From January 25, 2020 – February 11, 2021
“You may not control all the events that happen to you,
but you can decide not to be reduced by them. …
Make every effort to change things you do not like.
If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking.
You just might find a new solution.
(Maya Angelou)
For the sake of comparison, previous Rat years occurred in 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, and 1960 (last metal Rat year). The dominant themes of the Rat year include self-containment, versatility, inventive thought, political surprises and shocking exposes (like Nixon and Watergate in 1972), subterfuge (hidden aggression masked by great charm), opportunism, an attraction to luxury, and financial swings (sudden gains and losses as in 2008’s recession).
Prolific survivors of the Chinese Zodiac, Rats are creatures of instinct, extremely sensitive to shifts and changes in the environment and able to respond quickly when potential danger appears. They are also flexible and inventive, able to quickly adapt to whatever obstacle confronts them. Their survival is enhanced by a multi-faceted skillset that includes the ability to “fly”, swim, change direction on a dime, hide in the smallest of nooks and crannies, and run faster than their many predators. Rat years are great years to develop and learn to trust the instinctual and intuitive faculties that we all possess, yet often take for granted, or lie dormant in the realm of the unconscious. Necessity may force us to depend on these faculties more so than usual this year, and to pay greater attention to the information that comes to us through them. Flexibility, versatility, and adaptability are valued qualities during all rat years, but especially so during this one, after the North Node moves into mercurial Gemini in May of this year.
Rat years are especially good for great literary accomplishments and the birth of great writers, like William Shakespeare, Leo Tolstoy, Katherine Mansfield, and Charlotte Bronte, to name a few. Although imagination and creativity are enhanced during rat years, discipline and persistence are not. Those with artistic goals may need to consciously work on the latter to benefit from the former. The same active imagination that produces great writers and their stories, can also produce great scam artists and their cons. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It’s good to double (maybe even triple) check the “get rich quick” scheme, or the “deal of a lifetime” offer, read ALL fine print, and count on friends who are well-grounded in reality for advice about the efficacy of the idea before acting on it.
Rat years are always election years, as are Monkey and Dragon years. However, since 1900, Rat years have clearly favored Democrats over Republicans in the presidential elections. “Charm” and charisma are also important components during rat years. Rat years always coincide with the Jupiter in Capricorn transit, which also operates on a 12-year cycle. This helps us understand the unpredictable financial swings that often occur during The Year of the Rat, the last being 2008 when this country suffered the worst recession since the Great Depression. Jupiter tends to make things seem bigger than they are and provide a false sense of optimism in the areas ruled by the sign it transits. In the case of Capricorn, it’s easy to imagine greater resources than we actually have or fall under the illusion that something is worth more than it really is. Subterfuge regarding resources and financial security/ stability is also common during rat years, so it is wise to exercise caution in financial affairs. This may be a bit more challenging than usual since rat years favor luxury and extravagance over practicality.
Rat years are great for exploring new options, engaging in new activities, changing outdated perspectives, and creating new kinds of mental stimulation in life. As long as we find a creative outlet for what may feel like an excess of nervous energy, and stay relatively grounded in the realm of realistic possibility, this year can be filled with exciting new adventures and the development of rewarding new perspectives that result from allowing ourselves to live just a little outside the box of comfort and stability. How kind of the Universe to give us a whole year to make ready for the huge vibrational shift coming in December, when Jupiter and Saturn enter Aquarius.
Wishing you and yours a happy New Year, filled with all the blessings you can imagine, and all the joy you will allow.
“If something is going to happen to me, I want to be there.”
(Albert Camus)
Kim McSherry
