Zi Wei Dou Shu is not your typical dogmatic astrology. The famous Chinese Horoscope has nothing to do with this system.

Zi Wei uses in its astrological chart 12 animals, or Earthly Branches, which heighten energy; they are elements which contribute to the structural mechanism of the chart, but are not taken into consideration when interpreting the individual’s personality or potentials. There is no denying that the earthly branches form the Zi Wei Dou Shu chart but in a more subtle way than the one normally presented in western views. Each earthly branch returns in 12-year cycles. For example in 2006, it was the Xu branch, or the Dog. Those who were born in the dog years ended a Tai Shui cycle, attached to the return of Jupiter in western astrology. These are years of growth, awareness and certainly a testing time; a vast dividing of waters in our perceptions and journey of life. All of us have a Xu sign in our Chinese astrological chart, ruling a specific sector of our life and therefore, the year in which the palace (house) is ruled by this animal will be the main point of this sector and the vibrations that are located there will point out how to experience and deal with those energies.

The 12 Earthly Branches are:

• Zi: Rat
• Chou: Ox
• Yin: Tiger
• Mao: Cat
• Chen: Dragon
• Si: Snake
• Wu: Horse
• Wei: Goat
• Shen: Monkey
• Xu: Dog
• Hai: Pig