Your Chinese Horoscope 2017: What the Year of the Rooster holds in store for you

The Rooster has often been said to possess the five Chinese virtues: his crown, which resembles a cap of authority, symbolizes his authority (propriety) and literary prowess (wisdom); his spur represents the military and therefore his courage in standing up for himself (righteousness); his tendency to share food shows his benevolence; and his early morning crowing is a sign of reliability and trustworthiness (fidelity). The Rooster is all this and more. He is a fine bird and a resolute one. And his influence on his own year can be considerable. It may not always be an easy year, but it will be dynamic and eventful. It is a time for effort, hard work and making things happen.

Give this year your best and I hope your efforts reward you well.

The Rat (#u1a1476af-0309-5e65-8fbe-3299d9d7676f)

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 2017

The Rat is resourceful and sets about his activities with great energy. And his efforts in the Monkey year (8 February 2016–27 January 2017) will have enabled him to do a great deal and enjoy some pleasing results. However, in the remaining months he will need to focus and use his time well. With an increased number of commitments, he could find some weeks especially busy, and the better organized he is, the more he will be able to benefit.

At work, many Rats will take on additional duties or a new role. While this will often be pleasing, these Rats should concentrate on their objectives and avoid being sidetracked. It is through focus that the best results will be achieved. The end of the year will bring pressures, but could see potentially significant developments.

The Rat should be disciplined in his spending at this time. His outgoings are set to increase, but by thinking through his purchases, he can make some good decisions and find some bargains.

The Rat always attaches great importance to his relations with others and the closing months of the year will see a flurry of activity, including opportunities to go out. Many Rats will also enjoy surprise occasions and treats and welcome the kindness shown by their loved ones. In some instances, if the Rat talks over his concerns or hopes with those around him, he could find their advice well worth heeding.

The Year of the Rooster starts on 28 January and will be an eventful one for the Rat. There will be several highs and lows to the year, but thanks to the Rat’s skills and resourcefulness, far more of these will be highs.

A key factor for the Rat is to listen to his inner voice. Proceeding with something he has misgivings about could lead to problems and regrets later on. At times the Rat will have to be firm and prepared to state his case. This need for openness extends to virtually all aspects of his life, and indeed, almost all aspects will see a considerable amount happen over the year.

For the unattached Rat, there will be good romantic possibilities, although it will be a case of proceeding steadily and allowing a relationship to strengthen over time rather than rushing into a commitment. Some Rats will find true love this year, while others will find that some romances are not meant to be. For these Rats, there will be lessons to learn and chances to move on. A lot will happen for a reason this year and will work out to the Rat’s ultimate advantage. March, June, August and December could be key months for meeting others, making personal decisions or enjoying some good personal news.

For Rats with a partner, this can be a busy year, and here again, openness will be to the Rat’s advantage. If he has ideas for home improvements, including purchases, he should let these be known. Similarly, if there are activities, holiday destinations or new interests that appeal to him, if he talks these through with his loved ones, he will often be encouraged to take his ideas further.

Ambitious projects will go ahead in many a Rat home and in some instances plans which have been considered for some time will now be undertaken. Disruption and inconvenience will inevitably occur and effort be required, but the results will be worthwhile. Some Rats will also decide to move. For these Rats, the Rooster year will also see times of intense activity, but by the year’s end, a lot will have been accomplished and many Rats will appreciate the benefits (and opportunities) their actions have brought.

The Rooster year will also be eventful work-wise, with almost all Rats feeling the effects of change. Over the year many will face increasing demands as new responsibilities are given and pressures increase. In some cases, a flurry of activity will make some weeks frenetic and the Rat may feel overwhelmed. However, the challenges that arise will give the Rat the chance to demonstrate his judgement and underline his strengths. The reputation of many Rats can be considerably enhanced over the year and when further opportunities arise, they will be in a strong position to benefit. April, May, September and October could be busy and significant months for work developments.

For Rats seeking work or hoping to move to something different, the Rooster year can have surprises in store. These Rats may make many applications to no avail and then suddenly their luck changes and within a short space of time their prospects (and immediate future) are transformed. And once these Rats are given an opportunity, they will revel in the chance to prove themselves. Rooster years acknowledge the Rat’s skills and he can be a major beneficiary of the year’s transformative trends.