Inner animals
The twelve animals that are associated with the Chinese Lunar calendar are also associated with the Chinese agricultural calendar. Instead of being divided into months, the calendar is divided into 24 two-week segments which are called Solar Terms (because the agricultural calendar is based on the Solar calendar as told before). Each of the twelve animals is linked with two of the Solar terms for a period that is almost similar to a month in the Gregorian calendar. The agricultural calendar varies by only one day and begins on the 3rd or 4th of February of every year, unlike the Lunar calendar which can even vary by a month when compared to the western calendar. The agricultural year begins with the Tiger because it is the first animal of spring. The Lunar calendar on the other hand, begins with the Rat. Every person’s monthly sign is known as the Inner Animal because it decides the motivation levels in that person. Since this sign also decides that person's love life, it is important for the individual's compatibility with other signs. Just like every month is associated with a sign, each season is also associated with a different sign.
The Chinese astrologers use the Purple star system to find out the future of an individual. An individual’s characteristics can be found by this system by referring to his or her time of birth. Then the stars are located on the astrological chart, which is a map of the journey of a person in the unbounded universe.