Who is a Monkey?
Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004.
Month*: August
Hour: 15.00-17.00
Day: Ask Us
* Caution: the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.
What is a Monkey?
The image of the Three Wise Monkeys, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Speak No Evil is a mediaeval Japanese summary of the qualities of the metal Monkey who is yang Metal and a particularly unbalanced primate. The image is of someone of course who shrinks from involvement. In elemental terms, this often amounts to too much yang Metal. What is meant by yang Metal essentially is competition. Often the Monkey is so competitive he dare not enter the race.
As well as competitive, the Monkey is typically charming, loveable, dextrous, logical and quick witted and has a gift for precision. The balanced Monkey uses these qualities constructively and in the service of his fellow man. The unbalanced Monkey (with say an August birthday and a late afternoon hour) does not clean up behind himself. He is in short a monkey.
The Monkey is often the most acquisitive as well as the gentlest beast but he is above all, competitive. In the extreme this means warfare. In its milder forms it is the ruthless competition that involves the belief that another’s gain is our loss. This is a (painful) mistake. It’s what leads to steroid abuse in athletics and ballet dancing in the Premier League penalty box. The Metal Monkey may learn this lesson early; it’s what makes him gentle; all Monkeys subscribe to this delusion to a greater or lesser extent.
Just as you’d expect, the pitfall of the Monkey is frivolity. If he can’t win he takes the Mickey. The Monkey’s natural allies are the Rat and the Dragon. This is a pretty heavy-duty grouping, perhaps the most powerful in the Chinese Zodiac. Naturally dominant Rats and egotistical Dragons are not, as a rule a bundle of laughs; the Monkey however often is. And together these three get stuff done; most of the big revolutions of ideas involve this team.
The influence of this trio spreads everywhere: Sigmund Freud perhaps the most influential thinker of the 20th Century, Michele Obama possibly the most influential woman in the world, Dragons. Even Jesus if you take AD32 as his birth year.* And somewhere in there if we delve deeply enough, we find unsung Monkeys and Rats making it happen. The Rat plots, the Monkey gets out there and competes. Probably St Paul, the man who sold Christianity to the world was a Monkey.
* That’s up for debate of course but presumably he was a Capricorn anyway.
Monkey for sure is Karen Armstrong author of a History of God, founder of the Charter for Compassion and arguably the most important thinker of the 21st Century. This is a Monkey who has learned to speak no evil while seeing much.
The Monkey also tends to understand the mechanical: engines and systems; he is the grease Monkey. He also tends to understand maths, science and argument and so is suited very often to a career in engineering or the law, also accountancy. Unbalanced, he neglects all of the above. The Monkey month of August spans Leo and Virgo and to see him as a hybrid of Virgo control and Leo passion is not far from the truth.
When the Tiger and the Snake meet the Monkey there is trouble. The Monkey both co-operates with and fights the Snake. The presence of the Tiger pushes this competition over the edge. Keep these three apart. The Monkey must take care to mind her p’s and q’s every February (the month of the Tiger) and every May (the month of the Snake).
So that’s the Monkey: argumentative practical, mischievous and so competitive he can withdraw altogether. But you knew that already didn’t you?
My Seattle based Student Stephanie Stewart’s forecast for the Monkey in 2019 follows, do look her up: https://stephaniejstewart.com/
Richard Ashworth©
www.imperialfengshui.info
The Monkey in 2019
2018 was a tough year for the Monkey. Your plans were derailed by illness and accident, probably beginning in May. R.I.P 1956 Fire Monkey Anthony Bourdain.
It was a year filled with endings. The Dog doesn’t do much for the Monkey even though they are seasonal companions. The Dog is jealous that the Monkey is hard on the Rabbit, yet has the potential to steal her away.
2019 could be draining; a final wringing out following the events of the last three years. Being Snake’s secret bestie you find yourself drawn into conflict on behalf of a partner, colleague or friend. Your love/hate relationship with the Snake means at the very least you’ll be caught up in the fall out. You really dislike being drawn in this way. Not only does it distract you from your work, it’s exhausting. The solution to your problem is the Pig. She is uniquely suited to be your negotiator.
The first quarter of the year is the time to learn something new. Try meditation. Get a check up and focus on wellness early. That’s the way to mitigate the hit your health may take due to accident or illness in the last half of the year. Take time off in September and/or November.
In April you’ll get a small break from the Dragon, but the already watery nature of the year continues to drain you. Adjust expectations. This too shall pass.
In May, someone close to you makes mistakes that have consequences for you. This is not the year for relying on the judgement of friends to keep you safe. The competition you face in 2019 is anything but straightforward. Seek independence.
The Monkey has important things to say this year but needs to take care with how he expresses himself. Your usual jokes are likely to provoke rather than amuse.
In a Pig year the tendency of things to turn to Wood brings out a Monkey’s juvenile urge to fight instead of talking things out. In discussion you may feel yourself wanting to needle. Small disagreements quickly escalate to big conflicts. In February, March, April and November that type of behavior could blow up out of proportion and get the attention of law enforcement or the court system.
Speaking of justice, in February, 1944 Wood Monkey Robert Mueller should be releasing his final report regarding Russian interference during the 2016 election. People are concerned that either the report won’t be made public, or that Mueller will be reticent under questioning. He’s a Water day stem person with the Sheep in his month and the Rabbit in his day. In a Pig year we will hear more from Robert than his typical “yes”, “no”, and “maybe” answers.
All in all, no need to worry. With Fortune Virtue on your side basic needs for food and income will be easily met. Donate to a cause that is meaningful to you. Find new places to spend your time – even within your own house. Your usual spot in the southwest is not helpful in 2019. Get in touch if you want to know more about that.
© Stephanie Stewart 2019
Richard Ashworth's Feng Shui Diaries. 