Event Blog #3 - HOX ZODIAC Horse

Attending the HOX Zodiac: Honoring the Horse event was one of my favorite outside events to attend. I did not really understand the concept of this event until a few more minutes into the webinar. From my understanding, there is an intersection between the Chinese Zodiac (animals) and the human sphere, as it attempts to remove the human-animal barrier. In particular, I was very much intrigued by Linda Weintraub’s story with her encounters and background with horses. I find it fascinating that the most impactful story of hers was of not a real horse, yet it was just as impactful all the same. What I got out of that story was the idea that human civilization as a whole is defined by how far humans are detached from the animal world – about our pride of evolution. However, Weintraub gave a different perspective about how we may have sacrificed something by separating ourselves so strongly. It is quite an unpopular view for humans to view ourselves as animals or more accurately believe in “animalism”. From here on out I will consider the balance that may be necessary to find peace within ourselves and our natural world. 

 

Growing up, I was taught the Chinese Zodiac, despite my family not practicing any of the beliefs that go along with it. When I was younger, there was also a show centered around the Chinese Zodiac, Fruits Basket, where main characters from the show were all associated with a different animal from the zodiac. So, prior to this webinar, I had a pretty strong understanding of the ideology as a whole. I was born in 1999, so my zodiac is the rabbit. According to the Chinese Zodiac, the rabbit is the luckiest of all the signs, which I suppose makes sense when you hear about trinkets such as the rabbit’s foot for good luck. Other traits of the rabbit are that they symbolize mercy, elegance, and beauty. Another thing that I found quite intriguing was the relationship compatibility that is said to exist between different zodiac signs. This is also true for astrological signs, but I feel like this in regards to the Chinese zodiac is not as prominent. 

 

Figure 1. The rabbit and its compatibility with the rest of the other signs. 

 

While I am aware that zodiac signs have no scientific basis (something that Professor Vesna also brought up) I understand the value that people put into it. Personally, I put as much value into zodiac signs as I do astrological signs. I find them fun to envision and connect these signs to my own identity. Others find a stronger connection to these signs, but in my mind it is all in good fun. However, I realize that it is much more serious for others, especially for Chinese women. I remember a few years ago hearing of women who tried to get pregnant in time to have babies of a certain zodiac sign. With a little bit of searching, I found that in 2014 Chinese couples were rushing to have their babies before the year’s end. Coincidentally, the Chinese Zodiac in 2014 was the horse which was considered a fortuitous sign. Apparently, no couple wanted their child to be born as a sheep as they are linked to bad attributes: meekness, followers rather than leaders, unlucky, and unsuccessful in relationships. Zodiac signs have such an impact on Chinese culture that it is said to impact the birth rate of the country from year to year. While it may seem silly for those outside of Chinese culture such a phenomena can be visualized through changing demographic data. 

 

Lastly, what I wanted to check out was the Human Design Chart that was mentioned during the webinar. I found mine to be quite fascinating, despite not understanding it one bit. I have difficulty understanding what the images mean and the “design” and “personality” categories on the right. One trait on the chart that I found to be interesting was that my strongest sense is supposedly “touch”. 

 

Figure 2. My Human Design Chart 

References

“Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit.” Chinese Zodiac | Rabbit, https://depts.washington.edu/triolive/quest/2007/TTQ07030/rabbit.html#:~:text=The%20rabbit%20is%20the%20fourth,rabbit%20are%20calm%20and%20peaceful

“Fruits Basket.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 June 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruits_Basket

“How the Chinese Zodiac Affects National Birth Rates.” Priceonomics, 20 Mar. 2022, https://priceonomics.com/how-the-chinese-zodiac-affects-national-birth/.

Wan, William. “Chinese Couples Rush to Get Pregnant before Dreaded Year of the Sheep.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 9 May 2014, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chinese-couples-rush-to-get-pregnant-before-dreaded-year-of-the-sheep/2014/05/08/e9f4adbc-d529-11e3-8a78-8fe50322a72c_story.html.  

“Year of the Rabbit.” Year of the Rabbit: 2022 Fortune, Chinese Zodiac Rabbit Personality, https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/rabbit.htm.