In Chinese (Taoist) astrology, each year has its own energy. It is said that each one of us is influenced by the astrological energy at the time of our birth. Every year, the dominating energy of that year will affect each person in different ways and according to their dominating personal energy received at the time of birth.
The Chinese astrological calendar consists of 12 signs represented by animals to illustrate the different energies of each year. The 12 animals are declined into five types, each to reflect one of the five elements. These five elements describe the cyclical movement of the natural forces of yin and yang fundamental to all energy consideration in Taoist culture. Each animal appears in five different versions to take into consideration the characteristics of the five elements. Together they form a cycle of sixty years (5 x 12) that constantly repeats itself..
Years ending in an odd number are said to be yin and years ending in an even number are said to be yang. 2020 is a yang year. It is also the year of the White Rat. White Rat is one of five colors (or types) of rats as each corresponds to one of the five elements. The White Rat is the Metal rat. In addition to the yang energy it brings together the individual characteristics ascribed to the mythical rat and those of the Metal element.
The Chinese calendar is the lunar calendar and their 2020 New Year starts on January 25th. It will end on February 11, 2021.
Those born in 1960 and in 2020 are influenced by the traits of the Taoist White Rat. For people born in one of the rat years, 2020 should be a year of great opportunity. Whether your Taoist astrological sign (one of 12) is the rat, tiger, ox, snake, dragon, rabbit, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, or pig, the 2020 Year of the White Rat will make its impact on you in different ways. It may involve personal transformation, improvements in relationships, financial abundance, the elevation of physical vitality or the opposite of many of these. What is important for everyone in this Year of the White Rat is to go into it with balance and positivity, seeing all things as beneficial and savoring every moment.
Take the best most positive qualities of White Rat people below to make it your best year ever.
Attributes of the White Rat
2020 will be a masculine/yang energy year. Masculine/yang energy is symbolized by a weapon.
The Metal White Rat person is a goal achiever and survivor and possesses very many powerful qualities which enable his or her ability to accomplish and survive. Among these qualities are kindness, independence, strong will, intensity, determination and an ability to focus. But there is a secret side to White Rat’s genteel personality: jealousy, competitiveness and an obsession with achieving success at any cost and acquiring possessions at the very lowest cost.
White Rat can be an astute business person and investor. He or she is often a charmer with an alluring and entertaining personality. On the flip side, White Rat can, at times, be overly talkative, loud and aggressive. She may impulsively demonstrate her gruff, callous, and cold nature – attributes which come from the influence of Metal.
White rat is often challenged to have balanced relationships instead finding himself in enabling codependent relationships and deriving worth and validation in indispensability with his partners. To find relationship balance White Rat will always want to allow his partner independence and latitude to express and to choose for himself.
Because White Rat is so goal oriented, if romantic and frivolous experiences are going to cost money, they need to provide tangible results. At the same time, because White rat is so much a sensualist and connoisseur of life she will somewhat uncharacteristically spend money on fine worldly possessions and experiences although she will want them at bargain rates!
White Rat feels all experiences very deeply and though she is often challenged to vulnerably express herself, she is often able to do so.
White rat succeeds best by embracing change, letting go of her opinions, and gracefully releasing the past.
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Levitt, Susan, and Jean Tang. Taoist Astrology: a Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition. Destiny Books, 1997.