The Ox

The ox in the Book of Revelation is a symbol of ‘the power of work’. The ox-heads of the Emperor Shen Nung, inventor of agriculture, shows your dedication to your career, whatever that might be.

Throughout Asia, the ox is highly regarded as a great help to humanity. Like an ox, you are a little set apart. An ox can seem aloof. Perhaps that is, because being at the top means you must occupy a space by yourself.

Sacred oxen were reared to commemorate the invention of the plough, in holy rites celebrated in the Eleusinian Mysteries. In North Africa they are also considered sacred because of their role in ploughing and making the soil bear fruit.

The ox can sometimes symbolise a priest. They have been associated with the priestly college at Delphi. The mystical meaning of an ox is about strength and maturity. You have this even when you are young.
As one of the four figures which make up the cherubim in Ezekiel, the ox is assigned to St. Luke and his gospel. The sacred nature of your sign can also be found with St. Frideswide, St. Leonard, St. Sylvester, St. Medard, St. Julietta and St. Blandina, where the ox is an emblem to all.

You have a fixed, immovable quality. Rather like an ox, you can’t easily be pushed around. You are a solid character. An ox is known as a bullock in British, Australian and Indian English. When people ‘take the bull by the horns’ they try to confront you and challenge you, but it is never easy.

You represent the hard work that puts you in a firm position. Real oxen plow, pull carts, haul wagons, thresh grain, skid logs and power machines.

Oxen are usually yoked in pairs and there are two pairs which are important in your life. It may be your own marriage. It may be your parents’ marriage. It may be a professional partnership. In England, the ox on the left-hand side of a pair had a single-syllable name and the ox on the right-hand side, a longer name. For example, Turk and Tiger.

Princess Diana was an Ox. So, perhaps, we could think about Charles and Di. She certainly worked very, very hard, both as a serving royal and with her own charities and good causes.

Famously, in a river race, the ox came first in The Great Race of Chinese tradition. The ox, so large and powerful, won. The rat (or mouse) travelled on the ox’s back then jumped off at the end and won. Everybody always knows who the real winner is. And it’s you.