The Year of the Rat
Characteristics
 Positive
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Negative |
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intelligent chamring imaginative placid opportunistic passionate elegant sentimental affectionate constructive critic alert honest practical materialistic quickly learns from experience |
calculating mean secretive restless has ulterior motives quick-tempered a critical nitpicker a grumbler a gossip and a scandalmonger an obsessive hoarder overambitious busybody |
Balance:
The rat itself is Yang, but it is associated with the element water, which is Yin, so rat people have a built-in potential for good balance. The Yin tendency of water, linked with night, darkness, and introversion, can make good use of the resourses of Yang, which is linked with day, light, and extrovert initiative. For example, Yin has a natural inclination to respond to opportunities as they occur. Therefore, to thrive, rats have to work hard in response to situations not immediately under their control. This is stressful for rats, but their innate Yang tendency enables rats also to create opportunities for themselves, thus removing the stress and keeping labors to a minimum. Rats do not enjoy very hard work, especially that which is thrust upon them.