The Monkey King – American Museum of Natural History. © Garrett Chong Photo

Yang Red Fire Monkey. Time for Adventure, Discovery, Q+A! Also the Time for Strategy, Learning, Change… 

The Lunar Year of the Yang Red Fire Monkey runs from Monday Feb 08 2016 to Friday Jan 27 2017. This is a year of adventure, discovery, questions and answers, when luck can strike at bizarre times and fortunes can turn in the blink of an eye. Risk, strategy, learning, change and progress feature prominently in a Monkey Year.

THE WAY OF THE MONKEY

The year of the Monkey is ideal for a quantum leap in your life! Now is the time to shake things up, create change, and innovate a new path. Join Monkey’s enthusiast energy when risks are rewarded and anything can happen. Even the most ambitious plans can succeed. There will be more than enough action and opportunity to keep you busy. In Monkey year, it’s fine to just make it up as you go along. Just don’t be gullible and trust the wrong people, or wily Monkey will take all the peanuts and leave you only shells.

Those born in Monkey years (1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016) are clever, sharp, mercurial, and entertaining. They are wonderful to be around because they are fun, creative, and bring the sparkling energy that only Monkey can provide. Monkeys embodies strong leadership potential and, like their best friend the Dragon, won’t allow anyone to tell her them to do. Uninhibited Monkey rarely gets embarrassed by anything, and is free to express herself fearlessly in all walks of life.

In addition to acute mental alertness, Monkey also possesses physical stamina. Monkey is good with her hands, has skills and dexterity with machines, naturally has technological talents, and can easily master new concepts. A superb generalist, Monkey can do anything! In relationships, a Monkey loves romance, and is very sensitive and generous. But she can be fickle, run hot or cold, and treat relationships like a game. But everyone loves the Monkey, and the birth rate skyrockets in Asia during a Monkey year.

Of the five Taoist elements Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood, this is the year of the red Fire Monkey. Red means go! Fire brings passion, creativity, and joy. Fire types are strong, dynamic, and can overcome illness and obstacles. Just be aware to not jump ahead of yourself this year, especially during the heat of summer. And try to calm what is called Monkey mind in Buddhism: jump to a branch, grab a banana, peel it, take a bite, drop it. Then jump to the next branch, grab a banana, peel it, take a bite, and drop it in a useless tail-chasing cycle. As soon as you realize that a path is not fruitful, try a new one instead of staying stuck and trying to analyze the past.
Monkey year is very fortunate for all Monkeys, and for Monkey’s friends the Rat, Dragon, and Snake. Monkey energy can, at times, be problematic for the Tiger. Monkey correlates to the western sign Leo.

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Happy Year of the Monkey 2016

The 2016-17 Year of the Monkey is a Yang Fire year. Fire shapes Metal, but can also be a destructive force. Elements of chaos and creation dance together with wild abandon. Scams, delusions and illusions are plentiful, and psychological factors have strong influence. Often it’s not what you see, but how you see it that matters.

The Monkey is a born performer, and can keep you enthralled for hours. Charismatic and resourceful, this zodiac sign has a razor sharp wit combined with Old World charm, a multi-tiered sense of humour and a bag full of tricks. Monkey can improvise with originality and sizzling style, and also is always ready to put an unexpected new twist on classic ideas. The Monkey brings a glamorous, carnivalesque feeling to 2016-17. Masquerades and mysteries abound. We may see revival of performance styles such as burlesque, cabaret and vaudeville. The theatre flourishes, taking centre stage this year along with other performance arts such as dance, magic, circus, improv, stand-up and physical comedy.

“I entertain”

I am the seasoned traveler
of the Labyrinth.
The genius of alacrity,
Wizard of the impossible;
my brilliance is yet unmatched
in its originality.
My heart’s filled with potent magic
that could cast a hundred spells.
I am put together
for mine own pleasure.

I Am the Monkey

OVERVIEW:

Colors: White, Gold, Blue, Red, Purple
Lucky / Influential Numbers: One (1), Three (3), Nine (9)
Universal Number of 2016: Nine (9)
Phrase/Motto: I Entertain
Monkey’s Element: Metal
Stem: Yang
Hours of the Monkey: 3 pm – 5 pm
Corresponding Sun sign: Leo
Season of the Monkey: Summer (August)
Gemstones: Jade, Topaz
Metals: Gold, Iron
Flowers & Herbs: Dandelion, Sage