Belief in Chinese Zodiac Year: Psychologically Healthy?

Folk beliefs of Filipinos are one of the overwhelming issues that cannot be separated, and has become a part of our culture. Accordingly, our culture is influenced by different countries with customs that are now embedded to ours. As for customs and ceremonies are concerned, the Chinese beliefs are very much accommodated by the Filipinos, thus, the emergence of FilipinoChinese Folk Beliefs. The use of charm crystals, Feng Shui, family customs, marriage and wedding, are a few beliefs that Filipinos freely adapted. But, are we missing one important element? If you have a Chinese blood, a fanatic of Chinese beliefs, or somebody who frequently encounters their customs, you would answer this. So what are we missing? The Chinese Zodiacs. . . Chinese zodiacs consist of 12 particular signs with a particular interpretation. The signs are 12 animals, which represent the rotating 12-year cycle that is used to predict peoples fortune (like the stars in the sky that tells you what lies ahead of you). Every year, the sign changes (its like saying Happy New Year! when theres a change in the zodiac), and it is very likely that youve heard, goodbye Year of the Rabbit, welcome Year of the Dragon . The use of astrological animal signs is an important basis of the Chinese to identify their Lucky Stars and the Unlucky Stars. For those who have money (unlucky ones!), they can simply buy charm crystals and Chinese embellishments that fights away the bad luck. But for those who cant (twice the bad luck, huh?) , just ignore it. However, many of us still believe in these astrological signs that reads our fortune. Unfortunately, not all these readings give us positive views of our life (so others are negative, right?). In this aspect, those who deeply and whole-heartedly believing in these signs, may experience disappointment when an unlucky star comes in. Is believing in the Chinese Zodiac Year psychologically healthy? Well, it depends. It depends on the persons degree of belief and the persons disposition. According to Robert Carroll (2012), astrological signs and readings should not be considered as unbelievable, but is viewed as a New Age therapy in self-understanding (this is where the psychological form comes in) and personality analysis. Too much belief, moreover, creates an unreasonable behavior, such as buying lots of charms to fight away bad luck; relying on daily

horoscopes in dealing with everyday circumstances; interfering plans due to unlucky signs; and too much thinking on your fortune that leads to frustration. There is no danger in believing in signs, horoscopes, astronomical star readings, and other strange beliefs. Yet, too much dependence with these domains can create a negative effect on the manner of thinking and dealing with new experiences. These signs are made for us to be guided on our self-reflection, and not to impose a whole interpretation of oneself. They are not created to tell us what to do, they are made to let us realize the importance of thinking before taking any actions. They are not conceived to create confusion, they are made to form a balance between our mind and body (mind over matter!). Positive or negative, lucky or unlucky, fortunate or not, let no of these Chinese zodiacs affect us, our way of thinking, our way of living, and our way of believing. Happy New Year of the Dragon!!

Short Interview on the Chinese Zodiac Beliefs

 Do you believe in the Chinese Zodiacs? Why or why not? Name of Respondents Jess 35 years old Responses No. But I have a general knowledge of the Zodiacs because of the news. Micah 20 years old No. I dont even know what year of the animal I was born in. Tin 21 years old No. Im not interested in Zodiacs. What I know is that the stars or anything else cannot determine the best future path for your life- only God can do that. Why go to the creation for guidance when you can directly ask the creator himself? Joy 35 years old No. This kind of belief is dependent upon what kind of upbringing you had. Im from a Chinese family but we do not practice such beliefs. Evelyn 37 years old No. I am from a Chinese family but we dont believe in the zodiacs. Grace 32 years old No. Maybe because I am not Chinese thats why I dont believe in the zodiacs.

12 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Picture taken from http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/content-detail.aspx?ID=69

Picture taken from http://www.chinesenewyear.me/chinese-zodiac-calendar.html

References

Carroll, R. T. (2012). Astrology: As Above, So Below from http://skepdic.com/astrology.html Chinese Zodiac (n.d.). CHINESE ZODIAC: Your Guide to Chinese Astrology. Retrieved from http://www.chinesezodiac.com/ Harper, B. (2002). Costumbres Chinas. Filipino-Chinese Folk Beliefs. Philippine Daily Inquirer Internet Edition from http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Folk_Beliefs/ filipinochinese _folk_beliefs.htm

The Chinese Zodiacs

Almeyda, Anzelle B. Arboleda, Jeanne Leigh L. Austria, Ralp Anthony B. Ballega, Homer Reginaldo R. Benitez, Huey A. Borja, Lucille Mae P. Pingol, Ralph Andrew J. Members Dr. Romulo S. Arsenio Abnormal Psychology Adviser BS PSYCHOLOGY Year 3 Block 1