it.

Oxen are the hard workers in the background, intelligent and reliable, but never demanding praise.

Recent years of the Ox are: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Paired with the Celestial Stems (天干—Tiān gān), there is a 60-year calendrical cycle. Although chǒu is associated with earth, the years also cycle through the five See the table below for the full details of each year.

Oxen are honest and earnest. They are low key and never look for praise or to be the center of attention. This often hides their talent, but they’ll gain recognition through their hard work.

They believe that everyone should do what’s asked for them and stay within their bounds. Though they are kind, it’s difficult for them to understand persuasion using pathos. Rarely losing your temper, they think logically and make great leaders.

Men born in the Ox year are reliable and trustworthy. They put their entire heart into everything they do. They feel great responsibility towards their family as well. However, due to their confidence (almost arrogance), they don’t allow anyone to go against their rules. They hold your children to high expectations, even though it might be unrealistic.

Women born in the Ox year are calm and gentle. They will never surrender to fate and rarely think of choosing an alternative. This no doubt leads to a life of struggles. But no matter what, they will walk down the road they choose until the end. Despite this stubbornness, they think and react quickly.

Compatibility

Most compatible with Ox: Rat, Snake, Rooster

Rat’s fixed Earthly Branch is water, while Ox is earth. They have complementing personalities and hold the same goals in life.

Snake and Rooster fit Ox nicely as well. Not only will Snakes give warmth and romance, they offer help and support in work too. Honest and loyal, they can also be attracted to the Rooster’s soft and loving heart.

Least compatible with Ox: Goat, Horse, Dog

The Earthly Branches of Goat and Ox clash strongly. They can tolerate each other’s differences, but there will always be tension.

Horses have a free and wild spirit, and may not have a serious attitude toward life. This is the opposite of an Ox’s personality. With Dogs, it’s hard to find common ground.

Lucky things for Oxen

Colors: blue, yellow, green

Numbers: 1, 4

Flowers: lily of the valley and lucky bamboo

Directions of auspiciousness: East, Southeast

Directions of wealth: Northwest

Directions of love: South

Unlucky things

Colors: red, brown

Numbers: 3, 6

Careers fit for Oxen

Oxen often group family and work together. They look for long-term and steady work. Because of this, they are studious in school and perform well in every subject. This helps build a strong support for any future career path.

Because of their low-key personality, a stable job is the best for Oxen. Their strong sense of responsibility also makes them the perfect candidate for professional and stressful jobs. These include doctors, lawyers, businessmen and teachers. With their technical skills and effort, they can receive society’s recognition and reach their own standards.

No matter what career they choose, it must something they are really interested in. Though they may be okay with any job that fits their skills, they should take the time to find something they love. Only in a stable environment that matches their passions, are they able to find their true calling.

Health and lifestyle

Like the wild oxen that run freely in the fields, people of the Ox year are healthy and fit. Hospital visits are rare, but this sometimes leads to overconfidence. Neglect during youth will result in problems in the later years.

As workaholics, Oxen will sometimes go days with minimal food and rest, then binge on both. Irregular diets will lead to indigestion and problems with the digestive system. Irregular exercise is what causes you to fall ill with “random” ailments.

Once they reach the middle ages, there is high risk of heart disease. Strokes are another risk. In addition, they commonly suffer from joint pain.

Most of these issues stem from irregular exercise. For a healthy life, they need to remember to take breaks from work, stretch and relax.

A better year is on the horizon for the Ox. The compatibility of the Rat and the Ox will make for a year filled with blessings and advances. What a year it will be for your career, education, and health! Lucky you.

On the other hand, relationships will need a little extra love and care. Communication will be critical for the year; do your best to be diligent and maintain open channels. Even if it is a struggle, you can do it with the help of regular conversations, speech classes, or therapy. Hard work towards any goal will do the job.

Although the Year of the Pig proved to be lacking for the Ox, this year will make up the difference. The Rat is on your side for 2020! Already known for their honesty and perseverance, the Ox can expect extra praise in the form of promotions and compliments. Your best character traits will be visible to all, and your hard work will finally pay off. Revel in the knowledge that everything you have been working towards will come to fruition. With success on the horizon, you even have the opportunity to start something new. Set up an online store, a small pop-up restaurant, or a company with an old coworker. Don’t waste your good luck this year. Go big or go home, as they say!

Be mindful of colleagues, however, as misfortune might come your way in the form of a male coworker. Even though you value honesty and reliability, others may not. Choose your friends wisely, and your work friends even more so.

Lucky Months: February, April, July, August, and November.

Unlucky Months: January, March, June, and September.

2020 is your year to strive for greatness. With the benefits of the Rat and your general demeanor, no one will be able to stop you! Dedication, hard work, and logic will be your three pillars to focus on throughout your education. Invest yourself in your studies. Set yourself up in the library, study groups, and lecture halls. If you are worried about your ability to think and talk clearly, grab a dictionary or conversational book and get to it. If you are feeling bold, you could even enlist in a speech class to elevate your rhetoric.

As one of the healthiest zodiacs, Oxen can expect a great year with regards to well-being. Strong and sturdy, they will be able to endure any minor ailments and the stresses of work life. Although you might want to avoid the doctor for the year because of your healthy outlook, keep in mind that regular checkups are necessary for preventing any unwanted maladies. Something could be hiding just beneath the surface; get yourself checked out annually to be sure.

Take special care to maintain a routine eating schedule. When you put in overtime at work, it affects your mealtimes. If you can’t get away from the office, bring a couple of healthy snacks with you, like granola bars or fruits and vegetables. Your digestive health is just as important as the rest!

To thrive in relationships this year, Oxen will need to put in the effort to communicate clearly. As communication is not a strong characteristic of Oxen, any means to boost your abilities will be beneficial. Both single and married Oxen will need to work through this slight rough patch. Listen to your partner, invest in their daily experiences, really take note of what they are trying to tell you. If you can get your partner to notice that you genuinely want to be with them, it will pay dividends. Working through hard times together as a loving couple often leads to a healthier, stronger relationship.

Be on the lookout, however, as you might face some issues regarding other parties, men or women, trying to pull your partner away from you. If you are looking to keep the relationship alive, fend off any advances and put an end to them immediately. You want to stay far, far away from any affairs. However, if you are honestly looking to end a relationship, do so kindly with your partner’s emotions in mind.

The 2020 year will impact the Ox in a positive light. Throughout the year, hard work will be necessary, but as this comes naturally to the Ox, it should be a breeze. Luck is on your side with the Rat, so don’t waste it on small plays. In your career, work for that promotion even if it seems too far out of reach. In your educational journey, shoot for the stars, and take that extra class; try an elective that will bring you to earlier graduation. In your health, do everything you can to keep yourself active and fit. In your relationships, be loving, kind, and communicative. Whatever you do for the year, do so with a genuine focus on hard work and success. It will most certainly come your way!

Stepping out of the shadow that was the Year of the Dog, Oxen can expect a more auspicious year under the influence of the Pig. The year ahead will still have its ups and downs but despite the bad signs on the horizon, stability can be expected overall.

Strengthen your bonds with the family and friends you consider closest, this can help to weather the storms of the coming months. Someone in your family may even help further your personal life. Take time to relax and do things you enjoy while you still can.

The Year of the Pig predicts a few curveballs for your career over the coming months. However, it’s nothing you can’t handle; remember that a challenge is simply an opportunity to prove yourself. Oxen favor a workaholic mindset, especially if they can distract themselves from personal problems they are experiencing, however this year Oxen may wear themselves out with their work first mentality.

Oxen business men/women and entrepreneurs will have the most prosperous year, while ordinary workers will have opportunities to demonstrate leadership qualities that may further their careers. Some potential pitfalls are cash flow emergencies, steep competition, and loss of integral personnel. Create a backup plan for these emergencies.

Lucky Months: February 9th- July 2nd

Unlucky Months:July 9th- December 10th

Remember to pace yourself this year in your studies. The workload will be more than you are used to, but persistence and creative solutions will help you lesson the burden. Team exercises will afford Oxen the opportunity to manage the group and show leadership abilities by setting a good example.

Oxen will experience ups and downs with health this year. The beginning of the year comes with the promise of hard work for Oxen but at the cost of ignoring your body. The chance to prove yourself will be fatigued with a minor illness and unfavorable health conditions unless health is consciously monitored.

Make sure to take plenty of vitamins to keep your immune system strong during times of excessive work. Stay away from unhygienic restaurants as food poisoning will be a likely pitfall to compromise your well-being. Monitoring diet and healthy exercise will be paramount in the year of the Pig.

2019 will no doubt be a positive time regarding romantic relationships for Oxen. If you are already in a relationship, it will likely progress and become stronger over the coming months. However, communication problems persistently plague the horizon for Oxen couples. Make sure these problems do not go unchecked as they could be the undoing of it all.

This year will be a good time to get pregnant for Oxen as well, but be patient, this will come at the right time. Wear blue or green jewelry to increase your chances. If you are a single Ox you are likely to find companionship this year, but at the end of your year you may begin to feel more independent. This could hurt or help your relationship, depending on how you act on it.

The challenges over the course of the year will prove to be pivotal in your outlook. The Year of the Pig will stimulate the creativity of Oxen; whether its design, art, creative solutions, or even decoration 2019 will bring out some untapped talent. But do not procrastinate too long, or inspiration and ideas could lose their panache. Traveling will also stimulate Oxen’s imagination in a way that was previously undiscovered; this could be the key to unlocking abilities that lay dormant within.

Socially, Oxen’s expectations are favorable as they reunite with colleagues and old friends that haven’t been seen in a long time. Oxen can have trouble expressing their feelings, but the virtues of perseverance, patience, and reliability give Oxen an added edge in the social landscape.

The tendency to work after its time to give up, or the desire to be stubborn can plague Oxen achievements.

Overall this year will be in your favor. Work hard at work but take the time to sit back and relax so you can enjoy the results of your labor. Too much fruitless labor will work against you in several areas of your life.