As I prepare to launch my new app, YuDi, I want to reflect on how my interest in the Chinese Zodiac began.
As a kid in the 1980s, my father took our family of five to a new Chinese restaurant in Houston, which I think was called New China. Sadly, it is no longer in business. We loved their orange peel beef.
They had paper placemats with all 12 of the animal signs. Each sign had 6 possible birth years and a short description of each animal's personality.
I remember feeling inspired at the Chinese restaurant, as if it had all the answer for me. It was the Oracle that I had always wanted.
Explain who I am, what I'm meant to do, and who I'm supposed to be.
I became an immediate believer, and I took one of those placemats home for further study.
Before that moment at the Chinese restaurant, I was not aware of my own animal sign.
Some time later, I remember asking my parents to buy me a beautiful illustrated book on Chinese astrology: Ming Shu by Derek Walters. It was one of my favorite books growing up. I remember having a mini meltdown when I learned that my dad and I were opposite signs (Rat vs Horse). In 7th grade, for my science project I took what I learned from Ming Shu and created the tri-poster version of it. After my very enthusiastic presentation, my science teacher gently and diplomatically explained that astrology is not science.
After that revelation, I took a break from the Zodiac. Part of me thought it was time to grow up and accept the ways of science, math, and logic. Abandon this foolish mystic hippie mumbo jumbo.
Reflecting on this time now as a middle-aged adult, I'd like to tell that kid to not give up on the Zodiac.
It's fun, and it was one of the few subjects that actually got me to read - I hated reading and still do to this day (thank goodness for audiobooks).
I'd also tell that kid the Zodiac is a fun piece of entertainment to not take it too seriously (yes, this is the author of a Chinese Zodiac app telling you, Dear Reader, not to take any Zodiac information or advice too seriously).
Maybe that's why I made this app. To bring that curious, inspired kid back to the table.
YuDi helps you find your animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac. It uses Apple's latest UI framework: SwiftUI.