For example, Dragon’s vitality is Earth, fortune – Wood, and life-soul – Fire; Monkey’s vitality is Metal, fortune – Wood, life-soul – Earth; and so on.
Strength (Wang thang) is defined according to the Element of the year. For example, the ruling Element of 1952 and 1953 was Water. Accordingly, the Wang thang of an individual, who was born in 1952 or in 1953, is Water.
Finally, the Element of the body (L?) is determined depending on the Wang thang Element and the Animal. For example, a person born in 1952 (Water Dragon) will have Water as a body Element.
Calculating favorability of the coming year
To predict how favorable the coming year will be, Tibetans compare Elements for the coming year with natal Elements. There are six degrees of favorability of the interaction of Elements:
– If the Element for the year produces the natal Element (for example, Metal – Water), it is excellent, it is ???(three white stones).
– If the natal Element controls the Element for the year (for example, Fire – Metal), it is very good, it is ??(two white stones).
– If the natal Element (Earth or Water) coincides with the Element for the year, it is good, it is ? (one white stone).
– If the natal Element produces the Element for the year (for example, Earth – Metal), it is neutral, it is ?? (one white stone and one black stone).
– If the natal Element (Wood, Fire, or Metal) coincides with the Element for the year, it is not good, it is ? (one black stone).
– If the Element for the year controls the natal Element (for example, Metal – Wood), it is bad, it is ?? (two black stones).
Example of calculating white and black stones for 2025
Let's say a person was born on October 7, 1952. The natal picture of forces and Elements for this person will be as follows:
– Year of birth: 1952. Animal: Dragon. Element of the year: Water.
– Vitality Element: Earth,
– Body Element: Water,
– Strength Element: Water,
– Fortune Element: Wood,
– Life-soul Element: Fire.
Knowing the natal Elements you can compare them with the Elements of the coming year and find out how favorable the year will be. For example, in 2025 (Wood Snake) the forces and Elements will be as follows:
– Vitality Element: Fire,
– Body Element: Fire,
– Strength Element: Wood,
– Fortune Element: Water,
– Life-soul Element: Wood.
Now let's compare the Elements of 1952 with the Elements of 2025. The degree of favorability is estimated with the help of black and white stones:
– Vitality Element (Fire produces Earth): ??? – three white stones
– Body Element (Water controls Fire): ?? – two white stones
– Strength Element (Water produces Wood): ?? – one white stone and one black stone
– Fortune Element (Wood produced by Water): ??? – three white stones
– Life-soul Element (Wood produces Fire): ??? – three white stones
Two white stones in the Bodyfield indicate that the Element of 1952 (Water) controls the Element of 2025 (Fire). This means that the year 2025 gives an opportunity to those who were born in 1952 to strengthen their bodily "vessel".
Ifthe Bodyhad two black stones (as, for example, those born in the year of the Water Tiger), then this would indicate an increased health hazard in 2025.
The interpretation of all black and white stones for each pair Element-Animal and recommendations for 2025 can be found in the corresponding chapters of this book.
How to identify your Animal and your Element
The Tibetan calendar is lunar-solar. The Tibetan new year does not start on January 1, but on one of the days of January, February, or March.
Each new month of the Tibetan calendar begins with the new moon. The first day of each new month starts when it begins to dawn, in Tibet, it's around 5 a.m.
In popular literature, on Tibetan astrology, you may find the opinion that the year changes its quality (Animal and Element of the year) exactly at the time of the new moon. But this opinion contradicts the fact that the new moon always falls on the 30th day of the month of the Tibetan calendar (as the full moon falls on the 15th), and therefore refers to the previous year. Losar (Tibetan New Year holiday) gives the official start to the new year at dawn.
In the list below you will find information about the start dates of each year in the Tibetan calendar. Once you know your Animal and your Element, you can go to the appropriate Chapter and read your forecast for 2025.
1927 – March 4 – Hare-Fire
1928 – February 22 – Dragon-Earth
1929 – February 10 – Snake-Earth
1930 – March 1 – Horse-Metal
1931 – February 18 – Sheep-Metal
1932 – February 7 – Monkey-Water
1933 – February 25 – Bird-Water
1934 – February 14 – Dog-Wood
1935 – February 4 – Pig-Wood
1936 – February 23 – Rat-Fire
1937 – February 12 – Ox-Fire