traits of your sun sign and Chinese sign equivalent, referring to the page numbers listed below. Many other factors make up a birth chart, but more than anything else in astrology, the sun represents your potential. It shines an intense light on what motivates you in life, or what will likely bring you the greatest fulfillment. So, even if you don’t feel you are entirely true to your sun sign, familiarizing yourself with your sun-sign personality potential and pitfalls can offer you profound life lessons and wisdom.
Aquarius and the Tiger(January 20 to February 18)
Pisces and the Rabbit(February 19 to March 20)
Aries and the Dragon(March 21 to April 19)
Taurus and the Snake(April 20 to May 20)
Gemini and the Horse(May 21 to June 20)
Cancer and the Sheep(June 21 to July 22)
Leo and the Monkey(July 23 to August 22)
Virgo and the Rooster(August 23 to September 22)
Libra and the Dog(September 23 to October 22)
Scorpio and the Pig(October 23 to November 21)
Sagittarius and the Rat(November 22 to December 21)
Capricorn and the Ox(December 22 to January 19)
Be aware, too, that the wheel of the zodiac begins with the sun sign Aries and ends with Pisces, and each of the signs symbolizes the wheel of life and the different ages, phases and stages in our lives. Aries and Taurus are the babies of the zodiac, Gemini and Cancer the children, Leo the teenager, and Virgo and Libra the adults. Scorpio and Sagittarius symbolize a mature hunger for knowledge, Capricorn the consolidation of experience and Aquarius and Pisces move toward idealism and a desire to see the bigger picture, which often accompanies life’s later stages. This isn’t to say that all Aries-born are innocent and childish or that all Pisceans are wise and mature, as many factors make up a birth chart, but seeing the sun signs in this light can help give you an instant sense and understanding of the driving force behind each sun sign.
By contrast, the Chinese zodiac begins with the sign of the Rat, then follows in this order: Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. According to legend this is the order they finished in a race, but this placement also suggests that curiosity, acquiring knowledge, gaining experience, looking beneath the surface of things and confidently setting intentions should perhaps be the foundation stones for building a fulfilling life. In other words, in Chinese astrology there are strong similarities between endings and beginnings, and the end can become the beginning. Do bear in mind, though, that Chinese astrology acknowledges that the year a person is born and Western sun-sign equivalents are not the only considerations, as animal signs can be assigned by month, day and even hour, meaning every person is a unique combination of several different animals.
All Year Round
After reading about the blessings, challenges and wisdom of your sun sign, it’s time to dive into the 366 Birthday Profiles. And once you’ve digested and reflected on your individual profile, and those of all the people you know, be sure to read The Best and Worst of Days and Reach for the Stars. These closing sections will help you transform this book into a cosmic yearbook that you can use every single day of the year. Simply refer to today’s date, and align yourself with the themes and massive potential for personal growth offered for that day. In this way you can harness birthday guidance and inspiration all year round, whether today is your birthday or not!
366 Birthday Profiles: Your Cosmic Yearbook
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
George Eliot
In the pages that follow you will find a birthday profile for every day of the year. Remember, this profile represents your potential. It is not written in stone. I’ll risk repeating myself, as this is too important: You are born with free will and the choice is always yours about what you decide to do with your one precious life. Hopefully, what you read about the unique power of the day on which you were born will resonate strongly with you, and inspire you to believe in yourself and live your dreams.
If what you read doesn’t completely resonate, this doesn’t mean you are born on the wrong day or the profile is flawed. It simply means you are forging a new path, and there can be nothing more exciting than that. Perhaps what you read in your profile will still offer you food for thought or a different perspective. There are infinite possibilities and many different paths to take in life. And every path you take, even if it is a winding one that doesn’t lead to any destination in particular, will teach you something valuable that you need in your search for the bigger picture of your life.
It is not so much the arrival at a destination, but the journey of life itself—and what you learned about yourself during those times you felt lost—that ultimately gives your life its meaning. As long as you are learning and living each day of your life to the full, rest assured you are already living a meaningful life.
Birthstones
Birthstones are gemstones that represent each month of the year. Each stone is said to have a unique energy, meaning and significance. It is widely believed that wearing the birthstone of the month on which you were born can attract good fortune your way. You may want to research the meaning of your birthstone and meditate on, wear or use it in your daily life. But don’t feel you can’t draw on the healing energies of all the other birthstones, too. A birthstone may be aligned to a certain month, but birthstones and the magic they can bring are for everyone regardless of the month they are born.
1 1. January: Garnet (luck)
2 2. February: Amethyst (wisdom)
3 3. March: Aquamarine (peace)
4 4. April: Diamond or quartz (courage)
5 5. May: Emerald (hope)
6 6. June: Pearl (love)
7 7. July: Ruby (vitality)
8 8. August: Peridot (beauty)
9 9. September: Sapphire (truth)
10 10. October: Opal or tourmaline (healing)
11 11. November: Topaz or Citrine (happiness)
12 12. December: Tanzanite or Turquoise (intuition)
These Are the Days of Your Life
And once you’ve reflected on your profile, and those of people you know or have yet to get to know, don’t allow yourself to waste the potential of any day in your life ever again. Every morning be sure to meditate on the birthday profile for the day ahead. Let the life wisdom there help you tap into the secret potential and power of that day and attract good fortune your way so that you can choose to make every day of the year, and of your life, a very special day.