Introduction

This book consists of three sections.

– The first section, "Important preliminary information", briefly explains all the basic information on Tibetan astrology necessary for a correct understanding of the horoscope.

– The second section has an answer to the question "How to identify your Animal and your Element?". In this section, you will find a list where you can find your animal and your element by the date of your birth. There are 60 Element-Animal pairs in total and each pair is provided with an individual horoscope for the year 2023 of the Water-Hare. All 60 horoscopes are in the third section of the book.

– The third section contains the "Forecast for 2023". There is a general forecast for the year for everyone. Pay special attention to general recommendations and tips. There are brief characteristics of each of the 12 zodiac animals from Rat to Pig, and there are also forecasts for 2023 for all animals of all elements, that is, 60 unique horoscopes.

For example, if you have found out (in the second section) that your Animal and your Element are Rat and Metal, then you can read the general description of the Rat and after that – your personal (Rat-Metal) forecast for 2023.

In Tibetan astrology, a 60-year cycle is used, which means that the forecast for the year is repeated every 60 years. Therefore, this book will be useful to you and your descendants in 2083, 2143, 2203, 2263, and subsequent years :)

Important Preliminary Information

Tibetan Astrology

Tibetan astrology consists of two large interrelated sections – "black" and "white". This duality is due to the geographical location of Tibet, its borders with China and India. "Black astrology", or astrology of the elements, developed in close connection with China. "White astrology", or astrology of the stars, developed under the influence of Indian teachings.

The Tibetan horoscope for 2023, presented in this book, is based on the astrology of the elements. To get the most out of the horoscope, you need to know three concepts of Tibetan astrology, briefly discussed in this Chapter:

– the 5 Elements,

– the 12 Animals,

– the 5 personal forces.

The Sixty-Year Cycle

The Tibetan calendar is based on a sixty-year cycle. It appeared along with a translation into Tibetan of the Kalachakra Tantra in 1027, the year of the Fire Hare.

The year 2023 of the Water Hare is part of a cycle that began in 1987. Each year of the cycle is associated with one of the twelve Animals and one of the Five Elements. (If you multiply 12 by 5, you will get a 60-year cycle.)

To find your Animal and your Element go to the Chapter "How to identify your Animal and your Element".

The Twelve Animals

The Tibetan 12-year cycle is "ruled" by twelve Animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog, and Pig. In various Eastern astrological traditions, the list of animals may vary, but in Tibetan astrology, it is defined in accordance with the legend. Buddha wanted to see and to bless all animals before attaining the final liberation of parinirvana, but only 12 animals came and they came in the order in which they now alternate in a 12-year cycle starting with Rat.

Animals are universal multivalued symbols. In particular, they determine the personal characteristics that a person receives. The general psychological portrait of the 12 Animals can be found in the corresponding chapters of this book.

Tibetan astrological tanka, XIX century

The Five Elements

The Five Elements are potencies, dynamic principles, qualities of cosmic energy or matter: Wood – Fire – Earth – Metal – Water. One should not understand these symbols literally. For example, Wood is not a tree, it is the potency of growth and development. Elements have the following characteristics:

– Wood is vitality, growth, creation,

– Fire is an upward movement, heat, passion, joy,

– Earth is stability, fertility, heaviness, concreteness,

– Metal is hardness, coldness, purity, sharpness,

– Water is the moisture, flowability, penetration, cold, night.

All Elements interact with each other. It can be represented as a diagram:

External arrows show the productive cycle: Fire produces Earth, Earth – Metal, Metal – Water, Water – Wood, Wood – Fire.

Internal dashed arrows show the controlling cycle: Fire controls (suppresses) Metal, Metal – Wood, Wood – Earth, Earth – Water, Water – Fire.

Each year has its own set of qualities and Elements. Each person has a set of characteristics corresponding to the year of birth. Knowing the basic principles of interaction of Elements (production and suppression) you can compare the quality of the coming year with the quality of the year of birth of a person and predict how favorable the coming year will be.

The Five Personal Forces

Each individual has five powers, the nature of which is determined according to the year of his birth. These five forces are as follows:

Vitality, life force (Sok). It’s the power of life that makes a person alive. It is the inner life energy of a person that resides in his heart. Weak Sok is a danger to life.

Body, health (Lü). It is the strength and energy of body health, it’s physique, physical strength, and bodily well-being. It is, figuratively speaking, a vessel for life. Our vital energy (Sok) depends on the integrity of this vessel, depends on the health of the body, because our life force can flow out of the body due to diseases and injuries.

Strength, power (Wang thang). This is the potential of personal power, with which a person can achieve goals, shape his financial situation and manage life circumstances. A strong wang thang gives us the ability to effectively use our talents and opportunities, skillfully manage our time, avoid injury, achieve wealth and prosperity.

Fortune (Lung ta). Literally, Lung ta is translated as "wind horse". It is the energy of luck that attracts favorable situations, circumstances, and money. It brings us success and a good reputation, it is also a spiritual path. Lung ta is the movement of energy through the human body, it is the harmonization and strengthening of the three above-mentioned forces: vitality, health, and strength. When our internal energies are in harmony with the external energies, then fortune becomes our natural companion.

Life-soul (La). It is the spirit or the soul, but it is not the soul in the Christian sense, it’s the soul that binds together all the components of a person, giving integrity and interest in life. It is the immunity. La produces Sok (life force). This means that the Element of La-soul is always in the mother's relationship with Sok-vitality that resides in the heart. For example, if the Element of life-soul is Fire, then the Element of vitality will be Earth because Fire produces Earth. La is very mobile and moves through an individual’s energy channels during the lunar cycle.

Elements and Personal Forces

Each Animal in the Tibetan Zodiac has a predetermined set of three qualities:

– vitality,

– fortune,

– life-soul.

For example, Dragon’s vitality is Earth, fortune – Wood, and life-soul – Fire; Monkey’s vitality is Metal, fortune – Wood, life-soul – Earth; and so on.

Strength (Wang thang) is defined according to the Element of the year. For example, the ruling Element of 1952 and 1953 was Water. Accordingly, the Wang thang of an individual, who was born in 1952 or in 1953, is Water.

Finally, the Element of the body (Lü) is determined depending on the Wang thang Element and the Animal. For example, a person born in 1952 (Water Dragon) will have Water as a body Element.

Calculating favorability of the coming year

To predict how favorable the coming year will be, Tibetans compare Elements for the coming year with natal Elements. There are six degrees of favorability of the interaction of Elements:

– If the Element for the year produces the natal Element (for example, Metal – Water), it is excellent, it is ○○○ (three white stones).

– If the natal Element controls the Element for the year (for example, Fire – Metal), it is very good, it is ○○ (two white stones).

– If the natal Element (Earth or Water) coincides with the Element for the year, it is good, it is ○ (one white stone).

– If the natal Element produces the Element for the year (for example, Earth – Metal), it is neutral, it is ○● (one white stone and one black stone).

– If the natal Element (Wood, Fire, or Metal) coincides with the Element for the year, it is not good, it is ● (one black stone).

– If the Element for the year controls the natal Element (for example, Metal – Wood), it is bad, it is ●● (two black stones).

Example of calculating white and black stones for 2023

Let's say a person was born on October 7, 1952. The natal picture of forces and Elements for this person will be as follows:

– Year of birth: 1952. Animal: Dragon. Element of the year: Water.

– Vitality Element: Earth,

– Body Element: Water,

– Strength Element: Water,

– Fortune Element: Wood,

– Life-soul Element: Fire.

Knowing the natal Elements you can compare them with the Elements of the coming year and find out how favorable the year will be. For example, in 2023 (Water Hare) the forces and Elements will be as follows:

– Vitality Element: Wood,

– Body Element: Metal,

– Strength Element: Water,

– Fortune Element: Fire,

– Life-soul Element: Water.

Now let's compare the Elements of 1952 with the Elements of 2023. The degree of favorability is estimated with the help of black and white stones:

– Vitality Element (Wood controls Earth): ●● – two black stones,

– Body Element (Metal produces Water): ○○○ – three white stones,

– Strength Element (Water matches Water): ○ – one white stone,

– Fortune Element (Wood produces Fire): ○● – one white stone and one black stone,

– Life-soul Element (Water controls Fire): ●● – two black stones.

Three white stones in the Body field indicate that the Element of 2023 (Metal) produces the Element of 1952 (Water). This means that the year 2023 provides a good boost to bodily strength and energizes those born in 1952.

If the Body had two black stones (as, for example, those born in the year of the Earth Dog), then this would indicate an increased health hazard in 2023.

The interpretation of all black and white stones for each pair Element-Animal and recommendations for 2023 can be found in the corresponding chapters of this book.

How to identify your Animal and your Element

The Tibetan calendar is lunar-solar. The Tibetan new year does not start on January 1, but on one of the days of January, February, or March.

Each new month of the Tibetan calendar begins with the new moon. The first day of each new month starts when it begins to dawn, in Tibet, it's around 5 a.m.

In popular literature, on Tibetan astrology, you may find the opinion that the year changes its quality (Animal and Element of the year) exactly at the time of the new moon. But this opinion contradicts the fact that the new moon always falls on the 30th day of the month of the Tibetan calendar (as the full moon falls on the 15th), and therefore refers to the previous year. Losar (Tibetan New Year holiday) gives the official start to the new year at dawn.

In the list below you will find information about the start dates of each year in the Tibetan calendar. Once you know your Animal and your Element, you can go to the appropriate Chapter and read your forecast for 2023.

1927 – March 4 – Hare-Fire

1928 – February 22 – Dragon-Earth

1929 – February 10 – Snake-Earth

1930 – March 1 – Horse-Metal

1931 – February 18 – Sheep-Metal

1932 – February 7 – Monkey-Water

1933 – February 25 – Bird-Water

1934 – February 14 – Dog-Wood

1935 – February 4 – Pig-Wood

1936 – February 23 – Rat-Fire

1937 – February 12 – Ox-Fire

1938 – March 3 – Tiger-Earth

1939 – February 20 – Hare-Earth

1940 – February 9 – Dragon-Metal

1941 – February 27 – Snake-Metal

1942 – February 16 – Horse-Water

1943 – February 5 – Sheep-Water

1944 – February 24 – Monkey-Wood

1945 – February 13 – Bird-Wood

1946 – March 4 – Dog-Fire

1947 – February 21 – Pig-Fire

1948 – February 10 – Rat-Earth

1949 – February 28 – Ox-Earth

1950 – February 17 – Tiger-Metal

1951 – February 7 – Hare-Metal

1952 – February 26 – Dragon-Water

1953 – February 14 – Snake-Water

1954 – February 4 – Horse-Wood

1955 – February 23 – Sheep-Wood

1956 – February 12 – Monkey-Fire

1957 – March 2 – Bird-Fire

1958 – February 19 – Dog-Earth

1959 – February 8 – Pig-Earth

1960 – February 27 – Rat-Metal

1961 – February 16 – Ox-Metal

1962 – February 5 – Tiger-Water

1963 – February 24 – Hare-Water

1964 – February 14 – Dragon-Wood

1965 – March 4 – Snake-Wood

1966 – February 21 – Horse-Fire

1967 – February 10 – Sheep-Fire

1968 – February 29 – Monkey-Earth

1969 – February 17 – Bird-Earth

1970 – February 7 – Dog-Metal

1971 – February 26 – Pig-Metal

1972 – February 15 – Rat-Water

1973 – March 5 – Ox-Water

1974 – February 23 – Tiger-Wood

1975 – February 12 – Hare-Wood

1976 – March 1 – Dragon-Fire

1977 – February 19 – Snake-Fire

1978 – February 8 – Horse-Earth

1979 – February 27 – Sheep-Earth

1980 – February 17 – Monkey-Metal

1981 – February 5 – Bird-Metal

1982 – February 24 – Dog-Water

1983 – February 13 – Pig-Water

1984 – March 3 – Rat-Wood

1985 – February 20 – Ox-Wood

1986 – February 9 – Tiger-Fire

1987 – February 28 – Hare-Fire

1988 – February 18 – Dragon-Earth

1989 – February 7 – Snake-Earth

1990 – February 26 – Horse-Metal

1991 – February 15 – Sheep-Metal

1992 – March 5 – Monkey-Water

1993 – February 22 – Bird-Water

1994 – February 11 – Dog-Wood

1995 – March 2 – Pig-Wood

1996 – February 19 – Rat-Fire

1997 – February 8 – Ox-Fire

1998 – February 27 – Tiger-Earth

1999 – February 17 – Hare-Earth

2000 – February 6 – Dragon-Metal

2001 – February 24 – Snake-Metal

2002 – February 13 – Horse-Water

2003 – March 3 – Sheep-Water

2004 – February 21 – Monkey-Wood

2005 – February 9 – Bird-Wood

2006 – February 28 – Dog-Fire

2007 – February 18 – Pig-Fire

2008 – February 7 – Rat-Earth

2009 – February 25 – Ox-Earth

2010 – February 14 – Tiger-Metal

2011 – March 5 – Hare-Metal

2012 – February 22 – Dragon-Water

2013 – February 11 – Snake-Water

2014 – March 2 – Horse-Wood

2015 – February 19 – Sheep-Wood

2016 – February 9 – Monkey-Fire

2017 – February 27 – Bird-Fire

2018 – February 16 – Dog-Earth

2019 – February 5 – Pig-Earth

2020 – February 24 – Rat-Metal

2021 – February 12 – Ox-Metal

2022 – March 3 – Tiger-Water

Forecast for 2023

The year of the Hare begins on February 21, 2023, and ends on February 9, 2024. Water is the Element of the year. The year of the Water Hare is the 37th year in the 60-year cycle of the Tibetan calendar. In Tibetan, this year is called Dzeche, which translates as "Beautiful".

The standard description of the year of the Hare is as follows:

“The Year of the Hare is a year of general relaxation, an easy life—so calm is it, indeed, that it leads to a certain degree of indolence”

Water years have the following standard characteristic:

"Water years are auspicious for change and communication"

The year of Water Hare has the following combination of Elements:

Vitality – Wood,

Body – Metal,

Strength – Water,

Fortune – Fire,

Life-soul – Water.

A similar combination of Elements was in 1963, 1903, 1843, 1783 … 1063. Those years were years of Water Hare.

General Recommendations and Tips

Do not worry about the black stones. Everyone has them and the set of stones changes from year to year. Black stones require greater awareness and help people to engage in self-development. If you have black stones in any of the fields, then try to distribute your energy correctly and harmonize your overall condition.

Check the stones of your partners, relatives, and friends. Perhaps their white stones can help compensate for your black stones.

Do not be fooled by a large number of white stones in the forecast for the year. Be vigilant, because white stones, let's say, discourage and incline to laziness. Use the opportunities that open up, but correlate them with the restrictions (black stones) of the year. Remember that the harmony of your internal energies and their coherence with external energies – that’s the key to success and fortune.

Remember to focus on internal changes (in consciousness, in character), not on rituals. Develop a balanced, mature approach to life, use common sense, and everything will be fine. Good luck!

The Rat

NB: look for your Animal and your Element in the Chapter "How to identify your Animal and your Element", find out the meaning of obscure terms in the Chapter "Important preliminary information"

Basic Elements:

– Vitality Element: Water,

– Fortune Element: Wood,

– Life-soul Element: Metal.

Friends (have the same Fortune Element): Dragon and Monkey.

Antagonist: Horse.

Successful professions: business person, writer.

The most favorable day of the week – Wednesday.

Main character traits:

– charming, sociable, but straightforward;

– curiosity, hard work, creativity, and ambition;

– good organizer;

– can hide selfishness, prudence, and even aggression under friendliness;

– independent, self-centered, stubborn, prone to manipulating others;

– loves money and success, generous with loved ones; sensual, can be wasteful;

– a true friend.