Chinese Astrology
by Sabrina Liao
The
Restless Rat
Ranking Order First
RAT-THE ANIMAL
Most people probably have a negative
impression about the Rat, the number one house pest. However, in Chinese
astrology, as the first sign of the twelve, the Rat is viewed as a mixture
of many things. He can be as friendly as the lovable Stuart Little, as
calculating and intelligent as Jerry in "Tom and Jerry," as
devoted and loving to his loved ones as the rats in An American Tail,
or as mischievous and mean as in the Mouse Trap.
As mentioned in the introduction, the
legend is that the Heavenly God awarded the first twelve animals that
crossed the river to be the signs in the zodiac calendar. And it's just
common sense that with the Rat's petite size and small feet, there is no
way this tiny creature can win the race on its own. But as the story
explains, the Rat won the race with its wits and intelligence.
As the first sign among the twelve in the
zodiac, the Rat is considered a major sign in Chinese astrology.
RAT PEOPLE
You are quite ambitious and were born under
the sign of charm and aggressiveness. Born optimistic, you seem to have a
solution for everything. Friendship comes to you easily with your sense of
humor and energetic attitude toward life.
It is very unlikely to find a Rat sitting
quietly doing nothing. Rather, you are always busy and rarely have the
luxury of relaxation. And even when you have time to sit down and enjoy a
short break, your mind will still be running nonstop, planning your next
grand scheme. However, you have the tendency to get bored easily with your
projects and when that happens, you will simply shrug your shoulders, pull
up another brand-new business plan you have been working on for weeks and
yell, "Next" to move on to the next project.
You are very expressive and talkative. You
like to go to parties where you can spend quite some time chitchatting
with your friends. Lively, sociable, and easy to get along with, it is not
a surprise that you meet new friends every day.
However, as friendly and easy to get along
with as you are, you are a very private person. The long list of names in
your phone book does not mean you take everyone into your circle of
friends. Actually, Rat people usually have more acquaintances than real
friends. But to those who are close to you, you are a devoted and faithful
friend. You revere and cherish them, and they will be treated as your
family. However, as talkative and gossipy as you can be sometimes, you
never confide in anyone. You are self-contained and often keep problems
and secrets to yourself. You are extremely private and discreet when it
comes to your own personal life.
On the surface, you might appear discreet
or reserved, but if anyone looks deeper, they will find out that you are
never as quiet as you may look. Adaptive and flexible, the Rat will
survive in any situation. No crisis or defeat will take you down easily,
and no challenge is too much for you. You will be successful in whatever
you choose to do. And because of this remarkable ability to cope with
difficulties, you are especially good at problem solving. You make a good
adviser to others but not necessarily to yourself.
As a talented opportunist, you are always
looking for opportunities, you are famous for your ambition and hard work.
Quick-witted and smart, you know how to make the most of your time
efficiently and usually get more accomplished in twenty-four hours than
the other people do in as many days.
Sometimes mean, narrow-minded, and
unsophisticated in outlook, you are also honest. And, as long as you
manage to master your perpetual discontent and your insistence on living
for the present moment, you can always make a success of your life.
You are confident and usually have good
instincts. These qualities, combined with your stubbornness, mean you
prefer to live by your own rules rather by others'. It won't be an easy
task to work with Rat people. Why? Simple-because you are also a hundred
percent perfectionist.
You have a talent for organization; perhaps
this is why you usually make a good businessman or politician. Actually,
the Rat seems to be the Scrooge of the Chinese zodiac. You count your
dimes carefully and are known for your thrift and greed. Although there is
an old Chinese saying that "being thrifty is a virtue,"
nevertheless, Rat people can appear downright stingy. You do not like to
waste or throw anything away. You will be the type of person who will save
every extra ketchup packet you collect from Kentucky Fried Chicken and
keep every empty bottle after you finish your Evian. However, as frugal as
you seem to be, you can be quite generous to yourself or the ones you
love. For instance, when you really want something, you can become quite a
spender. Andyou are very careful when you lend money to people. Alittle
piece of advice to those who plan to borrow money from a Rat-read the
contract carefully, or you might be paying three dollars interest for
every dollar borrowed.
On the negative side, you are practical but
lack courage. Sometimes extravagant and greedy, you are also gullible and
can be taken by those less meticulous than you. And because you are a born
opportunist and are constantly in search of ways to improve your wealth
and lifestyle, if you are not careful you can be led into a mousetrap.
Remember, don't let your greed blind you to danger and problems ahead.
Being first in the Chinese zodiac, you seem
to be obsessed with being number one. Sometimes, you believe that you are
better than others are, so you love to compete and conquer and always try
to be the pioneer and the first in action. Your energetic nature tends to
cause you to overload with tons of different projects, and this over
ambitious side of you can cause you to lose your projects be-cause you
have spread yourself too thin.
High-strung, you are clever, curious, and
ever alert to your environment. Although you have the innate ability to
sense danger, your greed sometimes overcomes your sound judgment and
causes you to fall into the same trap over and over again. On the negative
side, you like to criticize, nag, and compare. You can turn into a
secretive, self-indulgent, and selfish creature when blinded by greed. In
fact, most Rat people will probably suffer one major financial blow before
they learn their lesson. In general, you must avoid being over ambitious
and learn to conquer your greed and quit while you are still ahead.
Rat people are not romantic, but you are
sensual and loving. And Rat people can be hard to see through at first
glance, because you are very protective of yourself. But it's worth
sticking it out with a Rat; ask anyone who has a Rat for a lover, parent,
child, or friend. You are very loyal and devoted friend.
THE MALE RAT
The male Rat is aggressive and intelligent.
He lives by his wits and seems to have an answer for everything. At the
same time he is friendly and easy to get along with, having a wide circle
of acquaintances.
He is very determined, and once he sets his
mind to something, it is very difficult to persuade him otherwise. He has
business acumen and can turn any idea into a business plan. Perhaps this
is his talent or his curse, but he is always on the run, looking for new
ideas or working on new projects. Never sitting quietly or waiting
aimlessly, the male Rat is a man with a mission.
However, he is also known for being over
ambitious. His passion for a project comes and goes before other people
even have a chance to understand it, and he is always alert for the best
opportunities. Constantly trying to do too much too soon, this busy male
Rat tends to scatter his energy everywhere before he has any chance to
finish one project.
The male Rat is a man with opinions,
strongly believes in himself, and does not allow for other opinions when
he is in charge. He'll ignore every warning sign he gets. In short, those
people who are calculating can fool him because he often takes the bait
when he thinks it will be profitable for him. This is probably why many
Rat men experience at least one major downfall in their lives- greed and
ambition can blind them to reality. Greedy as he sometimes appears, he is
nevertheless honest. He earns his profit through his hard work and his
intelligence, and never through tricks or cheating.
The Rat man is famous for his charm and wit
and he likes to be the pioneer in everything. Sociable and fun, he
possesses a good sense of humor and has an active imagination. He is very
good with numbers, and this probably is due to his amazing intelligence
and acumen in business. He is the type of student who is always the first
to shout out the answer in class. When out drinking and dining with
friends, the Rat will take the bill and quickly do the math, add the tax,
the tips, and find out how much each person needs to pay in just a few
seconds. And he actually really enjoys doing this and takes pride in his
important role.
This fascination with numbers and talent of
quickly calculating the odds in any situation indicates that this Rat man
is a born gambler. Although he can be extremely thrifty to the point of
being called a Scrooge, he can become almost extravagant under three
circumstances. First, if he sees some luxury items he really wants.
Second, when he buys gifts for his family and friends. Third, when he is
in a casino. Since he is so confident about his talents for numbers, he
believes he can beat the odds. So some advice for those close to a Rat
man-keep him away from the casino.
He is very talented and intelligent. He is
expressive, so all of his friends know about his talents. And, he loves to
write down his thoughts and ideas. Several famous writers such as William
Shakespeare and Leo Tolstoy were born in the year of the Rat.
In relationships, the Rat man is not really
romantic. Don't expect him to shower his lover with flowers and sweet
talk. After all, his practical mind will calculate the cost of the flowers
and the number of days these flowers will last. Nevertheless, the honest
Rat man can be trusted because he will always make his family his priority
and will be extremely protective toward his loved ones.
THE FEMALE RAT
Just like the male Rat, the female Rat is
witty and resourceful. A highly intelligent and creative person, the Rat
lady can be a successful woman if she chooses to be.
With her excellent people skills, and
fun-loving and compassionate personality, she is quite popular. She is
fashionable but always elegant with her own style. Her environment is
always clean and neat. A Rat woman's office will have her files neatly
placed on the desktop, her calendar organized, and her table free of dust.
It goes without saying that this Rat lady often manages her house the same
way she does at work, which is probably why the Rat woman is considered to
be an excellent candidate for a wife.
However, this does not mean the Rat woman
is only quiet housewife material. In fact, she can be very
business-oriented. She is keen and sharp and will automatically grab an
opportunity when she sees one. Direct and honest, she is not afraid to
speak her mind; but with her social skills, she knows how to say the right
words so she will not offend anyone.
Surprisingly, the female Rat can be a true
model of frugality. She certainly knows the virtue of recycling clothes,
toys, furniture, and even soap. Again, like Rat men, she can be quite
generous to her loved ones. So the children of a Rat woman will have no
problem getting expensive toys for Christmas; Rat moms know how to take
care of their children and are not stingy about the needs of their family.
Talkative and gossipy, the Rat woman is an
inveterate gossip. Never trust your secret with her because she can't keep
it long. However, she is very good at keeping her own secrets from others,
and it is difficult to see into a Rat woman's mind. She is the kind of
person who likes to keep her thoughts and feelings to herself;
nevertheless, as a direct person, an angry Rat woman can be spotted even
miles away.
The Rat woman is an avid reader, she is a
lady who loves to read and can be found wandering around in Barnes and
Noble bookstores or surfing Amazon.com. Moreover, she is a talented writer
herself. At a young age she will learn of the importance of written words
and probably be the editor for the high-school newsletter.
In love and relationships, she is tender
and sensual. Also the practical Rat keeps her home tidy and organized. She
will be a superb, loving mom who spoils her kids with toys, and also a
dedicated wife who will follow her husband's career.
RAT AT WORK
Aggressive and ambitious, Rat people are
extremely hardworking and do not know how to slow down. Born flexible and
adaptive, Rat people can survive in difficult environments.
Always resourceful, Rat people make
excellent advisers. They thrive in difficult situations and enjoy solving
puzzles. In fact, Rats can usually come up with good solutions in a
crisis. They can always count on their minds and wits instead of their
physical strengths.
They have busy minds and are always on the
run. Self-contained and self-preserved, Rat people can be neurotic about
things at work but will behave calmly during a crisis. Rat people feel
right at home when working in bureaucratic jobs; they like to stick to
routines and disciplines.
As a boss, the Rat is very demanding. It is
never easy to work for a Rat boss because they are often perfectionists
and can be extremely picky. They are not as generous with compliments as
they are with criticisms. However, with their born wits and talents, count
on the Rat boss to lead a company out of a crisis.
As a partner, the Rat is extremely
ambitious and not as communicative as they appear. Secretive and
opinionated, their words are not easy to swallow sometimes because they
are also very direct. Nevertheless, you can always count on the Rat
partner to manage the finances because no one is more suitable to control
the budget than a born Scrooge like the Rat.
As a colleague, the Rat is energetic.
Working with a Rat can be a blessing or a curse. After all, anyone can
always learn a thing or two when working with this efficient and
productive person; however, at the same time, coworkers will be under a
lot of pressure because of the Rat's excellent performance.
In general, with their imaginative wit and
ambition, the Rat will do well as a financial adviser, writer, or
musician. Claude Monet and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are just two famous Rat
people.
BEST RAT OCCUPATIONS
Accountant
Antique dealer
Auctioneer
Broker
Confidential situations
Connoisseur
Critic
Detective
Financial adviser
Lawyer
Musician
Painter
Pathologist
Publisher
Songwriter
Underground work
Writer
FAMOUS RATS
Antonio Banderas
Cameron Diaz
Claude Monet
Franz Joseph Haydn
Gene Kelly
George Washington
Gwyneth Paltrow
Hugh Grant
Jimmy Carter
Marlon Brando
Plato
Prince Charles
Sean Penn
Tchaikovsky
William Shakespeare
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
COMPATIBILITY
The Chinese believe each animal sign is
most compatible with signs that are four years apart, and least compatible
with the sign that is six years apart. Based on this concept, a circle can
be drawn with all signs, locating the Triangle of Affinity and the Circle
of Conflict.
Signs, Rating 1-10 and Relationship
Rat with Rat -- 8
A very good match
Putting these two together could be a
double pleasure or a double disaster. After all, when two critical
nitpickers are paired, they will probably constantly pick on each other.
At the beginning, the relationship is passionate, but gradually there will
be some friendly competition between them, and this might bring out their
argumentative personalities. But don't worry, most of the time, it is a
double pleasure for this happy couple. The Rats know how to put their
intelligent heads together and make things happen. They see their partner
as their best friend and dear lover, and because of their fear of
loneliness, they will try to work out any obstacle to make the
relationship work. Overall, the female is more critical and the male is
more combative, so these two can make a great team.
Rat with Ox -- 8
Lucky you two found each other
Although these two share little in common,
this will be an excellent, loving relationship. The Rat and the Ox share
mutual love and understanding. The Rat will admire the Ox as a devoted
partner, and the Ox will be attracted to this outspoken and intelligent
Rat. They will be very sympathetic and compassionate toward each other,
and they will enrich each other. Being the aggressive one of the pair, the
Rat doesn't seem to mind the slow pace of the serious and diligent Ox. In
fact, they can be great not only as lovers but also as partners. Lucky you
to find each other.
Rat with Tiger -- 7
In order to succeed both must endure
When they first see each other, it will be
love at first sight. The Tiger is attracted to the Rat's charm and
liveliness while the Rat finds the Tiger alluring and lovable. But after
the first spark of love fades, their relationship will have constant minor
skirmishes. Both possess quick tempers and stubborn personalities, and
both are too proud to compromise. Nevertheless, this relationship can
still succeed, if they both make efforts to endure by communicating and
learning to agree on their differences. In general, there is still hope
for a long, loving marriage for these two.
Rat with Rabbit -- 6
Nothing too exciting but it might still work
Although there is no major conflict or
special attraction between the Rat and the Rabbit, some how, because of
their differences, their relationship may not work too well. The Rabbit
can be oversensitive while the Rat is over controlling. Both have high
expectations of each other and this may cause more problems. This match
may not seem to bring out the best in both personalities, but once joined,
it will be difficult to separate this pair. Basically, it will be an
amicable relationship and, in fact, sometimes these two make better
business partners than lovers.
Rat with Dragon -- 9
One of the best-arranged unions
The Rat and the Dragon relationship is
probably one of the best of all combinations. The Chinese believe this is
the best match for both marriage and partnerships. The Rat will welcome
the Dragon's dominance, and the Dragon will admire the Rat's intelligence.
Both powerful and aggressive, they can work hand in hand to make things
happen. Both self-confident and talented, they will not be threatened by
the other. Their mutual admiration and support brings out the best in
them. Whatever they do, as long as they do it together, these two will
achieve success, happiness, and prosperity. This is an absolutely
marvelous combination.
Rat with Snake -- 6
Better be friends than lovers
The Rat and the Snake can forge an
interesting friendship together, but when it comes to a romantic
relationship, these two have too much conflict and disagreement. Although
both are intelligent and ambitious, these two approach life in very
different ways. The Snake is a thinker who plans and schemes in detail
while the Rat is actually an aggressive doer. They can be attracted to
each other at the beginning, but as the infatuation fades, the Snake will
pull away from the Rat and keep secrets to him or herself.
Rat with Horse -- 3
No no no-run away now
Being six years apart from the Rat, the
Horse happens to be the conflicted opposite of the Rat. It goes without
saying that these two are not only incompatible, but they'd better stay
away from each other. The self-centered Horse can't understand the kind,
sentimental Rat. Although they think opposites attract, the fact is that
they see things from to-tally different perspectives. Eventually, the Rat
will be craving more security, but the impatient and moody Horse just
can't settle. Till the end, the Rat is most likely to be mistreated and
suffer from the relationship.
Rat with Sheep -- 5
Probably not a good idea
The Rat and the Sheep can get along just
fine, but the peaceful Sheep might find the restless Rat annoying at
times. At the same time, the aggressive Rat will find the laid-back Sheep
lazy. At first glance, their relationship appears calm, but underneath the
surface, there is a cold war going on. Both the Rat and the Sheep are
uncomfortable with confrontation and do not know how to re-solve their
problems. Nevertheless, their physical attraction is strong, and if they
learn how to open up more and talk about their differences, there might be
a slight chance for this relationship.
Rat with Monkey -- 9
It will be a fun and loving relationship
These two are highly compatible. Both are
sociable party animals; they are bound to have fun and laughter together.
This duo has much in common, and mutual interests and talents draw them to
each other. They admire each other for their intelligence and creativity
and share the same values and attitudes. They are likely to be dining out
a lot because they have many friends to hang out with. On the whole, this
relationship can be emotional at times, but there will be no dull moments
when these two are together. The Rat should learn to accept the Monkey's
dominance, and this would be lasting, intriguing, and one of the best
relationships.
Rat with Rooster -- 6
Steamy yes but not lasting
When these two first meet, they see
fireworks and sparks, but as the steam slowly fades, they will see each
other more clearly, and disagreements will start to arise. In this
combination, the Rat and Rooster will find themselves in constant debate
over leadership. The Rooster can be extremely critical of the Rat, and the
sociable Rat will get even with the Rooster by making the Rooster jealous.
Eventually, it takes a lot of effort to keep the relationship alive.
Rat with Dog -- 7
Why not
The Rat and the Dog respect each other and
can be an amicable couple. After all, they are both responsible and
diligent and take their relationship seriously. Sometimes, the Rat might
find it difficult to understand the sentimental Dog for the idealistic Dog
can be too generous and tend to give money away. The practical Rat will be
anxious over the money and try to save as much as possible. In the end,
these two will know how to resolve their problems and learn from each
other.
Rat with Pig -- 8
This can work-they admire each other
This is a positive relationship. The Rat
and the Pig are both sociable and affectionate; they adore and respect
each other. They work well as a team and are usually well connected and
influential. The couple share the same passion for good food and vacation,
and enjoy life as much as they can. The Pig is generous and sometimes has
a great appetite for shopping. The Rat, however, is practical and thrifty.
So in order to balance the relationship and their bank account, the Rat
must take control of the purse and let the Pig charm the rest of the
world.
