The Year of the Ox

2009 is the year of the fire OX (and I don't mean hugs and kisses). Many cultures venerate the ox. The Greeks praised Bacchus, the Spaniards have el Toro, the pre-French would lure the Camargues into ravines in the primal mano-al-mano test of survival. The children of Israel were led astray by the Golden Calf of certainty. The armageddenoists have been breeding a red heifer seen necessary to usher in the cleansing of the kingdom (sound like a fire ox?).

The buffalo is the ox of the North American continent. As a resident of that continent, I prefer the legend of the White Buffalo. White Buffalo are sacred anima.

The legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman tells how the People had lost the ability to communicate with the Creator. The Creator sent the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman to teach the People how to pray with the Pipe. With that Pipe, seven sacred ceremonies were given for the people to abide in order to ensure a future with harmony, peace, and balance. The native Americans are waiting for the White Buffalo to return to signal the healing of the earth and the people.

The common element of these legends, myths and prophecies is an animal spirit capable of righting the course though strength and stability. Salvation is not guaranteed, but it is an omen of the best chance for realignment after the cycles of pigs, rats, and monkeys.

As 2009 is the year of the fire ox in Chinese astrology, here is a primer on the Ox.

The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.

Ox people need peace and quiet to work through their ideas, and when they have set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise. An Ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever they do, even without imagination. These people speak little but are extremely intelligent. When necessary, they are articulate and eloquent.

People born under the influence of the Ox are kind, caring souls, logical, positive, filled with common sense and with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do.

The Ox works hard, patiently, and methodically, with original intelligence and reflective thought. These people enjoy helping others. Behind this tenacious, laboring, and self-sacrificing exterior lies an active mind.

The Ox is not extravagant, and the thought of living off credit cards or being in debt makes them nervous. The possibility of taking a serious risk could cause the Ox sleepless nights.

Ox people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. They are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome because of their honesty and patience. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the Ox people are wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new.

It is important to remember that the Ox people are sociable and relaxed when they feel secure, but occasionally a dark cloud looms over such people and they engage all the trials of the whole world and seek solutions for them. Also the Ox people are all caring and loving but at times when you mess with them they will tear out in anger.

Barack Hussein Obama was born August 4, 1961 - a year of the steel Ox . Obama has steel ox energy. This is good energy – very stable, plodding, deliberate, conservative, strong, focused, determined, and a seeker of the sacred truth.

In numerology, 2009 has the value of eleven (2+0+0+9). This is a master number in numerology. It is a year of illuminations. Much is to be revealed in such a year. And there are a few things we are all dying (literally) to know. Such a year is a humanitarian year, a year of undoing and redoing. It is not a year of “success” in the tangible, rather it is successful in the realm of the unseen but experienced.

The 11 is the most intuitive of all numbers. It represents illumination, a channel to the subconscious, insight without rational thought, and sensitivity, nervous energy, shyness and impracticality. It is a dreamer. The 11 has all aspects of the 2, enhanced and charged with charisma, leadership and inspiration. It is a number with inborn duality, which creates dynamism, and inner conflict with its mere presence. It is a number that, when not focused on a goal beyond itself, can sometimes create inner fears or phobias. The 11 walks the edge between greatness and self-destruction. Its potential for growth, stability and personal power lies in its acceptance of intuitive understanding and of spiritual truths. For the 11, such peace is not found so much in logic, but in faith. It is automatically attuned to the unconscious realms and is known as the psychic’s number. Once it becomes comfortable with its special gifts, it will serve as the spiritual channel between the physical and spiritual worlds. The 11 can also have nervous tension due to the high energy frequency of its number.

Obama’s life number (from his birthday) is also 11 (8+4+1+9+6+1=29; 2+9=11). Another powerful divination – doubly powerful. A person with an 11 life year in an 11 astrologically year is very powerful. Add to that the power of the steel ox, and you have a harmonic convergence - a perfect storm: it is said that Obama is strong enough to carry the United States (born in the year of the Monkey – a childish friend of the ox).

I hope so.

With the legend of the white buffalo (read ox), the master numbers of 11, and the friendship between the loyal ox and the monkey, we as a country and world can wear the yoke of hope! Let the year of the fire ox be one of cleansing by fire -- the success of realignment by truth.

BTW, if you have not seen the following video, it will envision you about the strength of the ox/buffalo. Watch the baby torn by lions and crocodiles, only to feel the redemptive love of the herd.



Credits: The source materials come from wikipedia, permanentcosmeticsdermacentre.com, and sacredwhitebuffalo.org, and voiceofmitra.com