Year of the Tiger: What the Year Has in Store for You
Updated: May 09, 2024
The Year of the Tiger will return in 2034. Here's what Chinese zodiac signs can expect based on the last Tiger year in 2022.
Each Lunar New Year is named after an animal. And it was a Tiger year when Susan Levitt decided to make the leap from working at an architectural firm to working as a full-time astrologer and tarot card reader. “People kept asking me, ‘Read my cards!'” she recalls. “Could I even make a living doing something like that? I thought, It’s a Tiger year: Go for it!” That was in 1986, a Fire element year. There are five zodiac elements in Chinese astrology, and while the last Year of the Tiger was in 2022, a Water element year, that same sense of passion, urgency and boldness applied.
According to Levitt, author of Taoist Astrology: A Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition, Tiger years, including the next one in 2034, are all about going big or going home. This is markedly different from 2021’s year of the Metal Ox, which was all about steady progress, pragmatism and hard work. So here’s what you might expect from the Tiger year again in 2034 based on 2022’s results.
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Year of the Tiger zodiac traits
Tigers are regal, impressive and ferocious creatures. They are also stealthy and determined hunters. The Tiger zodiac personality reflects all these traits. People of this Chinese zodiac sign are portraits in courage and leadership. They like doing things their own way, and once they set a goal for themselves, they will do anything to make it happen. However, there are some drawbacks to their incredible zest for life. “Tiger’s negative traits are a tendency to be impulsive, rebellious and quick tempered,” Levitt says. “When Tiger throws a tantrum, this anger can spread to innocent bystanders.” Tiger years, therefore, can be very explosive times.
Chinese zodiac signs during Year of the Tiger
Celebrating the Lunar New Year means embracing Chinese New Year traditions, including the Chinese zodiac signs. As with all Chinese zodiac signs, Tiger years occur every 12 years. (Previous Tiger years include 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and 2010.) Different from Western zodiac elements, there are five Chinese zodiac elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood—a Water Tiger year occurs every 60 years. The last two were in 1962 and 2022. So what did that mean for you in the last Year of the Tiger?
Tigers are quick to action, so in 2022, you had to be prepared for situations to change on a dime. According to Levitt, “Tempers flare, drama and excitement reign and crazy dreams can become reality.” This applied to personal relationships, career development and, on a larger scale, political unrest or social revolution. While there can be great boons that come out of a Tiger year and some zodiac signs may experience wonderful luck, others can easily get burned. There is no middle ground in the Year of the Tiger, so take note for the next Year of the Tiger, 2034.
This is especially true for Tigers themselves. According to legend, one’s Chinese zodiac birth year (Ben Ming Nian) can be extremely unlucky for them. However, this isn’t always ominous—if Tigers can overcome the challenges presented to them in these years, they can still accomplish great things. So while some Tigers may have felt disaster in 2022 (and may face some again in 2034) others could very well have seen their risk-taking pay off. For her part, Levitt thinks that “tigers will be empowered by their year,” although she does warn them to “refrain from overspending or being overly generous with gifts.”
What the Water element means
2022 was a Water element year. Out of all the Chinese zodiac elements, Water has the greatest connection to emotions. “Water [is connected to] sensitivity, creativity [and] being impressionable,” Levitt explains. But don’t forget: Water is also an extremely powerful natural force. “It’s the strongest element—even stronger than fire—because it can go around any obstacle in its path and not lose its essential nature.”
Since 2022 was the Year of the Water Tiger, it was a time of very strong, wild emotions. “For some people, that’s liberating,” says Levitt, “and they should take the risk. You always wanted to be a chef? Learn to cook this year. You always wanted to be a writer? Take that writing class.” Sometimes, however, emotional extremes can mean chaos, and some of the negative attributes that come with the Water element can be fear and indecisiveness. These are things each sign had to contend with and overcome in 2022.
Compatible zodiac signs for the Tiger
The Chinese zodiac signs most compatible with Tiger—and, thus, most likely to have a good year during the Year of the Tiger—are Horse, Dog and Pig. People with these signs will be most receptive to the Year of the Tiger’s creative, wild and intense energy. Horse’s liveliness, Dog’s idealism and Pig’s courage all vibe well with Tiger. These are the signs that will most likely be rewarded for taking risks and see great fortune in everything from finance and travel to love as a result.
Least compatible zodiac signs for the Tiger
Unfortunately, Rat, Ox, Snake and Monkey tend not to be comfortable with Tiger energy. Rat is cautious and methodical, but careful plans don’t always amount to much in a fast-paced, unpredictable Tiger year. Similarly, Ox is very pragmatic and routine oriented. Although Oxes may see some fun now that their own zodiac year is behind them, “Tiger energy can bring unexpected problems,” Levitt explains, “so stay the course and be diligent and conscientious in your work.” Snake’s reserved nature is at odds with the boldness of Tiger, so quiet meditation may bring more rewards. (Although, Tiger’s artistic creativity may also inspire this sign.) Finally, the attention-hungry Monkey does not enjoy the fact that everyone will seem to want to do things their own way during the Year of the Tiger. In the end, the Monkey should probably lie low for the most part during Tiger years.
Middle-of-the-road zodiac signs
Dragon and Rooster fare well during the Tiger’s years. Both of these signs appreciate and share Tiger’s enthusiasm and boldness; however, Dragon may have encountered some power struggles in 2022, and Rooster most likely needed to find a way to “not get swept up in Tiger year passions,” as Levitt puts it. Tiger energy probably made Sheep more sociable. However, Sheep cannot always keep up with Tiger and must make time for rest. Similarly, the gentle Rabbit found excitement in 2022 but may have been overwhelmed at times. Levitt advised that Rabbit people tie up loose ends before their year came in 2023.
Lucky times of the year for each sign
Eating lucky Chinese New Year foods and organizing your home according to the principles of feng shui will only get you so far. Scroll down to find your Chinese zodiac sign, based on your birth year, and find out which months found the most opportunities for success in 2022. P.S. The good luck might come again for the Year of the Tiger in 2034.
Rat
Birth years: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
According to Levitt, the best months for Rat people in 2022 were April and August, though winter was their best season. Water Rat people born in 1972 and Wood Rat people born in 1984 fared best. In the Chinese five-element theory, the Water element nurtures the Wood element.
Ox
Birth years: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
Ox people born during the Tiger month of February or during Tiger hours (3 a.m. to 5 a.m.) have an easier time adapting to the ups and downs of a Tiger year. Water Oxes born in 1973 and Wood Oxes born in 1985 fared best in 2022. During that year, the best months for Oxen were May and September, and their best season was winter.
Tiger
Birth years: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
Autumn was the best season for Tiger people in 2022. Water Tigers born in 1962 and Wood Tigers born in 1974 had the most luck.
Rabbit
Birth years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
Spring was the most favorable season for Rabbits in 2022, with March and July being the luckiest months. Water Rabbits of 1963 and Wood Rabbits of 1975 fared the best.
Dragon
Birth years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036
April, August and December were the most fortunate months for Dragons. Those born in 1952 (a Water year) and 1964 (a Wood year) had the most success.
Snake
Birth years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037
It may not have been your year, but Water Snakes born in 1953 and Wood Snakes born in 1965 may have had the best shot of making it out relatively unscathed. Overall, the best months for Snakes in 2022 were May and September, and their best season was spring.
Horse
Birth years: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Horse did the best in the summer months of 2022. Levitt says that Water Horse people born in 1942 and 2002, as well as Wood Horse people born in 1954 and 2014, were the most fortunate.
Sheep (or Goat)
Birth years: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2039
Like Horse, the lucky season was also summer. Water Sheep born in 1943 and 2003 and Wood Sheep born in 1955 and 2015 had especially good years.
Monkey
Birth years: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Most Monkey people didn’t love 2022, but Water Monkey people born in 1992 and Wood Monkey people born in 1944 and 2004 could have been more fortunate than others. In 2022, your best months were April, August and December, and your best season was summer.
Rooster
Birth years: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
According to Levitt, Water Roosters born in 1933 and 1993, and Wood Roosters born in 1945 and 2005, had the most luck in Year of the Tiger 2022. Their best months were May and September, and their best season was autumn.
Dog
Birth years: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
Water Dog people of 1982 and Wood Dog people of 1934 and 1994 did well. Luck was on your side in February, June and October, as well as generally in the autumn months.
Pig
Birth years: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
Autumn and winter were the most opportune times for people of the Pig sign. Water Pigs born in 1983 and Wood Pigs born in 1935 and 1995 felt especially empowered in 2022.
About the expert
- Susan Levitt is an astrologist and author of Taoist Astrology: A Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition.
Source:
- Travel China Guide: “Ben Ming Nian (Zodiac Year of Birth)”
Originally Published: December 10, 2021
