2008 - Year of the Rat

                                     

                          1936, 1948,1960,1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Year of the Rat (earth) begins February 7, 2008 and continues through

January 25, 2009.  The sign of the Rat is the first in the Chinese zodiac

cycle thus representing a time for embracing new beginnings and a renewal toward ongoing commitments.  This is a great year to get married, start that new job or business venture or simply take up a new hobby.

  In China, the rat is a respected, insightful creature with an enterprising and courageous character.  This animal knows how to find solutions to taking care of themselves and others of it’s kind.

  People born under the sign of the Rat are extremely lively and need a lot of mental and physical stimulation.  Without enough stimulating exploration they suffer from restlessness and unfocused nervous energy.  When in balance the Rat is a calm and highly perceptive person.  They are smart, clever and magnetic with a broad range of interests and the ability to adapt properly to changes in their environment.  The Rat is blessed with one of the brightest intellects around.

  The generally sociable Rat is one of the extroverts of the twelve animal signs.  Because they are gifted with the ability to sooth and stimulate others minds the rat often has many friends.  To those that the Rat loves they are amazingly supportive and charitable.  The Rat feels more comfortable in a leader role and will need a partner who can keep up with their active lifestyle. 

 

Famous Rat People

Cameron Diaz, Alyssa Milano, Charlotte Bronte, Daryle Hannah, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennie Garth, Kristen Scott Thomas. Lauren Bacall, Stevie Nicks,

Sean Penn, Truman Capote, Irving Berlin, Gene Kelly, Hugh Grant, Donna Summer, Alan Alda, Antonio Banderas

 

 

To read more about the rat consult 'Outlines of Chinese Symbolism', by C.A.S. Williams, or 'A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols', by Wolfgang Eberhard.