Will the year of the Earth Dog be your year to shine? Or does it spell disaster?
2018: The year of the Earth Dog
The Chinese zodiac works on a 12-year rotation, with each animal sign getting their own year. Your sign is based on the year in which you were born. However, what many people don’t realize is that your animal sign is only part of the story: There’s an element attached to you as well; metal, water, wood, fire or earth. “In Western astrology,” says Chinese astrology expert and Tai Chi master Sharon Smith, “we have the planets, we have the houses. In Chinese astrology, they have something they call the four pillars. The four pillars give you an indication of the elemental balance of your life. It takes basically 60 years to go through a complete cycle in Chinese astrology because you have the five elements, and you have the 12 animals and every animal goes through every element.” The year of 2018 happens to be the year of the Earth Dog, which will mean greater stability and a greater sense of being grounded. The year of the Earth Dog is great news for some signs, but not all. According to Smith, “The animals that are going to have the most trouble are dragon, sheep (or goat), and rooster. The ones that are most compatible with dog energy would be the tiger, the rabbit, and the horse.”
Rat
Birth years of the Rat: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Next year of the Rat: 2020
People under the rat sign will be forced to think about changing their ways in 2018. In order to get by, they will have to re-examine their values and how they relate to others. “Rats are very clannish,” Smith says. “They keep to themselves, and they are very psychologically shrewd. The dog isn’t like that. The dog is upfront and honest, so the dog is going to teach the rat something about how to relate to people in a more straightforward way.” Looking at it in a positive light, this might be the year that Rats learns to come out of their proverbial shell. However, Rats may also struggle and feel a lot of tension in their relationships.
Ox (or Buffalo)
Birth years of the Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937,1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Next year of the Ox: 2021
The Ox will benefit from the year of the Earth Dog. “Oxen are really hard workers,” Smith says. However: “They have anxiety about a lot of things.” The Ox’s hardworking and persistent nature is something that the Dog respects and sympathizes with. While the Oxen are usually strong and sturdy, they can sometimes falter in their convictions and second guess themselves. “But the Dog can protect the Ox and keep the Ox on track,” Smith adds. After all, various breeds of dogs have been brought up specifically to guard livestock and farms. In terms of symbolism, this means that even though your new year may throw some obstacles your way, you will no doubt be able to keep yourself resolute.
Tiger
Birth years of the Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Next year of the Tiger: 2022
As previously mentioned, the Tiger is one of the signs that will succeed the most in 2018. Those under the Tiger sign will find that their ambitions will be rewarded in the new year. “The Tiger is going to have an opportunity to connect with high level people,” Smith says. “It’s a really good year of success and prosperity for Tigers. They do well in the Dog year.” Bolstered by their innate sense of confidence, Tigers will see a lot of exciting opportunities come their way and will immediately pounce on them.
Rabbit
Birth years of the Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Next year of the Rabbit: 2023
Last year—2017—was the year of the Fire Rooster. It was very hectic, fast-paced, and explosive, which really threatened and brought bad luck to Rabbits. The year of the Earth Dog is essentially the exact opposite. “The Rabbit is in a pretty good place because it’s a safer experience for a Rabbit in a Dog year,” Smith says. Even though, in reality, dogs hunt rabbits, rabbits are always quick enough and clever enough to escape. This fact of life translates into the prevailing theme that will mark the 2018 Chinese zodiac for Rabbits. Even if difficult situations present themselves, the Rabbit will be able to maneuver around those poor circumstances and create great luck and success. (Or, at the very least, they will find themselves unharmed.)
Dragon
Birth years of the Dragon: 1928, 1940,1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Next year of the Dragon: 2024
Dragons are all about spectacle. They love grandiosity and crave attention. Unfortunately for them, the Dog doesn’t care. “Dragons are very dazzling and creative, and they’re very good at performing,” Smith says, “but dogs aren’t impressed by things like that. The Dragon might not get a lot of satisfaction this year because the Dog year is not about that kind of display.” In short, 2018 will be an extremely humbling year for the Dragon. They won’t get the accolades they so desperately want and will fly under the radar. Dragons may very well get frustrated and upset when they don’t get the acknowledgment they think they deserve, either at work or at home. “Dragons will do better if they work behind the scenes and not be involved in confrontation,” Smith concludes.
Snake
Last year of the Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Next year of the Snake: 2025
Snakes are marked by a strong penchant for doing things on their own. They aren’t team players; rather, they tend to only look after me, myself, and I. This characteristic strongly clashes with the Dog, as Dogs love to collaborate and socialize. Dogs thrive the most when they feel a sense of community. Since these two signs are very much at odds, it will be a rough year for the Snake. “The Dog year wants us to have high ethics and ideals,” Smith explains, “and both the Snake and the Rat want to keep a low profile and live by their own rules. The Snake needs to get with the Dog’s idea of loyalty and cooperation and not just feel like they can go off and do their own thing.” It would behoove the Snake to improve their people skills and to not let their pride win out.
Horse
Birth years of the Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Next year of the Horse: 2026
The Dog and the Horse are extremely compatible signs. According to Smith, “They’re both animals that humans like and so they have that in common, that they’re a part of the human landscape. So a Horse likes the Dog year because there is cause for celebration for the Horse, professionally and personally.” Because they have like values and personality traits, Horses will thrive in the year of 2018. Still, there is one potential problem that could get in the way of total happiness for the Horse: “The Horse is more of a Fire element creature,” Smith says, “so [2018] might be a little boring [for them].” Horses like to engage in exciting activities, but the Dog, especially the Earth Dog, is much more subdued. The most challenging thing a Horse will face in 2018 is a little bit of boredom.
Goat (or Sheep)
Birth years of the Goat: 1919, 1931, 1943,1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Next year of the Goat: 2027
The year of 2018 will see the Goat, also known as the Sheep, acting very irritable. Smith explains, “The dog’s job, usually, is to keep the sheep in line. Sheep don’t really like that.” At work and at home, these people will feel as if virtually every move they make is being judged. There will be certain limits or restrictions imposed on this sign in 2018, which will aggravate them intensely. “They’re going to feel like everybody is on their case, asking them to do things, and they’re just going to have to buckle down and let that happen.” The best advice for this sign is to try to calm down, learn some patience, and make the best of what they’ve got.
Monkey
Birth years of the Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Next year of the Monkey: 2028
Monkeys will run into problems similar to the Horse in 2018. Monkeys are fun, excitable, and sometimes mischievous characters. The Earth Dog doesn’t have much time for nonsense. “Monkeys love trouble and like to play the role of the instigator,” Smith says. “It’s not that kind of a year for the Monkey. Monkey will feel nourished by the Dog year, but Monkeys will not be able to engage in the kind of ‘monkey business’ that they like.” The year of 2018 will bring the Monkey back down to earth and urges them to take things a bit more seriously. This is the year that you really have to pay full attention to your responsibilities, and not indulge in risk or luxury. If you’re not careful, you will get yourself into a lot of trouble—and not the fun kind.
Rooster
Birth years of the Rooster: 1921,1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Next year of the Rooster: 2029
Roosters are like Dragons in the sense that they can be quite the show-offs. But people aren’t just going to fall to your feet this year. “In the year of the Dog,” Smith says, “the Rooster needs to be more modest and humble. The spotlight isn’t really shining on you in the Dog year, so you have to work harder.” Roosters may feel disrespected in 2018 because of the lack of attention and awe. You may be used to running the show, but 2018 has you looking like a regular Joe. You’re going to have to adjust your expectations of others and of yourself this year to make it through.
Dog
Birth years of the Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
You may think your own year is a cause for celebration, but Chinese astrology suggests otherwise. Actually, your year is said to be one of the worst for you in the 12-year cycle. “When it’s your own year,” Smith explains, “it’s like a big energy infusion. You’re more aligned with the kind of energy that’s going on in the world, but whatever problems we’ve been working with our whole life seem to come up in our own year. So it’s not always easy when it’s our own year.” When it’s your year, personal reflection will be a prominent and necessary objective. “Dogs, in their own year, can get a little bit full of themselves and not be discriminating when it comes to business or new love affairs. They’re getting a lot of attention. They just don’t pay attention, necessarily, to who’s giving them that attention. So Dogs might have a blind spot this year.” This is the year that requires extreme self-awareness for you. Understand your flaws and weaknesses and don’t let them get the better of you.
Pig (or Boar)
Birth years of the Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
Next year of the Pig: 2019
Pigs will have a lot weighing on them in 2018. Their own year looms in 2019, and so 2018 will act as a year of planning for the Pig. “It’s not the time to go it alone,” Smith says. “It’s better to accept help and to make new contacts and cooperate with people and prepare for the next year.” As troubles befall you, don’t give in to the temptation to withdraw from friends and family. Share your life and express your feelings. Otherwise, you’ll be in for inner turmoil. Don’t let your tendency to help others turn into a way of ignoring your own needs.
