– 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