Personality | Compatibility | Ascendants | Famous "Oxen" We will feel the yoke of responsibility coming down on us this year. No success can be achieved without conscientious efforts. The trials and tribulations the Ox year brings will be mainly on the homefront. It is a good time to settle domestic affairs and put your house in order. Way-out fashions, abstract art forms and newfangled notions will be given an impressive stare by the phlegmatic Ox, while politics and diplomacy will simply be treated with indifference. Better stick to routine and support conservative policies. Frivolities are out! This year will no doubt bear fruit, but the motto is: "No work, no pay!" Time waits for no man; if we are too lazy to sow then we can blame no one if we have nothing to reap. We will find a great many things requiring our attention, and the list of what needs to be done will seem endless. The Spartan influence of the Ox will be a constantly cracking whip over our heads. Better to apply oneself diligently than waste time arguing with the authorities. They will prevail, as the Year of the Ox favors discipline. Most conflicts this year will arise more from a lack of communication and refusal to give in on small technicalities than anything else. But hang on and be patient. Everything will be sorted out and we will be rewarded for our efforts--so long as we remember to do things the conventional way. This is no time for tricky shortcuts. For the rebels, it may be worthwhile to point out that although the stoical Ox is soft-spoken, he carries a big stick, and this is his year.   Personality People born in the Year of the Ox are steady, plain and quiet. They arrange things system-atically and they are patient and tireless. They are usually ready to take other's advice and act with justice. But it is not easy to change their minds because they are stubborn and sometimes prejudice. Because people born in the Year of the Ox are reliable and steady, they are trusted by their superiors or persons in authority.Where there is responsibility, you will always find them. However, they should be careful not to be carried away by success. Their dauntless character and logical way of thinking is covered up by their plain appearance. Their intelligence and nimbleness are covered up by their reticence and restrained manner. Although they may be introverted by nature, when an opportunity is presented they can become quite dignified and eloquent speakers. They face danger fearlessly, and betray no fear in face of threats. They have a natural and intense trust in themselves. All of these features help them to put everything into order in times of trouble. People born in the Year of the Ox do things in an orderly way. They follow settled rules, respect traditional concepts, and always do things the way other people want them to. So people can foresee what they will do the next. They believe that only those who have a down to earth style of work may never be defeated. People born in other years can achieve success depending on their intelligence or other's help. But people born in the Year of the Ox depend on their own tenacious will and active spirit of devotion. They never believe in chance, keep their words, and once a word is spoken will not take it back even when pulled by a team of four horses (what is said cannot be unsaid). They take an indifferent attitude towards common biases. They will do their jobs with single-hearted devotion, and never give up when something is half-way done. They are naive when they think about other people's secrets. They cannot fully understand the feelings of others, and seldom cheat others to win their love. Poetry and serenades seldom appear in their lives, even the gifts they give will be durable and practical. Since people born in the Year of the Ox are quite traditional, it may take a long time for a man born in the Year of the Ox to propose marriage to a woman. Such a man may be broad minded and maintain good order, but when he proposes marriage to a pretty girl, he will become clumsy and slow in speech. If you happen to be married to him and trust him completely, he will never disappoint you and will be loyal to you all his life. Although he cannot give you mounds of diamonds, or chests of leather clothing, he will try to make your life as comfortable as he can, and never ask for your help. If you are lucky enough to marry a woman born in the Year of the Ox, you will find that she is a serious person. She will iron your clothing like your mother once did, never forgetting to fold the newspaper on your desk, and will make you delicious breakfasts. She will be very neat and always punctual. After your marriage you will never lack clean clothing, you will never wear stockings with holes in them, and you will never have to eat burnt food. Thus she will be an ideal wife.   Compatibility Most Compatible: Snakes, Roosters Least Compatible: Rams   Ascendants Born During the Hours of the Rat - 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. An Ox with a touch of real sentiment. The Rat's charm softens him and he is more flexible and communicative. Still, he never forgets an injury or how to count his pennies. Born During the Hours of the Ox - 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. Master sergeant type. Put one toe out of line and he will chop it off. Gifted with extraordinary self-control and dedication. Not much can be said for his humour or imagination. Born During the Hours of the Tiger - 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. Captivating Ox with a lively personality. He certainly won't be soft-spoken or shy. By the way, watch out for his infamous temper. Born During the Hours of the Rabbit - 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. You still won't get this Ox to change his opinion about you, but at least he will be diplomatic and discreet. A genteel Ox who will collect art and antiques and is not fond of strenuous work. Born During the Hours of the Dragon - 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Great strength and power to achieve his ambitions. It is a pity he is so inflexible and opinionated; otherwise he could have so much more. Born During the Hours of the Snake - 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This combination consists of two secretive signs that are adverse to taking advice. He could be a loner with a cunning side to his nature. Born During the Hours of the Horse - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A happier Ox with some of the fancy ways of the Horse. Who knows, he may even love to dance. However, the mercurial Horse in him could steer him away from his steadfast goals. Born During the Hours of the Ram - 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. An artistic Ox with a tender side to his personality. Will be more lenient and receptive. He is business-minded and will have the sense to make money out of his talents. Born During the Hours of the Monkey - 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. A shrewd but jovial Ox who just won't take his problems too seriously. With the Monkey's influence, he won't have to. He always has a card up his sleeve. Born During the Hours of the Rooster - 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dynamic and dutiful. He will argue a lot before taking action and uses colourful rhetoric instead of just his fists. Something of a cross between the soldier and the preacher. Born During the Hours of the Dog - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A severe moralist who could be utterly boring if not saved by the Dog's even temperament. Well, at least he won't be too prejudiced and will give you a fair hearing at the court-martial. Born During the Hours of the Boar - 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. An affectionate Ox although he is still demanding and conservative. He lacks the needed conviction to press issues at times. His hard-working qualities will be equally matched by the Boar's love of good food.   Famous "Oxen" Jack Lemmon, Tony Benn, Charlie Drake, Shirley Bassey, Jack Nicholson, George Clooney, Melissa Etheridge, Michael J. Fox, Woody Harrelson, K.D. Lang, Meg Ryan, Julianne Moore, Brian Austin Green Source: The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes by Theodora Lau Published by Arrow Books Limited