2022: The Year of the Yang Water Tiger
The major themes of this (yang) year are abundance through harnessing our limitations.
The ancient Chinese calendar is a fusion of two different calendars, both dating back to the early Zhou Dynasty (around 1050 BCE), and possibly earlier.
The Heavenly Stems (the elemental aspects) are derived from observation of the five visible planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The Earthly Branches are derived from seasonal variations of the year. In later times, these 12 symbols were given their animal names.
It was during the syncretisation programs of Daoist & Confucian philosophers during the early Han Dynasty (206 BCE — 220 CE) that the two systems were fused to create the sexagenary calendar — that is, a calendar which measures cycles of years and days according to a cycle of 60. This is done through the combination of the 10 Heavenly Stem signs and the 12 Earthly Branch signs. The emphasis of this system was on describing the quality of time, not just measuring its passing.
This year is the 39th in the greater 60-year cycle, and is called 壬寅 Rèn Yín.
壬 Rèn is the yang-water element, and represents being able to nurture something deeply within. It is sometimes attributed to a flowing river, or the ocean. These are both examples of depth and power. In the five-phase system, water represents the power to hold things; it is the essence of latency and potential.
寅 Yín is the yang-wood element, and is a very sudden, powerful force of energy, such as that required for a seed to break open and push itself through the soil. The seed can only do so with its inherent energy, as it is not yet able to draw in energy from its surroundings. This is why it was given the animal totem of Tiger – it needs to spring forth quickly and powerfully. In other words, it is extremely explosive and expansive.
Together they represented a time that has to find balance between the spontaneous, outwardly focused energy of wood/tiger, and the nurturing, inwardly focused intention of water. Yes, there will be trends towards new things emerging, and the desire to make sudden, spontaneous choices — this is the nature of yang-wood/tiger. However, it is the yang-water element that will bring an important pause to those ‘leaps of faith’, a time to enquire inwardly as to whether this leap is appropriate or not.
Tiger Crossing the Forest
The alchemical symbol of the year is ‘the tiger crossing the forest’. Many years ago in Nepal, I had the great fortune of witnessing tigers in the wild jungles of the southern Terai. Here, tigers remain hidden in treetops, watching and waiting for their prey. However, they do not stay in one area. They roam across the jungle, like nomads seeking the next campsite. Once they have found their ‘site’ they wait patiently; once they spy prey they will watch and wait until the right moment. Then they strike with ferocity and speed. Their success and abundance came from combining patience and power. Accordingly, this symbol is used to understand the alchemical significance of the year of the yang-water tiger.
Water Tiger and the I Ching
In the Daoist alchemical interpretations of the calendar, a hexagram from the I Ching is derived from a formula involving the year, month, day, and time of the lunar new year. I have made these calculations using the time/date set for Australian Summer Standard Time (ASST). This year, the hexagram that represents the year is 大有 Dà yǒu.
The essential piece of advice from this ancient symbol is how we attain abundance in the context of yang-water and yang-wood. In one of the earliest commentaries of this symbol, the text states:
The Superior Person … restrains evil and raises the good, and ceases any action other than following Heaven’s Purpose.
“Restraining evil” is the function of water; “raising the good" is the action of wood/Tiger when they are ‘restrained’ by water. We need to consider what our ‘Heavenly Purpose’ is when making choices this year. Abundance thus comes because of restraint — the boundaries we set ourselves that are generative and prevent us from being too spontaneous, or leaping into something that will not be the best for us.
The most important relationships for Tiger years.
Dogs (1958, 1970, 1982, 1994) and Horses (1966, 1978, 1990) have a mutually enforcing relationship with Tigers (1962, 1974, 1986, 1998), so if you are one of these signs, this should be a particularly good year in terms of the ease with which the energies will have an effect in your life.
Snakes (1953, 1965, 1977, 1989) and Monkeys (1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004) form what is called ‘the harassing triangle’ with Tigers. Their relationship can be antagonistic. For those born in these years, this year’s energies may be particularly challenging. It requires some patience and grace to negotiate how the winds will blow you around.
Oxen (1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) and Pigs (1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007) have a harmonious relationship with what Tiger brings, so while they may not completely experience all the gifts that the year’s resonance will bring, what comes will complement what’s happening in their world.
Keep in mind that everyone’s astrological chart is unique, and a proper interpretation is required with year, month, day, and birth time details to determine the various factors that will play out in 2018. There are many websites and Chinese astrologers online for you to find this information.
Petah Raven is a trained practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a Tai-Chi and Qigong teacher and has studied the I Ching and Daoist philosophy at length. Petah publishes a regular blog on Medium at https://medium.com/@metametheus.