Dr.Nikki's Zodiac:
Chinese Animals
The Rat
Take your western notions of the nasty vermin, flea
infested rodent and throw them out the window.  The
Eastern view focuses on the positive aspects of this
intriguing member of the animal kingdom.  Rats are a
very honorable creature.  Clever, intelligent and
instinctive foragers, rats always seem to know where
the pickings are the best.
Part of our western negative association with them is tied to our
fear of the dark places – where rats are quite comfortable.  Their
Rat (Shu)
Years
1912
1924
1936
1948
1960
1972
1984
1996
2008
2020
capability of stealth is studied by warriors to better understand the theories of
stealth and camouflage.  Their resourcefulness makes them great survivors.  In
times of famine the Rat was looked to in order to help find food.             

People born under the year of the Rat are great folks to have conversations
with.  They are witty, intelligent, glib, social, and are normally on all their
friends’ invitation lists.   With a Rat at the party there is sure to be some good
conversation going on.  Rat people have no problem taking charge – it was Rat
who was quick enough to jump on Ox’s back in order to gain the honor of being
the first in the Chinese Years – a very high honor indeed.  Rat people are quite
capable of stepping in to a situation and taking charge!  The downside of Rat
people is that they can be acquisitive unto greedy, secretive unto slyness, and
may even be exploitive of others' endeavors if they don’t keep their energy in
balance.

Rat people, with their gregarious nature and natural capability of finding the
right place (remember that find food thing?) and right people to be with are
comfortable in career paths in the entertainment industry.  Such careers as
writers, actors, broadcasters, directors, musicians, comedians, and even
designers call to the creative nature of the Rat.  Naturally ambitious with an
innate sense of self Rats can take the buffeting of answering the call to the “foot
lights.”  

If you’re looking for good gifts to give to your Rat friend or special someone,
try something in a light blue as that is a favored color by Rats.  Rats appreciate
active pastimes such as handicrafts, building, collecting, painting, and that type
of thing, so some form of kit to be constructed (whether it’s a three masted tall
ship complete with full sails and rigging or the latest rage in embroidery kits --  
something to put together) will appeal to the Rat nature.  If you really want to
WOW your Rat friend, garnet, amethyst and diamonds are the gems and stones
associated with this noble and largely misunderstood animal.
2008 is the year of the "RAT"
Feb 7, 2008 – Jan 25, 2009        
Earth Element                 Yang Energy
- Veterans -
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