Neil Somerville - Your Chinese Horoscope 2015 - What the year of the goat holds in store for you

Horse30 January 1930 to 16 February 1931

Goat17 February 1931 to 5 February 1932

Monkey6 February 1932 to 25 January 1933

Rooster26 January 1933 to 13 February 1934

Dog14 February 1934 to 3 February 1935

Pig4 February 1935 to 23 January 1936

Rat24 January 1936 to 10 February 1937

Ox11 February 1937 to 30 January 1938

Tiger31 January 1938 to 18 February 1939

Rabbit19 February 1939 to 7 February 1940

Dragon8 February 1940 to 26 January 1941

Snake27 January 1941 to 14 February 1942

Horse15 February 1942 to 4 February 1943

Goat5 February 1943 to 24 January 1944

Monkey25 January 1944 to 12 February 1945

Rooster13 February 1945 to 1 February 1946

Dog2 February 1946 to 21 January 1947

Pig22 January 1947 to 9 February 1948

Rat10 February 1948 to 28 January 1949

Ox29 January 1949 to 16 February 1950

Tiger17 February 1950 to 5 February 1951

Rabbit6 February 1951 to 26 January 1952

Dragon27 January 1952 to 13 February 1953

Snake14 February 1953 to 2 February 1954

Horse3 February 1954 to 23 January 1955

Goat24 January 1955 to 11 February 1956

Monkey12 February 1956 to 30 January 1957

Rooster31 January 1957 to 17 February 1958

Dog18 February 1958 to 7 February 1959

Pig8 February 1959 to 27 January 1960

Rat28 January 1960 to 14 February 1961

Ox15 February 1961 to 4 February 1962

Tiger5 February 1962 to 24 January 1963

Rabbit25 January 1963 to 12 February 1964

Dragon13 February 1964 to 1 February 1965

Snake2 February 1965 to 20 January 1966

Horse21 January 1966 to 8 February 1967

Goat9 February 1967 to 29 January 1968

Monkey30 January 1968 to 16 February 1969

Rooster17 February 1969 to 5 February 1970

Dog6 February 1970 to 26 January 1971

Pig27 January 1971 to 14 February 1972

Rat15 February 1972 to 2 February 1973

Ox3 February 1973 to 22 January 1974

Tiger23 January 1974 to 10 February 1975

Rabbit11 February 1975 to 30 January 1976

Dragon31 January 1976 to 17 February 1977

Snake18 February 1977 to 6 February 1978

Horse7 February 1978 to 27 January 1979

Goat28 January 1979 to 15 February 1980

Monkey16 February 1980 to 4 February 1981

Rooster5 February 1981 to 24 January 1982

Dog25 January 1982 to 12 February 1983

Pig13 February 1983 to 1 February 1984

Rat2 February 1984 to 19 February 1985

Ox20 February 1985 to 8 February 1986

Tiger9 February 1986 to 28 January 1987

Rabbit29 January 1987 to 16 February 1988

Dragon17 February 1988 to 5 February 1989

Snake6 February 1989 to 26 January 1990

Horse27 January 1990 to 14 February 1991

Goat15 February 1991 to 3 February 1992

Monkey4 February 1992 to 22 January 1993

Rooster23 January 1993 to 9 February 1994

Dog10 February 1994 to 30 January 1995

Pig31 January 1995 to 18 February 1996

Rat19 February 1996 to 6 February 1997

Ox7 February 1997 to 27 January 1998

Tiger28 January 1998 to 15 February 1999

Rabbit16 February 1999 to 4 February 2000

Dragon5 February 2000 to 23 January 2001

Snake24 January 2001 to 11 February 2002

Horse12 February 2002 to 31 January 2003

Goat1 February 2003 to 21 January 2004

Monkey22 January 2004 to 8 February 2005

Rooster9 February 2005 to 28 January 2006

Dog29 January 2006 to 17 February 2007

Pig18 February 2007 to 6 February 2008

Rat7 February 2008 to 25 January 2009

Ox26 January 2009 to 13 February 2010

Tiger14 February 2010 to 2 February 2011

Rabbit3 February 2011 to 22 January 2012

Dragon23 January 2012 to 9 February 2013

Snake10 February 2013 to 30 January 2014

Horse31 January 2014 to 18 February 2015

Goat19 February 2015 to 7 February 2016

The names of the signs in the Chinese zodiac occasionally differ, although the characteristics of the signs remain the same. In some books the Ox is referred to as the Buffalo or Bull, the Rabbit as the Hare or Cat, the Goat as the Sheep and the Pig as the Boar.

For the sake of convenience, the male gender is used throughout this book. Unless otherwise stated, the characteristics of the signs apply to both sexes.

Whether clambering over mountain rocks or grazing in lush green fields, there is an air of contentment about the goat. Unless troubled by some threat, he is generally at ease with himself and his genial nature will have a bearing on events in his own year.

On the world stage, the emphasis will be on reconciliation. Some troubled and warring nations will now take steps to seek peace and adopt measures that will allow them to be more accepted by the world community. Important settlements will be reached and this will be a year for dialogue, diplomacy and greater understanding. It was, for instance, in the last Goat year, 2003, that India and Pakistan restored full diplomatic ties and brought to an end years of conflict in Kashmir, and other Goat years have seen the historic Camp David peace talks, the signing of the SALT II nuclear weapons agreement and the abolition of apartheid in South Africa. The stated reason for the 2003 invasion of Iraq was to rid the nation of weapons of mass destruction and so make the world a safer place. This drive for security – and understanding – will be very evident this year.

In addition to the many high-level meetings that will characterize the year, industrialists and political leaders will be keen to stimulate trade, and significant agreements are likely to be made between countries and other trading communities. Many governments will invest heavily in infrastructure programmes to attract investment and create jobs as well as improve conditions. The accent will be on growth and moving forward, and the economies of many countries will benefit as a result.

Much attention will also be focused on environmental matters, particularly on protecting the world’s resources, and there will be a corresponding increase in the use of renewable energy, with many authorities promoting a cleaner and greener message. Indeed, the theme of Expo 2015, which will be held in Milan, will be ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’ and the focus will be on the availability of food and water and the state of nutrition and health in years to come.