2008 CHINESE OVERVIEW

Monkey

The Monkey, of the 12 signs, is the one most likely to have the best year. Fortune smiles upon you with your big Rat friend in charge. If you are a typical, mentally quick and multi-talented Monkey, opportunities there will be aplenty. There is only one, major concern: The Achilles heal of both the Monkey and Rat is overconfidence. This could make you forget that the Tiger rules the first month and won't do you any favours. As good as the year is, therefore, a slow start is advisable.

Career: Go with your heart and follow your instincts with your projects at hand. It is likely that your ideas will be rewarded this year so do your best to see each idea through in its entirety. Be careful to avoid hopping around with too many ideas, as lack of focus will derail even the best laid plans. You will see rewards when working closely with colleagues who exhibit similar ideas. Don't be afraid to trust their instincts as well.

Relationships: Your social life should be very active this year. If you're married, you'll find yourself, more than ever, wanting to be with your spouse in a more active, social environment. This enhanced activity could lead to an addition in the family so if you're not ready, be careful! The single Monkey should expect to find an abundance of opportunities. This could be the year to play more than settle down. Networking is at a peak so look for new groups to join where you can build both your knowledge and your network.

Health: Your chi levels should be persistently higher throughout the course of the year. This means a year of generally good health. You should see progress on any existing long-term illness as well. Take this as an opportunity to increase your care and further your progress. With increased activity and social life, just make sure you get some rest along the way and do not get too caught up in the party scene!

Wealth: Finances should be generally good this year. Expect to see positive changes from 2007, as the year of the Earth Rat should be more stable for you. Keep in mind, though, it is not a great year for speculative investment so stick with what you know best and be ready to grind out some good work. This is one of those years that bodes well for savings and those savings could pay off big in the years to come.

Rooster

In general, none of the Rooster's traits appeal to, or are well tolerated by the Rat. After the Horse, the Rooster is the sign most likely to have a challenging year. There will, nevertheless, be a few opportunities. A co-operative attitude, and winning allies are likely to be keys to your success. On the other hand, if you succumb to the Rooster propensity for arguing and quarrels, you could have a very difficult time. It is up to you to minimise the damage by displaying the right attitude.

Career: Progress may be a little slow on the career front this year. Do not despair when plans go astray and be especially careful not to over-react to your colleagues when they do. Take time to understand the roots of your problems and use your sharp mind, not your tongue, to resolve them. If you wish to be successful in a more challenging year, you will need the support of your co-workers and your superiors. This is definitely not a year to go it alone. Mental stimulation is high this year, so be sure to seek out training opportunities.

Relationships: The energies of the year are not as conducive to relationship success for you. The single Rooster needs to take care not to rush into anything new this year, as things may not always be quite what they seem. Your social life will be fun, although you must be careful not to do anything too crazy and get yourself caught up in a situation you do not want to be in. The Rooster in a relationship needs to take care and avoid missteps, as small problems have the potential to erupt into larger, uncontrollable ones this year.

Health: As it is not the best year for relationships, you must be particularly careful when the added stressed caused from relationship problems could be detrimental to your health. The best thing for you to do this year is stay active and use the physical activities to reduce the added stress levels you are experiencing. Remember, the mindset of the Rat can be particularly aggravating to a Rooster, so take care of yourself.

Wealth: If you have not already created a budget for the year, now is the time to do it. When you do, make sure to plan for the unexpected as heavy expense may occur and have you dipping into your hard earned savings. Take care when shopping and spending, as the temptation for something new could come back to bite you down the road.