Clipboard : Discovery : CHINESE ASTROLOGY

This is the Year of the Goat--or in certain Anaheim circles, the Year of the Ram.

This is the time of the year when East meets West. Unlike the Western zodiac, Chinese astrology operates on lunar influences, and signs run in 12- year cycles, as opposed to 12-month cycles. Legend has it that Buddha invited all the beasts in creation to appear before him, but only 12 showed up. For the animals that did make an appearance, each was given a year--in the order in which they arrived. According to Eastern astrology, those animals infused their personality traits into their year, influencing people, cities, countries and events.

The following, beginning with this year, is a brief list of the years, their traits, and some famous local people born during that year:

Goat/Ram Years: 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

Goat/Ram Traits: Elegant, well-mannered, lovable, altruistic, AND dependent, irresponsible, insecure, pessimistic.

Famous Goats: Gary Jeter, Gene Autry, Tom Umberg

Monkey Years: 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Monkey Traits: Intelligent, friendly, enthusiastic, inventive, amusing, independent AND opportunistic, deceitful, childish, unscrupulous.

Famous Monkeys: Harriett M. Wieder Rooster Years: 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Rooster Traits: Vivacious, resourceful, conservative, adventurous AND pompous, short-sighted, impractical.

Famous Roosters: LeRoy Irvin, Robert K. Dornan

Dog Years: 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

Dog Traits: Devoted, altruistic, philosophical, attentive, intelligent, generous AND guarded, stubborn, moralistic, critical.

Famous Dogs: Mel Owens, Irv Pankey Pig/Boar Years: 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Pig/Boar Traits: Honest, sincere, sociable, cultured, intelligent peaceable AND defenseless, gullible, willful, non-competitive.

Famous Pigs/Boars: John Robinson, Dana Rohrabacher, Ronald Reagan

Rat Years: 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Rat Traits: Charming, sentimental, hard-working, thrifty, industrious AND gossipy, overly ambitious, quick-tempered, neurotic.

Famous Rats: Richard Nixon, Mickey Mouse, Chili Davis, Eric Dickerson

Buffalo Years: 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Buffalo Traits: Hard-working, patient, self-sacrificing, proud, tenacious, reserved AND rigid, authoritarian, vindictive, jealous.

Famous Buffaloes: Walt Disney, John Seymour

Tiger Years: 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Tiger Traits: Passionate, liberal, lucky, courageous, well-mannered, sensitive, active AND undisciplined, vain, rash, disrespectful.

Famous Tigers: Brian Downing, Wally Joyner, Greg Bell, Alan Cranston

Cat/Rabbit Years: 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Cat/Rabbit Traits: Traditional, unflappable, ambitious, friendly, discreet AND aloof, private, hypochondriacal, sneaky.

Famous Cats/Rabbits: Jim Everett, Bert Blyleven, William E. Dannemeyer, Ross Johnson

Dragon Years: 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

Dragon Traits: Enthusiastic, lucky, intuitive, influential, generous, shrewd, amusing AND impetuous, willful, demanding, judgmental.

Famous Dragons: George Deukmejian

Snake Years: 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

Snake Traits: Amusing, calm, cultured, soft-spoken, intelligent, philosophical AND possessive, vengeful, lazy, extravagant.

Famous Snakes: Robert Badham

Horse Years: 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

Horse Traits: Hard-working, entertaining, independent, powerful, eloquent AND selfish, ruthless, rebellious, tactless.

Famous Horses: Jackie Slater, Gaddi H. Vasquez