by Michelle Lea McCann

We all know what that statement conjures up. Get ready: the year of the Earth Rat begins February 7, lasting until Feb 25/09. If you were born in the years 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, or 2020—you’re a Rat!

Don’t be offended! Mythology relates that King Buddha decreed that whichever animal first made it back to China would be the first animal on that Zodiacal wheel. Ratty won first place.

In Western astrology there are twelve signs, six representing masculine energy and six the feminine, with one’s sun sign influenced by the moon and planets. By contrast, Chinese astrology cycles five elements, Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Wood, with its twelve animal signs. The sense of Yin represents the feminine and positive; Yang the masculine and negative.

This historically proven astrological system of lunar rather than solar cycles seems more complicated because it is based on eons of observation of the cycles of the moon rather than the arbitrary, linear, straight-arrow line called Greenwich Mean Time. To me, this is an example of how the West tends to complicate the natural and simplify the complicated. Chinese ways are often thought of by misguided westerners to be superstitious as opposed to scientific double-blind studies in MIT basements, seeking to prove over and over that something is not “the” truth.

The yearly cycles of the Chinese system’s twelve animals, multiplied by the five elements, takes 60 years to complete, ending with the Metal Boar. It starts over with the same animal, King Buddha’s little Earth Rat.

The Chinese New year begins every year during Aquarius, the Western equivalent sign. The exact dates vary. If you’re an Aquarius in the Western system, you are a cusper in the Chinese system and embody the energy of the year (and animal) before as well as your own. And so beginnings follow endings. In numerology, too, the year 2007 was a 9 (endings); 2008 is 2+8=10 (beginnings).

Each new Chinese year is associated with one of the five elements. This year’s Earth Rat is serendipitous. Let’s face it: we could use Ratty’s resourceful, fearless ingenuity. Earth Rat sees no such thing as an obstacle or misfortune–just opportunity! Quick and clever Ratty never says die! Rat’s a superhero, barely seen and rarely caught! Rats are industrious, inventive, resourceful, creative, solution-oriented creatures, although they are mavericks who can be a little weird. (As Hunter Thompson said, “When the goin’ gets weird, the weird turn pro!”) Not surprisingly, Rats make better bosses than employees. Missing nothing, able to overcome any obstacle, the Rat always makes something out of nothing. Pragmatic opportunists, Rats maintain the long view, seeing the big picture. Loyal Ratty is very family-oriented and works tirelessly to obtain abundance and joy for kin and self. Rats’ tenacity gets them to the top, where they enjoy the fruits of their labours while sharing openly. Rats know there is an infinite supply of all that is needed because they have been there, done that, and have the key to success in their pocket (and a copy or three hidden in more than one place). The cunning, quiet, dirty little Rat’s survival instincts are second only to humans !

Happy New Year! Be sure too hang out with your Ratty friends this earthy year!