Is Year of The Tiger Really Bad for People Born In Tiger Years?

In Asian countries that keep track of the lunar calendar such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc., we celebrate New Year a bit later than the rest of the world and we do not usually address the new year by the number, but instead one animal in the list of 12.

Why 12, you ask?

According to a Chinese folktale, a long time ago, the Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his guards and sent a message to the mortal's world that the earlier an animal went through the Heavenly Gate, the better rank that animal would have.

The next day, 12 animals went through the Gate in the exact order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. From then on, zodiac signs were born and each year would be associated with one animal.

---

2022, the year of the tiger, happens to be my birth sign year.

It is a common belief that we can get really unlucky when it's our birth sign year. This year, tiger people are predicted to encounter incredibly unfortunate events and their work, health, or relationship will suffer. Edgar Lok Tin Yung, a Feng Shui expert and astrologer based in Australia, said that tiger women born in 1986 and 1998 are also warned to "take care of your love life", which actually turns out alright for me because I have no love life…

All jokes aside, it sucks to hear that 2022 is not going to be great for you right from the beginning, don't you think?

I used to be really afraid of my birth sign year, mostly because I was affected by my culture and surrounding environment. I remember my mother bringing me to see a fortune teller in 2010, also the year of the tiger, so that person could ward off the devils in my life. Throughout that year, she would visit multiple pagodas to wish for my peace.

After going through the last three hellish years, which I think were three birth sign years for the whole world, I had a different perspective on challenges and struggles.

Thich Nhat Hanh said the following words in his interview with Oprah Winfrey:

"Happiness and suffering support each other. To be is to inter-be. [...] You can only recognize your happiness against the background of suffering. If you have not suffered hunger, you do not appreciate having something to eat. If you have not gone through a war, you don't know the value of peace. That is why we should not try to run away from one thing after another thing. Holding our suffering, looking deeply into it, we find a way to happiness."

So what truly is a challenge, if not a test given to us by the universe? It tests our resilience, strength, and beliefs. If you have the courage and a great support system, you shall pass. Not with ease of course, but you will pass. And the moment you come out the other side of the tunnel, you will be a much better and stronger person. From there, you will see your path clearer, know how to avoid making past mistakes, and find happiness for yourself.

Then is the birth sign year really bad for you?

Any year is bad for you should you not lead your life with conviction and resilience.

I am aware that 2022 will be a difficult year, because read that again, it's twenty-twenty-too.

But I am ready to face whichever challenge life is going to throw at me. And I hope you are too.

Happy Lunar New Year! Wishing you lots of courage to power through the year of the tiger!