Theresa Cheung - The Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays

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.

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!

“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 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)

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.

1 January

2 January

3 January

4 January

5 January

6 January

7 January

8 January

9 January

10 January

11 January

12 January

13 January

14 January

15 January

16 January

17 January

18 January

19 January

20 January

21 January

22 January

23 January

24 January

25 January

26 January

27 January

28 January

29 January

30 January

31 January

“When one door closes, another always opens for me”

The life lesson:is to believe you are good enough and that making mistakes isn’t a crime.

The way forward:is to learn that nothing is a failure if you learn and grow from it.

Luck maker:Let go of expectations.

Bursting with enthusiasm, people born on January 1 are instinctive and idealistic trailblazers. They value the lessons they have learned from their past and use this to plan ahead for a better future. Once they settle on a goal, their drive, determination and organizational skills typically ensure success. But when things don’t go according to their best-laid plans, they can become impatient, oversensitive and insecure. They need to break through their fear of the unexpected and recognize that their way isn’t always the best or only way.

These people are born experts, often rising to leadership roles where their opinions and skills are highly valued. There is a voice inside them urging them to work harder and longer, and to always do better. This quality makes them big achievers, but they can get so caught up in their self-improvement that they lose their sense of humor and the bigger picture along the way. They thrive when self-employed, but are also drawn to careers in teaching, business, the law, finance and education, healthcare, programming, gaming, personal development or any work that allows them to rise to the top and engage and enlighten others through specialization. Burnout is one of their biggest health risks and, because they are so self-critical, they can suffer from bouts of depression. Listening to their intuition rather than their head will help them find inner peace. Breathing in a few drops of lavender essential oil on a handkerchief can ease stress. For self-care, rise and shine at the same time each day. Avoid lying in or burning the midnight oil. Successful people retire and rise early.