By reading about Chinese zodiac animals and the importance of birthdays, you can figure out interpersonal relationships. As the 'Eight Characters of Birth' are a seemingly accurate predictor of one's future, some may not want to divulge their time of birth to strangers. But knowing the day, month and year of birth reveals much about an individual's personality and relationships. How should you deal with people whose astrological signs clash with yours? First, learn the cycles of production and destruction within the five naturally occurring elements. The cycle of production is: wood kindles to produce fire, which then turns to ash and earth; earth yields metal, which melts to produce water, which then sustains wood. The cycle of destruction is: wood grows into earth, which pollutes water that extinguishes fire, which in turn burns metal that chops down wood. Apply this information to your relationships with colleagues you do not get along with. For instance, if water and wood are bad elements for you, and the people in your office with whom you clash have these elements in their astrological charts, you can reduce their negative power. Wood produces fire and water produces wood. By wearing or using colours associated with elements that are formed from the negative elements, you can reduce its potentially destructive nature. Wearing fire colours (red, orange, purple or pink) or wood colours (green) will reduce the threat and give you the upper hand over troublesome colleagues. Also, pick dates with favourable elements and animals at important times, such as when you want to ask for a raise.