Chinese astrology is considered to be one of the world's oldest forms of Astrology. Unlike the other Moon-school traditions; Tibetan, Vedic and Judaic, which are couched in religion, Chinese astrology is purely secular, a direction shared by Sun-school astrologies (Western and Arabian).
Ming Shu (Circle of Animals), is just one form of Chinese astrology, but it seems to be the one that is most commonly recognized by westerners. This system is what Sun signs are to Western astrology, meaning, you only have to know the year of your birth to create a general personality profile. Like all of the world's major astrological traditions however, a person's time, date and place of birth are essential to create an accurate, true birth chart.
2014 is the year of the wood Horse (ma), and people born between February 3, 1954 and January 23 1955 are members of the Wood Horse Zodiac Sign.
Although there are general behavioral patterns associated with the Horse (ma) sign, the delineation is further augmented according to which element (earth, metal, fire, water, wood) happens to be in control the year that you are born. For example, the personality of a fire horse is very different from that of a wood horse etc. So, just because you are a Horse (ma) in Chinese astrology does not mean that this is your year.
In general, the horse (ma) is a symbol of masculinity. A ma person is lively, passionate, quick tempered and very impatient. This person needs to always be the center of attention and is often quite egotistical. Brilliance, wit and elegance makes this person attractive to others, but he or she may lack intellectual depth. Horse people do well in groups, and thrive on social contact. They often form close relationships and will give up anything for romance, although romantic love is not a priority for them. The ma is also naturally talented at making the best of any opportunity presented. The Year of the Horse is often marked by an increase in business and commercial activity. Households should make sure they do not over spend their budget during a horse year.
The wood-hsing ma is self-disciplined and systematic, but resists domination. This person is always will to try unconventional methods. He or she likes to start new projects, but often has difficulty concentrating on the projects at hand or completing their responsibilities.
2014 is associated with the Horse (ma), the color green, and the element wood.
*Information for this post was taken from Miller and Brown's "The Complete Astrological Handbook for the Twenty-first Century"; Understanding and Combining the Wisdom of Chinese, Tibetan, Vedic, Arabian, Judaic, and Western Astrology. Also, Qi Journal.
