What's up with the Year of the Ox?

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, we recently entered the Year of the Ox. The Ox is one of the 12-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. You may know what your animal sign is, and what traits are supposed to go along with your animal sign. But those same traits can be applied to the general forces at work during your year. And the Year of the Ox is a doozy.