THE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER OF SOLITUDE
CHINESE NEW YEAR 2017
28 JAN 2017
© Malvin Artley
Part I

“I don’t want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth, even if it costs them their job.”
Samuel Goldwyn, film executive of MGM fame
“A few yes-men may be born, but mostly they are made. Fear is a great breeder of them.”
William Wrigley, of chewing gum fame, Rooster of Solitude in the Month Pillar
Gong hey fat choi, Everyone!

Welcome to the year of the Rooster of Solitude, or the Fire/Red Rooster. Given the year that was, the Year of the Mountain Monkey, and what we are faced with in this year, there is quite a bit to cover in this New Year installment, so it will be a letter in two parts. Given also that this letter will describe the entire year, though, there is also plenty of time to read it, so take your time and enjoy! We will do this also because Chinese astrology is not well understood in the West, so more than the usual explanation is in order. The first half of this letter will deal with the character of the Rooster and the Chinese dynamics of the year in general. Then, in the second half we will have a look at the world in relation to the Chinese astrology and see if we can get some idea of what is to come. It will be a very full year, much like Mountain Monkey years, and we will see the start of major changes in finances and world alliances, as we have seen in other Fire Rooster years.

Since we have seen Brexit and Trump – revolutionary events in a way – such major changes are not unexpected, but they do fulfill a cyclic imperative, as we will see. And, it will not necessarily bring the bright hopes that the supporters of Brexit and Trump had hoped, although in the long term it will indeed bring to the surface the issues that really need to be addressed in order to establish a more equitable and peaceful world. This is not to sound a negative note for the year. In fact, it is a year that will mark tremendous opportunities for anyone who can recognize and seize them, and the Fire Rooster, above all else, is an exemplar of ‘skill in action’, as we will see. So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into the Year of the Fire Rooster and see what is on offer. Here is the chart for the year,^[1] based in Beijing, and applying for much of Australasia (the hour will be different depending on one’s location):

CHART
Lunar New Year: 28 Jan 2017 8:06 am (CCT -8:00)
Li Ch’un (Start of the Chinese Solar Year): 4 Feb 2016 5:45 pm (CCT -8:00)
Element Counts: Wood: 4 – Inventive, very creative, very artistic; Fire: 2 – Active, stimulating; Earth: 2 – Reliable, practical; Metal: 2 – Sportive, astute; Water: 2 – Talkative, clear, bright
Constellation of the day: Animal: Bat; This is not a good day for endings or funerals;
Day Indicator: C – Fullness. This is a day for big and important things.
9 Star Ki (CHINESE) Year Number: 2 Yang Earth; Month Number: 9 Yang Fire; House Number: 7 Yang Metal; Trigram: Tui
Tetragram 9: Branching out: Yin chi is strong inside, but weak without. The greatness of things cannot be impeded: “Gorging on food and drink bring no recognition, only fatness.”

To begin to unravel the year, 2017 is a double bright year, being more auspicious. There will be thirteen lunar months this year due to the length of the lunar year (double Bright years have thirteen months), with the extra month starting 23 July, and repeating the 6^th month. So, given the points above, the strongest element this year is Wood, which is the ‘creative element’ bringing expansion, but also giving a warning as to the statement from the tetragram preceding this paragraph, in that too much expansion will only bring sloth and fatness. The Wood element is found largely in the inner Pillars and is the Day Master, but it is mostly a yin influence, pointing more toward a more insular, gestational creative force rather than an overt show. In other words, already we get the idea that this year will not be marked by a strong, sudden move toward great and impressive growth. Instead, what we will see are inspired people stepping forward with fresh ideas and fights for the more underprivileged classes in society, as represented by the Rabbit in the Day Pillar. The Rabbit is inimical with the Rooster, being its opposite sign in the Chinese zodiac, and it will come as no surprise to people who follow the news that there will be conflicts between governments and the disadvantaged in society – which is increasingly much of the population – in 2017. More on that in the second part. The Day Pillar represents the individual, whereas the Year Pillar represents the collective and government.

八字神杀 (BaZi ShenSha)

What we have between in the relation between Day and Year Pillars are the BaZi ‘stars’, “Disaster Tragic”, “Shatter” and “Major Squander”, and as the names suggest, they are not desirable influences. These relations point to many twists and turns, setbacks, monetary losses, and difficulties, and this applies to the relation between the people and governments. However, for the people, it is a fortunate placement if they can seize the moment, because the Wood Rabbit is called a “Fortune Star”, which is very proactive and positive. In general, what this means is that governments will be acting counter to the benefit of the average person, but if a person knows how to work the system to their advantage and empower others, then gains can be made, financially, politically and otherwise, through proactive and positive action. Fire (the Year) depends upon Wood (the Day) to nurture it, especially Yang Wood in this case.

Given that both elements in this case are yin, we have what is called the ‘Indirect Resource’ star, which again is an indication of a slow burn. In short, the governments must have the people’s support of they want to see any progress, and that will not be immediately forthcoming. However, this particular combination is going to bring up all sorts of conspiracy theories and strengthen those already there. It is a highly imaginative pairing, which can be good or difficult depending on how it is used, but it makes people more willing to try the unconventional. It is a sort of ‘twilight zone’ combination, and it requires a major sacrifice to bear fruit, along with a fair amount of self-control. So, here is a clue to anyone who wants to put forward new initiatives: Seize the opportunity. Be prepared for sustained, consistent effort, for sacrifices in the name of your goal, and call on your imagination to capture the attention of others.

As for the other Pillars, the New Year always starts with a Tiger month, which in this case forms a ‘Tragic Robbery’ pairing with the year Pillar. Tragic Robbery as an influence cause impatience arguments, betrayal by friends, a gossipy nature and is generally unhappy. In its best expression it gives a person a competitive streak and the ability to stand up for causes. We will likely see all of these possibilities manifest this year. As for the Hour Pillar, it will vary according to one’s location, keeping in mind that the Chinese system uses double-hours, which always start on an odd-numbered hour in our current system of timekeeping.

The Month Pillar this year is ruled by Water, which means communication. The month in a mundane figure represents ‘family’, but also representative of the legislative branches of government – Congress or Parliament, in other words. It also rules social service organizations and the civil service. It is Yang Water, too, and it controls the Year Pillar. Congress/Parliament will control the executive branches of government this year. The month also represents the masses, which the Congress should represent. We thus have a very interesting situation before us, and a very descriptive one in terms of what is happening in countries the world over. Water creates Wood in Chinese astrology, but in this case it is not initially a positive influence, because Yang Water initially overpowers Yin Wood (the Congress will swamp the ‘little guy’). However, what we will see over time as the year progresses should be a fascinating evolution. As an analogy, what we see to start is a heavy flood, which will tend to wash away the undergrowth but leave the trees (the stronger, more established people or groups). But, that flood will soak the ground and leave a fertile field for new growth, which will gradually create a healthier forest. Floods are a purifying event in nature, and they normally create a space for an explosion of new growth after the fact. The particular relation for this year is a ‘big picture’ influence. This year will be like a grand awakening for the people.

Water is the communication element, and this applies to all kinds of media, as well as to day-to-day communications. What we should see over time is a rising tide of public discourse that is more informed, which exposes what has been laying just beneath the surface and which will give a fresh outlook. It will come on the heels of an over-bold legislative branch of government which seems to feel that it has a mandate, when it doesn’t, but which will push through legislation without much resistance to start with. But, that will work against them in the long term, because it will energize the people to action and bring to light much in the consciousness of the individual citizen. We may even see a more invigorated press, one that becomes increasingly divorced from the status quo of the past, and which will truly inform the people instead of acting as a propaganda mouthpiece. The individual is the key here, because in the current setup of the year, that Yin Wood of the Day Master is the linchpin that ties everything together. This should be a year of the people eventually, all being well, and the Rabbit is the sign that best represents the underdog and the fighter for causes, along with the Sheep. However, the Sheep only appears in the Hour Pillar for Alaska and certain islands in the Pacific.

As for this particular Rooster, one of the admonitions for the Fire Rooster is to keep one’s distance from gossips and yes-men – hence the poetic name for the Fire Rooster. There are also the key thoughts that good advice never goes astray, but everyone’s opinions should be considered, making leadership a difficult role as a result. Success only comes after renewed effort, and that final thought ties in with the role of the people for this year. The Fire Rooster is a special case in Chinese astrology. It is called a Fortune Noble Star, an Intelligence or Ten Spirits star, and it is particularly associated with blessings and turning ‘bad into good’ – in other words, taking what might appear on the surface to be a disaster and turning it into something quite useful. So, this year will be a mix of factors, as years usually are. On a final note, if you have the Horse or the Dragon in your Four Pillars, you have what is called ‘Peach Blossom’: Love is in the air!

As for the Rooster in general and the overall character of the year, we have the following, excerpted from some of my unpublished material on the Four Pillars:

“William Faulkner, Nobel Prize-winning author, Year Rooster and Southern gentleman, was once quoted as saying,

“The artist doesn’t have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don’t have the time to read reviews.”

Spoken like a true Rooster and a great writer. The following quote by him further reveals the character of the Rooster even more deeply and reads,

“The good artist believes that nobody is good enough to give him advice. He has supreme vanity. No matter how much he admires the old writer, he wants to beat him.”

Roosters are the masters of presentation in the Chinese zodiac. They and Dragons are the two Signs that must be seen (have recognition) in order to feel they have made their mark in life. The Rooster, like the Dragon, must make a statement in and of life. While the Dragon will sometimes employ methods for the shock value to get their point across, the Rooster will mark their place in life with an innate sense of style, flair and decorum. There is nothing rough about the work of Roosters, although they can be abrupt, and they like and respect a sense of refinement in anything they encounter. The Rooster would never dream of doing things out of context. They can be and often are reformers and champions of causes and are movers and shakers in the social scene, but they will choose to work within the system rather than create a new one, the latter of which the Dragon type is famous for doing.

Roosters are social people and they like company, although there are Rooster types who prefer to retire from the crowd and do their work in private. Rather than needing to be seen in person, the private Rooster type lets their work speak for them, and it is usually very fine work. Roosters cannot tolerate shabbiness, especially in themselves, and they can be quite introspective, which can seem contrary to their sometimes gregarious nature. You will usually find them out and about, though, mixing with those of their pecking order, frequently seeing them in cafes, restaurants, galleries, at the theater, public meetings and the like. They especially favor evening activities, which is the Rooster’s hour (5 – 7 PM) which is largely when social functions begin to take place. Roosters appreciate and require the finer things of life around them, and that includes their friends and associates. You can bet that if you have a Rooster as a friend then you come up to the mark in their eyes. One of the less endearing aspects of the sign is that Roosters can be a little bit snobby – sometimes very snobby – and if you have a Rooster friend like that, then you really are counted as one of the ‘beautiful people’, at least in that Rooster’s eyes. Thankfully, most Roosters are not dilettantes and, at least outwardly, they will take you as you are.

Being a yin sign, the Rooster can be a contradiction. Yin is the passive, inward quality, which gives rise to the more private type of Rooster. However, the Rooster can be a very aggressive sign, being almost Tiger-like in some of their dealings. In speech the Rooster is a contradiction, too. Whereas in their work and art there tends to be quite a bit of refinement, in speech they can be abrupt and not suffer fools readily. They can be outspoken and frank and they are often mistaken as being rude, whereas in most cases of supposed rudeness, the Rooster is simply ‘calling it like they see it’ and speaking a truth the listener probably does not otherwise wish to hear.

The Rooster at home can be rather bossy at times and outspoken, much to the chagrin of partners and children. They are proud and will make a fine impression on guests so long as all is good at home, but they can be aloof and guarded when there is trouble in the roost, and they are not very good at hiding it. Especially in the Year Pillar, the Rooster will put on a fine display of the home and it will be comfortable, sometimes palatial, but always a show piece and a memorable, pleasant experience to guests. The home will have the latest in home fashion or be classically adorned, but the one overriding characteristic is that it will always be well-presented, no matter the financial means of the household. Roosters are usually up early, ahead of most others in the house and they will frequently be seen outside in the dawn sun cleaning up or tending to household chores. The key to getting along with Roosters at home is to make sure there is no loss of decorum, that the house is clean, the chores are done on time and that a sense of order is maintained, otherwise beware to the person who steps out of line. Some lively ‘discussions’ are likely to take place about chores and division of labor in the Rooster household.

Rooster children are independent and outspoken and they can be a real test to parents in social settings. Truth is a big deal to Rooster children, as is fairness, but there is a strong rebellious streak in them at the same time. If there are two or more Roosters in the house then feathers are bound to fly if things are left undone or seen to be favoring one party over the other. It is perhaps this trait in Rooster children that causes them to be champions of social justice later in life, for Roosters will not tolerate injustice, especially to them. However, in later years such self-interest from childhood often translates to care for others as the Rooster gets out into the world.

Rooster children should be taught from an early age how to dress, proper manners and elocution. In short, they should be taught how to properly present themselves, especially in public settings. Rooster girls will tend to do this naturally, while Rooster boys will be more interested in being ‘cock of the walk’ amongst friends and peers, often with little attention to deportment. Rooster boys are likely to exhibit such behavior until adolescence, when hormonal urges prompt them to be more presentable to the fairer sex, which will then make them very attentive to their appearance. Parents of adolescent Roosters are often heard to moan about the length of time their ‘little Rooster’ spends in the bathroom primping.

Winning is a big deal to Roosters, especially to Rooster children. Perhaps more so with this Sign than any of the others, it is important with Rooster children to foster a positive self-image and a true sense of proportion in human relations. They especially need to be taught that ‘it is not winning or losing that is important, but how one plays the game.’ The Rooster is one of the most competitive signs in the Chinese zodiac. It is not enough for them to be good at something – they have to excel at it, and for many Roosters this can equate with having to be the best at whatever it is. I will always maintain that it is a very fortunate Rooster who learns humility early in life, or how to be gracious at the very least. The thing is, Rooster types usually are gifted in some way and good at what they do. It is probably the sign that most exemplifies or engages in self-improvement. Thus, false pride and boasting on the part of Rooster children needs to be calmly and gently corrected in them as they grow up. Pride in their work and appearance should take be the focus, not doing things to best other people or to show superiority, which is one of the more unfortunate negative traits they can evidence. Bragging and bravado in Rooster children can often be a sign of insecurity, too.

In love the Rooster is a romantic and a charmer. They can be vain, but they can also be quite stimulating company intellectually. One need never fear embarrassment on a date with a Rooster and they can be quite dashing or beautiful, always presenting well, prompting obligatory thumbs up from friends and family. The Rooster does require one thing in love, however – a good mind in a partner and an equal at that. Roosters do not like to be outshone or outdone, but neither do they like to have to constantly explain themselves. If you can best your Rooster partner in something, they may respect it at the time, but they will subconsciously or even overtly find a way to outdo you later. The strong competitive streak in many Roosters, especially if they are male, means they will not take lightly to being placed on the back foot. The key to success in love with Roosters is to be their equal, but never their better (in their eyes) and to always engage them in subjects of interest, either mutual or otherwise. They want to be proud of their partner and they will openly acknowledge the partner’s gifts, as well as their own, in public. Be prepared to step up with a Rooster and do not be afraid of flattery, in either giving or receiving it.

The Rooster is one of the signs inclined to addictions, which can range from sexual/relationship addiction to substance abuse, especially if there is more than one Rooster Pillar in the horoscope. Curiously, it is a sign that needs an escape of some sort, as a sort of ‘safety valve’. William Faulkner, mentioned at the first of this section, was known to have a particular fondness for whiskey (being a Southern gentleman), although he made a point of saying he never drank when he wrote, which was a point of speculation among his peers. Avocations or hobbies are the most constructive outlets for Roosters, as they love all sorts of technology or techniques. The Rooster will usually not allow anything to interfere with the quality of their work and if they do it is a sign that there is something in their nature that needs to be addressed and rectified or of unusual stress in their life. Success, even greatness, comes at a price and nerves can be a real problem with Roosters.

Roosters can be and often are highly-strung, perhaps the most so of any of the animal signs. It is lonely and difficult at the top, or so they feel, and Roosters can be given over to a sense of persecution at times because of their authoritative stance on issues. Ego can be a problem for Roosters, especially if they have risen to public acclaim. Many a Rooster has had to learn humility the hard way rather than coming by it honestly. False bravado is one of the failings of the sign, often belying an inner sense of insecurity. In fact, one of the least endearing aspects of the sign is the tendency in some Roosters to play the role of Braggadocio (from The Faerie Queene), which is a pretty sure sign in Rooster types that there is either an underlying vein of insecurity in their nature or a lack of a true sense of self or proportion in life.

In work the Rooster does very well as the front-man or spokesperson for the firm or agency, or in any area of work that deals with the financial side of work. Roosters are good with money, although the male can be plagued with personal financial woes in their early years due to a propensity to want to have the ‘latest and greatest’ and to sometimes go on spending sprees. Teamed with Snakes and Oxen, their financial dealings can be the stuff of legend. The legendary financier John D. Rockefeller Jr. had all three of those Animal Signs in his Pillars. He was also a great philanthropist, supporting to the fact that Roosters can be very generous – sometimes too generous for their own good – which can also contribute to financial woes at times, although Rockefeller never had that problem.

Finance loves the Rooster, and Roosters are drawn to money, and vice-versa, like bees to nectar. Female Roosters especially seem to have a knack for attracting money, and all occupations and pursuits that have a feminine leaning to them are the natural ground for the Rooster, and areas in which they excel. Male Roosters seem to have a genius for spending money, but they have a knack for attracting enough at the same time. Again, one would think that the fashion industry is a natural occupation for Roosters. However, the Rooster is not a sign that produces fashion. They simply wear or use it to great effect. Dragons and Monkeys are the producers of fashion – the Dragon with the eye for style and change and the Monkey with the creative means for doing so. Roosters are also great hoarders and collectors and their homes often reflect this, sometimes to the point of resembling museums or even warehouses.

As for finance, though, JP Morgan (left) and John D Rockefeller (right), Jr. were both Year Roosters. They had the eye for detail, knew how to present themselves and had no trouble putting their points across in order to get what they needed. They were penultimate front men in the financial sphere, although not without controversy. They made huge profits from their dealings, but the legacy of their work still benefits millions of people through jobs, donations, infrastructure and the like, regardless of what people might think of them personally. They exemplified the two main types of Roosters, too. Rockefeller was retiring and private, preferring to work behind the scenes, while Morgan was public and at times belligerent and outspoken. Andrew Carnegie, called the second-richest man in the world after Rockefeller, Sr., was a Day Rooster and a great philanthropist, despite being classed as a ‘Robber Baron’ along with many of the great financiers and captains of industry. Cornelius Vanderbilt was a Day Rooster as well, as was Jay Cooke, also a great philanthropist. The more socially conscious Rooster seems to have an innate understanding that charity creates wealth.

Roosters also do very well in the theater and in public forums where their considerable talent for speech serves them well. It is hard to best a Rooster in a debate and they love the rapid-fire exchanges that a spirited debate can bring. They are also quite good when the exchanges get heated, likely as not having had good training for it in their early home life and in school. The Rooster will know their subject matter very well, whether debating points or not, for they can be meticulous students and great observers of nature and people. Because of their studious nature, their love of a good story and their desire to be on top of things, the Rooster has produced some of the most renowned journalists in the world (Jim Dwyer, Diane Sawyer, Hugh Downs, Walter Winchell, for a few). In fact, the combination of the Rat with either the Monkey (the Rooster’s natural pair), Dog or the Rooster has produced many very fine writers (Alan Watts, Gore Vidal, Hermann Hesse, HG Wells, Agatha Christie, Gertrude Stein, Jack Kerouac, Stephen King, for example). Roosters can work in the visual arts, too, but the tendency with Roosters if they get into arts and letters is writing, perhaps because it gives a quick and effective method for expressing their views. After all, it has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword.

One would think that with the eye for detail, the flair for presentation and the love of fashion that Roosters would be very prominent in the world of high fashion, but I have not found this to be the case. Rather, I find a preponderance of Monkey and Dragon Pillars among designers (creative force and forte), whereas the current crop of models (over the past fifty years) has been heavily populated by Dogs and Oxen within their Pillars. It is a curious thing, although the Dog produces a large public appeal and the Day Dog in a chart list of celebrities from all walks of life produces per capita the largest number of famous people. The Rat shows prominently in fashion as well since it is an ‘ideas’ sign and much of the work of the industry goes on far into the night, the Rat hour being 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM. I find the same sort of inconsistency with entertainers, too, although entertainers with the Rooster in their Pillars produce very fine work, polished performances and a very pronounced screen or stage presence. It seems to be pairs of certain signs that produce actors, particularly the Horse with either the Dragon or the Rooster, the Dragon with the Monkey, or the Ox and the Monkey. A study of pairings of animal signs in producing certain abilities and occupations is beyond the scope of this work, but it makes for a very revealing study and shows how the Pillars work together to produce results along any given line.

Lastly, the Rooster is fastidious, almost to the point of obsession. There is a sort of ‘princess and pea’ attitude some Roosters can adopt and they cannot stand things out of place, especially in their appearance or in the presentation of their work. Their reactions to trifles can amount at times to paroxysms and can leave people close to them bewildered as to what has come over them. In dress Roosters will opt for the conventional over the trend-setting, the subdued over the daring. They wear fashion well, but they are not known as fashion icons and they are able to make clothes go a long way, far longer than a Dragon ever would. Fickleness is not an attitude one can attach to Roosters. The Rooster is one of the signs that sees things through. Their pride and the opinion of others demand it and they take great satisfaction in a job or act done well. They are proud people and few things will ruffle their feathers faster than a taunt about something they have worn, for example, criticisms of a job they have done or the way they act in public.

As for the Rooster in the various Pillars, the Year Roosters [which is all we will cover here] tend toward arts and letters (with a propensity to literature and music), finance and the military. People such as General George Patton (left), Douglas Haig and JP Morgan exemplified the abrupt, confrontational style that many Roosters, especially the men, can adopt when they feel a point has to be made. The Year Rooster is a motivator of people with an absolute faith in self. Patton (a Wood Rooster, also a Metal Horse in the Day Pillar) was a classic case in point. It was said of him rom a UPI report:

“Gen. George S. Patton believed he was the greatest soldier who ever lived. He made himself believe he would never falter through doubt. This absolute faith in himself as a strategist and master of daring infected his entire army, until the men of the second American corps in Africa, and later the third army in France, believed they could not be defeated under his leadership.”

He believed that his ostentatious and distinctive image would motivate his troops. He was also known to be belligerent and would not tolerate perceived weakness in people (Metal Horse), especially the men under his command, leading to the famous ‘slapping incident’ of a soldier who was suffering battle fatigue and malaria, which almost cost Patton his career. However, the toughness of his image, his polished and commanding appearance (though a bit over-the-top, even to the point of a highly polished helmet), and his character were actually perfectly suited to the battlefield. Despite his apparent roughness, ‘Old Blood and Guts’ was one of the most distinguished, though controversial commanders in US military history. His legacy in military circles is one of excellence (he received honors in academy). He also wrote profusely, including speeches, poetry and lectures.

Amelia Earhart, the first renowned female aviator in the US and a world celebrity, was another classic Year Rooster – a Rooster of Solitude – but exemplary of the female expression of the sign. She was a person of ‘firsts’ and set many records in her flying career. She was said to have exuded a ‘shy charismatic appeal’, was courageous, cool under pressure, independent, persistent and very goal-oriented. She had her own line of clothing and luggage and her luggage is still produced today. Her line of clothing was said to be the embodiment of sleekness, purposeful yet feminine. The clothing employed simple lines, wrinkle-proof and washable materials. Her products were actively promoted by her and she took an intense interest and involvement with their promotion. She undertook exhaustive promotional tours for her books and numerous product endorsements. She wrote several books, was an avid reader and she has been held up as an inspiration to American girls even to this day. She was a feminist, regarded as an icon in that way, and had unconventional views on intimate relationships for the day, refusing for example to take her husband’s surname and insisting upon equal domestic roles for each partner. Instead, her husband was often referred to as ‘Mr. Earhart’. After her disappearance over the Pacific posthumous honors were heaped upon her.

The Year Rooster leaves an indelible ‘stamp’ on any area of life they undertake. They set their own standards high and they pretty generally succeed in what they do, as much from pride in their work as from fear of failure and resulting ridicule. To an extent, this applies to the Rooster in any Pillar. Thus, the Rooster advances their art and craft in a way that demands excellence from anyone who comes along after them, solely because they have demanded it of themselves. They are one of the Signs that lead by example. Year Roosters often become icons in their line and often in their time. Inspirational, they lead many people to try to emulate them and they leave very big shoes to fill upon their passing…”

So, with this, we will leave the dynamics of the year and the character of the Rooster and move on to the world at large and what we see for the year to come. See you in Part II of The Year of the Rooster of Solitude…

End Part I. Continue to Part 2…

The Rooster in and out of balance:

Happy and well-adjusted: Entrepreneurial, honest, stylish, graceful, well-spoken, champion of causes, good with finances, high intelligence, organized, excellent performer

Conflicted and stressed: Argumentative, boastful, lazy, misunderstood, opportunistic, fiscally unsound, unkempt, critical, opinionated, false pride, false bravado

Ambitious and self-absorbed: Egocentric, narcissism, a drain on those around them, reclusive, miserly, addictive behaviors, reckless

Other points: Be careful of alcohol and other addictions if more than one Rooster appears in chart.

Famous Fire Roosters: Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune), Osama Bin Laden (terrorist), Spike Lee (film director: Jungle Fever, Malcolm X), Christopher Lambert (actor, Greystoke, Highlander), Donald Tusk (Polish PM and President of the European Council), Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols), Gary Sweet (Police Rescue, Big Sky), Judge Reinhold (Beverley Hills Cop, Fast Times at Ridgemont High), Kelly McGillis (Top Gun, Witness), Melanie Griffith (Night Moves, Bonfire of the Vanities), Stephen Fry (Blackadder), Gloria Estefan (singer: Miami Sound Machine), Rachel Ward (actor: Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid), Kevin Rudd (Australian PM), Ethan Coen (director: The Big Lebowski, Fargo), Nick Cave (and the Bad Seeds), Fran Drescher (everyone’s favorite Nanny), Dawn French (actor: French and Saunders), Tony Abbott (Australian PM), Andrew Cuomo (56^th Governor of NY), Donny Osmond (a very little bit of rock and roll), Steve Buscemi (actor: New York Stories, Reservoir Dogs), Wilhelm Reich (radical psychoanalyst), Frank Capra (director: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It’s a Wonderful Life), George Szell (conducting great and composer), Moe Howard (leader of The Three Stooges), Amelia Earhart (pioneering aviator), William Faulkner (author: The Sound and the Fury, Absalom! Absalom!), Elijah Muhammad (led Nation of Islam), Lucky Luciano (father of organized crime in the US), Henry Draper (pioneer of astrophotography), Grover Cleveland (22^nd and 24^th president of the US), JP Morgan (American financier, founder of GE), Wild Bill Hickok (American folk hero, gunfighter and inveterate poker player), “Mother” Jones (schoolteacher and labor organizer), Johannes van der Waals (molecular physicist), Henry Clay (US Senator – the “Great Compromiser”), Hans Cristian Ørsted (physicist who discovered the link between electricity and magnetism)

1. Graphics and Chart info from The Imperial Astrologer software: http://www.esotech.com.au/products/other-charting-software/imperial-astrologer/ ↑