The Year of the Tiger begins on February 1, 2022 in the Chinese Zodiac. As the third animal of the Zodiac, the Tiger continues a developmental progression. The Year of the Rat (2020) was about survival, and the Year of the Ox (2021) was about anchoring ourselves in a new reality. The Year of the Tiger will be about making big changes, of risk taking and adventure.

Tiger is the noble, king of all beasts in Chinese mythology. Symbolizing strength, courage and gifted with the ability of exorcising evils, Tiger harvests the gardens cared for by Ox, separating the wheat from the chafe—a metaphor for purity.

The Tiger is associated with Yang (masculine, active) energy. Tigers do things their own way and hate being told what to do. Expect things to rapidly change this year. Sudden disruptions in economic, social and cultural life should be expected. Some of us will thrive through taking great leaps, while others might crash and burn.

Renowned as they are for their forceful presence and charm, Tigers are also feared for their vaulting ambition and their tendency to be unpredictable. Tigers are said to be mercurial, irritable and prone to whims and flights of fancy. So while it’s important to follow our intuition and run with our wildest dreams, we must remain disciplined in our diligence and rectitude.

Alchemy of the five elements rotates through the Chinese Zodiac. This is the year of the Water Tiger, tempering the tone and resonating energy of the beast. Water years bring out emotions more than the other elements. Water Tigers are tempered to be family-oriented and have wonderful interpersonal relationships. Like the roiling currents of a rapids, they’re extremely harsh, digging new channels, polishing the rocks in their way of doing what’s best for everyone, not just themselves. The harsh, ruthless love of the Water Tiger is centered in a caring heart.

Tigers are known to have potent personalities. They are strong, brash, impetuous and above all, self-assured. The imposing creature of sinew and claws strikes fear in the hearts of their enemies and confidence in the hearts of their allies.

However, their strength is also a weakness. They are fundamentally dangerous animals. As a well-known Chinese idiom goes, “When you ride a tiger, it’s hard to get off,” figuratively referring to the impossibility of stopping halfway. Overall, this is a year to grab the Tiger by the tail for switching careers, building teams and leaping into creative projects.

The Tao Time Way is a pragmatic approach to discern the time you are in and the developmental path that lays before you by accessing and interpreting the I Ching. Readings are available on the moon phases. Connect at [email protected].