Your Chinese Horoscope 2016: What the Year of the Monkey holds in store for you

For the individual, Monkey years can be regarded as times of great possibility. They favour enterprise and progress. They also contain the seeds of personal growth and making more of the potential that lies within. Each of us has the ability to put our talents to greater use. In the Monkey year, aim to make this year special – whether by nurturing your talents, working on an idea or contributing more in some way. Monkey years have energy and opportunity for us all. Enjoy what this year brings.

Good luck and good fortune.

The Rat (#uc18453a9-841d-5614-b558-9b1961185a67)

5 February 1924 to 23 January 1925 — Wood Rat

24 January 1936 to 10 February 1937 — Fire Rat

10 February 1948 to 28 January 1949 — Earth Rat

28 January 1960 to 14 February 1961 — Metal Rat

15 February 1972 to 2 February 1973 — Water Rat

2 February 1984 to 19 February 1985 — Wood Rat

19 February 1996 to 6 February 1997 — Fire Rat

7 February 2008 to 25 January 2009 — Earth Rat

The Personality of the Rat

To see,

and to see what others do not see.

That is true vision.

The Rat is born under the sign of charm. He is intelligent, popular and loves attending parties and large social gatherings. He is able to establish friendships with remarkable ease and people generally feel relaxed in his company. He is a very social creature and is genuinely interested in the welfare and activities of others. He has a good understanding of human nature and his advice and opinions are often sought.

The Rat is a hard and diligent worker. He is also very imaginative and is never short of ideas. However, he does sometimes lack the confidence to promote his ideas and this can often prevent him from securing the recognition he deserves.

The Rat is very observant and many Rats have made excellent writers and journalists. The Rat also excels at personnel and PR work and any job that brings him into contact with people and the media. His skills are particularly appreciated in times of crisis, for the Rat has an incredibly strong sense of self-preservation. When it comes to finding a way out of an awkward situation, he is certain to be the one who comes up with a solution.

The Rat loves to be where there is a lot of action, but should he ever find himself in a very bureaucratic or restrictive environment he can become a stickler for discipline and routine. He is also something of an opportunist and is constantly on the lookout for ways in which he can improve his wealth and lifestyle. He rarely lets an opportunity go by and can become involved in so many plans and schemes that he sometimes squanders his energies and achieves very little as a result. He is also rather gullible and can be taken in by those less scrupulous than himself.

Another characteristic of the Rat is his attitude towards money. He is very thrifty and to some he may appear a little mean. The reason for this is purely that he likes to keep his money within his family. He can be most generous to his partner, his children and close friends and relatives. He can also be generous to himself, for he often finds it impossible to deprive himself of any luxury or object he fancies. He is very acquisitive and can be a notorious hoarder. He also hates waste and is rarely prepared to throw anything away. He can be rather greedy and will rarely refuse an invitation to a free meal or a complimentary ticket to a lavish function.

The Rat is a good conversationalist, although he can occasionally be a little indiscreet. He can be highly critical of others – for an honest and unbiased opinion, the Rat is a superb critic – and will sometimes use confidential information to his own advantage. However, as he has such a bright and irresistible nature, most people are prepared to forgive him his slight indiscretions.

Throughout his long and eventful life the Rat will make many friends and will find that he is especially well suited to those born under his own sign and those of the Ox, Dragon and Monkey. He can also get on well with those born under the signs of the Tiger, Snake, Rooster, Dog and Pig, but the rather sensitive Rabbit and Goat will find him a little too critical and blunt for their liking. The Horse and Rat will also find it difficult to get on with each other – the Rat craves security and will find the Horse’s changeable moods and rather independent nature a little unsettling.

The Rat is very family orientated and will do anything to please his nearest and dearest. He is exceptionally loyal to his parents and can himself be a very caring and loving parent. He will take an interest in all his children’s activities and see that they want for nothing. He usually has a large family.

The female Rat has a kindly, outgoing nature and involves herself in a multitude of different activities. She has a wide circle of friends, enjoys entertaining and is an attentive hostess. She is also conscientious about the upkeep of her home and has good taste in home furnishings. She is most supportive to the other members of her family and, due to her resourceful, friendly and persevering nature, can do well in practically any career she chooses.

Although the Rat is essentially outgoing, he is also a very private individual. He tends to keep his feelings to himself and while he is not averse to learning what other people are doing, he resents anyone prying too closely into his own affairs. He also does not like solitude and if he is alone for any length of time he can easily get depressed.

The Rat is undoubtedly very talented, but he does sometimes fail to capitalize on his many abilities. He has a tendency to become involved in too many schemes and chase after too many opportunities at once. If he can slow down and concentrate on one thing at a time, he can become very successful. If not, success and wealth can elude him. But, with his tremendous ability to charm, he will rarely, if ever, be without friends.

The Five Different Types of Rat

In addition to the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac there are five elements and these have a strengthening or moderating influence on the signs. The effects of the elements on the Rat are described below, together with the years in which they were exercising their influence. Therefore Rats born in 1960 are Metal Rats, Rats born in 1972 are Water Rats, and so on.

Metal Rat: 1960

This Rat has excellent taste and certainly knows how to appreciate the finer things in life. His home is comfortable and nicely decorated and he likes to entertain and mix in fashionable circles. He has considerable financial acumen and invests his money well. On the surface he appears cheerful and confident, but deep down he can be troubled by worries that are quite often of his own making. He is exceptionally loyal to his family and friends.

Water Rat: 1972

The Water Rat is intelligent and very astute. He is a deep thinker and can express his thoughts clearly and persuasively. He is always eager to learn and is talented in many different areas. He is usually very popular, but his fear of loneliness can sometimes lead him into mixing with the wrong sort of company. He is a particularly skilful writer, but can get sidetracked very easily and should try to concentrate on just one thing at a time.

Wood Rat: 1924, 1984

The Wood Rat has a friendly, outgoing personality and is popular with his colleagues and friends. He has a quick, agile brain and likes to turn his hand to anything he thinks may be useful. His one fear is insecurity, but given his intelligence and capabilities, this fear is usually unfounded. He has a good sense of humour, enjoys travel and, due to his highly imaginative nature, can be a gifted writer or artist.

Fire Rat: 1936, 1996

The Fire Rat is rarely still and seems to have a never-ending supply of energy and enthusiasm. He loves being involved in some form of action, be it travel, following up new ideas or campaigning for a cause in which he fervently believes. He is an original thinker and hates being bound by petty restrictions or the dictates of others. He can be forthright in his views but can sometimes get carried away in the excitement of the moment and commit himself to various undertakings without thinking through all the implications. Yet he has a resilient nature and with the right support can go far in life.

Earth Rat: 1948, 2008

This Rat is astute and very level-headed. He rarely takes unnecessary chances and while he is constantly trying to improve his financial status, he is prepared to proceed slowly and leave nothing to chance. He is probably not as adventurous as the other types of Rat and prefers to remain in familiar territory rather than rush headlong into something he knows little about. He is talented, conscientious and caring towards his loved ones, but at the same time can be self-conscious and worry a little too much about the image he is trying to project.

Prospects for the Rat in 2016

Whether introducing changes to his lifestyle, making alterations to his work or pursuing his interests, the Rat will have made the Year of the Goat (19 February 2015–7 February 2016) an active one. In its closing stages he will continue to be involved in a great many activities and will need to remain well-organized and decide on priorities, otherwise some weeks may seem a whirl and he may not always use his time in the most effective way.

This is particularly the case in his work. New demands, busy schedules and interruptions could frequently occur and the Rat will need to focus and beware of distractions or wasting time on unimportant matters. However, amid the activity, there will still be the chance to contribute and make an impact. For Rats seeking work or hoping for promotion, August and October could be significant.

The Rat will also have many outgoings at the end of the Goat year and should watch his spending levels and plan out his more substantial purchases.

Domestically and socially, he will be in demand, with many chances to enjoy parties and other occasions and spend time with family and friends. In his home life, if there are certain tasks he would like to get done, he will find that by talking these over with those around him, he may not only be able to get them started but also finished by the year’s end.

Goat years favour new friendships and romance, and over the course of this one, unattached Rats could meet someone who could become important over the next 12 months. August, September and early 2016 could be significant and lively times.

Overall, the Goat year will have been a busy one for the Rat, but while it will have brought its pressures, there will also have been many achievements that the Rat can now build on. His prospects are on the up!

One of the strengths of the Rat is his resourceful nature. When he spots an opportunity (which he does often), he invariably makes the most of it. And the Monkey year will contain opportunities aplenty. This is a favourable year for the Rat and will offer him the chance to make more of his potential and enjoy some deserved success.

The Year of the Monkey starts on 8 February and almost at once the Rat could be blessed with some surprising good fortune. Whether acquiring something he has been wanting for some time, receiving an encouraging response to an enquiry or application, or being enthused by an idea, he can find the Monkey year getting off to a promising start. And in true Rat style, he should aim to make the most of it. Events can happen quickly in the Monkey year and chances need to be seized before the moment is lost.

This will particularly be the case in the Rat’s work. Many organizations will be implementing changes as well as adapting to new markets and conditions, and by being involved and aware, the Rat will often be well-placed to benefit. When openings occur in his place of work, or his industry as a whole, his experience can stand him in good stead. There will be excellent chances to take on greater and more remunerative responsibilities this year. Especially for Rats who have been in the same position for some time, this is a year to move forward, and as soon as the Rat learns of an opening, he should be quick to follow it up. Speed and initiative count for a lot this year.

Late February, March, June, October and November could see encouraging developments and such is the nature of the year that new responsibilities taken on in the early months (even if initially offered on a temporary basis) could pave the way to something more substantial later on.

For Rats who are unfulfilled in their present position and those seeking work, the prospects are also encouraging. However, to benefit, these Rats should not be too restrictive in the type of work they consider. By widening their options they may discover a position which not only suits them but also offers potential for the future.