2003 - Year of the Ram
I am nature's special child.
I trust and am rewarded by trust.
Fortune smiles upon my countenance.
All things blossom
In the gentleness of my love.
I strive to find beauty in all I behold.
I am fair of face
And full of grace.
I AM THE RAM.1
1The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes by Theodora Lau
The year 2003 (year 4701 in the Chinese lunar calendar) will have characteristics much like that of this lucky Ram. Find out what you can expect from this exciting year in our feature article 2003 - Year of the Ram!
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2003 (beginning on February 1 in the lunar calendar) will have characteristics much like the Ram previously described. Find out more about what you can expect in this action-packed year in our article on the Year of the Ram, the Chinese New Year, and the Animal That Hides in Your Heart: Your Animal Sign.
After the exhausting pace of the Year of the Horse, 2003 slows down, giving us more time to focus on domestic matters and personal relationships. The Ram's influence will draw us closer to our home and families as we turn towards family responsibilities, especially regarding the elderly.
With things progressing slower, this is a good time to relax and make peace with ourselves as well as with others. With the Ram's love of harmony, reconciliation and peacemaking, both politically and personally, are the order of the day. This is the year for reconciliation, diplomatic moves, and the healing of rifts. Wars, international conflicts, and mutual animosities usually end in the year of the Ram.
As patron of the arts, the Ram will also draw out our creativity, making us more productive and imaginative in artistic and aesthetic endeavors. Interest in art, music, and theater will increase and flourish. Fashions will turn towards a more chic and sophisticated look. Also, new interest will be sparked in mysticism and the workings of the mind.
With more time on our hands, we find ourselves feeling more sentimental and emotional. However, the Ram's pessimistic vibrations will also make us oversensitive and fretful over small irritations, making us more easily discouraged or hypercritical when things do not go our way. Another caution for the year: we will be more liberal with our time and money so watch for overspending.
The serenity of the Ram's peaceful ways will slow things down for most, so take time off to entertain your whims and dreams. Make new friends and see the world. Indulge yourself in the unpredictable. Expect the unexpected. This is a good time can be had by those who do not mind improvising on the fly. Just remember though to stop to smell the roses—for the Year of the Ram is a time for quiet introspection, not for frantic activities.
Chinese Astrology
For more specific predictions for your sign, see the article on The Animal That Hides in Your Heart: Your Animal Sign.
The Ram
The Ram in general represents an auspicious omen of warmth, peace, consistency, and prosperity, thus the Year of the Ram is regarded as a fertile and profitable year for all.
People born in the Year of the Ram are said to be proper, patient, moderate, righteous, sincere, creative, mild-mannered, and sometimes shy. Some mistakenly regard them as weak and quiet, but in fact they are positive and constructive, applying their intelligence towards the common good. Rams forgive easily and are understanding of others' faults. However, Rams dislike strict schedules and cannot take much discipline or criticism. Rams crave love, attention, and approval, and is fond of children and animals, close to nature, and a general homebody. He is apt to mother or even smother the objects of his affections. Rams are also moody and find it impossible to work under pressure.
This is the most feminine of sign of the Chinese zodiac. A person of the Ram year is called the Good Samaritan of the cycle. At his best, he is artistic and fashionable. At his worst, he tends to be easily overcome by his emotions and is pessimistic and withdrawn.
Rams are typically artistic souls with a nurturing and caring nature. Thus social work, alternative therapies, and complementary medicine all appeal to Rams.
The Chinese believe that good fortune smiles on the Ram because of his gentle and compassionate nature. He is also generous with his time and money, which is fine since he usually has fantastic financial luck. (He often inherits money from wills, is given frequent and expensive gifts, and is adopted by rich and powerful patrons.) So, on the whole the Ram does not have to work hard for a living as good things come naturally, which is perfect as the Ram loves luxury and ease. Fortune favors Rams as they attract success and money wherever they go.
